object-I must give up books, knowledge-and every thought but ONE, that of getting money?"

And even admitting, that there were fome competition, such as is afferted, between literature and merchandize; if the plan we are recommending should in any degree interfere with an unremitting and exceffive attachment to bufinefs

is it neceffary that bufinefs fhall be followed upon this flavish and degrading plan, to the exclufion of every idea, but that of gain? Might not fomething be abated of this overplodding diligence, and yet the mind, even granting fome diminution of fortune, be, upon the whole, an unfpeakable gainer?

It would certainly be a high honour, as well as an unfpeakable advantage, to this rifing and opulent town, to have within itself an Inftitution which would proclaim its tafte, as well as its affluence. It would be a laudable ambition, to afpire after a literary, in addition to that mercantile reputation, by which it is already fo greatly diftinguished.

The SOCIETY to which I have now the honour of addreffing myfelf, has added no fmall degree of refpectability, in the eyes of our fellow. countrymen, and even of foreigners. They have seen, with pleasure, a fet of Gentlemen rife up, in the midst of a place devoted to commerce, as the friends of LITERARY and PHILOSOPHIC excellence. An inftitution, fuch as I am now recommending, would ftrengthen that favourable impreffion,

impreffion, by declaring to the world, that increafing wealth is accompanied with its rare, but honourable attendant, increasing wisdom-and, that thofe, whose fagacity and industry have been able to extend the manufactures, are equally defirous of extending the best improvement and embellishment, of their country. It would contradict the difgraceful idea, that a fpirit of merchandize is incompatible with liberal fentiment, and that it only tends to contract and vulgarife the mind.

But, Gentlemen, in order to the fuccefs of this plan, it is necessary, that it come before the public UNDER YOUR PATRONAGE AND PROTECTION. -That thefe imperfect outlines be improved and filled up by your matureft deliberations-That different Gentlemen fhall engage in different departments-And that the fcheme be profecuted with vigour, with harmony, and with perfeve

rance.

Under fuch a fanction, and with fuch advantages, it could not fail of fuccefs. Perhaps it might become, in the course of years, like a rill, fwelled in its progrefs by fucceffive tributary ftreams, a noble torrent, and enrich, and adorn the country all around,

N. B. The Scheme here recommended being approved, and patronifed by the SOCIETY, the following Paper was, at their defire, drawn up by the Rev. Dr. BARNES, and circulated, with the annexed teftimonial from the PRESIDENTS.

RESOLVED,

MANCHESTER, APRIL 23, 1783.

RESOLVED, at a Meeting of the LITERARY and PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY-That the following Paper, drawn up by a Member, at the Request of the Society, be printed, and offered to the Confideration of the Public.

JAMES MASSEY,

THOMAS PERCIVAL,}

PRESIDENTS.

PROPOSALS for ESTABLISHING in MANCHESTER a PLAN of LIBERAL EDUCATION, for YOUNG MEN defigned for CIVIL and ACTIVE LIFE, whether in TRADE, or in any of the PROFESSIONS.

HERE is no fubject, except RELIGION, in

T which every perfon is more deeply in

terested, both as an individual, and as a member of society, than in EDUCATION. And it is to the honour of the prefent age, that it encourages, with distinguished generofity, every well-planned scheme, the object of which is, to improve the fyftem of education, and to extend its beneficial influences.

In few places has this liberal fpirit appeared, of late, more confpicuously, than in MANCHESTER. There are, indeed, few places, which have

enjoyed

enjoyed the advantages of early tuition, in a more eminent degree. Our public and private fchools have justly obtained a very confiderable celebrity, both at home and abroad.

There is, however, in the opinion of many intelligent perfons, deeply interested in the fubject, fomething effential ftill wanting among us, to compleat the course of education, for active and commercial life. In their judgment, a period fubfifts, in the life of a young man defigned for trade, which it is not eafy to fill up in the moft advantageous manner. The want of a happy tranfition from a grammar school to bufinefs, by fome mode of more general and manly inftruction, fuited to that intermediate stage, has been fenfibly felt, as a defideratum of unfpeakable importance. At present, there is hardly any middle line of education, between that, of a school for the elements of language and accompts, and that, of a college-the latter of which feems better adapted for a profeffional man, than for one defigned for commerce, It is furely defirable, that he shall now rife, from words to things, from language to fentiment. All that he has yet been doing, is only preparatory to real knowledge. Language, of itself, is but a scaffolding to fci

ence.

And fhall the labour of fo many years be now loft and forgotten, as it too commonly is, when a young man leaves the school, and enters upon life? Or, fhall the gleanings of mixed

and

and cafual fentiment, collected from a few Greek or Roman Claffics, conftitute all the knowledge, which is to adorn and fweeten the remainder of his days? Might not, then, this period be filled up with great advantage, in the acquifition of SUPERIOR SCIENCE, if there were the opportunity at hand, of fome well-digefted and unexceptionable plan?

Probably, in thefe intermediate years, the taste, the habits, and the whole character of a youth, may receive indelible impreffions. From thefe years we are to date, his honour, his infignificance, or his infamy-his fuccefs, or his ruin. Of what infinte importance is it, then, that this interefting period be cultivated with the utmost diligence, and fown with every feed, capable of producing real happinefs or ornament, in future life!

But there are fome, who deny, that any fuch intermediate stage, as we have here fuppofed, does, that is, ought to exift. They contend, that a boy fhould be fet down, as foon as poffible, to active and conftant bufinefs, in order to obtain, by early initiation, all the habits of induftry and attention, neceffary to future fuccefs.-Such Gentlemen will not furely fay, That what a youth has acquired at fourteen years of age, fuppofing him to have made ever fo great a proficiency in fchool learning, is fufficient to conftitute the whole of his mental furniture hereafter !-Or,

that