der charities of life, the temper, and the comfort of mankind chiefly depend-And, that, in a public school, these amiable scions of the foul have not room to fhoot, but muft, of neceffity, be miferably neglected."

If to this argument it be answered, "That in a PUBLIC education there will be partialities and attachments formed:" it may be replied, "That these are not of exactly the fame nature, nor will they have the fame influence, on future temper and future happiness."

It will, perhaps, be faid, "That in larger fchools, connections and friendships may be formed, which may be of the most lasting, honourable, and advantageous tendency in future life."

This advantage appears to me to be a very precarious one. Early connections between a richer and a poorer boy, founded, probably, on caprice on the one hand, and abject obfequioufnefs on the other, feldom continue long. Sometimes indeed an honourable union of equals may lay a foundation for future friendship, of the most endeared and permanent nature. And it is poffible, that fome inftances may have occurred, of friendships formed, between youths whofe fortunes were unequal, which have been as beneficial to the one, as honourable to the other. But, as boys are often feparated at fo early an age, and difperfed into fuch different fcenes and

regions,

regions, the hope of this ought not to be allowed much weight. And fact will, I perfuade myself, bear witness to very few inftances of this kind; too few, to give any great degree of force to this argument.

IV. SELF-GOVERNMENT.

By this term is meant, "The habit which, the friends of PUBLIC EDUCATION fay, a boy early forms, in a large school, of conducting himself, of managing his own concerns, and of preparing himself for a steady, independent, manly line. of action in future life. Such a school they defcribe as, દ a miniature of the great world." And in this microcofm a boy is inured, to make his own way, to ftand upon his own merit, to exert his own understanding and addrefs, to maintain his own caufe and his own confequence, to fight his own battle, to vindicate his own wrong, and to depend upon his own conduct and character, for the behaviour he meets with. In this fociety, it is said, all distinctions are levelled. The fon of a nobleman appears as an equal to the fon of a peafant. Infignificance, ill-temper, folly, felfishness, together with the common vices of children (the feeds of fimilar and ftronger vices in men) are difcountenanced and difcouraged, when they are fure to meet with contempt and hatred. And here, thofe public fpirited and manly virtues grow beft, which only can fecure the general honour and approbation."

It

It is poffible, that fomething must be deducted from this flattering representation. In these little republics, fome active and bolder fpirits, diftinguished, probably, for ftrength and daring, rather than for morals, or literary excellence, gain an afcendancy over the reft. The other boys act under them, in fervile fubmiffion to their mandate, carry their burdens, fight their battles, and avenge their quarrels. Hence are learnt habits of fawning and fervility. Obedience must be unreserved, under penalty of fevere chastisement for rebellion. To crouch, in order to obtain the good graces of one of thefe leaders of a clan, will probably be the policy of a younger, and more timid boy. And he will obtain notice and protection, only by flattery, or fubmiffion the most humiliating. The confequence often is, that, when he himfelf rises up to that degree of ftrength, which enables him to affert his own confequence, he practifes all the arts affumed by his former tyrant. And thus, a fyftem of vaffalage is handed down, from generation to generation. May it not be faid, that all this is as likely to produce abjectnefs of mind as independence; and turbulence, as proper fubordination?

V. MORALS.

The greatest object of education is, undoubtedly, to infpire the love of goodness. But here, the argument

argument seems very greatly to preponderate against the plan of public fchools. And yet to this point, as to the all-animating center, fhould every thing else be directed, and, by its tendency to this, fhould every scheme be estimated. It would be a dreadful bargain, to give up morals for learning, or for any other accomplishment.

*

It cannot be denied, that there is certainly far greater danger of moral infection in a larger, than in a smaller number of boys. A fingle boy may corrupt many, and diffeminate a poison, of the most rank and baneful influence. It is impoffible, where the numbers are fo large, to give that minute and watchful atttention to the difcipline of the paffions, and to the formation of the heart, which is fo unfpeakably neceffary in a good education. Boys, of a depraved turn of mind, have often an unlucky kind of wit, a fomething in their manner, which enables them to do irreparable mischief.

It is acknowledged, by a very ingenious and able advocate for public fchools, † that the argument from morals lies undeniably against them. But this effect he afcribes-to the neglect of education at home, before they

Nos liberalibus ftudiis et difciplinis filios erudimus ; non quia virtutem dare poffunt; fed quia animum ad accipiendam virtutem præparant." Cic.

+ Knox.

come

come to school-and to the general diffipation of the age, to which even schools themselves, which ought to be the nurseries of better principles and better manners, too frequently accommodate themselves.

If the fact be granted, that morals are in greater danger in a public, than a private school, this will be, with many parents, a conclufive argument. Boys too foon, too easily receive the alarming contagion. And, when it is once received, it contaminates the whole mafs of the foul, and spreads its deadly poifon through every future stage of life.

It is however, contended, "That boys, immured within the precincts of a private family, are often but ill prepared to ftand the fhock of future temptation; that they frequently rush, from the extreme of confinement, to the extreme of diffipation, or diffolutenefs; and thus, atone for former restraint, by future extravagance.

This may have been the cafe, where the confinement has been impolitic, or exceffive. But, as this is not neceffarily attendant upon the private plan, it cannot be admitted as an univerfal argument against it.

It is to be regretted, that schools, in general, of almost every defcription, pay fo little attention to the culture of the heart; though this is, in comparison with all others, an object, fo infinitely fuperior, that no embellishments.

of