fented youth as the proper feafon of joy. Though the world is a fcene full of mixture and alloy, it is yet not fo completely an abortion as this fentiment would reprefent it. If you afk men in general, whether they regard life as a bleffing, they will perhaps hefitate: but they will recollect fome feelings of exultation, fome moments in which they felt with internal pride what it was to exift, and many of them will hereby be induced to pronounce in favour of life. But who can fuppofe himself a child, and look with exultation upon that fpecies of existence? The principal fources of manly pleasure probably are, the feeling that we also are of fome importance and account, the conscious power of conforming our actions to the dictates of our own understanding, an approving fenfe of the rectitude of our own determinations, and an affectionate and heroical fympathy in the welfare of others. To every one of these young perfons are almoft uniformly strangers.

This is probably a fair and impartial view of the pleasures and pains of the young. It would be highly unjust to suppose that the adult who inflict thefe pains, are generally actuated by malignity. In fome instances, where the miscarriage has been moft complete, the kindnefs and difinterefted zeal of its author has been eminent.

racy and minutenefs. The hypothetical modes which appear in fpeculation to have some advantages over them, are for the most part yet untried; we cannot follow them in their detail; we have often but an imperfect view of their great outline. Defects therefore we can point out with confidence, while it is only in an obfcure and ambiguous ftyle that we can discourse of their remedies.

In treating on the fubject of education, it muft of course be against the inftructor, not his pupil, that we muft direct our animadverfions. The pupil is the clay in the hands of the arti ficer; I muft expoftulate with him, not with his materials. Books of education are not written to inftruct the young how they are to form their feniors, but to affift the adult in discovering how to fashion the youthful mind.

It would be peculiarly unfortunate, if documents, the object of which is to improve education, and confequently to infpire the adult with new ardour, fhould be judged to have a difcouraging tendency. Inftructors indeed, as we now find them, are too often unworthy and unamiable; but inftruction is not on that ac'count a lefs generous and lofty task. It is incident alike to the profeffors of every art to enumerate difficulties and unfold them; to fhow

how

how "Alps on Alps arife*," in oppofition to the daring adventurer. Having done fo, they must always in a confiderable degree leave him to furmount the obftacles for himself. Language is adequate to the first of thefe objects; it finks under the delicacy and individualities of the fecond. The groveling and feeble-hearted are confequently difcouraged; they defert the vocation they haftily chofe. But the courage of the generously ambitious is by this means elevated to its nobleft height.

* Pope.

ESSAY

ESSAY IX.

OF THE COMMUNICATION OF KNOWLEDGE.

IN what manner would reason, independently

of the received modes and practices of the world, teach us to communicate knowledge?

Liberty is one of the most desirable of all fublunary advantages. I would willingly therefore communicate knowledge, without infringing, or with as little as poffible violence to, the volition and individual judgment of the perfon to be inftructed.

Again; I defire to excite a given individual to the acquifition of knowledge. The only poffible method in which I can excite a sensitive being to the performance of a voluntary action, is by the exhibition of motive.

Motives are of two forts, intrinfic and extrinfic. Intrinfic motives are thofe which arife from the inherent nature of the thing recommended. Extrinfic motives are those which have no conftant and unalterable connection with the thing recommended, but are combined

how "Alps on Alps arife*," in oppofition to the daring adventurer. Having done fo, they must always in a confiderable degree leave him to furmount the obftacles for himself. Language is adequate to the first of these objects; it finks under the delicacy and individualities of the fecond. The groveling and feeble-hearted are confequently difcouraged; they defert the vo cation they haftily chofe. But the courage of the generously ambitious is by this means elevated to its nobleft height.

* Pope.

ESSAY