[No. XXVI.]
THE TABLE T. No. XXVI.
« Few men are fit for every fart of education, and
~t every fort of education is made in one instance or
Cher nfui, every fort of men."
IN one of my former numbers it has been
suggested that some men, from natural in
capacity, are debarred from gaining any know
ledge, that is jult and ufeful. In another of my
papers it has liketvife been suggested, that many
people fail of valuable attainments, by facrificing
their time upon fludies that arc of no kind of im
portance. But there is still another class of peo
ple who do not mi'carry from cither of tliefe
cau'fes and yet whole moll diligent pursuits re
alize very little advantage. They fail of arriv
ing: at an'v great degree of excellence from an in
aptitude of talents to the objects about which they
are employed. It falls to the lot of few to have
extent of capacity to excel in more than one art
or profeffion ; and molt people, though, in the
firft instance, they Ihould be lucky enough to give
their genius its true direction, and follow a right
track closely through life, would nevertlielefs
fall Ihort of perfection in their particular employ
ment. How unfortunate then ninft it be, when
their abilities take a wrong turn and counteract
their natural tendency ! Still more unfortunate
mud it "be, when men pursue many different ob
jects, neither of which suit their capacity.
Parents too little consult the peculiar bent of
genius in designating employments for their chil
dren. Before it is known what is best adapted
to the talents of a child, the parent anticipates
that knowledge, and determines at all events what
ptofelfionhefhall follow. This predisposition in
favour of any calling so biafles people, that they
cannot judge with propriety, whether it is suitable
or not. In making an experiment which does
not prosper, they thwart the course of nature,
damp the ardour for improvement, throw the
mental faculties into confulion, produce fickle
nefs of temper, and perhaps never ascertain the
real propensity of genius, till it is too late to give
itaproper direction. There is a nioft striking
impropriety in gratifying such a predilection,
before a child has given some symptoms of the
peculiar cast of his talents. Though there may
never be indications of such a temperament of
mind, as will cucompafs, by the severest Itudy,
any general knowledge of the arts and sciences,
he may still have ingenuity for some mechanical
occupation, and may even I'o far excel in some
branch, as to become ufeful to society and pro
fitable to himfelf. But by mistaking his natural
biafs he blun '.ers through life, always acting a
gainst theftream, and never gaining any honour
or profit by his pursuits. It cannot be supposed
that so great a propoition of mankind, from 3ny
natural defect of uiulei Handing, are inevitably
doomed to such a series of lrardlhips, disgraces,
and difappointinents, as ieem so often to embitter
human life. It favestlie trouble of inveftijiation,
1•, O t
and is an easy solution of the matter, to charge
the blame to nature, and to reft contented in the
belief, that no institutions can be adopted for lef
iening the calamities and vices, of which so many
ill-fated men participate. I have confefled, that
some people can never be wrought into any cha
racter that isufefnl or refpe&able ; but the num
ber, who come within this defcriptioji, is fmallet
perhaps than is usually imagined,
In raoft of the Universities or academies in this
country there are certain claflical fttidies, whicl;
are imposed as a talk on each student, wliethei
they are acccmmodated or not to his particulai
genius and inclination. The effect of this undii
tinguifhing manner of in ftruction is, that atonfi
derable proportion of the pupils derive little or
no advantage from their education. It is beyond
doubt, that noperfon can make proficiency in any
liudy, which does not coincide with his wishes ;
and it is no less evident, that one caujfe of the in
dolence and aversion observable in so many Un
dents, is, that they are set about that kind of li
terature, for which they have not an aptitude of
faculties. In thus countera&in g the natural bent
of their capacity they become difgulted and idle.
It defervesaf'erious enquiry, whether there can
really be any reformation in the mode of academ
ical education. Ij it is believed any remedy can
eapplied to remove the inconveniencies, that
rC, n'k 0m a '"ifapplhation of faculties, it
*11 be granted, that every attempt to introduce
a more perfeCt plan lhoiiid be applauded and pa
ronized. I make even these defiiltory remarks
• 'elmftance; and lhall refrain from a minute
legation ofthefubjfet. This important talk
Mould beentered upon by thole, whose profeffion
i." , "uation are adapted to difeuliions of this
\ n ' Any Iketches, however loose and immatur
-0 'ntercfti/.g a matter, ihould be received
Ak candour, tsnd examined Arith attention.
SATURDAY, July ir, 1789.
Those who have the management of schools and
Univerlities are in the habit of believing thattlie
present regulations are judicious if not perfect,
r ew, if any, of those characters are willing to al
low, that in the distribution of lludies, any re
ference should be had to the difference of genius
or inclination, in different students. Many rea
sons are offered why an uniform method should be
observed in apportioning the talk to each indivi
dual. In my next number these reasons fliall be
noticed and the fubjecft fur.her illultrated.
MR. FENNO,
AMERICANUS has again Favoured the public in the XXIVth
X T o. of your paper, with some of his obfcrvations relative to the
Western country. I have read his remarks with great attention,
but must candidly confefs, that many of them, if they have any re
lation to that fubjeft, are far beyond my comprehension. He
makes mention of people " quitting habitations now unftftled
which is the fame thing as to fay, emigrating from an un
settled country. I question much if this has ever been the
cale in any part of the world. This expreftion of our author put*
me in mind of rwo acts of aflembly—the one imposed a considera
ble penalty on any person, " who fhou,(d alter the mark of an unmark
ed hog I ' —the other ordered that a certain piece of ground, in the
city of Ph-l-d-lph-a, should " be enclosed by a brick teal/, and lefi
open forever."
There are but two arguments brought forward by Americanus
in the number alluded to, which in any uieafure apply to the fubjefl
ot the Wedern country. The lit. is,thatwA<r/i the territorial juris
diilior. of a country is greatly extended, the emanations of power from iti
f°urce bccomes in the extremities proportionably weak and inefficient.'
1 his observation will generally hold good in/nonarchical govern
ments ; but is not the cafe in confederated republics ; and the pre
sent general fydem has by guaranteeing a republican form of go
vernment to all the States, that may become members of the Union
left each individual State at liberty to enforce its own particulai
regulations, with all the energy neceflary to ensure liberty, and
render government refpeftable. By this truly valuable part of oui
general political system, it must be plain that all North America
might be brought into the fame general union; and yet each State
superintend its own particular concerns, with as much decision a!
if the confederacy had 110 cxiftence. This writer might as wel!
fay, that it is impoflible for thcState of Georgia to be as efficientl)
governed as the State of New-York. In bringing forward tim
point, he has run intoan error, by forgetting that the several State!
in the Union ictain a very considerable part oftheir efficient juris
diction. If the executive of the State of Georgia has equal pow
ers with the cxecutiveof the State of New-York, it will be the fault
of the Stale executive, and not owing to its diftancefrorn Congrefsj
if the government of Georgia is not equally as efficient as the go
vernment of New-York. The fame reasoning will apply with
equal force to any part of the Western territory, great part of which
is not more dillant from the present feat of Congress than the State
of Georgia. If Americanus will please to attend to these fa&s,
his metaphorical adde r , which has so much alarmed him, will be
changed into an innocent and ufeful animal.
The >d. argument, is contained in these words—" it is in tht
power ofgovern ment tooppofe the removal of the inhabitants of the Atlan
tic States, by making it their real interefl to continue at home., it being a
fancied intercjl which tends them abroad." This point is so far from
being eftabhflird, that it has no precise idea prefixed to it : It is
one of those cast sin which every man has a right to judge for him
felf, and in which government cannot beotherwife than filcnt. It
would certainly be idle in the extreme, to undertake convincing
a man who had been surrounded by a number of children, and un
fortunate in his circ.timftances, and who by removing into the Wes
tern country had provided amply for himfelf and family, that he
had not attended to his real inter eft." Cases fnnilar to this are
innumerable.
Amcricanus is generally unfortunate when he brings the Wes
tern country before the public : He tells us that he docs not expect
tl the concurrent opinions of land-jobbers, monopolizers of the
Irard-earned wages of the poor fold iers, and other harpies upon the
public." This insinuation proceeds from a want of information,
and is so far from being well founded, that some of the principal
oppofers of a land office for the Western country, and the mod
decided advocates for Amcricanus, are the very Speculators
he mentions. They are already fupplicd with land in abundance,
and that at the expense of the United States, and would now, it
poflible, prevent the attention of Congress being directed to that
country, until they had dilpofed of their speculations. I am well
acquainted with many of the principal advocates tor cftablifhing
a land office, for thedifpofal of theWeftern territory ; but I do|not
know one of them, who has not uniformly distinguished himfelf
as a friend to the liberty, and " real interests" of his fellow citi
zens, and however strange such disinterested conduct may appear
to Americanus, he may reft afTured, that they are not interested in
the lands in the Western territory. A. E.
ANECDOTES of the DUCHESS of GLOUCESTER.
ABOUT the year 1730, Mr. Edward Walpole (afterwards
Sir Edward, Knight of the Bath) returned from his travels on
the continent, where the munificence of his father, the famous
statesman, had enabled him to make a brilliant figure ; and so ve
ry engaging was he found by the ladies, that he had no other ap
pellation 111 Italy, than that of " the handsome Englidiman."
Amongst more transient connections with the lovely Signoras, he
formed onetender onew th a lady of the name of Laura; which
name he afterwards (profeffedly for her lake) gave to his eldcft
daughter, the present Mrs. Kcppel.
Mr. Walpole had lodgings taken for him, on his return, at a
Mrs. Rennic's, a child's coat-maker, at the bottom of Pall Mall.
On returning from visits, or public places, he often passed a quar
ter of an hour in chat with the voung women of the shop. Amongst
them was one who had it in her power to make him forget the
fair Laura, and all the beauties of the English court; her name
was Clement; her father was at that time, or soon after, postmast
er at Darlington, a place of fifty pounds per annum, on which
he subsisted a large family'. This young woman had been bound
apprentice to Mrs. Rennie, and was employed in the usual duties
of luch a situation, which die dilcharged (as the old lady used to
do 1 honestly and soberly. Her parents, however, from their ex
treme poverty, could supply her but very sparingly with clothes
or money. Mr. Walpole observed her wants, and had the ad
dress to ' make her little presents in a way not to alarm the vigi
lance of her mistress, who exacted the drifted morality from the
voung persons undei her care. Miss Clement was beautiful as an
impel, with good, though uncultivated, parts. Whatsoever fen
timci ts or principles of virtue die might be supposed to bring
with her from Darlington, it is no great wonder that they were a
I little fliaken, when attacked by a man whose father was ruling
' Europe, and whtffc personal endowments were so great, that they
[ -n /,"• 'a.fdaj a,.J t:-rj .■>.]
<;ave her lor i iva's every woman of birth and beauty in the king
dom Whether her virtue had been fubdned before her lover left
ins lodgings, is not known ; the lodgings were only a transitory
tiling till his honfe could be prepared for him, to which he now
removed, and about the fame period received the honor of knight
hood. °
Mrs. Rcnnie had begun to fufpeft that a connexion was form
ing, which would not be to the honor of her apprentice. She ap
priled Mr. Clement of her suspicions, who immediately came ui>
to town to carry her out of the vortex of temptation. The good
old man met his daughter with tears, he told her his suspicions;
and that hefhould carry her home, where, by living with sobri
ety and prudence, lire might chance to be married to fbme de
c. Nt tradesman. The girl, 111 appearance, acquiesced, but whe
ther her diftafteto the dismal feenes at home gave her the resolution
to facrifice every thing rather than return, or whether the had be
fore facrificed so much that she thought character only not worth
retaining, eannot be ascertained ; tins, however, is certain, that
wbilft her father and millrefs were aifcourfing in a little dark par*
lour behind the shop, the object of then cares flipped out, and
without hat or cloak ran directly through Pall Mall to Sir Ed
ward's house at the top of it, (now inhabited by Mrs. Keppel)
where, the porter knowing her, she was admitted, though his
mailer was absent. She went into the parlour, where the table
was covered for dinner, and impatiently waited his return. The
moment came at last : Sir Edward entered, and was heard to ex
claim withgreat joy, " You here." Whatexplanations took place
were of course in private ; but the fair fugitive fat down that day
at the head of his table, and never after left it.
The fruits of this connexion were Mrs. Keppel, the eldeu; the
Royal Dutchefs, the second; lady Dyfart, the third ; and Col.
Walpole, the fourth, in the birth of whom, or soon after, the
mother died. Never could fondnefs exceed that which Sir Ed
ward always cherilhed for the lovely mother of his children; nor
was it confined to her or them only, but extended itfelf to her
relations, for all of whom he some way or other has provided.
A (liter he took into the house, and who still lives with him with
unblemished reputation. His grief at the loss of his wife (for
such in efleft (he was) was proportioned to his love : he coniLuit*
Iy declined all overtures of marriage, and gave up his life to the
education of his children. He had often been prompted to unite
himfell to Mrs. Clement by legal ties, and was pi evented only by
the reflection that the children he then had would, Ihould he have
others alter mairiage, be considered in a light so different from
those others, that his flrong parential affeflion could not bear-to
create tire difference. Some have alledgcd, that the threats of his
father, Sir Robert, prevented his marriage; who avowed, that
if he married Mrs. Clement, he would not only deprive him of
his political intereff, but exert it against him. Ithasbeen, how
ever, always said, by thole who had access to know, that had
Mrs. Clement survived Sir Robert to the age in which it might be
cxpettcd fhe_ would cease to become a mother, that she would
then have been certainly lady Walpole.
.About the year 1758, his eldelt daughter, Laura, became the
wife of the Hon. Frederick Keppel, br ther to the Earl of Albe
maile, and afterwards Bishop of Exeter. His firfl paflion was
for Maria ; but not making the progress in her atfeftions which he
expected, he transferred li s vows to her filler, by whom thev
were inflantly accepted. Though this was no great match in it
felf, conftdering the fortune which Sir Edward gave his daughters,
(Mr. Keppel having at that time very little church provision, and
no hereditary fortune) yet in its confluences it became highly im
portant.
The Miss Walpoles now took a rank in society in which they
had never before moved. The fillers of the Earl of Albemarle
were their conllant companions, and introduced them to people
of quality and falhion ; -they ctuillantly appeared at the firfl routes
and balls; and, in a word, were received every were but at court.
The lligma attending their birth shut them out from the. drawing
room, till marriage (as is the cafe of Mrs. Keppel) had covered
the defeff, and given them the rank of another family. No one
watched their progref.N upwards with more anxiety than the Earl
Waldegrave. Tiiis Nobleman (one of the proudell in the king
dom) had long cherished a paflion for the all-conquering Maria J
her education and manners made any idea of her being prevailed
on to copy the falfe fleps of her mother, on any terms, too im
probable to benourifhed ; and he saw that the only termson which
he could hope to obtain a hearing from the lady, were those of
marriage—and that she would hcarhim even on those terms was
very doubtful, for his Lordlhip was above twenty years older than
the object of his admiration. The struggle between his paflion
and Ins pride was not a short one, nor is it clear which of the two
would have been vittor inthecontefl, had not the marriage of Mrs.
Keppel, and the subsequent importance of her fillers thrown the
over-balance into the scale of love.
'Having conquered his own difficulties, it now only remain
ed to attack the lady's. The Peer made his approaches in
form, and was flatteringly received. The lady had no prepof
feflion ; and Lord Waldegrave, though not /oung, was not dfa
grecable; his manners were polite, and his offers suited to his
rank. A few months elevated the lady into a sphere which,
looking back, mull have aflonilhcd her. AsaCoun'efs she had
a more extended vortex, and of course the number of her admi
rers increal'ed : and it is probable that many men of fafhion now
wondered that they let such a jewel escape them. Her very ami
able condu£l through the whole life of her Lord added refpeA
and efleem to the warmefl admiration. "Young, beautiful, an
old husband and a Countess." What a constellation of tempta
tions mud Ihe have been surrounded by? yetlhe retained, amidst
them all, the purell manners and the purest name. Amongst
others who sighed for her in hopeless ardours, was the Prince o£
Mccklenburgh, brother to our gracious Queen. He made no se
cret of his paflion; it was talked of every where; and Lord
Waldegrave, in the triumph of his heart, used jestingly to entreat
his lady to have compaflion on the Prince.
About five years after their marriage, the small-pox attacked
his Lordlhip, and proved fatal. His Lady found herfelf a young
widow, and, what may appear flrange, inconsolable! Had Lord
Waldegrave pofTeffed every advantage of youth and beauty, his
death could not have been more sincerely regretted by his amia
ble relist. At length she emerged again into the world, and
love and admiration every where followed her. She refufed
many offers; amongst others, the noble Duke lately at the head of
adminiflration loudly proclaimed his discontent at her refufal.
But the daughter of Mary Clement was destined to royalty !
Whether his Royal Highness firfl endeavoured to obtain her good
wishes on easier terms than those ofmarnage, will always remain
doubtful; but certain it is that the Duke of Gloucester and the
Dowager of the Earl Waldegrave were married some years before
she took the title ol Princess, or their marriage was announced.
This alliance now is acknowledged in every court in Europe ;
many of which the royal pair have diftinguilhed by their resi
dence. Two children, a Prince and Princess, are the fruits of
their marriage; and it is within the bounds of probability, that
the descendants of the poftmaftar at Darlington may one day sway
the liritifh sceptre.
These authentic anecdotes may be important to the future his
torians of this country; and to their, they are dedicated.
(Britijh publicum.)