(togztfU e/aMrhtssss&.
"[No. XXIX.]
THE TABLE T. No. XXIX.
.. Would it not be well to have certain triers or examiners appointed
, .1 .Ll, to in lied the genius oj every particular boy, and to allot him
Krf that is mo) fuifMc to his natural talents t"
TTis to beexpeflcd that the partiality of parents will induce
I them to suppose, their children can make improvements
• a „v art or profeflion whatever. To gratify these tond preju
j" the regulations at academics attune not the severity otic.u
the aDtitude of genius in the pupils for the particular ftu-
J° IZ ' which they are engaged. The inftruftors do not praftift
11' the iuppolition that each capacity may have some corref
mdin'frience in which it could excel; while many lads by be
■ ranzed in a large clals and employed upon talks unfuuable
f" B then° are called hopeless blockheads and conftan ly liable to
°' n ,foment and reproach—That special bias towards knowledge,
which with proper care, might be discovered, is apt to lie dor
mant and never have an opportunity to improve or apply ltfelf.
The objection against trying to introduce a reformation,is found
ed in a supposed impracticability. It is urged that no scrutiny
of talents can be made, with such exaftnefs, as to authorize the
attempt- The different capacities and inclinations of youth arc not
to be fu'clearly ascertained as to make it eligible to breakthrough
clUblilhcd rales of study. In answer to these objections, it may
be observed, that if upon experiment no method can be devised
for determining the special aptitude of each particular genius, the
•refi ut claflical regulations will of course be continued. I pro
ceed upon the principle that it is prafticablc to discover peculiar
propcnfities; and in those cases, where no such discovery can be
made, ihe principle is not to be applied. It follows thatan alter
ation cannot force itfclf where it is not requifit'c. The reformation
would be attempted only on those students who do not, at any
late, acquire material advantages, under the prcft nt modes of e
ducation. If they can derive any benefit from a different manner
of tuition, and derive none from the prelent regulations, there will
fcefomethinggained without hazardingthe loss of any thing.
Tholewhohave been in any degree conversant with universities
need not be told, how great a proportion of students pass away
their academical years in indoknee and disgust. To what can
this be owing ? Some pretend that the natural aversion or inca
pacity of youth, is the cause of their reluctance against study, and
thatit docs not proceed fiom injudicious treatment. Thispretence
is not wholly to be regarded. I have granted that some students
ami learn, merely for want of capacity; but I have averted that
others will not learn, because they are not properly managed.
The objefl of the reformation I propose is to discriminate charac
ters. Those who have not g-nius for anv thing can be distinguish
ed from those who have genius forJometi.ing; and those who have
id aptitude of mind to learn every thing can be delignated from
both the others. By suitable managemtnt it may be determined,
how far the defefl is to be ascribed io nature, and how tar to bad
institutions, that so finall a propoition of students gain any sub
stantial advantages from a public educatioo.
In convetfation with a hitnd upon this ful-jeft he did not coin
cide with my opinion, but rather supposed the difficulty proceed
ed from a want of proper inftru&ors. He imagined, that the
idlenefsand disgust obit red among students were occasioned
more by the austere, unaccommodating behaviour of the profef
fors and tutors, than by any improper alignment of studies. This
point (hall come next under consideration.
CHARALTER OF THE MODERN HIGHLANDERS.
[from Knox's works.]
THE Highlanders have in all riges been re
nowned for bravery and fidelity in the cause
which they espoused ; strongly attached to their
families, their chieftains and country, for whom
they braved all dangers, and endured every kind
of hardfliip. At present, that barbarous ferocity,
which was the offspring of feudal institutions, is
completely extinguished ; while their native val
our, and military character remain unimpaired.
They are intelligent, hospitable, religious, inof
fenfive in their manners, fubmiifive to superiors,
temperate, frugal, grateful, obliging, honest and
faithful. A man nlay travel in perfetft security
from one extremity of the Highlands to t he other,
without taking any precaution whatever in de
fence of his pel foil or property. Wherever he
goes, he meets with a civility, modesty and liof
pitality, which would do honor to the most polilh
ed nations ; wherever he reposes any confidence,
he discovers an attachment and disinterested readi
ness to oblige, which more opulent fubjeifts can
scarcely conceive an idea of. These qualities are
the universal theme of travellers of whatever
nation, who have lately visited the Highlands of
Scotland.
FRUGALITY.
[A continuation of the EXTRACTS begun in So. XXV.]
" IT is of importance to teach children fru
gality, and to guard them when they set out in life
against needless expence. The future circumftan
cesof children,efpecially of daughters, may not be
io affluent ss those of their parents : At any rate
moderation in all things is a virtuous habit.
The rules of moderation and frugality cannot
>e very precisely determined : If the objetft be to
P a y debts, one can scarcely be too minutely and
Merely frugal : " If a man would keep an
Men hand, (lays Lord Bacon ; ) his ordinary ex
penses fhonld be but half his income." There
af e many extraordinary expences.
rj are^ ts Ihould look forward to the expence of
"cation. VVeare fubjedlto diseases, and should
sve fomcthing in reserve for a time of need.—
t e ma y ' 1e involved in a law suit : Additional
imposed, and the price of provisions
f l • i hole who are indebted to us may be in
/ a 'ts, and by living frugally we can afford to
Patience with them. '
lormaybe unfortunate, andtheland
' * o lives within his income can feel for his
WEDNESDAY, July 22, 17^9.
tenants' misfortunes, and abate his demands in a
bad season.
Our friends may come to want, and it is a de
sirable thing to be able to affilf them. There are
works of benevolence and public utility, to some
of which every good man would wish to contri
bute. By providing for extraordinary expences
we arefeldom obliged to borrow, which is a hu
miliating and expensive course to pursue. One
may have no friends ; or those we esteem fuel,
may deceive us ; or those we have obliged ma}
prove ungrateful: These suppositions are unplea
l'ant, but not impofljble. We may meet with los
fes, and it is prudent to expecft them.
But left frugality lhould tend to avarice, let ii
be pra<ftifed rather with a view to keep, than from
a defii eto accumulate. Let us use with cheerful
nefs what we can fairly call our own, and culti
vate habits of generofity—for there is a time to
keep, and a time togive away. In a just discern
ment of these times,confifts the difference between
frugality and avarice."
FOR THE GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES.
ILLIBERAL POLITICAL CONDUCT OF BRI
TAIN TOWARDS AMERICA.
ALTHOUGH we cannot be insensible of the
prejudices of a part of the English nation againfl
the people of the United States of America ; yet
we oujjfht in all our conduct to shew such magna
nimity asfhall convince them, that we are neither
ignorant of their unreasonableness, or unmind
ful of our own duty. Let us teach that haughty
nation that we are capable ofbeing injured, with
out retaining resentment. Lei us charitably im
pute totlie policy of endeavoringto prevent their
inhabitants from migrating to America, the falfe
representations -which they are conltantly giving,
in their NewsPapers, of the slate of this country.
It is true, their representations have, in many in
stances, been made up of such extravagant and
incredible falfhoods, as have operated in the na
ture of an antidote againfl the poison, which they
were designed to have infufed into the minds of
the Europeans. Notwithftaiuling this lias not al
ways been the cafe ; yet we ought to remember
that truth is mighty, and will at last prevail.—
Let the real circumstances of the United Statep
of America, in the year 1780, be known to the
•world ; and then let the world determine, whether
it is for the Politicians and Critics of the Island of
Britain, sarcastically to deplore our miseries, im
pudently to contradiifl the taifts which ai e eltab
lifhedby inconteftible evidence, and malevolently
to ridicule our future profpe<fts !
The preceding observations are made partly
for the purpose of introducing the following
beautiful lines, which were written before the
end of the late war, by Dr.Dwight, in his Poem,
called the Conquejl of Canaan ; as well as partly
for the purpose of annexing a malevolent Note
written by the London Reviewers on these words,
" Here union'd choice."
EXTRACT.
" In that dread hour, beneath auspicious fltics,
To nobler bliss yon Western world (hall life :
Unlike all former realms, by war that (tood,
And saw the guilty throne ascend in blood.
* " Here union'p choicc Jhallform a rule divine;
Here countlefi hands in one cr fat system join,
Thtfv.a\ of law unbroke, unrivall'd grow,
And bid her bleffin gsev'ry land overflow.
" In fertile plains behold the tree ascend,
Vair leaves unfold, and spreading branches bend !
The fierce, invading dorm secure they brave,
And the strong influence oi the creeping wave;
In heav'nly gales with endless verdure rife,
Wave her broad fields, and fade in friendly fides.
There fafe from driving rains, and batt'ring hail,
And the keen fury of the winter gale,
Fufh fpringthe plants ; the flow'ry millions bloom,
All ether gladd'ning with a choice perfume ;
Their haft'ning pinions birds unnumber'd spread,
And dance, and wanton in the serial fliade.
" //it; Empire's last and brightest throne shall
And peace, and right, andfreedom greet thefkies : (rise,
7"o morn's far realms her ftnps commercing fail,
Or lift their canvas to the evening gale ;
In wisdom's walks her sons ambitious soar,
Tread starry fields, and untried scenes explore.
And hark what strange, what solemn breathing strain ' «
Swells wildjy murm'iing, o'er the far, far main !
Down time's long, lefs'ning vale the notes decay,
And, loft in distant ages, roll away."
Note of the London Reviewers.
* " Here union'd choice—Mr. Dwight is always versfan
fruine when he talks of America ; but much better political philosophers
than he seems to be, are afraid that the time when America's
union'd choice shall form a rule divine—
and her
countless bands in one great system join—
is at an immense dijlance.
«« Nor can zee pass over uncenfured the illiberal spirit which irnthes
through the paragraph immediately preceding. It is net enough, it ferns,
that America mvft he complimented as a second Paradise, the land of Mil
lennium ; but to frengthen the contrafl, the great eajtcrn Continent, mi
\PubliJhed on Wednifday and Saturday
its JJlands, muflbe doomed by our bard to the rnoji deplorable Jlate of fla
lery and misery. But all this will come to pais, we suppose, when
the prophecy of America's " union'd choice joining in
ONE SYSTEM, AND FORMING A RULE DIV I N E," (hall
' be fulfilled "
The Lopdon Reviewers are called upon, as they
wou'd support any pretensions to the cliaradter
of honest and candid men, to acknowledge, that,
at least, fomfc part of this prophecy has been ful
filled,in the choice of THE PRESIDENT of the
UNITED STATES by the PufFrages of more than
hreemillionsofpeople, without ONE dissent
ing voice.—Say, ye Critics, is not this union'd
choice!
Thus are men of letters, \vho ought indeed t<>
consider themselves as citizens of the world, warp
ed from the line of reiftitude by political or na
ional prejudices; and often, under the influence
of those prejudices, do these British Literati en
deavor to belittle the productions of America.
Yet, here, justice requires that the commendation
which they have given, in the last paragraph of
their review, of Mr. Dwight's Poem, Should be
cited.
" Mr. Dwight informs us in his mottp, arti hii Poem evinces, /W
eis a young man. As he is undoubtedly pojftfjedoj poetical powers muck
above mediocrity, it may juftlv be hoped, rnat experience and culti
vation will one dayrender him truly claflical. At present his work
is a promifmg blojfitn oj polite literature sprung up on the American Con
tinent ; and, as citizens of the world, we rejoice to fte it, and sincerely
hope Mr. Dwight will improve b\ ourjlriffurej. He ma\ be ajjured, that
had we not thought his mute capable of improvement, we would by no
means have been so particular, or paid her the attentions we have donej"
EXTRACT.
TO divide honest and well meaning citizens has not beeti
found so difficult a taflc in many countries as might have beenwifh
ed—no extraordinary genius is requisite—a low cunning and fame
(mail (hare of experience among men are too often found to be
fufficient, and the confeqaences,to a benevolent mind, appear truly
diftrefling.—Rancor, malice, hatred, envy, ill will, a disposition
to persecute and dfftroy, prove fatal to the peace, the comfort and
fatisfa&ion of social life—a system of fraud and fedu&iOn follow!
of course, and in this situation the dilTocial p.-.flinns haVe full plav.
Uninfluenced by the principles of virtue and true patriotism, the
Hate is in a perpetual ferm nt —the noisy and most boisterous have
the control of public meafu^ts —anarchy and confufion are conse
quent, and to them the most dcfpotic government may succeed.
These being the confequrn es of party rage and violence, it cer-i
tainly must be cortfidered as the duty of every one who dcfires the
prosperity of his country Co seize every opportunity to cultivate
and improve a fpiritof harmony and unanimity—toeradicate those
principles which inspire animofitus—breed rancor and malice,
create divisions, destroy the internal peace, weaken the strength
and fully the glory of our government. Every good citizen ftiould
exert his utmost abilities to h> al political divisions, and change the
narrow prejudices of a party spirit in to the pleadm;, diffufive, hap
py fpiritof true patriotism and universal benevolence.
Worcester Spectator. *
BIOGRAPHICAL,
ON the 17th of last January died at Grand
Cairo, in Egypt, Mr. JOHN LEDYARD, a na
tive of the State of Connecticut. He served un
der Capt. Cook, in the last voyage which that
able navigator performed, and was one of the
witnefles to his tragical fate on the iflandof Owy
hee ; an account of which, with the material
occurrences of the voyage, he published in Ame
rica, before that great and splendid relation of
it appeared in England, 111 which honorable men
tion is made of Mr. Ledyard. He had a most in
satiable defite to visit unknown countiies, and
offered his services to the Empress of R.uSfia,
through her Amballador at Paris, to explore the
continent of America, and to attempt to pass from
the north weft coast to the northern parts of the
United States, or the Atlantic. Being disap
pointed in these views, he undertook the journey,
with the afliftance of a few friends, and found
his way from Paris to Petersburg, and front thence
to Kaniptfchatka, were, by order of the Entprefs,
he was put, without any previous notice, into a
fledge drawn by dogs, and after returning to the
Southward, was sent out of her Majesty's domi
nions. Being thus again disappointed, he went
0 London, and proposed to the Royal African
Company to make a journey through Africa, and
to examine the unknown parts of that quarter of
the globe.—He accordingly arrived at Grand Cai
ro, under the auspices of this Company; and
thinking himfelf 011 the moment of pointing his
way towards Abylfinia, from whence he expected
to have continued his rout to the Cape of Good
1 Tope : he made all his arrangements for this long
journey, and engaged the proteifiion of a cara
van, which was to set out in a few days to
wards the southward. Here, however, he finish
ed his career, and is gone to " that undiscovered
country, from whose bourn notraveller returns."
Mr. Ledyard was strong and atftive, bold as a li
on, and gentle as he was bold. By his intrepi
dity, pcrfeverance and patience under hard
ships, he seemed calculated to execute such en
terprizes as he was always in pursuit of; and the
miscarriage of his project for exploring either
America or Africa mult be felt as a very general
and public loss.