the grace and vivacity of youth, which every | whether a nobleman of first-rate fortune and woman gives up, as she gives up the dress and distinction is well or ill brought up;-what a manners of eighteen: she has no wish to retain taste and fashion he may inspire for private and them, or, if she has, she is driven out of them for political vice!—and what misery and misby diameter and derision. The system of fe- chief he may produce to the thousand human male education, as it now stands, aims only at beings who are dependent on him! A country embellishing a few years of life, which are in contains no such curse within its bosom. Youth, themselves so full of grace and happiness, that wealth, high rank, and vice, form a combina they hardly want it; and then leaves the rest of tion which baffles all remonstrance and beats existence a miserable prey to idle insignificance. down all opposition. A man of high rank who No woman of understanding and reflection can combines these qualifications for corruption, is possibly conceive she is doing justice to her almost the master of the manners of the age, children by such kind of education. The object and has the public happiness within his grasp. is, to give to children resources that will en- But the most beautiful possession which a coundure as long as life endures,-habits that time try can have is a noble and rich man, who loves will ameliorate, not destroy,-occupations that virtue and knowledge;-who without being will render sickness tolerable, solitude pleasant, feeble or fanatical is pious-and who without age venerable, life more dignified and useful, being factious is firm and independent;-who, and therefore death less terrible: and the com- in his political life, is an equitable mediator bepensation which is offered for the omission of tween king and people; and in his civil life, a all this, is a short-lived blaze, a little tempo- firm promoter of all which can shed a lustre rary effect, which has no other consequence upon his country, or promote the peace and orthan to deprive the remainder of life of all der of the world. But if these objects are of taste and relish. There may be women who the importance which we attribute to them, have a taste for the fine arts, and who the education of women must be important, as evince a decided talent for drawing, or for the formation of character for the first seven or music. In that case, there can be no objection eight years of life seems to depend almost ento the cultivation of these arts; but the error is, tirely upon them. It is certainly in the power to make such things the grand and universal of a sensible and well-educated mother to inobject, to insist upon it that every woman is spire, within that period, such tastes and proto sing, and draw, and dance-with nature, or pensities as shall nearly decide the destiny of against nature,-to bind her apprentice to some the future man; and this is done, not only by accomplishment, and if she cannot succeed in the intentional exertions of the mother, but by oil or water-colours, to prefer gilding, varnish- the gradual and insensible imitation of the child; ing, burnishing, box-making, to real solid im- for there is something extremely contagious in provement in taste, knowledge, and under- greatness and rectitude of thinking, even at standing. that age; and the character of the mother with whom he passes his early infancy, is always an event of the utmost importance to the child. A merely accomplished woman cannot infuse her tastes into the minds of her sons; and, if she could, nothing could be more unfortunate than her success. Besides, when her accomplishments are given up, she has nothing left for it but to amuse herself in the best way she can; and, becoming entirely frivolous, either declines altogether the fatigue of attending to her children, or, attending to them, has neither talents nor knowledge to succeed; and, therefore, here is a plain and fair answer to those who ask so triumphantly, why should a woman dedicate herself to this branch of knowledge ? or why should she be attached to such science?

A great deal is said in favour of the social nature of the fine arts. Music gives pleasure to others. Drawing is an art, the amusement of which does not centre in him who exercises it, but it is diffused among the rest of the world. This is true; but there is nothing, after all, so social as a cultivated mind. We do not mean to speak slightingly of the fine arts, or to depreciate the good humour with which they are sometimes exhibited; but we appeal to any man, whether a little spirited and sensible conversation-displaying, modestly, useful acquirements -and evincing rational curiosity, is not well worth the highest exertions of musical or graphical skill. A woman of accomplishments may entertain those who have the pleasure of knowing her for half an hour with great brillian--Because, by having gained information on cy; but a mind full of ideas, and with that elastic spring which the love of knowledge only can convey, is a perpetual source of exhilaration and amusement to all that come within its reach; -not collecting its force into single and insulated achievements, like the effort made in the fine arts-but diffusing, equally over the whole of existence, a calm pleasure-better loved as it is longer felt-and suitable to every variety and every period of life. Therefore, instead of It is of great importance to a country, that hanging the understanding of a woman upon there should be as many understandings as poswalls, or hearing it vibrate upon strings,-in-sible actively employed within it. Mankind stead of seeing it in clouds, or hearing it in the wind, we would make it the first spring and ornament of society, by enriching it with attainments upon which alone such power depends. If the education of women were improved, the education of men would be improved also. Let any one consider (in order to bring the matter more home by an individual instance) of what immense importance to society it is,

these points, she may inspire her son with valuable tastes, which may abide by him through life, and carry him up to all the sublimities of knowledge; because she cannot lay the foundation of a great character, if she is absorbed in frivolous amusements, nor inspire her child with noble desires, when a long course of trifling has destroyed the little talents which were left by a bad education.

are much happier for the discovery of barometers, thermometers, steam-engines, and all the innumerable inventions in the arts and sciences. We are every day and every hour reaping the benefit of such talent and ingenuity. The same observation is true of such works as those of Dryden, Pope, Milton and Shakspeare. Mankind are much happier that such individuals have lived and written; they add every day to

the stock of public enjoyment-and perpetually advantage. Education gives fecundity of gladden and embellish life. Now, the number thought, copiousness of illustration, quickness, of those who exercise their understandings to vigour, fancy, words, images and illustrations; any good purpose, is exactly in proportion to it decorates every common thing, and gives those who exercise it at all; but, as the matter the power of trifling without being undignified stands at present, half the talent in the universe and absurb. The subjects themselves may not runs to waste, and is totally unprofitable. It be wanted, upon which the talents of an edu would have been almost as well for the world, cated man have been exercised; but there is hitherto, that women, instead of possessing the always a demand for those talents which his capacities they do at present, should have been education has rendered strong and quick. born wholly destitute of wit, genius, and every Now, really, nothing can be further from our other attribute of mind, of which men make so intention than to say any thing rude and uneminent a use: and the ideas of use and pos- pleasant; but we must be excused for observing, session are so united together, that, because it that it is not now a very common thing to be has been the custom in almost all countries to interested by the variety and extent of female give to women a different and a worse educa-knowledge, but it is a very common thing to tion than to men, the notion has obtained that they do not possess faculties which they do not cultivate. Just as, in breaking up a common, it is sometimes very difficult to make the poor believe it will carry corn, merely because they have been hitherto accustomed to see it produce nothing but weeds and grass-they very naturally mistake present condition for general nature. So completely have the talents of women been kept down, that there is scarcely a single work, either of reason or imagination, written by a woman, which is in general circulation either in the English, French, or Italian literature;-scarcely one that has crept even into the ranks of our minor poets.

lament, that the finest faculties in the world have been confined to trifles utterly unworthy of their richness and their strength.

The

The pursuit of knowledge is the most innocent and interesting occupation which can be given to the female sex; nor can there be a better method of checking a spirit of dissipation than by diffusing a taste for literature. true way to attack vice, is by setting up something else against it. Give to women, in early youth, something to acquire, of sufficient interest and importance to command the application of their mature faculties, and to excite their perseverance in future life;-teach them that happiness is to be derived from the acquisition of knowledge, as well as the gratification of vanity; and you will raise up a much more formidable barrier against dissipation than a

It sometimes happens that an unfortunate man gets drunk with very bad wine,-not to gratify his palate, but to forget his cares: he does not set any value on what he receives, but on account of what it excludes;-it keeps out something worse than itself. Now, though it were denied that the acquisition of serious knowledge is of itself important to a woman, still it prevents a taste for silly and pernicious works of imagination; it keeps away the horrid trash of novels; and, in lieu of that eagerness for emotion and adventure which books of that sort inspire, promotes a calm and steady temperament of mind.

If the possession of excellent talents is not a conclusive reason why they should be improved, it at least amounts to a very strong presumption; and, if it can be shown that wo-host of invectives and exhortations can supply. men may be trained to reason and imagine as well as men, the strongest reasons are certainly necessary to show us why we should not avail ourselves of such rich gifts of nature; and we have a right to call for a clear statement of those perils which make it necessary that such talents should be totally extinguished, or, at most, very partially drawn out. The burthen of proof does not lie with those who say, increase the quanity of talent in any country as much as possible for such a proposition is in conformity with every man's feelings: but it lies with those who say, take care to keep that understanding weak and trifling, which nature has made capable of becoming strong and powerful. The paradox is with them, not with us. In all human reasoning, knowledge must be taken for a good, till it can be shown to be an evil. But now, nature makes to us rich and magnificent presents; and we say to herYou are too luxuriant and munificent-we must keep you under, and prune you;-we have talents enough in the other half of the creation; and, if you will not stupefy and enfeeble the mind of women to our hands, we ourselves must expose them to a narcotic process, and educate away that fatal redundance with which the world is afflicted, and the order of sublunary things deranged.

One of the greatest pleasures of life is conversation; and the pleasures of conversation are of course enhanced by every increase of knowledge: not that we should meet together to talk of alkalies and angles, or to add to our stock of history and philology-though a little of these things is no bad ingredient in conversation; but let the subject be what it may, there is always a prodigious difference between the conversation of those who have been well edurated and of those who have not enjoyed this

A man who deserves such a piece of good fortune, may generally find an excellent companion for all the vicissitudes of his life, but it is not so easy to find a companion for his understanding, who has similar pursuits with himself, or who can comprehend the pleasure he derives from them. We really can see no reason why it should not be otherwise; nor comprehend how the pleasures of domestic life can be promoted by diminishing the number of subjects in which persons who are to spend their lives together take a common interest.

One of the most agreeable consequences of knowledge is the respect and importance which it communicates to old age. Men rise in character often as they increase in years-they are venerable from what they have acquired, and pleasing from what they can impart. If they outlive their faculties, the mere frame itself is respected for what it once contained; out women (such is their unfortunate style of education) hazard every thing upon one cast of the die;-when youth is gone, all is gone. No hu man creature gives his admiration for nothing either the eye must be charmed, or the under standing gratified. A woman must talk wisely

or look well. Every human being must put up with the coldest civility, who has neither the charms of youth nor the wisdom of age. Neither is there the slightest commiseration for decayed accomplishments;-no man mourns over the fragments of a dancer, or drops a tear on the relics of musical skill. They are flowers destined to perish; but the decay of great talents is always the subject of solemn pity; and, even when their last memorial is over, their ruins and vestiges are regarded with pious affection.

power; so that an educated person is not only
one with stronger and better faculties than
others, but with a more useful propensity-a
disposition better cultivated-and associations
of a higher and more important class.
In short, and to recapitulate the main points
upon which we have insisted:-Why the dis-
proportion in knowledge between the two
sexes should be so great, when the inequality
in natural talents is so small; or why the un-
derstanding of women should be lavished upon
trifles, when nature has made it capable of
higher and better things, we profess ourselves
not able to understand. The affectation charged
upon female knowledge is best cured by making
that knowledge more general: and the economy
devolved upon women is best secured by the
ruin, disgrace, and inconvenience which pro-
ceeds from neglecting it. For the care of child-
ren, nature has made a direct and powerful
provision; and the gentleness and elegance of
women is the natural consequence of that de-
sire to please, which is productive of the greatest
part of civilization and refinement, and which

by any such modifications in education as we have proposed. If you educate women to attend to dignified and important subjects, you are multiplying beyond measure the chances of human improvement, by preparing and medicating those early impressions, which always come from the mother; and which, in a great majority of instances, are quite decisive of character and genius. Nor is it only in the business of education that women would influ

There is no connexion between the ignorance in which women are kept, and the preservation of moral and religious principle; and yet certainly there is, in the minds of some timid and respectable persons, a vague, indefinite dread of knowledge, as if it were capable of producing these effects. It might also be supposed, from the dread which the propagation of knowledge has excited, that there was some great secret which was to be kept in impenetrable obscurity, that all moral rules were a species of delusion and imposture, the detection of which, by the improvement of the under-rests upon a foundation too deep to be shaken standing, would be attended with the most fatal consequences to all, and particularly to women. If we could possibly understand what these great secrets were, we might perhaps be disposed to concur in their preservation; but believing that all the salutary rules which are imposed on women are the result of true wisdom, and productive of the greatest happiness, we cannot understand how they are to become less sensible of this truth in proportion as their power of discovering truth in general is in-ence the destiny of men. If women knew more, creased, and the habit of viewing questions men must learn more-for ignorance would with accuracy and comprehension established then be shameful-and it would become the by education. There are men, indeed, who are fashion to be instructed. The instruction of always exclaiming against every species of women improves the stock of national talents, power, because it is connected with danger: and employs more minds for the instruction their dread of abuses is so much stronger than and amusement of the world;-it increases the their admiration of uses, that they would cheer- pleasures of society, by multiplying the topics fully give up the use of fire, gunpowder, and upon which the two sexes take a common inprinting, to be freed from robbers, incendiaries, terest; and makes marriage an intercourse of and libels. It is true, that every increase of understanding as well as of affection, by giving knowledge may possibly render depravity more dignity and importance to the female character. depraved, as well as it may increase the strength The education of women favours public moof virtue. It is in itself only power; and its rals; it provides for every season of life, as well value depends on its applicalion. But, trust to as for the brightest and the best: and leaves a the natural love of good where there is no temp-woman when she is stricken by the hand of tation to be bad-it operates no where more forcibly than in education. No man, whether he be tutor, guardian, or friend, ever contents himself with infusing the mere ability to acquire; but giving the power, he gives with it a taste for the wise and rational exercise of that

time, not as she now is, destitute of every thing, and neglected by all; but with the full power and the splendid attractions of knowledge,diffusing the elegant pleasures of polite literature, and receiving the just homage of learned and accomplished men.

H

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.*

(EDINBURGH REVIEW, 1810.)

THERE is a set of well-dressed, prosperous tablished by immemorial custom), every boy is gentlemen, who assemble daily at Mr. Hatch- alternately tyrant and slave. The power which ard's shop-clean, civil personages, well in the elder part of these communities exercises with people in power,-delighted with every over the younger is exeedingly great-very difexisting institution-and almost with every ex-ficult to be controlled-and accompanied, not isting circumstance: and, every now and then, unfrequently, with cruelty and caprice. It is one of these personages writes a little book ;- the common law of the place, that the young and the rest praise that little book-expecting should be implicitly obedient to the elder boys; to be praised, in their turn, for their own little and this obedience resembles more the submisbooks-and of these little books, thus written sion of a slave to his master, or of a sailor to by these clean, civil personages, so expecting to his captain, than the common and natural debe praised, the pamphlet before us appears to ference which would always be shown by one be one. boy to another a few years older than himself. Now, this system we cannot help considering as an evil,-because it inflicts upon boys, for two or three years of their lives, many painful hardships, and much unpleasant servitude. These suffer

The subject of it is the advantage of public schools; and the author, very creditably to himself, ridicules the absurd clamour, first set on foot by Dr. Rennel, of the irreligious tendency of public schools: he then proceeds to an investiga-ings might perhaps be of some use in military tion of the effects which public schools may produce upon the moral character; and here the subject becomes more difficult, and the pamphlet worse.

In arguing any large or general question, it is of infinite importance to attend to the first feelings which the mention of the topic has a tendency to excite; and the name of a public school brings with it immediately the idea of brilliant classical attainments: but, upon the importance of these studies, we are not now offering any opinion. The only points for consideration are, whether boys are put in the way of becoming good and wise men by these schools; and whether they actually gather there those attainments which it pleases mankind, for the time being, to consider as valuable, and to decorate by the name of learning.

By a public school, we mean any endowed place of education, of old standing, to which the sons of gentlemen resort in considerable numbers, and where they continue to reside, from eight or nine, to eighteen years of age. We do not give this as a definition which would have satisfied Porphyry or Duns-Scotus, but as one sufficiently accurate for our purpose. The characteristic features of these schools are, their antiquity, the numbers, and the ages of the young people who are educated at them. We beg leave, however, to premise, that we have not the slightest intention of insinuating any thing to the disparagement of the present discipline or present rulers of these schools, as compared with other times and other men: we have no reason whatever to doubt that they are as ably governed at this as they have been at any preceding period. Whatever objections we may have to these institutions, they are to faults, not depending on prosent administration, but upon original construction.f

At a public school (for such is the system es

* Remarks on the System of Education in Public Schools. 8vo. Hatchard. London, 1809.

A public school is thought to be the best cure for the insolence of youthful aristocracy. This insolence, however, is not a little increased by the homage of masers, and would soon meet with its natural check in the

schools; but, to give a boy the habit of enduring privations to which he will never again be called upon to submit-to inure him to pains which he will never again feel-and to subject him to the privation of comforts with which he will always in future abound-is surely not a very useful and valuable severity in education. It is not the life in miniature which he is to lead hereafter-nor does it bear any relation to it :he will never again be subjected to so much insolence and caprice; nor ever, in all human probability, be called upon to make so many sacrifices. The servile obedience which it teaches might be useful to a menial domestic; or the habits of enterprise which it encourages prove of importance to a military partisan; but we cannot see what bearing it has upon the calm, regular, civil life, which the sons of gentlemen, destined to opulent idleness, or to any of the three learned professions, are destined to lead. Such a system makes many boys very miserable; and produces those bad effects upon the temper and disposition, which unjust suffering always does produce;-but what good it does we are much at a loss to conceive. Reasonable obedience is extremely useful in forming the disposition. Submission to tyranny lays the foundation of hatred, suspicion, cunning, and a variety of odious passions. We are convinced that those young people will turn out to be the best men, who have been guarded most effectually in their childhood, from every species of useless vexation; and experienced, in the greatest degree, the blessings of a wise and rational indulgence. But even if these effects upon future character are not produced, still four or five years in childhood make a very considerable period of human existence; and it is by no means a trifling consideration whether they are passed happily or unhappily. The wretchedness of school tyranny is trifling enough to a man who only contemplates it in

world. There can be no occasion to bring five hundred boys together to teach to a young noblemen that proper demeanour which he would learn so much better from the first English gentleman whom he might think proper to insult.

ease of body and tranquillity of mind, through [ so often attendant upon this trifling superiority; the medium of twenty intervening years; but nor is there much chance that they have ever it is quite as real, and quite as acute, while it fallen into the common and youthful error of lasts, as any of the sufferings of mature life: mistaking a premature initiation into vice for and the utility of these sufferings, or the price a knowledge of the ways of mankind; and, in paid in compensation for them, should be clear- addition to these salutary exemptions, a winter ly made out to a conscientious parent before he in London brings it all to a level; and offers to consents to expose his children to them. every novice the advantages which are supposed to be derived from this precocity of confidence and polish.