dible. But of the learned puerilities of Cowley there is no doubt, fince a volume of his poems was not only written but printed in his thirteenth year; containing, with other poetical compofitions, the tragical hiftory of Pyramus and Thisbe, written when he was ten years old; and Conftantia and Philetus, written two years after."

Dr. JOHNSON. With respect to early proficiency, we may say in the well-known words of an antient, SAT CITO, SI SAT BENE; Soon enough, if well enough.

SECTION III.

ON THE QUESTION, WHETHER A PUBLIC OR A PRIVATE EDUCATION IS TO BE PREFERRED?

Non enim vox illa præceptoris, ut cœna, minùs pluribus fufficit; fed ut fol, univerfis idem lucis calorifque largitur. For the mafter's inftructions, do not become, like a dinner, infufficient for more than a certain and limited number; but, like the fun, difpenfe a like degree of heat and light to ALL.

QUINTILIAN.

ROM the time of Quintilian to the pre

Ffent day, it has remained a question,

whether public or private education is the more conducive to valuable improvement? Quintilian approved of public education, and has fupported his opinion, as indeed he usually does, with reasons which carry with them irresistible conviction. From the arguments which he has used, and from the dictates of observation, I am led not only to prefer public, but entirely to difapprove private, education *, unless under

By private, I mean only domeftic and folitary education; I do not mean the education of those schools, which, though they are called private, have all the advantages of public schools; fuch as a number of boys, emulation, &c.

the particular circumstances which I shall prefently enumerate.

Though, upon the whole, I prefer the education of schools, yet I know that much licentiousness has often been found in them. The prevailing manners of the age, and of the world at large, are apt to infinuate themfelves into thofe feminaries of learning, which, by their feclufion from the world, might be fuppofed to be exempted from its corruption. The fcholars often bring the infection from home; and perhaps the mafters themfelves at length acquire a tinge from the predominant colour of the times. From whatever caufe it proceeds, it is certain that schools often degenerate with the community, and contribute greatly to increafe, by diffufing, at the moft fufceptible periods of life, the general depravity. The old fcholaftic difcipline relaxes, habits of idleness and intemperance are contracted, and the fcholar often comes from them with the acquifition of effrontery alone to compenfate his ignorance. When I recommend public fchools, therefore, I must be understood to mean places of education where the intention of the pious founder is not quite forgotten, and where a degree of the more practicable part of the original difcipline is ftill retained. Such, I truft, may be found, and fuch will increase in number, when the general diffipation, which, it is confeffed, has remarkably prevailed of late, fhall be corrected by public diftrefs, or by fome other difpenfation of Divine Providence.

The

The danger which the morals are faid to incur in fchools, is a weighty objection. I moft cordially agree with Quintilian, and with other writers on this fubject, that it is an ill exchange to give up innocence for learning. But perhaps it is not true, that, in a well-dif. ciplined fchool (and it is only fuch an one which I recommend), there is more danger of a corruption of morals than at home. I am not unacquainted with the early propenfity of the human heart to vice, and I am well aware that boys contribute greatly to each other's corruption. But I know, that the pupil who is kept at home cannot be at all hours under the immediate eye of his parent or his inftruçtor. It muft, happen, by chance, neceffity, or neglect, that he will often affociate with menial fervants, from whofe example, especially in great and opulent families, he will not only catch meannefs of fpirit, but vice and vulgarity. But fuppofing him to be restrained from fuch communication, the examples he will fee in the world, and the temptations he will meet with in an intercourfe with various company at an early age, will affect his heart, and caufe it to beat with impatience for his emancipation: from that reftraint which must be removed at the approach of manhood. Then will his paffions break forth with additional violence, as the waters of a ftream which have been long confined. In the courfe of my own experience, I have known young men nearly ruined at the

* Utinam falsò jactaretur.

I wish it were falfely reported.

C
3

QUINTILIAN. university,

university, who attributed their wrong conduct to the immoderate restraint of a domeftic education. The sweets of liberty never before tafted, and the allurements of vice never before withstood, become too powerful for refiftance at an age when the paffions are ftrong, reafon immature, and experience entirely deficient.

After all the confinement and trouble of a domestic education, it is probable that the boy will at last be fent to the univerfity. There he will find the greater part of his affociates, confifting of young men who have been educated at schools; and if they have any vices, he will now be in much greater danger of moral infection, and will fuffer worfe confequences from it, than if he had not been fecluded from boys at a boyish age. He will appear awkward, and unacquainted with their manners. He will be neglected, if not despised. His fpirit, if he poffeffes any, will not submit to contempt; and the final refult will be, that he will imitate, and at length furpass, their irregularities, in order to gain a welcome reception. From actual obfervation I am convinced, that this voluntary degeneracy often takes place under these, or under fimilar circumftances. That happy conduct which can preferve dignity and efteem at the university, without any blameable compliances, muft arise from a degree of worldly wisdom and experience, as. well as of moral rectitude, rarely poffeffed by him who has been educated in a closet. It is not enough, that the mind has been furnished with prudent maxims, nor that the pureft principles