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 A APPLIED IIVHGE Inc 
 
 S^ '653 'Ijst Moin Street 
 
 Sr^ Roche rter, New York 14609 USA 
 
 '.^g (716) 4P-? - 0300 - Phone 
 
 aaS (716) 288- 598S -Fox 
 
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 ON TIIK 
 
 ietfssitg 0f a f tkral d^ktatiou, 
 
 DKJJVKRKlJ IN liARTO.N, 
 
 ON FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 30, 1857. 
 
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 Jettssilg of a liberal (i^tocatiou, 
 
 DELIVERED IN BARTON, 
 
 ON FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 30, 1857. 
 
 HAilLTOM PUBLIC LIBRAH i 
 
 B^Z" " JTJ'^T^BlSriS. 
 
 HAMILTON: 
 
 « PRINTED AT THE "SPECTATOR" OFFICE, COURT HOUSE SQUARE. 
 
 1867. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 T1.G following adaroBs wns not oripinnllv intenrlnrl f„r , ,• • 
 the haate with whi.h it w„. written t.^etln, ': '■ "' ""' 
 
 Hence of the autho, „.i«ht with Vro^^ C^^^r ''''' T''' 
 ™whieh.a.e.sti.it«oo.pol;,.:.;jr^^^^ 
 n. a.,.e a.e not few) to those fWen.. who soiieited its p..b,iea J „ 
 to generous pubhc. it is now eon.,nit,e.l, an., it is to be oped that 't 
 mil len.ently ,... over the fallacies they cannot but observe and not ei 
 sure w.th too .ueh vehe.enee the «rst production of a ^ :. " 
 and that they will (with a slight alteration of the poet.) ' 
 
 " Be to its faults a little blind, 
 And to its merits very kind." 
 
 To ,l,eHever.,J .T„l„ Fre.m.. M. A. Eo.lor.f A.h,vicke„ „» I.rf.ie 
 
 ! r "■'""""■'"■"'•^"•' "n.iitionof,l,..p„„,i „ .„.„„„ 
 
 cl... wh,.h com.. „„do. „i. e.p.ei., ,,,., „. „ij„y k„„,„ ^^ /" 
 
 lavouis I have received at his hands. 
 
 Barton, November 11th, ISST. 
 
 ^1 
 
 OCT 7 • 1346 
 
 I1*i,w.-,wf. 
 
THE NECESSITY OF A LIHEllAL EDUCATION. 
 
 • publication, nnd 
 
 ■oiith and inexpe- 
 
 [»H fiXfltisfs for the 
 
 faults, (which I 
 
 publication, and 
 
 hoped that thoy 
 
 rve, and not cen- 
 
 1 yonnfr man. 
 
 ien cutn Leziate, 
 ause of National 
 ion of tlie lower 
 nown, and duly 
 ate this address, 
 and important 
 
 FiADIES ANn Gentlemkn, 
 
 Ediicjitinii is a siilijcct: ii|>i)ii wliicli so imicli has lici'ii said by tin- 
 clover moll of tlii' (lay, that it will hcaimost iiu[)(tssil)lo for na- this 
 tivmiinj^ to iiitrodiici,' to your notice any remarks upon the subject 
 that may strictly lie called orijfimil ; but still I will endeavour to 
 ])(!rt()rni the task I have undertaken to the best of my abilitv, and 
 have the less hesitation in atteiuptinjf to do so, from the belief that 
 my aiidit'nce will not be inclined to be either harsh in their jiidg- 
 nient, or severe in their criticism upon one who now addresses a 
 public assend)ly for the first time. 
 
 in accordance with the heading of my lectui'c, 1 shall now attempt 
 to shew you the necessity of every one pcjssessing a liberal educa- 
 tion ; and I beg it to be distinctly understood as a preliminary to 
 my address, that when 1 speak oi'a liberal education, I mean so hi 
 the widest sense of the word. Of course i am perfectly well aware 
 that there are many people, even in this thiidy populated Continent 
 of America, who have it not in tlu^ir power to keep their children 
 to school until an advanced age, much less have they the means of 
 completing a school education at the University, but I also know 
 that there are otiu'rs well circumstanced in life, some indeed may 
 be even called wealthy, who set too light a value upon their child- 
 ren's learning, who, for the sake of keeping a tew pounds more in 
 their pocket, or on account of too much parental indulgence, or from 
 some other cause ecpially absurd and culpable, deprive them of 
 education even whi'ii placed at their doors, and allow them to grow- 
 up in deplorable ignorance, a disgrace to themselves and a nuisance 
 to society. I myself have even heard intelligent beings argue, " f 
 have passed through the world without education myself, and have 
 succeeded beyond my most sanguine expectations — why should 
 not my children do the same 1 Let them follow in my path ; a 
 little reading and writing, just sufficient to transact business, is all 
 that they require." What an argument tor a man to use. Is the 
 present age to aflbrd no evidence to the future of the improvement 
 man should be making ? Are we to be left a blank in history, 
 without a mark by which we may lie knc ^. "-o coming generations 1 
 Man must cither progress or retrograde iie cannot be stati(jnary, 
 his very nature will not allow him ; he was pre-ordained to be in 
 contiiuial motion. Since the important discoveries of Newton, 
 .science has been making rapid strides, and it is still going on faster 
 
than ovor. Tl... Elcctrir Tcl.'j;ni|.li, wliidi, with tlw nipi.lity of 
 liKlitiiiiiff and .•.•rtaiiily of fnitli, scimIs its nu's.siijii's from oiu- *'ii(l 
 
 r 
 
 nf the world to tlic other in u nionicnt of 
 
 tinu', st..rtU'8 us with 
 
 iiiimzfiucMt at its woiidcrCid iii|)idit,v, mid iiial«'s us look with 
 f,'rafitiidi) and |. raise to that (Jod who'has placed such « ionients at 
 the disposal of man. Tlie steam-engine and Hteani-hoat almost 
 • iestroy time and distanee l»y the swiftness .if their motion; the 
 lightning eondnetor <lraws from (he very clouds themselves' that 
 (lery element which all so much dread, and conducts it swiftly and 
 safely into the hosom of the earth. Chasms which si'cmcd to 
 defy man to cross, and rivers whose l.readth and depth ren.lered 
 them impassilde for land transit, have I.een spamied l.v bridges the 
 most simple in design and elegant in structure. lOv/'Uts are suc- 
 ceeding events with sueii remarkahle rapi<lity as almost to stun the 
 human iiiind in reviewing them. The [.ower of (steam is hecomiiig 
 more fully developed every day, and c.mtaiiis an amount of wealth 
 almost impossii)le for people who lived u himdred years ago to 
 realize; and what has hrought all this to the knowledge of man ? 
 What has heen the original source of all this wealth? I rei)lyj 
 science. People, in talking of education, are too apt to forget,' 
 that it is to that, that they almost without an exception ow(^ their 
 wealth and prosperity. The cotton spinners of Lancashire and 
 New York, [xu-ket their sovereigns and admire their gains without 
 for a moment considering to whom, under (iod's hiessing, they are 
 indel)ted, they naturally attribute their wealth to their ownindiistry, 
 and scarcely ever think of those men, who in the solitary chamber,' 
 with their oil lamps and diagrams by their side, sat from siuiset to 
 sunrise, endeavouring to reveal to the Innnan mind tho«" mathe- 
 matical truths which lay enveloped in jiiist, and thereby rendered 
 useless to man— of those nun who set their maclines'hi motion 
 and opened the paths to riches. ' 
 
 How any right-minded man can review the past, can look at 
 ail thosi! gigantic feats which science has performed, and then deny 
 his son the very cloncnts of a liberal I'ducation, 1 cannot conceive • 
 why the very plough that you use to i.lough your fields, the very 
 machine you employ to thresh out your gi-aiii ; nav, every thin'fr 
 that you use, have either been invented or improved by scientific 
 men, but how many think of this; tln^y obtain the article without 
 knowing or caring to enquire whence it emanated; thev only 
 consider their own convenience, without ever thinking of the brain 
 which produced that convenience. That there are wA any in this 
 audience so utterly devoid of justice, or so'hindered by ignorance 
 from giving their children all the e(hication that their means will 
 allow, 1 can readily believe, but still I would take this opportunity 
 of requesting you to neglect no means however stringent, no 
 expense however great, no circumstance however inconvenent, from 
 advancing your children's intellectual capacity. It is to l>o hoped 
 that the time is fast approaching when there will not remain an 
 
 Ulte*.^ 
 
Ill' rapidity of 
 t'l'iiiii (iiu> t'lid 
 .rtlcs us with 
 
 IIS loiik with 
 •h t ioiiit'iit.s at 
 i-l)()ut aliiMist 
 ■ liiotinti ; the 
 I'liist'ivt's tliat 
 
 it swifViy and 
 lich si'ciiifd to 
 i'|itli rt'iidcrcd 
 liy l)i'id<,'»'s the 
 ifiits aro .siic- 
 iist to stun tlif 
 II is l)i'('oiiiiii^ 
 unit of wealth 
 years ajjo to 
 'd'fiv of mail ? 
 th? I reply, 
 apt to forjjet, 
 fioii o\v(^ their 
 iiieasjiire and 
 [jains without 
 siiifr, they are 
 own industry, 
 ary eliaiiiher, 
 I'oin sunset to 
 tlio" iiiathe- 
 eby reiulered 
 OS in motion, 
 
 can look at 
 lid then deny 
 not conceive ; 
 ids, the very 
 every thing 
 1)y scientific 
 tide without 
 ; they only 
 of the brain 
 )t any in this 
 ly ignorance, 
 r means will 
 oppt>rtunity 
 tringent, no 
 venent, from 
 to he hoped 
 )t remain an 
 
 uneducuted child in this Pr<»vince, when the mind of every one will 
 liecoine s(( enlightened as to make him consider the support of 
 schools and of eomoeteiit teae'iers, as matters of the first 
 importaiK'c. Think v Ml then over this; consider what position 
 your sons will occu|)y in such a community, ami educate them that 
 tlii'y may not become olijects of ridicule to the intelligent. Hut I 
 must bring my introduction to an end ; yon will think me (as 
 indci'd i really am) wandering from the text of my subject, and I 
 will now attempt to explain to you the «A,vo/*//p necessity there exists 
 that \ou should bestow njtoii your children the best Kdncation \ on 
 can allln-d ; and that yon will exercise a wise discretion, if instead 
 of hoarding up '(dlars in order to establish them in business, you 
 expend a t\'\v of them in elesating their minds, and in endeavouring 
 to raise them to a respcctal>lc position in the intelligent com- 
 munity. 
 
 I will now therefore advance my first ste[), namely that " Educa- 
 tion is necessary for preventing <-rinie and civili/ing the masses." 
 If there arc any here who should tliiiik my assertion too sweeping 
 to be snpi)orted, I would say, take the history of any nation you 
 please, and you will invarialily find that the Conntry which'has 
 the best system of National Kdn<ation, is at oiicc more advanced 
 both in moral dignity and inti'Mectnal culture. The best Educated 
 people in the world (ndnd I a u speaking of the mass) are the 
 Aiistrians and Prussians, and in 1. ■ other Conntry is crime at so 
 low an ebb. How is it that England stands nearly first in the 
 catalogues of crime >. IIow is it I repeat that she the Hrst of 
 nations, whom minor States obey, and mighty ones endeavour to 
 imitate. Ibiw is it that she upon wh()se lioiuidlcss tcrritorv the 
 sun is constantly shining, whose power encircles the (-ilobe like a 
 ginlle, has prisons crowded with criminals and colonies with 
 convicts ? How is it I ask, that snchis the case ? 1 havt' .ulvanced 
 the question and will answer it that y<Mi may judg<' for yonrselves. 
 
 The ['nitcd Kingdom of (ireat Britain and Ireland contains a 
 population of thirty millions of people ; indeed so densely is 
 England po[)iilated. that there are nearly four hnndred inhabitants 
 to every scjuarc mik^ of ground, and as crime is ever greater in 
 towns and cities where the nuisses ari' concentrated tl in in the 
 country where the |)opulation is comparatively scattered, it 
 necessarily follows that in so dense anuiss, where even the (^)untry 
 frequently presents the appearance of Towns, crime nuist have 
 full sway and vigour unless there is someantidote in force [)ropor- 
 tionatcly strong to keep it in <-heck ; and what is to be that 
 antidote >. I answer. Education ! Various kinds of pimishment of 
 greater or less severity have been invented and enforced for the 
 suppression of crime, but who will dare for a moment to say that 
 crime has abated one atom ? Nay ; do not our criminal returns 
 shew a steady increase ? Murder is made punishable by death, 
 
6 
 
 l.ut do the newspaper reports of this or any other country warrant 
 lis in Lelioying tliat the atrocious crime of murder is dyin.r away ^ 
 liol.l.ery, forgery, an.l other crimes are punished withproporticiled 
 severity, yet wlio will venture tor a nujment to assert that robhery 
 and forgery are .jn the decrease ? But on the contrary, is it ncit 
 onr nu.|anch..Jy fate, to read, day by day, and week by week, of 
 forgeries the most atrocious, rohberi(-s the most flagrant ; at one 
 instant whole families are hurled fn^n afHuence to want, from 
 comparative riches to the depths of posc-ty, by the duplicity of 
 wretches whose existen.-e disgrace the name of man ; at another a 
 ather has been broken hrartcd by the conduct of a son and his yrey 
 hairs b.c-n .rmight with sorrow to the grave, V an amount .If 
 forgery which he is iitti^rly unable to meet. Viewiixr all these 
 thmgs as they really stand, and the state of society Ts it really 
 exists I tinuk you will (lud it almost impossible to arrive at any 
 other conclusi,.,, than that the means now in force for the suppres- 
 sion of crime are totally inadecpiate to their work— there is 
 a something wanting— there is a vacuum which re(iuires to be 
 hlb>(l , that something, is education, and that vacuum is its absence " 
 Ihat the means for educating the poorer classes of England have 
 until witinn the last few years I.etm notoriously deficient, I think 
 every one will be prepared to admit, and the natural conseiiuence 
 IS, crime has reached a pitch almost unprecedented in the annals of 
 any country in any age ; " I3ut why," you may say >' what has 
 education to do with that I "' I will answer you ; the mind of man is 
 naturally depraved, and it is next to useless to punish it in its 
 natural state, the man may feel the punishmen corporally and for 
 the time being, bat he will lack that refined ;ee ing whidi makes 
 the hare idea of punishment far more mihearable than its infliction 
 lo an educated man, or to any one who has any sensitiveness of 
 disposition the very thought of disgrace, and havinij his name placed 
 dishon.Mirably before his countrymen, is of itself worse than the 
 mHiction ot a thousand lashes or months incarceration in prison and 
 such a dread will make him think twice hefbre he venture's to 
 commit a crime, however trifling, ft is of no use punishing a thine 
 which has no feeling. Thousands of men have been coirHned in 
 prisons, and have suiU'red the various penal tii^s of the law • yet 
 who in this audi.;nce or in the Piwincc will venture to name one 
 whom It has ever refbruu-d ?— a single one whom it has ever in- 
 duced to depart from the paths of vici' and enter those of virtue 
 rSay, I will ailvance a stej) fiirther ; I will even assert, and go to 
 the criminal courts to support me, that imprisi.umeiit directly de- 
 feats Its own ol.jcct; that instead <.f refor.uing, it hardens, and 
 renders the reci|>ieiit of punishment mcn-e incapable of regeneration 
 i iKddly make this assertion, and defy any one to deny it. 
 _ That the Penitentiarii's of this 'youlig country 'may be an 
 improvement upon the Pris.jus of th(. oM. I do not for a moment 
 
Jiintry warrant 
 s dying away ? 
 ihproportioiiod 
 rt tliatrol^lx.'ry 
 itrary, is it not 
 uk ])y week, of 
 P'aiit ; at one 
 
 to want, from 
 le duplicity of 
 
 ; at another a 
 Lin and his grey 
 ■ an amount of 
 king all these 
 i as it really 
 ' arrive at any 
 r the .su2>pres- 
 ork — there is 
 eqiiires to he 
 s its absence." 
 England have 
 L'ient, I think 
 I consec£uence 
 
 the annals of 
 ly " what has 
 lind of man is 
 lish it in its 
 jrally and for 
 which makes 
 I its infliction, 
 isitiveness of 
 s name placed 
 orse than the 
 in prison, and 
 
 ventures to 
 ishing a thing 
 1 confined in 
 he law ; yet 
 to name one 
 has ever In- 
 «c of virtue. 
 t, and go to 
 ; directly de- 
 lardens, and 
 •egeneration. 
 Kit. 
 
 may be an 
 n" a moment 
 
 
 ispute; but stdl I w.ll say, that they, even they are totally 
 dehcient m their construction to do the M-ork thev are calculated 
 to perform, and even we,-e they, [ am sure you wiil ,11 agree with 
 me m contending, that there is no utility in p.mishinir a man d.-void 
 ot feeling; and who only fears the .crenn, of his punishment, and 
 ««nhestau. It wil leave on his moral character; hut vou may 
 say what can he done to make him fc,.l tlw.t stain; to make him 
 wretched on account of the disgrace that will he attached to his 
 name ? I reply, educate hin. ; the man who is tausrht from voiith 
 and has rea ly r.reived sound learning, will, (uuJcss his mind hJ 
 o the very lowest or.ler) become far too dignified to even harbour 
 fn a monu.nt the thought of d..ing ,. wrung action-an action 
 that will exj.ose him to the .■ensure of the pul.lie. Ves in order 
 to lessen or do away with crime. ,>aH nn<sl U wade ,,menor to 
 <^mnutUn;r>t; his .nind umst he too elevated to sufier him to 
 he t. mptc.i tn.m the paths of virtue In any of the seductions that 
 vice may oth-r. Man is the noblest of (^od's <.reatures. and .-onse- 
 
 will so elc\ate him. defy the m..st sc,.ptical tn ,]env. Some, who 
 differ from me m opinion, may endeavour to sta-nrer nie bv th.> 
 words of a very enlightened mend.cr of th. -tishllonse of Com- 
 
 th k .'t"^' '''■*'•■ '•'" ''','""'"''^' '•eturns,he found that two^ 
 thidsot the prisoners wen- able to read, ami writ,, their names 
 and consequently," he very elocp.ently cndudcl, " education is 
 not a preventative of crime." What a uohle sentiment ! Wh t a 
 magnanimous expression fbr a man to use who called himself a 
 member of t ,.. „pper c ivies of society ; but absurd as that repi; 
 
 ''tV7' 1 '''':■ ","'' ""'•>■ '-'^ fl'^'^-'-'f^'v of things, who are 
 satisfied wi h a superficial survey, it might app.-ar din':;-t' and con- 
 clusive an. lead many int.. the ophiion that t.. .^diu-ate the people 
 IS ttei-ly absurd; that while y.a. are ..ngaircd in the work of -^ 
 philanthropist, you are shaking the go-.f^nler of soc^ ty to its 
 very fonndatmn ; an,] that, while you are attemptiixv to ..uifer n 
 beneht you are doing the worst thing fbr good onler and govern 
 ment that con d possibly be ...nceived ;%ut to those who w 1 
 .levote a little time and attention, and view this subject as it reallv 
 stands-who have the mind to uplift the veil from th,> surface id 
 h,ok into the depths below-no reply could give .i.ate "jtoof ol" 
 an msigni leant understanding ; no reply could be^.iore diigus in. 
 to an in el igent audience. And when you come to conside w ? 
 cons ituted hat^audience ; when you ,.ome to re(h>ct that men de. o 
 rated with the highest honors of Camhrkhjc and Ojcford~m^n to 
 whom all the universe listened, as to oracles. I say when you 
 come to reflec that such men as these constitute,! tliat audience 
 you cannot h.>!p won.lcring at the presumption and arrogan,^ of 
 that man who should dare to utter such a sentiment in their presence 
 
f 
 
 8 
 
 Granted that there were two-thirds of those prisoners who could 
 read their Bibles and write their names, does that weaken my 
 position 1 No ! I think not ; but, on the other hand, it shall be 
 my endeavour to show that it materially strengthens it. 
 
 There are some people in the world who think that if a child 
 goes to school long enough to read his Bible and write a letter 
 without much regard to the rules of Orthography, he has then re- 
 ceived an education sufficient, and has become as intelligent as is 
 necessary for an ordinary intercourse with his fellow men. Now, 
 that I most distinctly deny, and so I think will all those who have 
 thought anything upon the subject. A liinited education is worse 
 than no education at all. As the man with a cunning disposition 
 is more to be dreaded than he who has an open and frank counte- 
 nance, although both may be eijually culpable; so is the man with 
 a limited education more to be feared than he with no education at 
 all, since he will have just sufficient to render his cunning mind still 
 more cimning, just enough to enable him to put his wicked practices 
 into more certain and rapid execution ; and 1 again distinctly 
 repeat that a bad man with a limited education is a greater nuisance 
 to society than a bad one with no education at all, and those men 
 to whom the right honorable gentleman alluded would have been 
 of infinitely greater service to the state, and more useful members 
 of the community had they been entirely uneducated ; I will appeal 
 to your own common sense ; I will appeal to your own judgment, 
 did you ever know of thoroughly educated men, men trained up in 
 Christian principles, so to lower their dignity as to commonly 
 commit actions that would disgrace the name of man ? I will not 
 deny but that there are and have been some few cases to the con- 
 trary, but no rule is without an exception, and generally, I think 
 you will find, that the better educated a man is the more orderly 
 and refined are his manners. 
 
 " Ingenuas didicisse fideliter artes 
 Emollit mores, nee sinit esse feros." 
 
 This sentence was written two thousand years ago, and universal 
 coincidence has established its tr\jth. " To have thoroughly learnt 
 the liberal sciences soflens the manners, nor suffers them to be 
 rude." 
 
 But there may be some amongst you who might enquire whether 
 there were no other means to extirpate crime except by education. 
 I answer that to do away with individual and ordinary crimes there 
 is another method ; have no education at all b\it in the higher 
 circles ; do entirely away with National education ; let those whose 
 cir-^umstances do not place them in a superior position be brought 
 down to servitude and slavery ; bring them under the feet of the 
 opulent and great, banish every spark of freedom fr<im their breasts, 
 reduce them to the condition of the negro slave of the South ; do 
 all that, 1 say, and you will do away with crime ! 
 
lers who could 
 tint weaken my 
 imd, it sliall bu 
 3ns it. 
 
 : that if a child 
 write a letter 
 he has then re- 
 utelligent us is 
 w men. Now, 
 those who have 
 ication is worse 
 ling disposition 
 1 iVank counte- 
 is the man with 
 no education at 
 ming mind still 
 vicked practices 
 gain distinctly 
 greater nuisance 
 and those men 
 )uld have been 
 isefiil members 
 d ; I will appeal 
 own judgment, 
 in trained up in 
 s to commonly 
 an ? I will not 
 ses to the con- 
 snerally, I think 
 : more orderly 
 
 J, and universal 
 :>roughly learnt 
 fers them to be 
 
 inquire whether 
 )t by education, 
 ry crimes there 
 in the higher 
 let those whose 
 ion be brought 
 ■ the feet of the 
 m their breasts, 
 the South ; do 
 
 Among the serfs of lluss^ ' crime is not entirely unknown it is 
 at least Imt seldom heard ui ■ d why is the reason \ It is because 
 the peo])le of that country u> so utterly degraded; brought by 
 oppression so near to the l)rute creation, that they are incapable of 
 conceiving anything, l)iit what may he instigated by their own 
 brutal passions ; in short they have neither the sense to contrive, 
 nor the judgment to execute, a delil)erately matured plot. They 
 are mere machines in the hands of their superiors, who dispose of 
 their lives and property at i)leasure. If we turn our attention for 
 a few seconds to the past centui-y, and take a l)ri(!f review of the 
 partition of Poland among the despots of Eastern Europe, wc shall 
 see how serfdom, headed l)y ambition, destroyed lil)erty for ever 
 from almost the only continental country that possessed it; Poland 
 that land of patriots ! that land where under a judicious and 
 enlightened (xovernment lil)erty had kindled and flourished, was 
 doomed to be overran by barbarians who invaded it simultaneous- 
 ly from every side, destroyed its happiness for ever, and eradicated 
 its very name from the map of Europe, This wholesale robbery, 
 this unj)rovoked aggression, wius committed by a class of men the 
 lowest in the order of intellectual capacity ; they were the machines 
 of ambitious despots, and committed a deed at which, had they been 
 enlightened, their better natures would have shuddered. 
 
 " Oh bloodiest picture in the book of time, 
 Sarmatia fell ! unwept, without a crime." 
 
 Thus we see, that although an uneducated community may not 
 have the mind to mature, and commit, ordinary and individual 
 crime ; yet the degraded state of their intellect renders them fit 
 machines to serve ambition, and ready tools for aggression and wrong ; 
 you may also perceive from what I have endeavoured to explain, 
 that there are two ways liy which ordinary atrocity may be expunged 
 from a nation, viz. hy education ; and non-education ; which method 
 it is the province of an enlightened government to adopt, I shall 
 leave to your own decision ; merely observing, that if I have 
 failed in my attempt to make it clear to you, that a sound and 
 liberal education is absolutely necessi\ry for the well being, nay ! 
 for the very existence of civilized society, I can only attribute my 
 failure to my own inexperience, and not to the weakness of the 
 position I have taken, 
 
 I will now proceed to show, that education is necessary for the 
 proper development of mini's natural powers, for giving him moral 
 courage, and for making him form his opinions with correctness and 
 rapidity. A single glance, and a momentary consideration, will, 
 suffice, in my opinion, to establish the first part of this assertion ; 
 and in order to give you a concise yet sufficient view, I will at once 
 proceed to illustration. It will be a great advantage to the argu- 
 ment I Jim going to use, that the inhabitants of this country and of 
 this place have a daily opportunity of seeing those people, who 
 
ii: 
 
 10 
 
 deluded from their native country, and transplanted in a lhrei«n 
 sod have been reared in the hotbed of slavery^nd brought up^ 
 
 thems^./vr'" 1 T"''7'' ;""' "' -•^"l'"n",i,' tl'oni with those ol" 
 the use ves, who have freedon. an.l a libera! educati..n to draw 
 forth their powers ; I seize this illustration the more readily 
 because ,t must unavoi.lably h.ve .....ne under the eoiini/ane.. of all' 
 and tJierefore .t would be both absurd and useless fbr n... t-.^o : 
 ther from home. ^ 
 
 too ." thrr *r'V'^' 'V^" r^'"'"" "*''""^" "'^■"' '''"'J intellii^ent men 
 n „',. I •''«*''«;""» ^Ij^'tweeu the white and blaek i'.ces, is a 
 
 bo n ;^ . "If f ^'!'''^1'"»^''' l""-'-i^-'- I'-tweeu superior and infu-ior 
 bcuigs , that cireumstauees over which .na)i has no control 
 
 wh toTr U "^ I "i '^i'"' ^'" "'''^""■'' '"'■'" -I'-'vient to the 
 h te andacknowlednreh,ss..peri..rity ; l,ut how any sane loan can 
 come to such a conclusion I am at a loss to ima^in.■■ ; I deem it at 
 once both arrogant and nngencnms ; arrogant in supposing that 
 our allpowerful Crc-ator should be such a resp'.t.,,- of personstas o 
 S^n'"\ V fo^'^t.on of intellect any p....nliar advantages t^ one 
 nation which he has refused tu ,u.other ; and ingenerous in taking 
 advantage ot the lassitude and weakness of a people, rendered o 
 helpless by clunaticand other innuences. The whitJ people <,f the 
 present day may daun their suiuTiority more from local position, 
 than from any miraculous ben<>lits conli.rred u,.on them l.y the 
 Almiglity, or every one knows it to U' an estab ished tiict ; that 
 whde the climate of the middle and northern part of the Tempemte 
 /one, has a. tendency to make man industrious and to call tbrth all 
 
 TnJiH'y"' ^'"'7'' ''u'^' '"■' "^'"^^''•'^•' '" ''■'"' ; the climate of the 
 ilVn .*""!,' ": *•"' '"»I"^'"'« h^«'-i.y« porpendicularly, has as 
 nowl; '7^^'^^^*° »^^';t™'^« l^oth his intellectual and physical 
 K bri-.H Tropical regions of our globe work is compamtive- 
 
 b but bttle required ; the natural fertility of the soil produces 
 sufticient for man's support, without any great ...xertion on the part 
 
 1. fl ' 'T^ r T'.'""* "f ^^-^^^^^i^^^ h^^^t his wants are 
 small and confined m their nature ; all thes,. reasons have a natur- 
 a tendency to render him indolent and careless, and to make hi:, 
 utterly unfit for the rougher usages of northern climes ; but on the 
 other hand the natives ot colder regions are taught by experience 
 Aatf they wish to reap they must sow, their soil nnfy be fertile, 
 but It requires labor to make that fertility serviceable • che wheat 
 which we turn into bread will not grow .^thout sowi;;,;nor ^ 
 
 ^armenN r;' '"'^ '^'""u ""' l"'^!^''™^^ ^'' ^^ culth-ation ; the 
 garments that we wear, hav. to go through processes the most 
 tedious and complicated before we can use thein the very fuel which 
 IS used to preserve us from that cold the negro never experiences 
 has inmost countries to be obtained from the very bowels of the' 
 earth, in fact every thing that we have either for consumption or 
 vvear, is only the result ui steady and hard labour ; Hence it fol- 
 
(1 in a foreign 
 Iji'oiight up in 
 with tlioso ol" 
 It ion to drHW 
 noi'i- ri'iidily, 
 niz.'incc of nil, 
 II ic to go I'ur- 
 
 itcliigent men 
 leii I'aces, is a 
 and inferior 
 s no control 
 I'vient t<j the 
 •sane nianean 
 I deem it at 
 iippoising that 
 j:iersons,as to 
 itages to one 
 )us in taking 
 rendered so 
 people of the 
 iical position, 
 tlieni hy the 
 •d fiiet ; that 
 leTemperate 
 eall forth all 
 11 mate of the 
 darly, has as 
 ind physical 
 3oniparati\'e- 
 uil produces 
 1 on the part 
 
 wants are 
 ave a natur- 
 o make hit 
 ; but on the 
 
 experience 
 )■ be fertile, 
 ' ; the wheat 
 ?, nor will it 
 ivation ; the 
 es the most 
 •y fuel which 
 experiences, 
 jwels of the 
 nmption or 
 lence it fol- 
 
 11 
 
 lows that the natives of northern latitudes, are forced to be active, 
 both by the rigour of the climate, and the nature of their own 
 requirements, and the certain results of that activity are, a more 
 enterprising community, and a population desirous of diving into 
 those mysteries, after which the negro is too idle to enquire. From 
 the above considerations we can readily perceive, that the locality 
 in which a nation is situated, exercises a material influence upon 
 the character of the \mop\e, and when the state of the African mind 
 can be thus simply and readily explained, I ask you, how can any 
 man be so presumptions as to suppose, that the difference between 
 him and tiie negro, is a distinction prearranged by our common 
 Creator '? The idea can-ies absurdity on its very face. 
 
 But again, although local influences are thus apjiarent in the 
 formation of character, they will not entirely explain that want of 
 intelligence so observable in the negro mind ; particularly after it 
 has been removed/roin a warmer to a colder sphere, and 1 contend, 
 that the good effects which might naturally be expected to arise 
 from such a circumstance, have been counteracted by the bondage 
 in which it has been held ; a bondage obnoxious to the slave, and 
 a disgrace to the government which maintains it, but although it 
 had still been held in subjection, yet educated and trained in a 
 proper manner, it is my firm conviction, that their intelligence 
 would be materially increased, and after the lapse of a few genera- 
 tions become on an equality with that of the white man ; but to 
 bring this part of the subject to a conclusion, I say with such an 
 example of the effects of ignorance before our very eyes, what 
 other argument is necessary ? what other illustration needed to 
 prove that Education is essential for the proper developement of 
 the human mind 1 And in this young country, complicated by no 
 evil effects of former mismanagement ; free from the fruits of 
 tyranny and despotism, and with its resources placed at the disposal 
 of an enlightened government, what may it not l)e expected to do • 
 but now allow me to tell you that all these bright anticipations of 
 future greatness, will surely be blighted, urdess you as a people 
 assist your government in heart and hand, in carrying out those 
 wise measures of Nallomd Education, which it has so judiciously 
 commenced, and which are, as I have here endeavoured to show you, 
 ahsolutely essential for developing the mind, and bringing forth the 
 genius of your country. 
 
 Again, Education introduces a moral courage, and a high sense 
 of duty into the composition of man, and it is therefore necessary 
 that every one inhabiting a free and civilized country should possess 
 It. 1 believe there is no one present in this assembly, who will for 
 a second think of denying what J have just said; to every reflecting 
 mind the proposition must be self evident, and I might well bl 
 excused for passing on to some other point, the truth of which 
 might not be quite so clear, but as [ always think it l)est to 
 
12 
 
 demonstrate as far as my ability will allow me, one thing before 
 proceeding to the consideration of anothei-, I will beg Teave to 
 direct yoir attention for a tew mimites to this i)art of my subject. 
 Some might inistake the meaning which I intended to be applied 
 to the word courage in the sentence, and some may say, " what 
 do you call true courage," I reply that to ddine a 'thing is, and 
 always has been considered a difficult task, e\en bv the most 
 intelligent ; l)ut my idea of true courage, are not those deeds of 
 bravery or hazard, which man does under no fear, or under the 
 influence of personal excitement; I do not call that true courage 
 which induces the soldier or the sailor to undertake and accomplish 
 some perilous enterprise, when his judgment is under the swa\ of 
 passions, which render him more of the fiend than human ; but 
 that is true courage in man, who, under the influence of no excite- 
 ment, with his passions entirely subservient to his will, with a 
 full knowledge of the danger of the enterprise in which he is about 
 to embark, yet does his duty nobly and dignified, without even for 
 a moment flinching; I say that such a man is the possessor of trne 
 courage, and never was such courage mere nobly portrayed, than 
 in the wreck of the Birkenhead, and never were the bravery and 
 disinterestedness of the British character more fully exemplified 
 than on that occasion. The occupants of that ill-fated vessel con- 
 sisted of male and female passengers. Striking forcibly against a 
 concealed rock, she so shattered her sides as to render all attempts 
 to save her useless ; the boats were only sufficient for the female 
 portion of the passengers ; it was utterly impossible for all to be 
 saved; the vessel was rapidly sinking, and each second was a 
 second nearer to eternity ; there was no time for deliberation • 
 what was left to be done must l)e done instantly. The captain 
 appeared on deck ; the bugle rang the summons for a general 
 muster; every man came to his post calmly and placidly, as 
 though his bark were tight, and swiftly glancing over the waves of 
 the ocean ; not a syllable of murmur disturbed the air ; the boats 
 were ordered out ; the order was instantaneously obeyed, '• Place 
 the ladies in the noats " was next hurled from the trumpet, and 
 they were placed there accordingly, now came a moment of 
 anxiety and intolerable suspense, what was to be done next' 
 before scarcely tin^e had been given to think " start the boats from 
 the vessel " issued from the captain's lips, and with a magnanimity 
 unequalled, with a devotion unparalleled in the pages of History 
 this order was instantly executed, aud then that gallant little band 
 ot heroes returned to their posts, with death before them, and their 
 eyes fixed on eternity ; nothing could now save them, they had 
 parted from their only hope. A calm dear voice was instantly 
 heard to call to order, e b man obeyed, planting his toot firmly 
 on the deck, and folding his arms as if on ordinary parade. Tlieii- 
 captain presented himself before them, he toh! them in a few words 
 
10 thinjr before 
 1 l)('g leave to 
 t)t" my subject. 
 I to be applied 
 ay say, " wliat 
 I thing is, and 
 
 l)y the most 
 tiiose deeds of 
 , or under the 
 t true courage 
 nd aceomplish 
 er the sway of 
 1 human ; but 
 i of no excite- 
 is will, with a 
 ich ho is about 
 thout even for 
 isesst)j- of true 
 ^rtrayed, than 
 I bravery and 
 Y exemplified 
 id vessel con- 
 bly against a 
 I" all attempts 
 3r the female 
 
 for all to be 
 eeond was a 
 deliberation ; 
 
 The captain 
 for a general 
 
 placidly, as 
 
 the waves of 
 ir ; the boats 
 liyed, '• Place 
 :rumpet, and 
 
 moment of 
 
 done next '? 
 le boats from 
 magnanimity 
 
 of History, 
 it little band 
 em, and their 
 ni, they had 
 as instnntly 
 s foot fu'mly 
 •ade. Th.'ir 
 a few words 
 
 18 
 
 their actual position ; he explained to them the motives of duty 
 that had made him give up their means of safety, and expressed his 
 sincere thanks, that the crew had so implicitly obeyed him upon so 
 melancholy and trying an occasion, and he assurc^l them, that they 
 would appear befoi-e their Creator with the greater confidence Iroin 
 a knowledge that they had pertbrmed tiu-ir duty ; and then with 
 tears streaming down his checks he bade ihvui all accompany him 
 in sincere prayer, and ask forgiveness of that Almighty (io(l,whom 
 they had so frequently otlended; tears were streaming from all eyes, 
 and with uplifted hands, and faces turned towards heaven, each one 
 breathed sincerely and fervently " Lord be merciful to me a sinner." 
 Another instant, and the vessel was hurled into the •' unfathomablt> 
 abyss " and all that gallant band were hiu-ied into eternity to 
 meet their God. 
 
 Long as language shall last, long as men shall honour virtue and 
 reward bravery, so long shall that act of heroic devotion be trans- 
 mitted to posterity, and stand fortii to future ages an ev(4'lasting 
 monument ot British valour, and ye who seek to know what is 
 meant by true courage, who art; desirous of di'ducting the iriie 
 from the false, read the stoiy of tlu^ wreck of the Birkenhead, and 
 learn from it that noble sense of duty which erf^ca/ZoM is able to 
 impart. Other illustrations might 1)0 made, other incidents n.ight 
 be given, they are to be found in almost every page of English 
 History ; but 1 feel you have bi:en detained long enough on this 
 part of my subject, and will onl_, say, that I hope your curiosity 
 has been sufHcienth' aroused to make you resort to books, for any 
 additional intcyrmation that you may recjuirc. 
 
 The last part of my fo'-mer proposition will now come before 
 your notice, viz, that Education is neressar;/ to make man form his 
 opinions with correctness and rapidity. 
 
 To those who have had the benefit of a good education, this may 
 appear redundant, l)ut to those who have not received that educa- 
 tion, it may on the other hand seem absuid and ijnprobable, and to 
 them I would beg leave to address myself on this occasion ; yttu 
 will not I am sure be inclined to dispute that the mind of man is 
 naturally weak, and although one child may be eiulued by nature 
 with a more lofty intellect than another, yet still if that intellect is 
 not subjected to judicious training, it will be more likely to occasion 
 his downfall, than promote his Nvelfare, for it is a fact no less true 
 than deplorable, that the nu)st depraved of our species are men,who 
 with ample natural talent, have not been reared in Christian prinei- 
 ples,nor brought \ip in the ways of rectitude. Then taking that as an 
 axiom, and establishing my i)osition from it, I say that there is some- 
 thing needed to strengthen man"s mind, something required to render 
 it firm, and guide it judiciously in the straight, but narrow path of 
 honor; and I will ask you,whatso fit to do that as a liberal education ? 
 It is quite true that some incu have dillercd iu opinion which of 
 
 \\ 
 
14 
 
 the two great divisions of oducation is b.-st oalc.latcd to porform 
 Its work, nuuudy Malhem^nical or (JIu.HimI l,,arnin«, l,„t nom vc 
 
 di -u I.'om' of tiu V • "' '" '"'■ "' r^ ^'''^^ '""^' ^" *^"t.r into u 
 iiisuission ot tiie various urj^niiiicnts l.ronplit forward l)v cither 
 
 party to endeavour to estal.lisi. their own indivi< .1 oSn ons • 
 
 enough for me to say, that no one however ran.bling his tZ Zl^ : 
 
 stea ie,! ,o '' ^'"•■^^^'';^i'«l't« ooneentrated, and that nund 
 
 •stea lie( , nor eai any one read tliose elegant works of Cieero with 
 on .mng h,s ei,araeter refined an.l ..Ic.Ji.ted ; hut thlti'^o^'t^ ^t 
 u.p(,se thos,. wim have any penetration, .-annot possibly fail o 
 peree.ve that a person devoted to oue course of study vhe Ir it 
 
 Of a diticidt elasscal author, must of uceessity have his mind 
 enlarged, and h,s jndge.nent sharpened by eontinua p raet e " e 
 becomes acquainted by continual reading\vitli the , i, ons and 
 suggestions of the cleverest men, i^otli of die past and re e t aie 
 jUHlIms therefore a great advantage over him who l. S^la^^ 
 hick o education, from such fertile sources of informa ion and 
 when hose things are taken into earc.ful consideration i is n'lZ! 
 sible to come to any other conclusion, than that the man whose 
 mind Ks nchlv stcn-ed with the accumulation of cc^^ituries nd m, 
 
 S, ortmr^niTh'''^'^ '"1 '" ^f ^i-s judgmerft upoi'i matters 
 oi Mipoitance, than he who has been allowed to crow in iL'iiorancc. 
 
 I LV- ;Z^^ '"'""''' f "'^' ■^^'^''•"'^ P"«'tion established ; 
 
 fu/J^Sy^f''''' r*" ^'^"^ ^fl"oation was necesm,y for the 
 Jull dei'elopmenl of vian\s natum I powers ; secondly tint it w S 
 
 should form so uuportani a part of hh nature, and thir.lly that it 
 was n^eessar^ to man in order to n.ake him matar XTand 
 
 may considei my arguments unsound, and my lo.rio falhible vet I 
 
 Si^Jof r:! ir'^'1, "' ^'''^. ''--^ ^>^^^1 
 
 mn of f . t ••' ' ""1 '^' '' ^'•■'■"'^'"^' of judicious thinking, you 
 
 r ud .-ir";?:',* >' """' -"'^••---that JhaveabeLy 
 aone aiKl l Mil nou solicit your attention for a few mhmtes to 
 what consider a point of the greatest impoitanci n d^^^^^^^ 
 educa .on is necessary fbr the fulFai^preciation of Red g on \nd 
 
tod to porfiirin 
 , luit none liiivt! 
 Imve no eiliiea- 
 (i> cjuttT into a 
 Viird l)y cither 
 Ilia! opinions ; 
 ; his tlioughts ; 
 I production of 
 and that mind 
 ifCicuro, with- 
 at is not to my 
 jssiltly fail to 
 ly ; wJiether it 
 le true reading 
 lave his mind 
 .1 practice ; he 
 opinions and 
 id pi-esent age, 
 s deprived by 
 rniation ; and 
 1 it is iiiipos- 
 le man whose 
 tries, and ren- 
 iition, is more 
 upon mutters 
 in ignoi-ance, 
 lich tlie other 
 I estal)lishe.d ; 
 smiy tor the 
 y that it was 
 ourafje which 
 hii'dly that it 
 ■•e, from and 
 although you 
 idlable, yet 1 
 the several 
 thinking, you 
 have already 
 ' minutes to 
 namely that 
 ?ion, and that 
 lich is setting 
 
 ■t requires to 
 
 3ur religious 
 
 1 although 1 
 
 belong, nor 
 
 16 
 
 afraid to advocate lier principles and her doctrines so li.r as niv 
 al.dity will allow mc, yet 1 do n.-t Ihink this ihr tin,,' or place IWV 
 either, and I shall avoid to the nlioost of mv power touchiu'r upon 
 the doctrines of any cliuirh of which aiiv of v..u may l.c mcTiil/crs 
 I make this mtrodiurtion hcf mv entering upon mV disciissjoi, • 
 hecause however careful 1 may have h..ci, in the .'omposition ol' 
 this address, and particularly of this part of it ; there mav still !„■ 
 some sentenccs,wliichyou might possibly consider aimed at'vourrcs- 
 
 |)eetive(lenoinuiati(.ns,an(l which y(Miwoul(ltlier(>torclhinkoti;.|isivc 
 Now I most emphatically deny introd„cii,n |,.,t any phrast, wjiicli 
 
 thought might annoy, or wound tlu^ feelings ofany'pcrson present 
 
 believe we are all I'n.testants, and therefore as" Protestants and 
 Uiristiaiis^we ought all to Join in endeavouring to stem that ciirrciit 
 ot inlidehty which if allowe<l to proceed s« itiiout check, will even 
 tiially bring upon this I'rovincc and this j.eople, the aierer of an 
 aveiigmg(;(.d. We «// ought to join in erecting such a ban'iertoits 
 turther ])rogrcss, as it should m-ver be able to surmount And 
 what so (It a l)arrier ; what so well calculated to annihilate infidelity 
 111 Its very bud as a sound and lil>eral education .' 
 
 The present day allcirds a striking example of what eunnin-r 
 imposition can do in pivying upon the minds of the ignorant and 
 credu ous ; Moriuomsm lias raised her loathsome head anioiiirst 
 us; the absurd doctrines of a madman are makiiiir fcarliil ha\<.c 
 lunongst the unlettered and ignorant portion of „„,• countrvmen 
 and weliear with amazement and incredulity that above 200 0()() 
 believers have in the. last few years been added to the Mocks of the 
 I rophet Uh! murderous superstition ; Oh ! headlong (imatacism 
 iiiid blind tienzy ; how long shall you be allowed to hold on vour 
 undisturbed career : How Icng shall your jriant striles^ he 
 allowed to pass unmjtieed, and how lony shall voii dare to sully 
 humanity with your pernicious do.-trines ? Edmutmn summon 
 your dignity Rvanon assert your sway ! and show to Americans 
 and the world that superstition rnvnt fall ].ef;)re you, and acknow- 
 ledge your supremacy. 
 
 If ignorance has thus been the cause of altering the religious 
 principles ot a portion of t.ur eonununity, and with.lrawing from 
 the tolds ot Christ, thousands to follow and believe in the tenets 
 ot a, penniless and ignorant adventurer ; many more has it drawn 
 from religmn altogether, and sent them wandering in the dark 
 abyss ot undehncd and interminable speculation. How anv man 
 however unh'ttered and ignorant, cati follow and exult in the 
 d..et.rines ot infidelity, I am sureall of y.ai are at a loss to imagine 
 and the only solution I can give to the problem, is. that some inen 
 withasmatternigofe<liieation,an.i alittle versedin the technicalities 
 of science; havuig just learning suilicieiit to make them proud 
 ot their attainments,without enough to enable them to perceive their 
 own detieiencies, are desirou,, of setting themselves up as oracles 
 
16 
 
 an.l rondcrinir tliHr i.ai.u.s ,u,Umom to the, wcrlrl, hv irpollinc 
 roliK,o„w,tlMln.tn„,..s of tlu.ir own cmition, un,| svhirl, tLy 
 
 Hciv,_iiml t lilt no y///,,/r |.iiMisliiiiciit «wii,it.-l tluMii for wIuitcviT 
 iitrocitu-s tlH.y n.iirl.t co.mnit. I hdiuv,. Tom I'aviu- of iMu.„viMl.li. 
 n-piit. (.,Yo,u.nlv supi-ort,.,! th.- .loHri.ir of iMf,.l,.|irv, an.l the 
 nium- timt he kni,||,.,| has luvii kcj.t Luminal with a .rn-atcr or loss 
 <l.'jrn.c3 ot l.mrn,.ss until tin. proscnt <iay. wh..,, th..' ..lomu.Mce ofa 
 I lolly-hook has added (V.'sh fuel to tin- Hiv. \ 
 
 That i^ni.HiHHv the most contcinptil.lo, and \vi<.k(-dn("ss th(> most 
 ocnsiirahhs <M,idd alone inak.; peoph, dej.art tVo.u the reli-rioii of 
 their l<M-etathers, and follow with the .-nthiisiaiu of fimaties the new 
 fan^ded doctrines of tli,> present a-e, is a fiiet wliieh no one will ho in- 
 clined to dispute; and thus,! say, in order to nd society ofa nuisanoe 
 and your country ofa plajr„e, it is al.solutely larcssary that you' 
 shou .1 il.erally educate your otTspriiifr. It is s.r.l that the L'onius 
 which discovered the universal law of j{ravitatio.i, the luun who 
 proved trom Mathematical calculations impossible to be disDiited 
 that ^ 
 
 '• Tlie very law which moulds a tear. 
 And bids it trickle from it» source ; 
 That law preserves the earth a sphere, 
 And guides the planets in their course," 
 was inclined to scepticism before those mastorj)iooes of the Creator 
 were revealed to his gaze, but he could not then resist the convic- 
 tions which those discoveries forced wuon him ; discoveries which 
 have rendered his nam<' famous through all the civilized world • 
 alike known from the rocky clifl's of northern ICiirope to the sandy 
 plains of Australia; from the fertile valley of the Ganges to the 
 sterile heights of the Andes, his name shall not be allowed 'to dim 
 by time, nor grow indistinct by the lapse of ages ; and as gold 
 becomes brighter from age, and purer from being subjected to' the 
 furnace, so the name of Newton shall as year, succeeds year, and 
 century is heaped upon century, display itself with additional 
 brightness and brilliancy to every succeeding generation. 
 
 If a man of this kind doubted wdien in comparative ig'-.oranoc • 
 but was obliged after reaching the hightost pinnacle of knowled"e 
 and earthly fame, to lower even his lotly genins before an Infinite 
 Deity ; how much more shall we educate the rising generation, that 
 like Sir Isaac Newton, they may increase in godliness, as they in- 
 crease in wisdom ; and so foriii an impenetrable barrier against 
 the further progress of infidelity. 
 
 I 
 
17 
 
 •M, liy riipcllinp 
 I wliioli fhfiy (III 
 >lK'an'(l, Ik- it as 
 gilt tht: ear and 
 iltlislu'd Ity m<'ii 
 1 (if.i class, with 
 loni it was very 
 rsc would finisli 
 ii i'or wliati'vi'P 
 »' iiC \iiM'riviai)I(' 
 idclity, and the 
 jri't-atcr or loss 
 • ('lo(|iH'ii(*i' of a 
 
 'diicss tho most 
 I llit^ religion of' 
 iiiiatics tlu' new 
 noiio will 1)0 in- 
 iy of a iiiiisanco, 
 isary that you 
 that the goniiis 
 tlio man who 
 to bo disj)utod 
 
 I of the Creator 
 sist the couvic- 
 overies which 
 ili/ed world ; 
 e to the sandy 
 ranges, to the 
 llowed to dim 
 1 ; and as gold 
 bjected to the 
 edsyear, and 
 th additional 
 ion. 
 
 e ipnorancc ; 
 of knowledge 
 )re an Infinite 
 neration, that 
 s, as thoy in- 
 firrier against 
 
 iNext to scent 
 
 il/Ulircroils ; 
 
 am 
 
 Pfi<-'isiii. 1 coiisid.r j 
 
 ^"iH'rstitioiis iiud 
 
 l»y tli(! 
 
 '."•'' 1 1 '"•<;'« more |,.,u 
 '111 posing rcliiri 
 
 Joiiian r'atholi 
 
 Ming In fchlt.. it 
 .hid 
 
 eisrn to Uv most 
 
 •y tlKwna.ni,i;;,;.,::Th"';.;:::r;:r "'"';'' •■"^"^-H.e attrition 
 
 '^""^VM to I,,., i,„tlM.,l o,' ,. • ' f'"' '«"•••■"'". lias loM.rlH.,.;, 
 
 those of the carl N ( •|,n.ti.ns /l ' i ,' '^'''' ''''> "^ 1""^ as 
 
 '.'I'"" '" '"•li"vc,,n>sMr,li,v s,,., . ^ "'"■';."' I'">uc wore called 
 '-"-• mng lib. ,h I ,,:,'; ;' p';C'''".^ '""il tl... voice of 
 
 '^-^'•'> -itrc/ In;: ;;::, 'i.ir'i\''r '''1-' '^''M'i<-e". 
 
 l""'-l ''England Cr ,|„. ^ ' Z' , ^^ "■'^'!"" ''■"' alreadv ,„•.. 
 
 r<'""tO' ^as tossed t, a.;: ""■, 'T^^ '•""' '^'though Jhat 
 its sovereigns, vet l^.p I ,.,''''"'' l!* *'"' ^'•"•i""^ <.|.i.nonsof 
 
 ti.e tai.^Me nortions ..f i ' ' ,, ^" "'"'^'■" '•""' ■-wallowed 
 
 ••'^'•'■^''S I'ad HMf ,1,.. ,„„;, ;; '■' , ' '"l-",U pnr.p.tancy of her 
 l'"«cr to crush, that if,,eu|,ie uij ,„ I |-'"'''"T"^'"" '"'•^ '">t Hie 
 „wn acord, ti.ev Juu, ^ '''•.'";^" •''-"rdities of their 
 
 '"""^"'•'-- A„d' wl, , , P "","":, " '•>■ -"-pulsory 
 
 rrt'-<i"<idoe,,ineo ,m i,v' ;',/•"•'•'' """-^'itl' i^ 
 
 '^ --^forming i,.eir. ,;'';,, J.'; '''''-vy^ 
 
 '-"•■•' f'-ii the \-atiean den,, ne ■■ • ' „?" T'T'l '"' ^^"^"^ 
 •I'^l""'-' tl.c •• lnuna,.ulate conceii ■;,;;, -''i:' '^'"'"'•' ''"'•« to 
 
 ,v..u, what man of o,<|n,a,. • , ' "'" ^ "■^^■"'' and I would ask 
 Again takeasnrvev of S „, ' 'T' "'" '""^ '"^1"'^^' it •'- 
 ^'"'t those countries w i^! v L i XH ■'"'V •''' '"""•'''''':^ «"d. 
 ■'Stooped in the ia.,stdepio.al, li.m , r"^-''' '^ -tal.lished are 
 !]:'|M-tyou.ifv.,u u'uldseesC: ' ' '^ l^vt me then 
 
 '< .^ "" ^^■'"<ld s e.. the nm-i V of ' e'"'""V:""'^'' "■'"" among nu,, ; 
 ^^•''''l^l■sce|^,nnu.is /;:.'''■' ^:;''''''''''''b^^ 
 t-' tl- tlironeoi; :v :^ ' due.; ''■ '■'"•"' ;7l '''- '^- '"£ 
 t'-n 'it i-ulges between U-mh'ijJ';;;:;;;.'^ ■'■'nidrcnan.l render 
 
 ^'-^•^i-s;i:;:;-rfi::j;;:ti:,;i,;:':S 
 
 jou to that <,,nntrv ihrou h u j r ^ ^'"''•^''^ ' ^'^^ 
 
 J' ggernaut rolls in the blood ot h^ v U ms o H """'!f"^' . ^'^^''^ 
 Atnea, where ignorance reigns ^^^r^^^^Z'^^^tj::^!^ % 
 
18 
 
 fi ^» word haw npv»>r hIuvI itH rairmncf, in (H'lU-r to slmw you 
 u' to ntCfHiiittf of »'/)ui:iti(»ii lor tlif Ihoriniijh opiinciatioii of rcinjinii ; 
 \,n- my tiniV is liri.". <l, i(fi(J I aiiMilViiiil you nri- alr<'ii(ly tired of 
 iUusuitioH U}M)U iisiiftjoct \vb'»H< no illiistriitiniis\vcrcrf(|nir((l, the 
 truth of which voit i-oi'ild ih^ Iim ' tiiiicd to |p.rcfivi',\viili .yonrovMi 
 unusMiwtcd judtriiiftit. 
 
 It was 111". "ri<.riii:il iiili'iitioii lof\|,iaiii toyoii,tlii' «/////// a^ vv\H us 
 xUiMircessiti/ '>i 1 lilicral I'liunitioii ; you will tin'n't'ort'mTri'ivi', tlial 
 I liavf iKTforim'd only a \\mvt of my uiidcrtakiii^'. and the apology 
 thai I isliall olUr (il'aiiy is^ 'H'ssaiy) f<ir not concliidih}^ it, is, that 
 thi'. fertility ot' the siiliji'cl, ,;iid coiiseiiiieiitly tlu! mass of nuitttT 
 which it would necessarily eiidiraco, obline nw tor thc'prcsc.nt to 
 roiioinicuitseoiisideniti<tti,'l>iit I would ol)servc, tiiat its renunciation 
 is not to l)c deemed a proof of its non-im]iortaiice, lor in tlict I do 
 not know a liranch, which possi'sscs more mati'rial for arraiiffc- 
 mcnt ; or matter more vnrthy of \vci<,rhty consideration. — 
 Whi^n wc pass throni,di our cities, and sec those majfuilicciit 
 editlccs in the course of erection ; when we sec thousands of miles 
 of llaiKvay in full operation, lti'in<,'inu' to our markets the [ihnhic- 
 tioiis of distant ilistricts ; when wi- perceive those niaf,'nifici'nt 
 steam vessels traviusinir oiir rivers and lakes, and the Tclei,'raph 
 wires transmittinif mcssajj;es with inconceivalih' ra|iidity Ironi one 
 end of the Continent to the other ; when our cotton and woolen 
 maimfactorics are makin;iwitli all the power of steam, materials 
 for the use and comtort ot' man ; I say when we see all this, how 
 can we possildy call that subject liarrcn and unimpoi'taiit, which 
 tns'its of the iifi/ifi/ ol" science; 1 am fully sensililc of its im[)or- 
 taiKv, and should opportunity ptrmit. shall he most happy to treat 
 upon it distinctly at some future period. In the nieantinu', let us 
 all l)c careful to perform mir duty, and as we pursue our onward 
 courst; to Heaven, pray to bcsoifuided in our thoui,dits and actions; 
 that everything we do, may ha\c a tendency to |Mil)lic. as well as 
 private hcnefif; and ahovt" all. let us endeavour to worship (iod in 
 earnest, and attvuijit to show in the course of our livi's, the happi- 
 n.iss true retiirioii is able to impart ; at the same time rcllect- 
 hi<;, that it is to lu'r steadtast religions principles that J^Jigland 
 owes her pcnver and dignity, and that so long as she continues to 
 worship (4(1(1 in spirit and "in truth ; so lonjj, as she continues to 
 evangeli/e the Heathen, and convert I'agans to Christ ianily ; amJ 
 so long as she throws herself upon the power of the Almighty; 
 so long shall hei'sway be dominant, and her power suprenie, but 
 when she departs from all this, and gives uj) the - \.vtcm of Nalioiia/ 
 Education which she has eommeiiced, putting C(.>tiUdeni e in her 
 own strength, and relying upon her own rcs<.iii'' ; '• , ^u i the day 
 of her fall will <piick'ly arrivi\ and we shall i)e one more added 
 to the list of nations that have passed a\vay. 
 
 1 have fuiished, and I thank yon titr the attention with which 
 you have hoard me. 
 

 
 ) shi>\v yoii 
 of rclii/iiiii ; 
 Illy tin-d <»r 
 
 •lllllilTll, tin- 
 
 itli ymr nwn 
 
 i/i/ us Wrl! !!'< 
 HTl'l'iVf, tllill. 
 
 m it, is, tllllt 
 iss nt' iiiiittt'r 
 ii'prt'Nt'iit to 
 
 ri'iiuiK'iiitidii 
 ir ill tiirt I lit) 
 
 liir arniii^c- 
 
 sidunilioii. — 
 
 iim^niticc'iil 
 
 iiids 1(1" miles 
 
 S till' |il-<»llU'- 
 
 maj^nilici'iit 
 lu' Ti'ifi,'rii|)li 
 ity iVoiii oiu' 
 1 and wooit'ii 
 ;iiii, materials 
 all tliis, how 
 Mirtaiit, which 
 (if its iii4)or- 
 i.ipliy to treat 
 iUltillU', let MS 
 L! uur uuward 
 saiul tu'tiniis; 
 lie. as well as 
 (irshij) (iud ill 
 ,'es, the hai)[ii- 
 «■ time relU'ct- 
 ihat I'Jiglaiid 
 1' eoiitiniies to 
 e eniitiiiiies to 
 •Islianily ; aiuJ 
 he Almi.uhty ; 
 .supreme, but 
 ■m ut' y<(tioii(i/ 
 .idol lee in her 
 
 »•■ ! the day 
 II' more addeil 
 
 oil with which