The fame practice would be followed by the like confequence in every branch of science.

The agricultural improver, who, on the northern fide of the Grampian Hills, fhould implicitly adopt the plan of hufbandry laid down by the Devonshire farmer, would have but forry crops. In vain would he boaft, that his ploughs were of the fame conftruction, that his furrows were of equal depth, and that he had, in fpite of frofts and fnow, of ftorm and tempeft, committed the feed to the reluctant bosom of the earth on the appointed day: of his labours and his toil, the fole reward would be mortification and disappointment! But, if inftead of proceeding by rules adapted to a more genial climate and more benignant foil, the northern agriculturist directs his attention to the nature of foil in general, with all its particular modifications; if he ftudies the temperature of the region in which he lives,

and

and carefully proves the principles he thus acquires, by the test of observation and experience; he will literally "fow "in hope, and reap in joy, bringing his "fheaves with him.'

"

So to the writer of the following letters it appears to be with regard to the work of education,, which, without fome knowledge of the principles of the human mind, muft frequently be labour loft. To an examination of thefe principles as far as early education. is concerned, and to the practical inferences arifing from them, the present volume is devoted. Originally undertaken at the requeft of a particular friend, it is, in the fanguine hope of being more extenfively ufeful, now fubmitted to the public. Far, however, from encouraging the chimerical idea of influencing the opinions of the prejudiced, or of teaching the giddy and unthinking votaries of folly and fashion to liften to the voice of reafon; the views

of

of the author are folely confined to giving affiftance to the young but conscien tious parent, who, anxiously folicitous for the virtue and happiness of her offspring, is in danger of being bewildered amid the variety of fyftems that offer themselves as unerring guides in the important path of education. Did the abilities of the writer bear any proportion to her zeal, fhe would have little reason to doubt of success; but however limited her powers, if advantage to any individual should refult from her prefent employment of them, fhe will rejoice in the reflection, that he has not lived in vain !

LETTER I.

Subject proposed.-An Examination into the End and Object of Education.

T

MY DEAR FRIEND,

HE task you have fo long affigned, me is at length commenced; and had inclination only, been confulted, should have been undertaken at a much more earlyˇpe-· riod; but while frendship impelled to an immediate compliance with your request, reflection convinced me of the neceffity of delay..

The more deeply, I contemplated the fubject of Education, the more thoroughly was I impreffed with a fenfe of its importance. What I had at first confidered as eafy and fimple, appeared upon close inspection to be difficult and complex; and as I traced A 3

effects

effects to their caufes, I frequently found circumftances I had overlooked as trifling, rife into magnitude, and branch out into confequences that had been unfeen and unexpected.

Every discovery I made, tended to encrease diffidence in my own abilities; which I became truly fenfible were inadequate to the due performance of a task fo arduous. With this confcioufnefs, I fhould have been highly culpable, if I had rafhly undertaken

it.

On every fubject that requires ferious investigation, our fex is doomed to experience the double difadvantage arifing from original conformation of mind, and a defective education. From the From the quickness of our perceptions we are frequently liable, "where we fee a little, to imagine a great "deal, and fo jump to a conclufion ;” while, from an education conducted upon no regular plan, we acquire no regular affociations in our ideas, no accurate arrangement, no habit of mental application.. Of Nature, indeed, we have little reafon to complan. She has fufficiently qualified us for the fphere in which the evidently intended. we fhould move; and that that sphere is neither undignified nor confined, fhe has rendered