The Press.
London, England, 1856-10-25 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

instruction by which their peculiar genius
would be most benefited, is to bring a sound
theory into contempt by pushing it to an ab-
surd extreme.

Thus much may fairly be conceded to the
arguments of the learned Dr. BOOTH, but
they nevertheless fail to convince us that a
classical education is not a very good pre-
paration for the commercial life. There is
one point of view from which such education
would appear even more valuable to the mer-
chant or tradesman than to members of the
learned professions. These latter, throughout
the whole course of their career, have always
a more or less close connection with literce
humaniores. Neither the clergyman nor the
lawyer can do full justice to himself or
his profession without keeping up a certain
amount of classical knowledge, and to some
extent maintaining himself abreast of the
literature of the day. " These," says Mr•
PLEYDELL, pointing to his classics, " are my
" tools of trade. A lawyer without history or
" literature is a mechanic, a mere working ma-
" chine ; if he possesses some knowledge of
" them, he may venture to call himself an
" architect."

But the mercantile man is in perpetual
danger of hardening into a mere machine for
the manufacture of lucre. There may be nqble
instances to the contrary. We only speak of
the tendency. And wherever the union of gene-
rous feeling and liberal sentiment with good
business habits is to be found, it will usually
turn out to he the result of high educational
training. It is desirable, then, that persons
engaged in trade should, from some source or
another, have acquired tastes which may be
said, as it were, to keep the affections open.
And if this salutary effect be produced most
readily by literature, then there can be no
doubt that the education of boys at commer-
cial schools should he in some shape literary.
All the literature which a man devoted to
trade, or the study of mechanical subjects,
ever acquires, must necessarily be acquired in
boyhood. Flom these few precious hours he
is to draw the humanising influences of a whole
life. Ought we then to debar him from the
wholesome draught simply because this is his
only opportunity of tasting it ?
The present low state of commercial
morality, which is the subject of comment
in all circles, gives peculiar force to these
considerations. Money-getting parents ask
contemptuously, " What is the good of my
" son learning Greek? I am getting old. I
" want his assistance at the ledger. Will
" Greek help him to know a bad bill from a
" good one ?" Possibly not. But "Greek," used
as it is by such persons to denote a liberal
education, will prevent him from passing bad
bills of his own ! By cultivating his taste it
will show him the absurdity of false preten-
sions, and the ridiculous aspect of those who
habitually live beyond their means. If it does
not conduct him to the fortunes of a Roths-
child, it may, at least, save him from trans-
portation or the hulks. There are, of course,
natures which no amount of cultivation will
be able to ameliorate. The passions may be
so violent as to defy the control of ethics, or
the intellect so barren that all attempts to
impregnate it are like sowing corn upon the
sand. But instances of this kind are few and
far between ; and it is no answer to the argu-
ment to point out certain notorious offenders,
and say that these, too, were educated men.
The assertion that commercial pursuits
require no logic is a somewhat astounding
one. Readiness at forming just deductions
from facts is one of the most valuable faculties
in a merchant; and this is obviously developed
by the study either of logic itself, or of such
subjects as must. be approached by a logical
method. Dr. BOOTH'S analogy of the labourer
is erroneous. He does not require gymnastics
because his work is gymnastic. Felling a tree
strengthens the muscles as well as climbing a
pole. But mere practice will never make a
man a good reasoner, or the world would not
be so full of fools as it is.
Where, however, it is granted that literature
should form the basis of even a commercial
education. it is somaimes urged, as by Dr.
BOOTH, that equally good results may be pro-
duced by the study of SHAKESPEARE and MILTON

1011

as by the study of lEselmus and HOMER.
But no one, be he man or boy, will ever
be induced to study the rules of grammar
with the same accuracy in a living lan-
guage as a dead one—for the best of all
reasons, that he can get at all he wants
without it. In the Greek or Latin, to estimate
an author's meaning, especially in poetry or
philosophy, it is necessary to possess a minute
acquaintance with all those various shades of
meaning which a particular tease, case, or
particle may have the power to indicate.
Without. this there can seldom be any certainty
that the beauty of a poetical image, or the exact
weight of a metaphysical distinction is fully
comprehended. It is idle to contend that any-
thing of this sort is required to enable
a man to understand or to enjoy the works of
modern writers. The difference is not one of
degree, but of kind. The subject-matter of an
English writer can be wholly and effectually
dissevered from the study of the language in
which it is written. In this one fact then,
that in classical studies alone are the cultiva-
tion of the taste and the habit of grammatical
analysis of necessity united, consists the
main ground of their superiority as channels
of education. It may be added that a
study of what is known as the classical
school of literature should precede the study
of the romantic, if we desire to secure sim-
plicity and chasteness of thought, and a sound
basis for the formation of correct taste.

The long passage in which Dr. Boon(
descants on the requirements of our material
progress, and contends that all other wants
must be sacrificed to its imperious demands,
is founded on that common mistake which is
the besetting sin of the age. Civilisation is
not an end, but a means. There is a certain
pertinent question in the New Testament
which believers in that volume cannot wholly
ignore, and which implies that material wealth
may, at a certain cost, prove a very worthless
possession. We may " gain the whole world,'
but what when we have got it? There is
something else still to be provided for.
" Good," in fact, does not mean " good to eat,"
as Mr. EMERSON SO wittily defines MACAULAY'S
idea of that adjective. Briefly, if the require-
ments of mind and matter come into collision,
which is to give way? That is the question,
and we wish Dr. BOOTEE and his admirers
would seriously address themselves to the so-
lution of it.

1012

lortign 6orrrspoubtatt.

PARIS, October 23.
THE note in the 2lfoniteur has made little of the
expected sensation after all, resulting as it has simply
in recalling the legations. All part►es will now lie
upon their oars till the conferences are over, when
the King will probably make some concession, accom•
panied with a great flourish about " the allied fleets
not having dared to enter his harbours," S:c., and
then all will be smoothed over once more. So much
for the position into which Loral Clarendon has got
England. The natural remark of all persons is, why
cannot England act by herself if she is so anxious
about the matter, and let France pursue her own
policy. As it is there is, at least in Parisian circles,
no second opinion on the low position in which the
English Foreign Minister has contrived on this as
on other occasions to place his own country, and the
only wonder expressed is that we (English) tolerate
him at all.

Some sharp language between the Epoca, Madrid
paper, and the Parts journals serves as a sublets& for
their comment Bin for the last two days the its-
semblie Nationale and other papers have got a new
topic. These clever journalists it seems have dis•
covered that Savoy, and in fact Sardinia generally,
has become " a sick man," which France must take
into her own keeping ,just as the Czar Nicholas in-
tended taking Turkey into his. The idea is laugh-
able and preposterous, but not without a mischievous
tendency ; and for what the censorship of the press
exists in France, if not for the suppression of such
articles as those in the Union, Assemblee, and other
papers here of late, it is not easy to divine. On the
other hand, it is bruited about as a good remedy for
the present state of things in Italy that France
should take Naples and England Sicily !—not a bad
notion in its way, though Russo American in cha-
racter perhaps. Apropos to the latter "civilisers of
the universe," as they call themselves, they are by
no means popular in France just now—probably the
Emperor does not tpprove of their everlasting
preaching about republicanism.
The discontent es to the high price of apartments
is as great as ever, notwithstanding the Empress's
benevolent efforts to relieve the prevailing distress
in that way. The Bourse gambling is as usual
going on faster than anything else, and fresh smashes
take place in private families daily. At present the
speculation is peculiarly great, as the Bth and 15th
October (pay-days of rent for the lower and higher
classes respec.ively) are but just passed, and money-
msking is therefore more an object than usual, and
is peculiarly the case amongst those members of the
gentler sex "qui mangent la fortune" of their ad-
mirers, as most of the latter find about this time of
year generally. In truth the moral effect of the
Bourse is just as bad as that of the old Palais Royal
gambling•houses, suppressed twenty-six years ago,
and does infinite harm. New taxes are talked of,
but it is difficult to see on what they can judiciously
be laid. As to free trade, at present it is hopeless—
ere long it is to be hoped juster views may be attained
here.

Lord Hertford having demanded 75,000 f. in place
of 20,000 f. per annum as her!tofore for the Café de
Paris, that famous establishment came to an end a
week ago, and is to be transferred to Very's, in the
Palais Royal. Some changes in the Court retinue
are talked of, and certainly is much required, the
stamp thereof as regards the gentlemen being dis-
tingue the wrong way. The Emperor and Empress
are, so far from being unwell, in excellent health,
and the Prince grows, it is t 3 be hoped, in wisdom as
he certainly does in stature. Divers small changes,
but all important to the comfort of residents, are
about to be made—a reform of the present absurd
cab fare system, ditto of the sewerage and Fas -pipe
works, and other useful improvements small in them-
selves, but showing that the Emperor has his eyes
everywhere, and can attend to small things as well
as great—•the true type of a really great man. The
press is busier than ever just now—seldom have so
many new books been published as of late, and fresh
announcements figure daily. The Congress no one
speaks of and no one cares about—the ambassadors,
in fact, will only meet to discuss a foregone con-
clusion.

E. W.

BRrSSELS, Oct. 23.
GRACIOC9 and manifold as have been the Imperial
courtesies at the coronation of Moscow, there yet
have been heartburnings underneath the superin-
cumbent ma.s of stars and collars, and which the
silken trappings of distinction have not been able
to conceal. The Prince de Ligne, the grandson of
the friend of Catherine IL, was selected, and be it