The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-21 00:00:00

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thoroughly
i
defeated in the long discussion by one more
aster-ef all the details of the complicated question
than
they could have believed it possible for any foreigner to
become. My illustrious friend the Duke of Wellington had
a like consummate acquaintance with whatever subject he
was called upon to consider practically; among others may-
be mentioned his regimental economy and discipline, which
Napoleon did not so well know, because he cared not so
much for the cm:dolt; of his men, nor was at all sparing of
their lives (a ;,eincipal object at all times with the Duke)
but he he ;,1 a knowledge almost p' eternatural of the place
wher:, each corps, or even company of his vast armies, was
to be found at any given time, because this was ultimately,
",:onnected with the use he might make of what he some-
what unfeelingly termed " the raw material." These ex
amples cited of the rule which forbids superficial know-
ledge absolutely, and prescribes going to the bottom of
every subject, or part of any subject, we intead to barn,
give it the sanction of the example of both those
eminent men, and show that it is a cause of
their invariable success. The effect of action and
reaction upon the historian and the multitude.
has Leen adverted to. As regards the actors in the affairs of
the world it is not to be overlooked, and it may even afford
some extenuation of their faults. The multitude are in a
measure the accomplices, if not the instigators, of those who
for selfish objects betray their interests and work their
misery or their ruin. Seduced by the spectacle of triumphant
force, stricken with wonder at the mere exercise of great fa-
culties with great success, men withdraw their eyes from
the means by which the ends are attained, and lose their
natural hatred of wickedness in their admiration of genius
and their sense of power. It is truly a disinterested admira-
tion, for they themselves pay the price and their oppression
with every suffering that misgovernment can inflict, is the
result of the cruelty which they did not abhor, the meanness
which they did not scorn, when dazzled with the false lustre
shed over detestable or despicable deeds by brilliant capacity
crowned with victory. Napoleon knew how safely he might
rely on their delusion, and he knew that the people whom he
enslaved and ruined were intoxicated with the glory which he gained and for which they so heavily paid. In one re-
spect at least he was less to blame than they ; he faced the
danger, if he witnessed the miseries of war ; while they in
perfect safety upheld him in his course to make their coun-
try unprofitably powerful by the slaughter of thousands
and the misery of millions. Surely a most sacred duty is
imposed upon the teachers of mankind, whether historians
who record or reasoners who comment upon events, to
exert all their powers for weaning them from this fatal de-
lusion ; to mark as their worst enemies those who.
would cherish the feelings of mutual aversion or jealousy
between nations connected by near neighbourhood, which
makes hostility most pernicious, and friendly intercourse
most beneficial ; and, above all, unceasingly to impress upon
their minds the contrast between the empty renown of war,
with its unspeakable horrors, and the solid glory of peace, as
real as its blessings are substantial. It is said that the pre-
sent ruler of France returned from his successful campaign
impressed with a deep sense of its horrors, and that his
wise devotion to the peaceful improvement of the country
has been stimulated by the recollection of the scenes he
had witnessed. Let us hope and trust that no vile flat-
terer will ever succeed in tempting him to abandon his
course, and that he will join all virtuous and rational
men in discountenancing the feelings which, under his
predecessor, were productive of such misery to France and
to the world—feelings which imposed and still impose upon
all neighbouring nations the heavy cost of unceasing watch-
fulness and preparation. It is not enough, however, that
the instructors of the people, and especially of youth, avoid
propagating dangerous errors, and implanting or encourag-
ing in their growth feelings hostile to the best interests of
mankind. Their duty is to inculcate principles and cherish
sentiments having the direct tendency to promote human,
happiness. Now, the wisdom of ancient times, though it
dealt largely wi;h the subject of our passions, and gene-
rally with the nature of man in the abstract, never stopped
to regard as worthy of consideration the rights, the com-
forts, and the improvement of the community at large. The
people were appealed to when advantage could be taken of
their prejudices, or their feelings could be excited for a par-
ticular purpose ; their advancement in knowledge and re-
finement was little regarded, and he who devoted himself
to tender them real service was v.ewed as going out of the
ordinary path and seeking glory in a singular and fan-
tastic way. " Vide gums°, says Cicero, addressing Julius
Ceases, "ne tua divine virtus admiration's plus sit habitura
quam gloriaa ; si quiden gloria est illustris et pervagata
multorum et magnorum vel in suos, vel in patriam, vel
in crone genus hominum fame meritorum." (Pro Afar-
cello, viii.) The space was supposed impassable that sepa-
rates the vulgar from the philosopher and the statesman ;
they were not even regarded as much above the brutes
which perish. "Si ut sapientibus placet," says Tacitus,
" non cum corpore extinguuntur magnas anima." A
sounder philosophy and a purer religion have in modern
times entirely abolished all such distinctians; and to con-
sult the interests and promote the improvement in every
way of the great body of the people is not only the object of
all rational men's efforts, but the best title to public respect
and the direct road to fame. The instructors of youth have
thus devolved upon them the duty of directing the minds
of their pupils towards the most important purposes which
their acquirements can serve to promote, the diffusion of
knowledge among the people, and their general improve •
went, inculcating the grand lesson of morals as well as of
wisdom, that whatever they leatn, of whatever accomplish-
ments they become possessed, in a word, all their acquired
talents as much as their natural gifts are a trust held for
the benefit not more of themselves than of their fellow-crea-
tures, and of the use whereof they will one day have to ren-
der a strict account. The impressions left on the mind in
early years are so lively that they last through life; and
even when partially affected by other studies, or
by the cares of the world, they still exert some
influence, and may often be found ft.r more than is
supposed to modify the counteracting and neutralizing
influences which they cannot resist. This undoubted truth
is not the less important for being often admitted,
though there is reason to fear oftener admitted than acted
upon in practice. The difference between ancient times
and modern in one great particular cannot be too con-
stantly kept before the eyes of youth—the difference aris-
ing from the art of printing, and its important effect, the
discussion of all questions by written addresses to much
greater numbers :than can attend public meetings. The
orator has thus a fellow-labourer, it may be a supporter or
an opponent but certainly a rival, in the author, who no
longer, as of old, addresses a select few at a different time,
perhaps long after the occasion of the discussion, but ad-
dresses the same persons who form the orator's audience,
and vast numbers besides, nearly at the same time and in
the same circumstances. It is needless to observe how
incalculably this increases the importance of the literary
class of the community; and this never can be too deeply
impressed upon the student. All the heavy responsibility
which rests on this class should be unceasingly dwelt
upon ; nor can there be a more :fit thing than to cite the
words of Mirabeau, who held the literary character in the
highest estimation glorying in the name of author, proud
and not ashamed of receiving the wages of his labour ne-
cessary for his support, albeit of a house more under the
dominion of family pride than any in France, to the excess
of denying their relationship to the great engineer who
belonged to their race (Itegueti), and conferred more real
glory on them than all its other members. Mirabeau thus
apostrophizes literary men : " Oh 1 would they but devote
themselves honestly to the noble art of being useful! if
their indomitable vanity would compound with itself
and sacrifice fame to dignity I if, instead of vilifying one
another, and tearing one another in pieces, and mutually
destroying their influence, they would combine their exer-
tions and their labours to overthrow the ambitious who
usurps, the impoatorwho deceives, the base who sells him-
self ; if, scorning the vile vocation of literary gladiators, they
banded themselves like true brethren in arms against pre-
judice, falsehood, quackery, tyranny of whatever descrip-
tion, in less than a century the whole face of the earth would
be changed !" It is pleasing, it is also useful, to reflect upon
the tendency of academical studies to pierce beyond our
walls, and by means of popular assemblies and the press to
spread over the people the knowledge here acquired. Not
only have the; lectures occasionally delivered by our Profes-
sors beyond the precincts had the happiest effect on the
middle classes, but they have extended to the working
men. It was, indeed, a pupil of this University (Birk-
beck), afterwards transferred to a quasi-collegiate chair at
Glasgow, who 60 years ago made the great step of lecturing
upon scientific subjects to the working classes. In the
town where Watt in his workshop applied in philosophic
principle the knowledge he had learned from Black to the
construction of the great engine which has almost changed
the face of the world, the attempt was most appropriately
made, and with complete success, to demonstrate that the
highest intellectual cultivation, and a keen relish for the
1 sublime truths ;of science, is compatible with the
daily toils and cares of our humbler brethren. A further
encouragement to the spread of such studies has been
recently given by the English Universities in bestowing
honours of a class subordinate to academical, after due ex-
amination. Ther t can be no doubt that we shall follow so
admirable an example. The instructors of youth have no
more important duty than to inculcate the great truth—oven
through life worthy of a large share in the guidance of our
conduct—that it is beneficence rather than benevolence, at
least, benevolence shown in beneficence, which can be re-
garded as a virtue, and entitled to confidence and respect.
Mere good disposition, unless guided by good judgment,
may be admired as amiable, but must be barren of good fruit,
and may even produce evil. Charity ill bestowed may prove
more hurtful than selfishness; and they who have impove-
rished themselves or their heirs may find others yet more
injured by their ignorance or errors, as gifts bestowed with
the best intentions have been found to promote the immora-
lity and propagate the disease which they were desirous to
prevent. Foundling and small-pox hospitals, both in Eng-
land and Ireland and on the continent, are the proofs, irut
where the will to serve mankind unites with the knowledge
how to serve them—where the will is followed by the deed,
and the desire to do good is gratified at a personal sacrifice,
there can be no greater merit in the eyes of a man, nor any,
let us humbly affirm, more fitted to obtain the approval of
Heaven. It is bountifully ordered that such conduct shall
even in this life be rewarded both by an approving conscience
gene-
rous rous acts are limited by our means, and wew can Butonly in a
and by the delight which the reflection affords'
few instances have this enjoyment. I have known a small
circle of persons ho made a point of doing some act of
—that
is,
daily on an average,
keeping what
kindness to individuals daily
abnydaccitvsew wholehich haveclasses
man Emperor, w
favour had not been done. But such indul-
gences are confined
by our circumstances or our necessary
washteedrm eeetede a
d -
" every Titus
day account,"lost in which some
deed of mercy or from the Ito-
scle compounda
of our fellow-creatures cause to bless our names. Such is
the duty, and such ought to be the pleasure of all men, each
let u
in his station, and at every age, from the entrance into
beneficial avocations.
tendency Then
on a s
larger
active life down to its close, even of those whose years make
it necessary to relax, though by no means to ive up their
labours. From an entire discontinuance of
work they
would vainly seek repose—

. -
v
mesinitd
Wqttaistev;racyanust iesfualmifonrd
tdishosetreswth"ose
had passed in camps or courts,
"The want of occupation is not rest,
In former tiAm
wearied with the turmoil
and anxieties of war, or the busy restlessness of intrigue,
to seek repose in the cloister,
" In the deep solitudes and awful cells,"
where they fancied that
" Heavenly pensive meditation dwells ;"
and fondly hoped by superstitious observances to efface
their own memory of evil deeds, or to propitiate Heaven by
mortification which tormented themselves and benefited
no one. Even many whose course had been blameless and
who had only to lament the advance of age unfitting them
for active life, sought the cloisteren shade with the same
design of enjoying rest and seeking the Divine favour by
unprofitable service. In our day a wiser and more virtuous
course is taken by those who are no longer able to perform.
all the duties which exhausted the strength of their youth..
They still feel able to contribute their share, though far
less than they could wish, to the service of mankind .
They trust that their solacing themselves with classical rs
mimscences may be pardoned to their period of life, as Will
as the prolixity of speech which attends it i and at any, •te
they can abstain from hurtful and degrading es,