The Sun.
London, England, 1817-11-17 00:00:00

PRINCE OF WALES'S COUNCIL, Nov. 12, 1817.

COUNTY OF CORNWALL—The names Of those
• •
who are nominated for Sheriffs by the Council of
his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, at his
Royal. Highness's Council Chamber, Somerset-
place, on Wednesday, the l2th day of November,
in the sSth year of the reign of his Majesty King
George the Third, and in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and seventeen
Francis Hearie Rodd, of Trebartha-Hall, Esq.
Sir Joseph Copiey. of Bake, Bart.
Joseph Sawle Sawle, of Penriee, Efig.

The names of the several persons nominated by
the Chief Justices of the.' espective Circuits in
Wales, as proper persons to serve the office of
.Sheriff for the ensuing year, for the respective
counties following :

SOUTH 'WALES.
Carmarthen—Lewis Price Jones. of Glannvranell, Esq.;
David Williams, of Henllys, Esq. and David Heron Pugh, of
Greenhill, Esq.

Pembroke—..folin Beynon, of Trewerne, Esq.; Robert Bate-
man Priest, of Haverfordwest, Esq. ; and Robert Ackland, of
Boulsnin, Esq.
Cardigan—John Palmer Chichester, of Lanbadarnfaur,
Esq.; Thomas Hugh Jones, of Noyadd, Esq.; and John
Jonestof Derry Ormond, Esq.
Glamorgan—John Jones, of Saint Helen's, Esq. ;'Lewis
Weston Didwyn, of Pcnllargari, Esq.; and Richard Fowler
Richards, of Lantrissent, Esq.
Brecon—John Wilkins, of Cue, Esq. ; Fowler Price, of
Twynly Coed, Esq. ; and Edward Jones, of Battle, Esq.
Radnor—David Griffiths, of Llanp,wunllo, Esq. ; Frederick
Jones, of Disserth, Esq.; and Hugh Stephens, of Cascob,
Esq. •
• NORTH WALES.

Merioneth—John Edwards, of Tyny Coed, E,q.;
Ormsby Gore, of Glynn, Esq.; and Edward Lloyd, of Rho-
gatt, Esq.
Carnarvon—Thomas Jones, of Bryntirion, Esq.; Evan
Jones, of Gelliwig, E q. and Robert Roberts, of Garn, Esq.
Anglesey—John Price, of Cadnant, Esq.; James Green-
field, of Ryddgaer, Esq.; and Owen Putland Meyrick, of Bo-
dorgan, Esq.
Montgomery—David Pugh, of Llanerdydol, Esq,; John Ed-
wards, of Machynlleth, Esq.; and Thomas Griffiths Lloyd, of
Trowscoed, Esq.
Denbigh—Edward Lloyd, of Berth, Esq.; Lloyd Bamford,
Ilesketh, of GWyrch, Esq.; and Edward Corbett, of Lloran,
Esq.
Flint—John Wynn Eaton, of Leeswood, Esq. George Wat-
kins Kenrick, of Mertyu, Esq.; and Ralph Richardson, of
Kinsale, Esq.

The Directors of the Royal Exchange Assur-
ance have resolved to close their Office on Wed-
nesday next, being. the by fixed for the funeral
of her Royal Highness the Princess CHARLOTTE
of VALES, as a mark of feeling and respect ou the
melancLoly Occasion. , • "

' COLONIAL JOURN ALS.

THOUGHTS ON THE ADVANTAGES OF A CLASSICAL

EDUCATION.

(Frow the Free Press, published at Halifax in Neva Scotia.)
In this age of progressive improvement' and
philosophical research, when literary subjects are
introduced and discussed in almost every cornpany,
permit me to call your attention to a remark I
have frequently heard, and which seems to gain
currency with many as a sage and incontrovertible
maxim. The current maxim to which I allude is
this :—" That the knowledge of Latin and Greek
can be of little or no use to a tradesman, mer-
chant, or mechanic ; arid, that the time spent in
acquiring it, would he bestowed to much better
purpose in pursuing such a course of English edu-
cation, as might have a direct reference to that
species of trade which should afterwards engage
the attention for life."

Although I intend to deMonstrate the absurdity
of this general observation, yet were I required
to give my.decided opinion, whether a classical or
common education should be preferred, in prepar-
ing a young Mao for any species of commerce, I
would have no hesitation in recommending the
la: ter, because it must be essentially necessary to
the management of the business supposed. Every
body knows and admits, that a. man may be a
merchant without the knowledge of Latin or
Greek, or indeed of any ancie►►t language what-
ever. So far as language is intn►ediately concerned
with commerce, all acquaintance with the modern
dialects-of Europe is much more useful than the
languages of ancient Greece and Rome, which
as they lie in books, being no where spoken at
present, are never employed, I believe, as a me-
'diun► of intercourse, in carrying on trade. Read.
ing, Writing and Arithmetic, are certainly the
principal branches of science; which are of pri-
mary use, in mereontile affairs ; yet, however im-
portant they may appear, it is ►ruly astonishing
to consider how much commerce may be, and
actually is carried on, with a very trifling know-
ledge, even of these.

The great queries, however, to which I design
at-present to confine my attention are—Whether
Latin and Greek should constitute a part of a
young man's education, who continues at school
till he is capable of entering into trade, having
nothing higher in View than' a commercial Occu-
pation ? Whether the literature of the admired
Greeks and Romans be really worthy of a mer-
chant's serious attention ? Or, whether the time
bestowed on it might not be employed to better
purpose, in the acquisition of something else ?
The best method, I apprehend, of solving these
queries will bi; to point out the general advan-
tages of a classical education, leaving the intelli-
gent public to judge, decide, and apply, as they
may see cause.

1 give it then as my humble opinion, that the
learning of Latin and other ancient languages is
one of the very best exercises in which a boy
could possibly engage, as a general introduction
to business, and a happy weans of enabling him to
cultivate, improve, and strengthen his mental. ca-
pacities ; and of how much importance this must
be to him, in whatever line-of business he may
afterwards embark, is abundantly obvious. In
acquiring the language of Latin, or any dead lan-
' guage, every thing about it must depend on the
memory. The grammar must be committed and
revised again and again, and such particular at-
tention paid to it, as may enable the learner to
use and apply it with dexterity on every occasion.
While a young man continues to learn and study
his own language alone he generally. pays little
attention to time principles of grammar, because
custom and his ear are sufficient to guide him, in
almost any thing he may have occasion to express,
either in speaking or writing. But in Latin or
Greek it is very different, for there every thing Is
weight and measure, and must be scrupulously-re-
duced to elementary principles and rules of con-
struction, with as much accuracy and attention as
a bee forms its cell, or a skilful mason builds a
palace. •
Should a Gentleman pretend to great skill in
insh•n►nental music, who knew nothing of a scale
or gamut, would he not be justly exposed to ridi-
cule and contempt by every connoisseur• in the
art ? Or, if a Lady should vaunt of her superior•
acquirements in needle-work, while utterly igno-
rant of what is technically termed a sampler, would
any scientifically accomplished, seamstress consi-
der her pretensions as ‘vorthy of credit ?'The case
is exactly similar with relation to a boy's skill in.
English grammar, who has never learned Latin.
I will boldly adventure to assert (however absurd
it may appear) that all the knowledge he can de-
rive from any English grammar commonly used in
schools, and compiled by a mere English scholar,
will not enable him thoroughly to understand the
title page of the Bible, nor could he assign any
reason why the word Testaments, which he finds
there, is plural, from the simple rules of those mo-
dern English grammars I have consulted, not-
withstanding all the boasted accuracy of their
learned authors.

In course of reading the classics too there are
stii.l greater advantages to be obtained. As the
signification of the words must be acquired by
minute attention to the Dictionary, and retained
by the most 'strenuous exertions of the memory,
that faculty is prodigiously strengthened and en-
larged as we advance, according to a maxim with
which every classical grammarian is well acquaint-
ed; inemoria excolendo aziketur, " the memory is
improved by exercising it." Is there any way by
which a boy is likely to pay so particular an atten=
lion to the orthography of his own language, as
by being constantly obliged to search a Latin Dic-
tionary for the English of whatever be translates?
And what a command it gives him of the most ap-
propriate, harmonious, and significant expres-
sions, when he has occasion to speak or write in
his own language ! By strictly attending to La-
tin words, as explained in the Dictionary, he per-
ceives that they have various meanings, and are
used in various acceptations; hecarefiillyobserves
these allied and nearly synonimous meanings ar-
ranged and detailed under each Latin term.—
Hence, in the composition of his own language,
if he dislikes any particular word or phrase that
may occur, he feels no difficulty in finding an-
other of similar import, which may suit his pur-
pose and please his fancy better. This, of course,
gives him. a volubility -and-ease, in -cApressing his

sentiments, so that by his familiarity with 1.41
he becomes an able reasoner, a fluent orator,sii
an accurate critic.
I might further notice here, that as a grS
many terms in mathematics, geography, astrod#
my, and almost every branch of modern scien4t
are Latin, no young man can pretend to be *Ol
thing like an:accomplished English scholar, whiP,
he•is obliged to stammer over the terms of 111'.
science like an old woman attempting to read;
Doctor's recipe. But what is perhaps much mots
to the purpose than any thing yet mentioned, til!
greater pair of the English language is radical
Latin, consequently an acquaintance with thi
!atter is essentially necessary to a suitable knoo
ledge of the former. As the Latin preposil
ab, ante, con or cum, inter, sub, &c. are compoon
ed with an immense number of English wor4
the exact signification of such words can neve,
be critically understood, without a •kntwietige
that language to which those prepositions origie.e,
ally belong. People of every description hitt"
rest themselves more or less in theological cod'
i
troversies and disputes ; now all such.disputes.,o'
any moment are founded on grammatical nicetiat
respecting the Greek and Latin prepositions; 07
if so, how can the parties concerned
.pretend
judge of the merits of a cause of which I may• 4
they are totally ignorant ?
In addition to this it may be observed, that of
tine Romans in particular were the greatest peg",
plc ever known to exist tinder one form of CO!
Govermneut, the knowledge of any thing
they were concerned, but especially of their tae'
guage, is extremely interes!ine and saleable
There is perhaps nothing so chararteristie
scriptive of the genius anti tra,positof of d
as their language. H, tat, ;ft every co .n ry,
accuracy of langage, whether addres3cd to the dal
or ear, varies according to the diversified circuor
stances of those who use it ;• and it la Vl y
vious, that whenever inattention has bet n allowed
to corrupt and deface language, whei her in atrte
ing or pronunciation, a corresponding naeliaei.o,
will be detected in other points, as the tares, (IC;
mestic arrangements, personal clemiiiaess,
the like. All those virtues then, and mental eat:
dowinents,which rendered, the Romans great O.!'
excellent beyond almost any thing we can. eye
ceive, appear in their. language, and must, to
degree, be admired and imbibed by every boy 0129
becomes familiar with Latin.
How fine a branch of science is chemistry, whieli,
enables its to decompose and simplify vegetable"
fluid, mineral, anti indeed I may say all knol
substances in general. Such is the knowledv
Greek and Latin, whereby we are enable to al01:
lyze terms—to trace them to their simple and 00:i
final meaning—and to observe the natural BP
progressive operations of the human intellect, me
venting and employing the most suitable and
propriate images in expressing its ideas.
To render this matter a little more intelligilo
let us select a few words of common use, ands q
what account an English, anti what a classi"4.
scholar could give-of them. By the help of 's°`
English Dictionary, a boy is informed, that
cancel signifies to erase, blot out, or make void
piece of writing. The Latin scholar, however°
derives his information from a higher source<
He knows, at a glance,, that cancelli, froru waft
the English verb in question is formed, literel4
and properly signifies latticeS; or windows, tro°
with cross-bars' of iron, wood or such like.'w°
Hence, to cancel, in its strict anal primitive sq
ceptation, is to draw a pet;, horizontally Air
perpendicularly, at suitable intervals, till the piece
of writing.to be/blotted out, assume the appear'
ance of the wire-work of a window, or any 64:
quered in that manner. He knows also, tits
chancery, chancellor, &c. are derived front lb.°
same term. conjecture, to judge at random, 41-
mere English scholar would say, because he koe'l
no better ; but a boy who understands Latin cowl°
inform you, that according to the native import
of the term, the mind is represented, directing its
attention as nearly as possible to some object sor
known, after the manner of one who shoots
mark. Adore, to worship, reverence, or reSpeti
according to the English etymology ; but, 21.c'
cording to the Latin, from which it is derived, 14;
kiss.the hand, or put it to the mouth. From tilij
brief specimen, it will be readily observed, tlia,u4
young man, who has not had the advantage of.t+
classical education; can bave but a very slight oe
,quaintance with his own language, and will 0/
ready to misapply it on many important oecasionfb
as we find is actually done, front day to day, WO
in speaking and writing..

(To b 2 cont:nued.)

•Thursday morning, about twelve o'clock',"
man, named Thomas Williams, went into die
shop of Mr. Pierce, linen-draper, Thomas-streetf,
Borough, and stole therefrom thrity-six yards 40
print, with which he deliberately walked `ofP
being seen by several persons he was immediate!,
secured.