The Sun.
London, England, 1818-01-10 00:00:00

E COLONIES.

EDUCATION.

ISO. I.]
NOVA SCOTIA.

LGrattro es't, quod patrice populo que dedisti,
facis, ut patri4 sit idoneus; utilis antis;
Utilis.et belloriun, et pacis rebus agendis.
eniin intercrit, quibus artibus, et quibus hack tuu
Alm ibtrs instituas

SA:. XIV. 70

It is notnecessary in the present day to dilate
on the advantages arising from Education ; its
'importance is generally acknowledged. Indeed,
among the many useful improvethents and bril-
liant events which characterize his Majesty's
Reign, none, we think, will be more conspicuous
in History, than that of Educa-
tion, which has been so successfully adopted un-
'der His-Sanction. This event will shine, per-
haps., with a paler and more chastened lustre
than _the bright 'successes of Our Arms, but its
progress will .be marked by effects not less
im-
portant, extensive, and lasting. • His Majesty has
been, at every period of his'life, the liberal pa-
tron of learned men, and of institutions for the
dissemination of Knowledge, and the 'itnfirove-
ment of the Eine Arts ; and no part 'of -Ids -do-
minions is without some testimovy of .the en-
couragement which he has afforded to them. He
was sensible, that there were not any surermeans
of attaching his •more remote subjects to the in-
terests of the Parent State, than giving them an
education suited to their various ranks ; and ac-
cordingly i❑ his Majesty's Dependencies, the Go-
vernors, aided by the Inhabitants, promoted the
stablishment of Schools for useful learning, and
of Colleges where the • young men destined for
Professions might complete a more liberal course

of education. Tl.is latter measure was wise and

necessary ; for it is of the first importance, that
"the learned pfofessions should be filled with men
duly qualified by early habits of reflection and study,
and an intimate acquaintance with general litera-
ture, to perform their respective duties ; and the
expellee of a residence at either of the Universities

this country, for so long a time as is requisite
to complete a course of academical study, added
-to the inconvenience and estrangement from their
.families, is such as almost to prohibit the Colo.;
'lists from deriving any advantage from these.in—
stitutions, and thus, had not this measure been

adopted, they would have been deprived, in a great

degree, of the means of gaining any extensive ac-
quaintance with the higher departments of lite-
rature, and would consequently have been nnfit

for the chief offices in the Colonies. It seems
just, and indeed politic; to distribute some offi-
cial situations in the Colonies among men born
and educated there, and upon this, ground, we
conceive it to be proper to give them a suitable
education, so that they may be enabled to exe-

cute the trusts reposed in them with advantage to
. the Public. It is politic, because men educated
, in the Colonies have opportunities of making
themselves acquainted with the feelings, preju-
dices, and wants of the people, and of acquiring
local information which may he of the most es-
sential service in the management of provincial
affairs : indeed, the want of knowledge of this
Mud, :which has on too many occasions been
evinced to the sacrifice of our Colonial Interests,
is-an irresistable argument in favour of this,as-
sertion. Besides, every man who feels as lie
ought; has a just and lau►lable ambition to raise
himself in that society, into which birth or other
adventitious circumstances have thrown him—if
he is denied the power, he becomes discontented,
and readily listens to every scheme fOr• the it;tro-
duction of an order of things more flattering to
th.r hopes of that passion which is predominant in
him. It is upon these grounds that we so en-
tirely approve the measures which have been
adopted, in the Colonies to disseminate know-
ledge, and to fit every man for becoming a❑ in-
dustrious and loyal Citizen, a useful Alagistrate,
or a wise and prudent Legislator.
This is, we mast confess, a favourite topic of
speculation. It has long been the amusement of
our leisure to watch the progress of education in
the different Colonies of The British Empire,
and amongst all of them we have found a praise-
worthy zeal to diffuse generally its advantages,
but we have felt a singular satisfaction in observ-
ing the constant attention which the Legislature
of Nova Scotia has bestowed upon this subject.
So early as the year 1766 we find in their Statute-
book " An Act to regulate Schools and School-
masters," and since that period the .Legislature
has scarcely ever met without passing sonic Act
for the establishment of a new School, or for re-
vising the Statutes for the regulation of those al-
ready founded. We have seen additional encou-
ragements almost annually offered, and the most
beneficial and salutary means adopted, to promote