Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-01-26
FOR THE DAILY ADVERTISER.
EUPHRoNEAN ESSAY.
No. ].
ON THE AcauIaHMENT or USEFUL KNOW
LEDGE.
Jfaior suna ct I'D majora genetas, guam ~ man
siiaiuns sin mel co,7t0rss.

FIRST, as we are social beings, it be-
hoves us to make ourselves acquainted Win
men, their various manners, humors and sen
timents, as far as we can have opportunity,
that We may, as much as possible, render then
and, therefore, ourselves happy.
Second, as we are sensitive beings,we should
improve our understandings, because much OF
our happiness and niscry--the one on the pro-
secution, the other on the neglect OF this no.
Bic work-depends. Manis compound De-
| ing an animal united to rational soul; end
as the former is liable to many injuries from
things, 80 is the latter subject to much Pain
Z from ideas arising from mistake or .mlsappre-
hcnsion in things pertaining to our social con-
Germs.
Third, reason is the characteristic and glory
of man: it is this only that distinguishes him
from his fellow creatures the brutes: taen to
improve this noble dis,inc non Is aIl effort net
only laudable but necessary, asst is an offset
IN itself most grand, and to man most inter-
esting.
Fourth, the soul is immortal, not like the
body which, With all its native vigor, and en-
bellishments of art, must perish, but Its I'M
provemerts, like itself, shall endure forever.
As it boasts of its immortality, SO it disdalns
a limit to its progress in knowledge, but like
ray of light in boundless space, whica il per-
petually advancing without possibility fever
arriving at boundary, so is the soul towards
that Infinite sourse wheEcc it was first emit
ted.
If moro care othe preservation and well
being OF that which is most precious should be
paid, then doubtless the soul demands ourin-
cessant efforts, to furnish it with store Of Just
and useful ideas.
The poor man enleavors with much painful
teib to procure his food ard raiment the pri-
mary incentive here is MS being sensible of
his need; and he who earnestly seeks useful
knowledge is moved by similar cause. 1t
follows then that whatsoever will excite in man
a sense of the emptiness of his mind, will,
ike touching a pendulum, set the noble ma
chine in motion,--for nature has done her
part.
To awaken this sense, let man honestly ask
himself whit real knowledge he has of tie
numerous sciences, or the far more numerous
branches Of these sciences-I say, what un-
doubted knowledge he has arrived at, of the
first collectively, or the latter singularly
surely tbs answer would be SO astonishing,
that his soul, lie the tongue of .ftps, that
broke loose and spoke, would eniesge from its
lethargy to activity and vigilance. 1t rs in
rreat part owing to the want OF this reflection
that the acquisition Of knowledge is treated
With Indifference. and that pride, higotry ana
presumption SO much abound.
Having dropped these. tes7 reflections / Will
mediums whereby we can acquire, knowledge
and,
They are, principally, four
Observation, reading, conversation End nle-
ditation:
First, let us notice with care the occcurrenc
cs in human life, whether they be sensible or
Observation-Disclosures relating to persons or
things-to ourselves orto others. a.
Second, if by reading we can acquaint our
selves with what other men have published to
the world In their writings, then let us atteil-
lively peruse those volumes which seem most
likely to improve us in useful knewledge-yet
carefully avoiding the spending much time
in reading such books as tend to divert and a.
muse, if not corruptAhe taste, rather than to
improve the mind: sueh,are like some fruits,
which, tho they are pleasant on the tongue,
yield no solid nourishment to the body, but
are often detrimental: a sinailar effect many
novels hare on some minds, particularly on
those that are weak. "*
Third, conversation is another mode by
which we may improve our minds. By mu-
tual discourse and enquiry we learn the senti- |
ments Of others, as we'll as communicate our
sentiments to them In the same manner: IN !
this We should be honest and fair in our ar
gumenls--sinccre and diligent in our enqui-
ries.
Fourth, meditation includes all those exer-
cises of mind whereby we render each Of the J
former method. useful for our increase in t
knowledge and wisdom. 1t is by meditation
weconfrln orr memory of things that pass