The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-08-08
FOR THE ENQUIRER.

~ FOR THE ENQUIRER. -,
Mt. GERARDIN'S EXAMINATIONS.
no exhibition is more gratifying or better
calculated to excite sensations OF pleasure &
delight, than correct display ct juvenile
p.wers in the field of Literature Scenes of
| This description, while they inspire the youth
who are the ac:ors, with an enthusiastic ar
dour to excel, impress those young minds
whQmey be spectators, with similar desire
or advancing in the. path of literary fame
Public examinations of youth in Summaries
OF Art and Science ought there fore to be fire.
| quentiy repea,ed, and it were to be wished
that all instructors would follow the exam
| pie OF Mr.. Gerar,iin i'll tbis respect -
/ The Students of the Academy OH the fiji st
and second days OF august, were examined
II the different Latin aud Greek Authors,
which they had read during the last six
| months under 1hedirecton of Mr. ,Dotie, &
IN the various branches OF Natural and Moral
Philosophy which they had studied under
Mr.. Gcrardin. as likewise in Geoaetry,
Algebra, Geography and the French Ian
guage. 20 The knowledge and information
Which they displayed in these several stu
dies, reflected the highest honor on their
own diligence and the Talents of their in
structors. The system of education which
Mir. Gerardin pursues. is . happy medium
between the antiquated Pedantry of Europe
an Grammar schools and tue Philosophy of
modern Colleges. Indeed those Young Gen
tlemen, whose Guardians have been so Judi
cious, as to place them under the instruction
OF Mr.. Gcradin and Mr.. Doyle, may we'll
eXclaim in the words of the Roman Saty-
rlSt Z: - '~-' '..''--.' - - -
.eolEnit IN Flavf iuduns me n2ittere NC
'teHi '-, ~ ''.'''
QUO ffttSri mGgai$ cr51tu7ionibus orti,
LGvo astsh enSi ioeukos ta6uLan!gue Gacer-
TO,
I6ant octonis referentes 7dibua ara e.
Sed ftuernm est auSuS Roman horture,
doccndUD,
fries l" -, :. t@
On the third of August, Messrs seldep.
Madison, Monroe and Garnet delivered ora.
tieps IN the Capitol ON the following subjects,
st Eloquence, 2d Llxurv, Sd Crimes and
Punishments, 9TH I'll ! lie advantages arising to
society from 4 cultivation of the Arts and
Sciences.-The Audience that attended was
genteel and numerous, and the manner in
which they acquitted themselves, Causes
hope to be INDUCED that the Capitol of Vir-
gina OF some future day will be the theatre,
where the same powers will be successfully
displayed in the support of the laws the
| liberties and the rights of our country, un-
less the fate of Sybars, SO beauti fully desert
bedby Horace in the 9Th ode of his first book
| should also prove to be the fortune of our
young Orators.
The Grafton of Mr.. Garnet displayed par
ticularly profoundness in reasoning, an
| extent of reading and power of magma
ton which few literary characters even of
an advanced age have the happiness to pos
| seSs he following observations which he
made on public education deserve the atten-
ton OF every Legislature in the Union.
The physical sciences, which are also
highly important, have been too much ne
| elected in our country. The mathematics
are useful in almost every department of
life. We are told that Plato placed an in
scription over the door cf his school, which
expressly forbad that any one should enter
the holy sanctuary who had not sudied Geo
metry Natural Philosophy and Natural
History are sciences of the most extensive
utility, and by the purposes we convert them
! to IN trade, commerce, manufactures, mcdi-
cine and domestic economy, they minister,
III thousand ways, to the convenience and
comforts of life. No sciences are better
Calculated to give an expansion TO the mind,
, 70 elevate it above the grove'ling passions of
ignorance, and to inspire man with a sub.
! lime and lofty conception of his own dignity
and power" let me have place to stand
upon" exclaimed Arcliimedcs, f" and viii
raise inc globe q" Give me, " said Dcscar-
ties, =" only motion and matter and will
produce "a ne " world"
g In complete system Of instruction, which
embraces every thing that was useful, the
fine arts should also occupy conspicuous
department 1t has beer said that they ap-
proach too near to luxury and arc inifnica1
to republican principles ; but this is mis-.
taken notion. They expand and 1iberalize
the mind they refine the feelings, harmo.
nize the temper, aud give a zest to the n
musements Of life, and the charms of socia
intercourse. The fine arts are held in tn,
highest esteem by the anCients. Plato, Arts
totle, Piutarch and Polybiu5, all represent
the necessity Of music in state in fact
the Grecians devoted TO martial aud gym
nastic exercises, woud have been abs.iutei,
brutal auu ierOCioug, had not their tempe
been softencd and harmonized By the cult
tlVatTon OF the fine arts There eau ne ~
doubt that when the mind. is prosidel will
the refined and cz1uisi enjoymeuis which