Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-07-04

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pected not nearly so great IN eroluLoh-o'
literary and poe,icai, perhaps, srea'ei-ahu'
ali things considered, should have concei'Gu
Of their national genius, not perhaps so nigh
" as their own champions, but certainly not
so hun,bly as their transatlantic Judges.
We are likewise disposed to believe, that
the paucity 81 genius which is so frequently
ascribed to US, is imputable rather to our de-
fcctive systems for nurturing and disclosing
it, than to any ungracious parsirnony OF ma
ture with respect to US; and though not very
strenuous advocates of the universal equality
of natural talents, we may be allowed TO attrl-
butte very considerable and valuable portion
of their results, to the means adopted Tor their
cultivation Ascribins, too, as as we must,
great share OF he power and excellence OF
that faculty, OF rather that perfect proportion
of all the faculties, of the mind, which we un-
derstand BY genius, 10 some singular capacl-
" for attention and inquiry, we must make
deductions from its probable results propoT-
tioaable to the partial manner in which that
capacity has been exercised, and even the
maxim so commonly applied to the Poet
" naScitur, non .f.''-is to be received with
this sort OF limitation We do not indeed be-
lieve, that the most complete and compre-
hensive system, Of education would have pro-:
duced Us Chatterton or Shakespeare
but We see no reason to doubt OF their power
to have elected such portion Of the " mems
divigior'', as is exhibited in Campbell, Beat
tie or Kirk White we should not have been
disappointed at meeting with no philosopher
comparable to Sir Isaac Newton, no historian
like Hume, or no scholar like Dryden, but
we should have confidently expected much
larger share of philosophical inquiry, of pu
rity Of taste, and classical knowledge than we
have any pretenslcns to.
Some apology, no doubt, for these beside
rsta, is to be found in the general character
of the age which, We apprehend, is more re-
markabie for the variety than the extent of its
knowledge, and, from the great multiplied
ton, and extensive diffusion Of various vehi-
cles of literary information, though it may
have less general ignorance, has perhaps less
accurate learning, and is less deeply imbued
In classical literature than that which imme
diately preceded it. We do not deny that
Reviews, Magazines, Repertories and Sc
a very cheap and palatable sort of Intellectual
food, and very proper reading for such as on
ly resort to books in the intervals of other avo
cations; but we have very great doubts of
their utility to professed students, and taking
it for granted that every youth OF talents has
combined with them certain portion OF am
bition ard vanity, we see great advantages to
be derived from precluding him from the use
of these conf endiuns Of knowledge, and per-
hitting him to look to the qualification of be-
ing considered weII-read and accomplished
scholar only through a more regular, atten-
tive aud general literary apprenticeship than
that By which the character is commonly OBJ
tanned.
Nov it is from its tendency to foster this
very common, and, we think, very vicious
aptitude to vague knowledge and superficial
inquiry, that We complain of the system of
education which obtains in our country. We
are persuaded that from Vermont to Georgia,
youths who arc educated for the liberal pro-
LESSONS. generally commence their active ca
reer in them with most blameable dehcien-
oy both in the requisite knowledge of SUBJ
lects Immediately connected Herewith, and
in familiar acquaintance with philosophical
and polite learning, and that refined, compre-
hensive, well-exercised, and well-appoint-
CO Intellect WHICH We tGlllR SHOuiu lnFdflh~
bly, inhere in the individuals of each of the
three learned professions. And we cannot
here toTbear expressing our surprise at the
unaccountable facility with which the legal ty-
70, lii almost every instance, Is permitted to
pass the ordeal of examination, and the ig-
norant and hsIt-read willing to enroll himself
amongst the guardians of Justice, and the ex-
Founders Of our laws. Foreigners indeed
have frequently remarked, and We fear that
we cannot galnsay the accusation, that the
law is conside ed too exclusively by our coun-
trymen as a road to wealth, and instead of be-
ing the ayocation of those whose pecuniary
independence excludes this object as prima-
~ one, and affords them leisure and opportu-
nifty for the due research and the requisite at
tainmcnts, it appears in the greater number of
barristers to be a kind of dernier resort to in
dolence, false pride and mediocre talents, for
"a decent and moderate competence.
But We likewise perceive this rapid and
imperfect system Of education land it is here
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