American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-07-26


world. Without education how limited Womb he
our knowledge OF the arts and sciences, which con-
tribute so largely to the happiness OF life and whic
IS one OF the distinguishing characteristics between
man and brute. The knowledge of brute is limit
led; but the ebullitiops Of genius are unconfned.
Instinct, says Young, comes immediate, reason is
progressive Let US go back to the earlier ages OF
the world, and take view of those nations where
education was esteemed. Look at Greece: observe
what progress she made in the arts and sciences-
Were they of any advantage TO her? Yes, they gave
her the prominence over all other countries. The
great esteem in which men OF education were held,
is evident from an expression of Philip of Macedon,
at the birth of Alexander. He did not hank the
gods so much for the birth Of son, as that it hap
pened in the time Of Aristotle Rome also, after
the introduction of the and Sciences and the es
Establishment OF schools, became the mistress of the
world Rome was a, the height of her glory when
learning had arrived at its period of greatest en-
Encouragement, viz. during the Aueustan age. In
modern times We see the same effects What great
advantages have resulted 10 mankind from the la
bors OF single individual, whose mind has been
cultivated, and whose attention has been turned 10
the investigation of philosophical SUBJECTS. AS for
instance, from the discoveries of Columbus, New
ton, r. anklin, Capernicus, and others. Twas
Newton who discovered the laws 10y which the plan
cts and their attendant satellites are bound in their
orbits, and marked out the path in which they should
revove around the effuleent orb of day Twas Co
lumbus that steered his course across the trackless
and hitherto esteemed the impossible main. to =
country. great part OF which was a Wilderness
where perhaps even the savage foot never trod -
where the little birds whisted their wild notes TO tn,
rising day, and where the fragrant rose opened It's
blushing beauties 10 the morning. and breathed its
fragrance on the desert air. Twas Franklin VIII
snatched the lightning from the clouds, and MADE
II to pass harmless to the earth. Nor is eocutiol
SO unimportant as some may imagine for by at
tention and close application to this, Demosthenes
was enabled to govern the Athenians-- bind the
in his magic chains, and even made Phil;n trembl
on his throne
Let US now take view of its effects on religion
we need only take retrospect OF the dark a.,
Gothic ages, 10 perceive the vast benefits that acc,,
from education When Rome, the mistress of tn,
world, the emporium OF the arts and sciences, W.,
overrun by the terate and barbarous na,ions-ie
norance, cruelty and superstition succeeded learning
Iciyihty. and refinement. They who survived thi,
'lesultory torreut, fed to ConstantiIople, with til,
relics Of the classics. During the space OF 1901
years literature was confined to the Monasteries
whilst the rest oil The world was sunk in the gross
lest ignorance.
need not depict TO my intelligent reader, thu
horrors OF that long night of gloomy darkness
"hen, thfou9n ignorance, the soul OF man, tina
should be free as the gale of Heaven that on the hill
top plays, was bound by priestcrat in the CALLING
chains OF superstition. How few are the crime.
in those places where education has extended her
benign influence. In the New England States
Scotland and, will venture to say, every Other
place where the bright beams oil learning have
penetrated. religion and morals are in a more adj
vanced state, than in those places where ignorance
has spread her dark mantle over The minds of tn:
people. When we view the vast importance of the
subject, may we be aroused to the exert.on oil all
our powers, for the dissemination of useful learning
that sound policy, useful knowledge, and yirtu-
Gus principles, may abound in our beloved country
WILFRED.
d.