Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-04-13
From the Boston. Courier.
DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE


most eloquent and persuading essays of the kind,
which we have met among the. multitudinous eff
forts of the present day to make men fall in love
with science, and to seek for instruction as tor
hidden treasures. Its basis is formed OF the
publications Of the British Society tor the Ditfu-
sion of Useful Knowledge; but the criticisms on
those works is by no means the most attractive
mart oft. 1t is after the writer has lost sight
and even the recollection of the books whose
titles, for forms sake, he has written at the
mencement of his ESSAY, that he becomes instruc-
tive, enthusiastic, and convincing; and comes
out in defence of the great projects, to which
thew had invited his attention, of communicate
ing scientific knwledge to the whole intelligent
portion of the mass OF society-projects which
have aroused the energies of the moral and social
world as they have never been aroused before
1t ia said, and said truly,
1.-The records of Greek and Roman literature
give no example or hint of productions or projects
such as these. The splendid fables Of Arabic
learning and genius, though royal halls gave au-
dience to them; the mystic lore and cumbrous
philosophy of the East, furnish nothing that can
enter into the comparison. The Lyceum that
was first built on the pleasant banks and among
the shady groves of the Ilissus, where Aristotle
taught philosophy, was designed only for few
studious youths. These seguestered restreats
were never invaded by the footsteps of the Athe-
man artizan or tradesman, nor by fruiterers or
husbandmen from the fields OF Attca. The no
Die project of bringing down high philosophy and
holy science to the mass of the people has been
reserved f5 ibis age. 1t is novel enterprise
among mankind. 1t is an unwritten page on the
history of the world. 1t is project, we do not
think it too much to say, which never before en-
INTO tho nf fnr ~ IL NJ
tempt to pluck from the sun, lin the highest
heaven of philosophy" the Promethean fire, to
burn on the common hearth-stOne in the humblest
abodes Of mortals.
50 The error of past ages has been, to accumu-
late power, wealth, learning, and even religious
responsibilities and trusts in few hands. Mo-
nODoles have not been confined to property;
they have extended to knowledge too. Science,
as we'll as religion, has said to the mass of man
Kind, ''stand by myself for am hoer than thou"
The. paths of the scholar have led far away from
the beaten track Of common life. He has cOnceiv-
ed himself to have little to do with the world at
large; he has had few sympathies with it; he has
felt little interest init. He has compared science
indeed to the light of heaven; he has talked elo-
quently aboutits properties; he has talked in fig
ures; he has not actually felt that it is one of the
lights that men may daily walk by. Indeed,
these primary interests and blessings fthe world
to which we have referred, have not failed of diff
fusion because they have not been duly apprecia-
ted; but because they have been held BY the pos
SCISSORS in a sort of selfish estimation; because
they have been considered too good for the mass
Of mankind, or because it has been imagined that
they would be sOiled By common use. But it
is the strong tendency of all liberal thought and
feeling, at this day, to bring every human acqui-
siton to practical accounts; to make men in poll
tics their rulers, in religion their own guides
to spread wealth, by abolshing the laws of entail
and primogeniture, into general competence and
for all the rest, to call down knowledge from its
proud and inaccessible heights, to be the compan-
ion and cheerer of the lowest toll and the humblest
hreside Diffusion is the watchword of the age;
and unless the spread Of intelligence keeps pace
with that of power, of wealth, and of religious
liberty, it will become the motto of universal dis
appointment and defeat
To the objections which are started against
these projects as visionary and impracticable-
or that, If successful not much good can be effect.
ed-that the sciences are for scholars to under
stand-tO be learnt in colleges, sc. objections
which we we hear almost every day, it is said
The objects of this kind of study are Gods
works-works which were expressly designed
to be studied and admired;'' and to the question,
why should not, and why cannot, all men know
them: it is pertinendy replied
"The objects to be examined are all around
them; the subjects Of study are the very elements
with which they are every moment conversant;
the instruments their senses; to see, to hear.
is to know. The times for study are all times
that are not necessarily engrossed with other pur.
suits; when they take walk, when they look
Al Al