Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-01-24

to what perfection the species might ascend.
But there was nothing Of miracle in il; the
means were adequate to the end. 1t IS no
wonder at all that such schools gave to Ath
ems her Thucydides in history, her Plato IN
ethics, her Sophoclcs to her drama, and her
Demosthencs to her forum and her popular
assemblies; and gave to her besides, that
host Of rivals to these and almost their equals.
II was the natural and necessary effect OF
such system Of education; and especially
with people who held, ms the Athenlans did,
all other human considerations as cheap IN
comparison with the glory of letters and the
arts.
1t is true, this their high and brilliant
career of literary glory was but Of short du-
ration; for soon as it had attained its merld-
ian blaze it was suddenly arrested, for the
tyrant came and laid the proud freedom OF
Athens in the dnst, and the Athenans were
people with whom the love Of glory could
not survive the loss of freedom. For freedom
was the brenst at which that love was fed |;
freedom was the element in which II lived
and had its being; freedom gave to it the
| fields were its most splendid ,rumphs were
achieved. The genius Of Athens now droop
ed fell from its lofty flights down to tame
mediocry to ephemera works born but to
languish and to die and so remained during
the long rule Of that ruthless despotism-the
Macedonian and until the Roman came to
put it down, and To merge Greece IN the
Roman Empire. Athens now was partially
restored again to freedom. Her schools which
had been closed, or which had existed only
in form, revived with something of their ef-
feet. They again gave forth some works
worthy Of her former fame, though of less
transcendant merit; and they now gave
Rome the Roman eloquence and literature.
Grmcia capita serum Vctorem cept, ct artes
lntult agresii satlo
and, if we are wise to profit by their example,
may yet give to US an equal eloquenco and
| literature.
mention these things (said Mr.. r. to
slow what encouragement we have to this
enterprise-wha, well grounded hNpe Of sue
cess. We have only to tread the path that
led the Athcnian to his glory, aud to open
that path to the youth of our country. All
The aniinating influences Of freedom exist
here in greater force than they existed
there; for while it is not less absolute here,
it is better egulated-better combined with
order and security. Neither is the gift Of
genius wanting here the CLEANS Of this
precious ore are seen to break out here and
there all over the surface Of our society; the
animus acer ct sublmis is daily displayed by
our Countrymcn in all the forms Of daring
and enterprise the Eagle, their emblem, is
not more daring in his fights. Aud if the
love of fame, which was the ruling passion
OF the Greek, is not now so strong with US, il
is because the want of the means, the want
of plain and sure directions for its pursuit,
beeets despair Of its attainment. The
Greek had these means, had these plain and
sure directions and it was the certainty of
success by perseverance, and by their guide
that kindled and sustained his passion and
made it his ruling passion. This passion is
now burning in the bosoms of thousands OF
our youth bnt il is, as have said, Wis consii
expers and struggles in vain because it strug-
giles blindly for the fame it pants after. lie,
this Athenlan mode of education be adopted
in this instance let it produce but a few ex-
amp!es Of eminent success, las | have no
doubt it speedily would, and thousands would
rush to the path that had led to that success
and members now Of this body are yet young
enough to live to see n new era arising in our
lnnd-another golden age Of literature, nc
ess splendid than any that had gone before
it-not excepting even the Athenian.
II | know it has been supposed that the
Athenians had something peculiar in their
genius which gave to them their unparalleled
success. Bat we have seen that when, with
the loss of freedom. they lost their love oil
literary glory, they fell back to the ordinary
level Of mankind and were not at all distin-
gnished for literary merit from the mass of
nations. So it was not nature, but the means
adopted TO assist and improve nature, that
gave to them their pre-emincnce and their
success was but in exact proportion to the
perfection and use Of those means.
could wish, if all were agreed in it, that
this institution should make one of number
OF colleges 10 constitute university to be
established here, and TO be endowed in man.
ner worthy Of this grea: nation and their i'm.
mcnse resources. This object, recommended
by Washington in one of his early communi-
cations to Congress, has not, as it appears tc
me, received the attention it merits. For
such an establishment, formed and conducted
as it might be, would be attended with great
and glorious results to this country--not on
| ly by It's direct operation in elevating the
standard Of education, but by forming q cen-
trail point, local head to all the learning of
the country-such as most learned nations Of
Europe have, and from which they derive the
greatest advantages. But as opinions are
divided upon this subjcct-not,l should hope,
as to the great desirabeness Of such an cs-
tablishment-but as to the constitutional
competency Of Congress 10 undertake it, I
will not embarrass my present object by in
vo!vlng It with that subject. This, as an in
dependent Institution, may hereafter be made
a part of such university, should one be es-
tablished but it is now to be looked at only
as an independent Institution. Still should
hope that the liberality of Congress would so
far concur with the generosity Of this foreign
benefactor as to give full effect to his benefi-
cent purpose; aud would not only give the
grounds convenient for the accommodation
and location Of the buildings, but would also
make all appropriation of money therefor suf.
ficlent TO cover the cost Of their erection,
lea ing the whole amount of the legacy as n
fund the proceeds Of which to be applied to
The accumulation Of books and apparatus
and to the support Of the instruction and 90.
vcrnment Of the Institution otherwise the
whole thing, fear, will prove a failure by
the expense of the outfits at least when
compared TO the results which it might be
made to produce. For though the salaries OF
instruction should not be over large, yet they
should be so liberal as to command the ser
vices OF the ablest instructors in every de-
partmcnt embraced by the plan Of education.
This is not the occasion for a detail in full OF
the plan OF education which should wish to