The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-12-03
other source for information. And why2

CT Oh pnySlcal or moral eHtctS. Cduses
to physical effects are incidental, and hui
man being is subjected in his person to a
series of consecutive influences, the con-
sequence of which no skill can prede,er-
mine. The mere fact that the children
bear a resemblance to each other as chill
drcn. affords no more ground for the be-
lief that they will be alike as men, than
would the meeting Of two travellers al the
junction Of four roads be an indication
that they were pursuing The same jour
new.
The lecturer here introduced a series
of remarks on the influences 10 which the
human being was physically exposed.and
entered into a remarkably minute caego-
ry of unconsidered ,rincs as constituting
part of these influences; thereby exhbi-
ting the improbabill'y Of any similarity
existing between two children as they
advance in life.
The moral character OF man, and the
effect Of the influence Of event. in its for
nation for good or evil, was next discus
sed. That every child is born human
being must be admitted; being with GER
tain given qualifications of physical pro-
portion, feature and shape, and to this
eXten4is the maxim, NAsClTUn NON FIT.
undoubtedly applicable. The motto here
was the avowal of certain facts which
distinguish the man fr m the beast, and
the beast from the man. But is it so with
regard to The moral features and the prs-
portions of mind2 The greater the NOR
al excellence embodied IN the cha,ncler Of
/ the parent, the nearer is the approach
thereto of the child. We are instructed
TO ''train up child IN the way he should
CO." and it is in The domestic home that
the child should inhale the elements of
moral vitality. Here it is that the first
genial influence is felt by the youth; his
impressions watched; his associations guar
ded; and here it is that he should learn to
look upon his mother with flal rever-
ence, as the guardian angel set apar. to
guide him on his way to heaven. And
do not the effects of moral culture rcu,e
The pagan maxim nascitur non Gls The
moral character may be made and it NAV
be unmade. If sixteen years of youthful
life spent under such influences, foster
the principles of moral excellence, what
would be the effect Of sixteen wears pass
eC under influences directly the reversed
Here the speaker entered into an inquiry
as to the effects Of the various associations
| of vice familiar to the world, conjecuring
its possible results even upon mind that
had been trained under the moral excel
lences oi vlrtuous piCcepts and examples
as an illustration that the mind may be
unmade.
TIE speaker advanced to proposition
relative to the application of the same
princi Piles which he had associated with
the physical and moral, to the intellectual
character of man, contending that all great
men of every age ha, been always orr
ginally moved by some accident or emer-
gency, which has given certain direc-
ton to their minds; this direction has Of
forwards been preserved and fos,ered by
subsequent consecutive influences, to
which they would never have been sub
jecled but through the first motive. These
causes or motives are of two classes, and
may be termed inductiue and propulsipc.
The former consist of early inclinations,
!G,ics or desires; the latter of education.
events and demand,. The whole of the
arguments succ edIng this proposition,
was conducted by reference to the career
of George Washington. At fourteen yeurs
of aye he had attained to ordinary prom
cheney in reading, writing and arithmetic,
but manifested partially for mathema-
tics. to which his studies we're according
ly directed. He acquired great proficiency,
and i'll short time being provided with
instruments, at his mothers suggestion,
he made a survey oflhe whole of his faith
er's property, with great exactness; this
was the induclive influence. When he
was about sixteen he accompanied his
brother Lawrence to Mount Vernon.
Lord Fairfax had at that time just arrived
from England to take possession Of his
estates in the great valley of Virginia. a
capable surveyor was necessary. and there
was not i'll all Virginia person more sui
ted for the task than George Washington;
he was accordingly applied to, and ac-
complished it with great satisfaction 10
Lord Fairfax; this was propulsive in
huence.-Soon afterwards a person was
required to proceed to the Ohio to watch
the designs of The French, and the known
ability of George Washington, as sur
veyor and mathematician, pointed him out
as the man. He went accordingly, and
produced SO admirably review Of their
position, movements, Notifications, Sc.
that it was soon afterwards published
throughout the colonies and republshed
at length in London. When in conse-
quence of their aggression it became ne
cessary for the colonies to despatch body
OF troops against the French depredators,
who was sO well suited to lead the expe-
| dillon. as that youth who had nreuinnslA