The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-12

learning and desire 70 oDthin III 'ne he'ns
which the times Afforded Tor instruction ana
culture
The fact that il was based upon slavery has
been ono of the chief reasons why 1t has been
attacked 30 fercely. Yet 1t was no less
philosopher than Burke who pointed out that
Il was lust such societies that were most
Jealous of their rights, whilst Professor
Bryce remarks that tho same criticism might
be made about the most enlightened repuo-
lies of Greece.
CONTENT WITH FoREfGs LITERATURE.
That this culture did not result IN perina-
| nent literature was no more surprising IN the
case of Virginia than in the other colonies;
they we're content with the literature OF tne
ancients and of England. IL was enough t2I
them TO found homes. to establish lne o.u
World civilization in the new country ehd 10
work out the problems which their new en-
yironment presentedin tho $50 years prior to
! the Revolution. 49,. -, ~. ~
Vet the works produced in the Old Do
miniou will compare fayOrably Win other
colonial education. He said that the con-
/ tenporaneous accounts OF bacon heoeliioh
were the best histories we had OF INC uines,
while the writings OF William byIa sustain
! his renutation AS n man Of scientinc attain
ments wit and penetration. Other writer's
| turn their attention 10 matters scientinc rather
| than literary. JOnn Bannlster, VINO settler
! i'm virginia about 1850 and dled IN hehrico III
! 1877 was a noted naturalist and entomologlst;
no dried plants are now IN tue brltsh
| Museum and he contributed many mono
praphs 10 the philosophic transactions OF inc
Hovnl Society John Clayton was the author
of the Flora Virginica," published IN 1879,
and was o friend of the celebrated Duteh
brothers GronovIus.
Some of tue early colonial Governors were
patrons of the higher education, ana t0oK an
interest in scientific pursuits. OF DR.. william
Small. Professor of Natural Philosophy and
Mathematics at William and Mary, he said no
teacher had ever been held In greater reyer-
ence, and quoted from Governor Page. and
Mr.. Jefferson 10 sustain this. Or. Smal was
the friend and intimate associate OF the elder
Darwin Priestly and Cooper Mr.. Jefferson
continued through life TO cultivate the passion
he had for scientific investigation. and ac-
complished sufficient in various fields TO show
that if he had not been forced into public lie
he would have obtained a worthy If not equal
eminence in the field Of science.
LosoPHIcAL SOCIETY.
Mr. Meredith then gave an account OF the
philosophical society established IN l1i3 ana
showed the good work it was doing when us
sittines were broken up by the Revolution. lie
gave an account of the four volumes OF ser
mons published III 1772, and written by the
Rev. James Blair founder OF TIE college OF
William and Mary, which had high reputa-
ton for a century after the authors death.
The Rev. Samuel Henley also published ms
sermons at Williamsburg, whilst those OK the
Rev. Samuel Davies founder OF the GresDy-
terrain church in Virginia are read and enjoyed
to-day In the field of history Wlll&m and
Mary contributed two eminent workers-tbe
Rev. Hugh Jones and President William
Stth.
We find that our lonial.ancestors were not
devoid of love for belles-lettres. The plays
of SHAKESPEARE we're first enacted in America,
Professor HpHlpV
vertsed in the Virginia Gazette June 2. l772,
"a course of public lectures on the elementary
ideas of poetry, including the general prlncl-
pies of education, price OF attendance, three
pistoles" Henley was the author OF the notes
to William BeckfOrds celebrated romance,
"Vathekn Such was the eruditon that 1t
displayed that the Gentleman's Magazine
charged Henley with writing the romance IN
| order to exploit his notes. Dictionary OF
| National Biography. Vol. XIV, p. 1901
BY circumstances If not naturally, the
great mental activity which existed at the
! time of the Revolution was forced into the
| channels of political life. Its products. there
| fore. are of that class Of literature which
social and political reformers create. In
these fields the Nirginians reaped the highest
| honors and are the peers OF the European
statesmen of the time. Their political pro-
| auctions rank with the best 1t IS probable
that the discussion III the Virginia Conyen-
|
that ever occurred in this country. 1t was the
boast of one Of their historians that the Nor
man gentlemen were orators from the cradle.
| (Macaulays England. vol. !, p. H. The de-
bates of the time show that the same natural
eloquence was the birthrght of the Virginia
| statesmen.
| VIRGINIA BILL OF RIGHTS.
The Virginia Bill of Rights which was the
work of studious retired Virginia planter,
has been copied by nearly all the States OF
| this Union with scarcely an alteration or adj
! ditiOn The sOnOrous sentences OF the De-
| claration of independence not less than Its
weight as a political document has conse-
Grated it in the affection of Americans, 50 that
| praise would seem superiiuOus rs censure
would be unvailng." The contributions OF
James Madison TO the "federalist' are I'M
doubtedly ADLER than HamiltOns or than the
few papers by Jay Madisons written words
| Ike Burke's have an elOquence for the reader.
| even where they were never designed tor de-
! livery. Richardson's American Literature,
have thus, as lar as in me hes, Tecounted
the means of education which existed IN our
State before the Revolution. | have sought
10 give faithful and correct account OF the
| culture which existed here as 4 result OF these
means of education and scholarship and a
short sketch Of the burst of intellectual life
| with which it eliminated at the time Of he
| Revolution. Ii IS always difficult TO ascrlbe
| how much of such intellectual life is due 70
native ability and how much to outside in
| tiuences and oppOrtune education. These men
| were scholars as well as statesmen. The schOar-
| ship at least can DO claimed US q product OF
! Colonial education That our greatest states
men were also among our prOfOundest schOl-
ars is likewise significant. It can not be acct
| dental that their torch was lit:
From the pure fire that burns on Learning s
shrine"
fuckers Poem South. Lit Mess.)
THE LESSON TAUGHT.
The lesson it tea hes is that the leadership
of the people in democracy falls to men of
| high intellectual training. as it does in other
walks of life; that the classical education and
| Colonial training of these men strengthened
their power and developed their ability. Much
of this training, II has well been said was OBJ
! tanned in these old gray walls. Here in no
small measure. were shaped the energies
| which gave them strength 10 conquer in the
gladitorial struggles of the great revolution
and the new republic. Here their minds were
stored with sound information and important
truths and their hearts aroused TO noble emu
lation of the mighty ones who had proceeded
them. (SOuthern Literary Mess. Vol xviii.
| D. 10.
If this college training and sound teaching
of which these Revolutionary statesmen were
! the recipients contributed 30 much 20 their
success. much more is il true that If this State
| IS to take the lead in the craftsmanship Of the
| future rs in that of the past, her SONG must
| be solidly educated. The increasing COM
| plexity of modern civilization demands