derive such knowlege, even supposing them to be as ignorant as their friends of the Westminster would represent them? Are not the men who fill our professorships in the various branches of philosophy always the soundest, in many instances the most distinguished, men of science in the kingdom? Even in the popular sciences of geology and political economy are our Universities excluded from the best means of information, or have they not instructors in this as in every other division of moral wisdom and physical science, under whose directions popular tracts might easily be composed? If there is one piece of charlatanry (it is impossible to give it a more respectable appellation) more disgusting than another, it is the constant attempt to transfer the sciences from our Universities to our metropolis-as if moral wisdom will not florish best under the discipline of Aristotle, and physical science be best cultivated by the study of Newton !-as if the University, which is often supposed to be least devoted to the sciences, did not number among her professors one of the most distinguished geologists and of the ablest political economists of the time. Men of whom we may say, in the words of Cicero, that they eminently possess illam scientiam ut ex iis rebus quarum ars nondum est artem efficere possint. I mention these sciences in particular, because they are comparatively of a late growth, and therefore most exposed to neglect, were Oxford as careless of modern knowlege as she is so often described. Nor is there any thing in the execution of the society's tracts, to discourage the hope, I will not merely say of competing with, but of superseding them (if this duty is forced on the friends of good order) by others better suited to the wants of the people. Any one conversant with the business of teaching must be aware that they are too concise and too synthetical for a mind unaccustomed to a process of reasoning, to follow with such facility as to make study à pleasure. That which is a very good and even simple compendium makes a very poor introductory work for the generality of readers; though minds accustomed to close and consecutive reasoning may find it the very best. In what I have said on the subject of education, I trust the reader has not detected a desire of being busy without an adequate object. Detesting the character of the incendiary, who makes himself of importance by stirring a strife which but for his meddling spirit would have been extinguished in its own ashes, and fully acknowleging the expediency of giving the middle and lower orders innocent and useful objects on which to employ their faculties—even believing the inquiries of the physical sciences best fitted for the attainment of this object-I yet dread the lessons with which they may be united. If the diffusers of science will go hand in hand with the promoters of Christian knowlege, striving neither in policy nor religion at ought beyond human nature, but at the degree of excellence which practice, and not theory, warrants us to expect, and human happiness, in such measure as we are permitted to enjoy it, will be the result. But let us beware how we separate the education of the middle and lower orders from religion and the government of the country. Hitherto they have happily been united. How long they may so continue is a question of the deepest importance. I am, My dear Hughes, Yours, affectionately, J. P. POTTER. Kensington, March 28, 1828. P. S.-On reading what I have written, when it is too late to correct faults in style, the recurrence of we for I strikes me as likely to give my readers a false impression. It may be necessary to assure them that the above pages were not written for a review, nor does the plural pronoun express either the authority or assistance of a friend. It only expresses the unwillingness of an obscure individual to appear to dictate to his readers, and his endeavor to avoid this by sometimes assuming their assent to what he thought could not fail of obtaining it. END OF NO. LVII. III. LORD NUGENT to the Electors of Aylesbury ... 277 VI. LORD TEYNHAM to the Freeholders of Kent... 301 VII. On the INCREASE of CRIME, and the Degree of its Extent, the Principal Causes of such Increase, and the most likely means for the Prevention or Mitigation of this public Calamity. By RANDLE JACKSON, Esq. 307 VIII. Report on the AGRICULTURE and the TRADE in CORN, in some of the Continental States of Northern IX. On the deplorable condition of the helpless Poor in IRELAND, with a Plan of Relief, as at present partly X. COLOMBIA in 1826. By an Anglo-Colombian. [Original.]..... PACE 485 XI. Remarks on the Character and Writings of JOHN MIL- .... 549 CONTENTS OF NO. LVII. I. A Letter to the Magistrates of England on the Increase of Crime; and an efficient Remedy suggested for their consideration. By Sir E. E. Wilmot, Bart. Second Edition, with Corrections. II. A Letter to the Right Hon. Lord Goderich on the necessity of a close Alliance between England, France, and the Netherlands. By an Englishman. III. An Introductory Lecture on Political Economy, delivered before the University of Oxford, 6th Dec. 1826. By Nassau W. Senior, A. M. IV. Lord Rossmore's Letter on Catholic Emancipation. V. Analysis of the Character of Napoleon Bonaparte. By. W. E. Channing, LL. D. VI. Letters to the Right Hon. R. Peel, M.P. on the Effect and Object of his Alteration in the Law of England, with reference to the Jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace. By C. Bird, Barrister-at-Law. Second Edition. VII. Remarks on the State of the Corn Question after the Parliamentary Discussions of 1827; being an Appendix to "Observations on the Corn Laws," addressed to W. W. Whitmore, Esq. M.P. in consequence of his Letter to the Electors of Bridgenorth. [Original.] VIII. Observations on the Power exercised by the Court of Chancery of depriving a Father of the custody of his Children. By J. Beames, Barrister-at-Law. IX. A Letter to the Editor of the Quarterly Review, in furtherance of the Subjects of three Articles in No. 72 of that Review, entitled, On Agriculture and Rent; Substitution of Savings' Banks for Poor Laws; On Planting Waste Lands, &c. By the Rev. F. Merewether. X. A Speech on the present State of the Law of the Country; delivered in the House of Commons, February 7th, 1828. By H. Brougham, Esq. M.P. XI. Letter to the Earl of Eldon, on the Report of the Finance Committee. By G. Farren, Esq. XII. A Letter to J. Hughes, Esq. M.A. on the Systems of Education proposed by the popular Parties. By the Rev. J. Philips Potter, M. A. Second Edition. |