the region of the clouds,—and of rendering the most stubborn elements of nature subservient to their designs-that beings, capable of forming a sublime intercourse with the Creator himself, and of endless progression in knowledge and felicity, should have their minds almost wholly absorbed in eating and drinking, in childish and cruel sports and diversions, and in butchering one another, seems, at first view, a tacit reflection on the wisdom of the Creator, in bestowing on our race such noble powers, and plainly indicates, that the current of human intellect has widely deviated from its pristine course, and that strong and reiterated efforts are now requisite to restore it to its original channel. Every lover of science and of mankind must, therefore, feel interested in endeavouring to remove those obstructions which have impeded the progress of useful knowledge, and to direct the intellectual energies of his fellow-men to the prosecution of objects worthy of the high station they hold in the scale of existence.

Were we to inquire into the external causes which have retarded the progress of the human mind, we should, doubtless, find them existing in the nature of those civil governments which have most generally prevailed in the world, and in several of the ecclesiastical establishments which have been incorporated with them. It has been a favourite maxim with all tyrants, that the people must be kept in ignorance; and hence we find, that in the empires of the East, which are all of a despotical nature, the people are debarred from the temple of science, and sunk into a state of the grossest ignorance and servility. Under such governments, the minds of men sink into apathy, the sparks of ge

nius are smothered, the sciences are neglected,ignorance is honoured,-and the man of discern. ment, who dares to vent his opinions, is proscribed as an enemy to the state. In the more enlightened governments on the continent of Europe, the same effects have followed, in proportion to the number of those tyrannical maxims and principles which enter into their constitution. Hence, we may frequently determine the degree of mental illumination which prevails among any people, from a consideration of the nature of the government under which they live. For the knowledge of a people is always in proportion to their liberty, and where the spirit of liberty is either crushed or shackled, the energies of the human mind will never be exerted with vigour, in the acquisition or the propagation of literature and science. Even in the mildest and most enlightened governments of modern Europe, the instruction of the general mass of society forms no prominent feature in their administration. ledge on general subjects is simply permitted to be disseminated among the people; its promoters are not sufficiently patronized and encouraged,—no funds are regularly appropriated for this purpose,and its utility, in many instances, is even called in question. It is to be hoped, however, now that the din of war is, in some measure, hushed, that the attention of princes and their ministers will be more particularly directed to this important object: for it might easily be shown, were it necessary, that an enlightened population is the most solid basis of a good government, and the greatest security for its permanence, that it will always form the strongest bulwark around every throne where the sceptre is swayed by wisdom and rectitude.-That the esta

Know

blishment of the Popish religion in any state has a tendency to impede the progress of knowledge, it would be almost needless to illustrate. The mummeries which have been interwoven with its services, the grovelling and superstitious notions which it has engendered, the ignorance which prevails among the population of all those countries over which its influence extends, the alarms of its priestly abettors at the idea of free discussion, and of enlightening the minds of the people, the records of its Inquisitions, the history of the dark ages, when it prevailed in all its rigour, and the recent experience of our own times, show, that it is a system founded on the darkness and imbecility of the human intellect, and can flourish only where the spirit of liberty has fled, and where reason has lost its ascendency in the minds of men.*

With regard to the internal causes of the ignorance which so generally prevails, they will be found in the general depravity of human nature; in the vicious propensities so prevalent among all ranks; in the indulgence of inordinate desires after riches and power; and in the general disposition of mankind to place their chief happiness in sensual gratifications,—evils which the spirit of Christianity only, in conjunction with every rational exertion, is

* Let it be carefully remembered, that in these remarks, it is merely the system of popery to which the author refers. He is aware that many individuals, distinguished for learning and piety, have been connected with the Romish church ; and while he condemns the spirit and tendency of the peculiar dogmas and practices of that church, he deprecates every idea of persecution, and every attempt to deprive its members of those rights and privileges to which they are entitled as men and as citizens.

calculated fully to eradicate. And therefore, it is indispensable, that every attempt to diffuse intellectual light over the human race be accompanied with the most strenuous exertions to promote the moral renovation of mankind. For vice and ignorance, especially among the lower orders, generally go hand in hand; and experience demonstrates, that indulgence in evil passions, and in unhallowed gratifications, destroys the relish for mental enjoyments, and is one of the most powerful obstructions to the vigorous exercise of the intellectual powers.

That the general diffusion of knowledge among all ranks is an object much to be desired, will not, I presume, be called in question by any one who regards the intellectual powers of man as the noblest part of his nature,-and who considers, that on the rational exercise of these powers his true happiness depends. If ignorance be one of the chief causes which disturb the harmonious movements of the machine of society, by removing the cause we of course prevent the effects; and if knowledge be one of the mainsprings of virtuous conduct, the more it is diffused, the more extensively will be brought into action, on the stage of life, those virtues which it has a tendency to produce. A few Ferdinands, and Windhams and Don Miguels may still remain, who regard the great mass of the people merely as subjects of legislation, or as the tools of tyranny and ambition, and that, therefore, they must be held in the chains of ignorance, lest they should aspire to the ranks of their superiors. But the general current of public opinion now runs counter to such illiberal and antiquated notions; and few persons of respectability, at least in this country, would hazard their reputation in defending a position so degrading

and untenable. The more learning a people have, the more virtuous, powerful and happy will they become; and to ignorance alone must the contrary effects be imputed. "There is but one case," says a French writer, “where ignorance can be desirable; and that is, when all is desperate in a state, and when, through the present evils, others still greater appear behind. Then stupidity is a blessing knowledge and foresight are evils. It is then that, shutting our eyes against the light, we would hide from ourselves the calamities we cannot prevent." In every other case, knowledge must prove an inestimable blessing to men of every nation and of every rank.

That the period when a general diffusion of knowledge shall take place is hastening on, appears from the rapid progress which has been made in almost every department of science during the last half century; from the numerous publications on all subjects daily issuing from the press; from the rapid increase of theological, literary and scientific journals, and the extensive patronage they enjoy; from the numerous lectures on chemistry, astronomy, experimental philosophy, political economy, and general science, now delivered in the principal cities and towns of Europe; from the adoption of new and improved plans of public instruction, and the erection of new seminaries of education in almost every quarter of the civilized world; from the extensive circulation of books among all classes of the community; from the rapid formation of Bible and Missionary societies; from the increase of literary and philosophical associations; from the establishment of mechanics' institutions in our principal towns, and