is ordinarily drawn between men and children. is fo forcible, that they feem to themselves more like birds kept in a cage, or fhcep in a pen, than like beings of the fame nature. They see what is at prefent going on refpecting them; but they cannot fee what it means, or in what it is intended to terminate. Rouffeau, to whom the world is fo deeply indebted for the irrefiftible energy of his writings, and the magnitude and originality of his speculations, has fallen into the common error in the point we are confidering. His whole system of education is a series of tricks, a puppet-show exhibition, of which the mafter holds the wires, and the fcholar is never to fufpect in what manner they are moved. The fcholar is never to imagine that his inftructor is wifer than himself. They are to be companions; they are to enter upon their studies together; they are to make a fimilar progrefs; if the inftructor drop a remark which facilitates their progrefs, it is to feem the pure effect of accident. While he is conducting a process of the most uncommon philofophical research, and is watching every change and motion of the machine, he is to feem in the utmoft degree frank, fimple, ignorant and undefigning. i The treatife of Rouffeau upon education is probably 6 probably a work of the highest value. It contains a series of moft important fpeculations upon the hiftory and ftructure of the human mind; and many of his hints and remarks upon the direct topic of education, will be found of ineftimable value. But in the article here referred to, whatever may be its merit as a vehicle of fundamental truths, as a guide of practice it will be found of the moft pernicious tendency. The deception he prefcribes would be in hourly danger of difcovery, and could not fail of being in a confufed and indiftinct manner fufpected by the pupil; and in all cafes of this fort a plot difcovered would be of incalculable mischief, while a plot rejected could have little tendency to harm. If we would have our children frank and fincere in their behaviour, we must take care that franknefs and fincerity fhall not be a fource of evil to them. If there be any juftice in the reafonings of a preceding effay *, punishment would find no fhare in a truly excellent fyftem of education; even angry looks and words of rebuke would be wholly excluded. But upon every fyftem it cannot fail to appear in the higheft degree impolitic and mischievous, that young ftranger from human fociety, to infpire him with a folitary and felf-centred fpirit; and to teach him to fear an enemy, before he has known a friend! ESSAY ESSAY XIII. OF MANLY TREATMENT AND BEHAVIOUR. thofe IT has fometimes been a question among who are accustomed to fpeculate upon the fubject of education, whether we fhould endeavour to diminish or increafe the diftinction between youth and manhood, whether children fhould be trained to behave like men, or should be encouraged to the exercife of manners peculiar to themselves. Pertness and primness are always in fome degree ridiculous or difgufting in perfons of infant years. There is a kind of premature manhood which we have fometimes occafion to observe in young perfons, that is deftructive of all honeft and spontaneous emotion in its fubjects. They feem as if they were robbed of the chief bleffing of youth, the foremost confolation of its croffes and mortifications a thoughtless, bounding gaiety. Their behaviour is forced and artificial. Their temper is unanimating and frigid. They difcufs and affert, but it is with a borrowed judgment. They pride themselves in what is emi nently |