[ ] A N ESSAY O N MODERN EDUCATION *. F ROM frequently reflecting upon the course and method of educating youth in this and a neighbouring kingdom, with the general fuccefs and confequence thereof, I am come to this determination, that education is always the worse in proportion to the wealth and grandeur of the parents: nor do I doubt in the leaft, that if the whole world were now under the dominion of one monarch, (provided I might be allowed to chufe where he should fix the feat of his empire) the only fon and heir of that monarch would be the worst educated mortal that ever was born fince the creation; and I doubt the fame proportion will hold through all degrees and titles, from an Emperor downwards to the common gentry. *This Effay was printed in the Intelligencer, No 9. I do I do not fay, that this hath been always the cafe: for in better times it was directly otherwife; and a fcholar may fill his Greek and Roman shelves with authors of the nobleft birth as well as highest virtue. Nor do I tax all nations at prefent with this defect; for I know there are fome to be excepted, and particularly Scotland, under all the difadvantages of its climate and foil, if that happiness be not rather owing even to thofe very difadvantages. What is then to be done, if this reflection must fix on two countries, which will be moft ready to take offence, and which, of all others, it will be least dent or fafe to offend? pru But there is one circumftance yet more dangerous and lamentable: for if, according to the poftulatum already laid down, the higher quality any youth is of, he is in greater liklihood to be worfe educated, it behoves me to dread, and keep far from the verge of fcandalum magnatum. Retracting therefore that hazardous poftulatum, I fhall venture no farther at present than to fay, that perhaps fome additional care in educating the fons of nobility and principal gentry, might not be ill employed. If this be not delivered with foftness enough, I must for the future be filent. In the mean time, let me afk only two queftions which relate to England. I ask firft, How it comes about, that, for above fixty years paft, the chief conduct of affairs hath been generally placed in the hands of new men, with very few exceptions? The noblest blood of England having been shed in the grand rebellion, many great families became extinct, or were fupported only by minors. When the King was restored, very few of thofe Lords remained, who began, or at least had improved, their education under the reigns of King James, or King Charles I.; of which Lords the two principal were the Marquis of Ormond, and the Earl of Southampton. The minors had, during the rebellion and u furpation furpation, either received too much tincture of bad. principles from thofe fanatic times, or coming to age at the reftoration, fell into the vices of that diffolute reign. I date from this æra the corrupt method of education among us, and the confequence thereof, the neceffity the crown lay under of introducing new men into the chief conduct of public affairs, or to the office of what we now call prime ministers; men of art, knowledge, application, and infinuation; merely for want of a fupply among the nobility. They were generally (though not always) of good birth, fometimes younger brothers, at other times fuch, who, although inheriting good eftates, yet happened to be well educated, and provided with learning. Such under that King were, Hyde, Bridgeman, Clifford, Osborn, Godolphin, AfhleyCooper, Few or none under the fhort reign of King James II. Under King William, Sommers, Montague. Churchill, Vernon, Boyle, and many others. Under the Queen, Harley, St. John, Harcourt, Trevor; who indeed were perfons of the beft private families, but unadorned with titles. So in the following reign, Mr. Robert Walpole was for many years prime minifter, in which poft he ftill happily continues: his brother Horace is ambassador-extraordinary to France. Mr. Addifon and Mr. Craggs, without the leaft alliance to fupport them, have been fecretaries of state. If the facts have been thus for above fixty years paft, (whereof I could with little farther recollection produce many more inftances), I would ask again, How it hath happened, that in a nation plentifully abounding with nobility, fo great share in the most competent parts of public management, hath been for fo long a period chiefly intrufted to commoners, unless fome omiffions or defects, of the highest import, may be charged upon those to whom the care of educating our noble youth, had A 2 been been committed? For if there be any difference between human creatures in the point of natural parts, as we ufually call them, it it fhould feem, that the advantage lies on the fide of children born from noble and wealthy parents; the fame traditional floth and luxury, which render their body weak and effeminate, perhaps refining and giving a freer motion to the fpirits, beyond what can be expected from the grofs, robust issue of meaner mortals. Add to this the peculiar advantages which all young noblemen poffefs, by the privileges of their birth; fuch as a free access to courts, and a univerfal deference paid to their perfons. But as my Lord Bacon chargeth it for a fault on princes, that they are impatient to compafs ends, without giving themselves the trouble of confulting or executing the means; fo perhaps it may be the difpofition of young nobles, either from the indulgence of parents, tutors, and governors, or their own inactivity, that they expect the accomplishments of a good education, without the leaft expence of time or study to acquire them. What I faid laft, I am ready to retract; for the cafe is infinitely worfe; and the very maxims fet up to direct modern education, are enough to deftroy all the feeds of knowledge, honour, wifdom, and virtue, among us. The current opinion prevails, that that the fludy of Greek and Latin is lofs of time; that public fchools, by mingling the fons of noblemen with thofe of the vulgar, engage the former in bad company; that whipping breaks the fpirits of lads well born; that univerfities make young men pedants; that to dance, fence, fpeak French, and know how to behave yourself among great perfons of both fexes, comprehends the whole duty of a gentleman. I cannot but think this wife fyftem of education hath been much cultivated among us by those wor thies of the army, who, during the laft war, returning from Flanders at the clofe of each campaign, became the dictators of behaviour, drefs, and politenefs, to all thofe youngfters who frequent chocolate-coffee-gaming-houfes, drawing-rooms, operas, levees, and affemblies; where a colonel, by his pay, perquifites, and plunder, was qualified to outfhine many peers in the realm; and by the influence of an exotic habit and demeanor, added to other foreign accomplishments, gave the law to the whole town, and was copied as the ftandard-pattern of whatever was refined in drefs, equipage, converfation, or diverfions. 66 66 66 I remember in thofe times an admired original of that vocation fitting in a coffeehoufe near two gentlemen, whereof one was of the clergy, who were engaged in fome difcourfe that favoured of learning.. This officer thought fit to interpofe, and profeffing. to deliver the fentiments of his fraternity, as well. as his own, (and probably he did fo of too many among them), turned to the clergyman, and fpoke in the following manner: * D. n me, Doctor, fay what you will, the army is the only fchool for gentlemen. Do you think my Lord Mariborough beat the French with Grek and "Latin? D -n me, a fcholar, when he comes "into good company, v hat is he but an afs? D --- n me, I would be glad, by G-d, to fee any of your scholars, with his nouns, and his verbs, " and his philofophy, and trigonometry, what a "figure he would make at a. fiege or blocade, or rencountering n me,"&e. After which he proceeded with a volley of military terms, lefs fignificant, founding worfe, and harder to be understood, than any that were ever coined by the commentators upon Aristotle. I would not here be thought to charge the foldiery with igno 66 D * See the poem called "The Grand Quefion Debated," in vol. 8. 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