Or aught that can thy neighbour's peace destroy, Some virtues 'midst the failings of mankind. Knowledge shall fade away, but thou shalt bloom, Ah, what are all the boasted powers Truths that beyond his weak conception shine, Lost in th'effulgence of his radiant fire, In life's first spring, in childhood's thoughtless age, Oh, glorious change! that shall such light display, Where in th' ALMIGHTY's presence we shall shine, His pow'r, his wisdom, and his mercy own, And Hope absorb'd in everlasting bliss. But thee, thou fairest Grace, nor death, nor doom, There with compassion all our errors scan, And plead the cause of frail and sinful man. Never published. Copied from the original, which was lent to me by T. D. Bayly Esq. Barrister. CLVII. ENGLISH AND GERMAN UNIVERSITIES-DR PARR. [FROM A PRIVATE LETTER.] It is in all cases proper that remuneration should be merely commensurate with the service; and in literature as well as in religion, that the reward rendered should be in exact proportion to the duty performed. Neglect of this sound principle has converted our English Universities into a public nuisance. The public lecturers are quite independent of the emolument derived from their pupils; consequently, they teach nothing worth learning, except it be obedience to the church, and submission to the throne ;- but in Germany the ablest Professors seldom receive a higher salary than £200 a year; the rest is derived from the contribution of their disciples. I need not add, that the number in each class is in exact ratio to the learning and science of each Professor. The ignorant continue in the obscurity of poverty, whilst the learned and scientific invariably rise to reputation and affluence; hence it is that whilst the English Universities have contributed little to the advancement of the human mind, their colleagues in Germany have explored regions, and discovered truths which shake the faith of nations, and the thrones of kings. They have overthrown the temples of superstition, and broken open the dungeons of slavery;-I talk not of political but of intellectual Germany. Neither does my friend object to a fixed salary "pitifully small," his confidence in his own powers, experience, and learning, flatter him, and embolden his supporters to entertain the probable expectation, that "classical attainments, and lite rary reputation," admitted by his enemies to be "unquestionable, and pre-eminent," will not fail to attract scholars in such numbers, and on such terms, as must secure a high character for the establishment, and ample wealth for its conductor. That a scholar like Samuel Parr, whose time was devoted to ancient literature, should have found no leisure for investigating the profound mysteries of modern housekeeping, is too obvious to be remarked-but to attribute his failure to a defective state of his domestic arrangements, when it originated solely in the brutality of his temper, is what no one, in fair argument, would endeavour to maintain :-as a scholar, Parr was admirable-in politics most contemptible-but in manners —a perfect brute; and to the brutality of his manners-not to his ignorance of Cookery-did he owe the deserved failure of every scheme of advancement, which required, as a chief ingredient, suavity of manners and benevolence of heart. But to contrast the ferocity of the one with the meek gentleness of the other, is what no man will require at my hands-who knows any thing personally or historically of either.-That Mr should have amassed a fortune, where Parr sold his Greek Thesaurus to purchase bread, only proves that mediocrity of mind is better qualified for the economies of life, than the acquisition of learning. The question is not, who shall accumulate most money-but upon whose shoulders, shall worthily descend the sacred mantle of the Greek Sage. The poverty of learning is reduced to a proverb, and if Genius has its victims-Ancient Literature is not without its martyrs Poor Chatterton, and noble Byron fell early in the cause of poesy and freedom, and my reverend Friend lingers long in sufferings from his enthusiasm for Hellenic learningand as to the allusion to his "domestic helpmate," I would disdain to introduce the affectionate partner of all his sorrows, for the purpose of prolonging their too painful endurance; and I would not sting him to the heart by telling him— that but for her whose kind attentions have soothed his grief, and balmed his wounds-he might hope to pass the remainder of his days in easy competence and cheerful quietude—and if her society has been in his youth, not a reality of bliss-but a dream of pleasure-accursed be he, who would awaken him from that dream-only to leave him to the miserable solitude of an impoverished old age. Although Parr did not make a fortune for himself, he made scholars for literature, and Patriots for his Country,-and if Tweddel sleeps enshrined in the glories of the Parthenon, Maltby lives to be an honour to his country, and a credit to his instructor. I must recall to your mind, that the real question is one of Greek and Latin learning; the object is to endoctrine youth in the literature of Athens and Rome, and it is vain to say that inferiority in this respect can be made up, by indulging the boys with dimity bed curtains and cotton night caps, or by ornamenting their dormitories with Wedgewood's most elegant Etrurian utensils. CLVIII. POOR RICHARD'S MAXIMS ON THE VALUE OF TIME. God helps them who help themselves. Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears, while the used key is always bright. Dost thou love life? then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of. The sleeping fox catches no poultry, and there will be sleeping enough in the grave. If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality. Lost time is never found again, what we call time enough, always proves little enough. |