Inhaltsangabe
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1791. Excerpt: ... ON THE STATE Of LEARNING In GENERAL. WHOEVER is in the least acquainted with the annals of literature, and the history of the learned, knows how well the English have deserved with respect to the promotion pf science, and the cultivation of all branches of learning. Whether it be true, as many of them seem to suppose, that they are the most learned nation on the globe, I will not decide. Per? haps national pride, and too little knowledge of the state of learning in other countries, may have produced such an opinion; from which, however, many truly learned Englishmen are free, who do full justice to the learning of other nations. Those sciences which require deep meditation, and abstract study, are cultivated by the English with the greatest success. They yield in this respect to no nation whatever, if they are not superior to any. It is said of them, P 2 that; that they are not endowed with great powers of invention; but, I think, a Bacon, a Shaker speare, a Newton, may prove the contrary; and I am certain, that if they are once upon the scent, they will generally go as far as possible. Besides, they have this advantage, that among them the prejudices derived from supposed authority, and opinions established merely by length of time, are neither so common, nor so powerful in their influence, as is observable among other nations. Antiquity, and education, will frequently instil into the mind so great a veneration for old systems, and their pretended fanctity, that it is impossible afterwards to view such Gothic buildings, without a kind of awe. In England, the generality of the people are apt to reason for themselves, and by that means they stand a fair chance of succeeding in the pursuit of truth, the great and sirst object of all learning; though there a...
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