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 LEARNINGm 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 pa emotion of science, and the cultivation of all branches ot learning. Whether it be true, as many ot them seem to suppofe, that they are the most learned nation on the globe, I will not decide. Perhaps national pride, and too lit:le knowledge of the state of learning in other countries, may have produced such an opinion; irom which, however, m&ny truly learned Englishmen are free, who do lull justice to the learning of other nations. Thofe sciences which require deep meditation, and abstract study, arc cultivated. by the English with the greatest success. They yield in this reipect to no nation whatever, if they are not superior to any. It is said of them, that they are not endowed with great powers of invention; but, I think, a Bacon, a Shakespeare, a Newton, may prove the contrary; and I am certain, that if they are once upon the scent, they will generally go as sar as poisible. Besides, they have this B z advantage, advantage, that among them the prejudices derived from iupposed authority, and opinions established merely by length of time, are neither lo common, nor so powersul in their insluence, 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 sandlity, that it is impossible afterwards to view fitch Goihi buildings, without a kind of awe. In England, the generality of the people are apf to reason for themselves, and by that means they stand a sair chants os succeeding in the pursuit ol tfuthy the great and first object of all learning; though th...
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