e slaves of the Romans on the days of the Saturnalia。 He may do what he pleases； and command tasks to his masters； but with this differencethe Roman slave knew when the days of his licence would be over； and comported himself accordingly； but the child cannot foresee at any moment when the bell will be struck； and the scene reversed。 It is commonly enough incident to this situation； that the being who is at the mercy of another； will practise； what Tacitus calls； a 〃vernacular urbanity；〃 make his bold jests； and give utterance to his saucy innuendoes； with as much freedom as the best； but he will do it with a wary eye； not knowing how soon he may feel his chain plucked！ and himself compulsorily reduced into the established order。 His more usual refuge therefore is； to do nothing； and to wrap himself up in that neutrality towards his seniors； that may best protect him from their reprimand and their despotism。
The condition of the full…grown man is different from that of the child； and he conducts himself accordingly。 He is always to a certain degree under the control of the political society of which he is a member。 He is also exposed to the chance of personal insult and injury from those who are stronger than he； or who may render their strength more considerable by combination and numbers。 The political institutions which control him in certain respects； protect him also to a given degree from the robber and assassin； or from the man who； were it not for penalties and statutes； would perpetrate against him all the mischiefs which malignity might suggest。 Civil policy however subjects him to a variety of evils； which wealth or corruption are accustomed to inflict under the forms of justice； at the same time that it can never wholly defend him from those violences to which he would be every moment exposed in what is called the state of nature。
The full…grown man in the mean time is well pleased when he escapes from the ergastulum where he had previously dwelt； and in which he had experienced corporal infliction and corporal restraint。 At first； in the newness of his freedom； he breaks out into idle sallies and escapes； and is like the full…fed steed that manifests his wantonness in a thousand antics and ruades。 But this is a temporary extravagance。 He presently becomes as wise and calculating； as the schoolboy was before him。
The human being then； that has attained a certain stature； watches and poises his situation； and considers what he may do with impunity。 He ventures at first with no small diffidence； and pretends to be twice as assured as he really is。 He accumulates experiment after experiment； till they amount to a considerable volume。 It is not till he has passed successive lustres； that he attains that firm step； and temperate and settled accent； which characterise the man complete。 He then no longer doubts； but is ranged on the full level of the ripened members of the community。
There is therefore little room for wonder； if we find the same individual； whom we once knew a sheepish and irresolute schoolboy； that hung his head； that replied with inarticulated monotony； and stammered out his meaning； metamorphosed into a thoroughly manly character； who may take his place on the bench with senators； and deliver a grave and matured opinion as well as the best。 It appears then that the trial and review of full…grown men is not altogether so disadvantageous to the reckoning of our common nature； as that of boys at school。
It is not however； that the full…grown man is not liable to be checked； reprimanded and rebuked； even as the schoolboy is。 He has his wife to read him lectures； and rap his knuckles； he has his master； his landlord； or the mayor of his village； to tell him of his duty in an imperious style； and in measured sentences； if he is a member of a legislature； even there he receives his lessons； and is told； either in phrases of well…conceived irony； or by the exhibition of facts and reasonings which take him by surprise； that he is not altogether the person he deemed himself to be。 But he does not mind it。 Like Iago in the play； he 〃knows his price； and； by the faith of man； that he is worth no worse a place〃 than that which he occupies。 He finds out the value of the check he receives； and lets it 〃pass by him like the idle wind〃a mastery； which the schoolboy； however he may affect it； never thoroughly attains to。
But it unfortunately happens； that； before he has arrived at that degree of independence； the fate of the individual is too often decided for ever。 How are the majority of men trampled in the mire； made 〃hewers of wood； and drawers of water；〃 long； very long； before there was an opportunity of ascertaining what it was of which they were capable！ Thus almost every one is put in the place which by nature he was least fit for： and； while perhaps a sufficient quantity of talent is extant in each successive generation； yet； for want of each man's being duly estimated； and assigned his appropriate duty； the very reverse may appear to be the case。 By the time that they have attained to that sober self…confidence that might enable them to assert themselves； they are already chained to a fate； or thrust down to a condition； from which no internal energies they possess can ever empower them to escape。
SECTION II。
EQUALITY OF MAN WITH MAN。TALENTS EXTENSIVELY DISTRIBUTED。WAY IN WHICH THIS DISTRIBUTION IS COUNTERACTED。THE APTITUDE OF CHILDREN FOR DIFFERENT PURSUITS SHOULD BE EARLY SOUGHT OUT。 HINTS FOR A BETTER SYSTEM OF EDUCATION。AMBITION AN UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLE。
The reflections thus put down； may assist us in answering the question as to the way in which talents are distributed among men by the hand of nature。
All things upon the earth and under the earth； and especially all organised bodies of the animal or vegetable kingdom； fall into classes。 It is by this means； that the child no sooner learns the terms； man； horse； tree； flower； than； if an object of any of these kinds which he has never seen before； is exhibited to him； he pronounces without hesitation； This is a man； a horse； a tree； a flower。
All organised bodies of the animal or vegetable kingdom are cast in a mould of given dimension and feature belonging to a certain number of individuals； though distinguished by inexhaustible varieties。 It is by means of those features that the class of each individual is determined。
To confine ourselves to man。
All men； the monster and the lusus naturae excepted； have a certain form； a certain complement of limbs； a certain internal structure； and organs of sensemay we not add further； certain powers of intellect？
Hence it seems to follow； that man is more like and more equal to man； deformities of body and abortions of intellect excepted； than the disdainful and fastidious censors of our common nature are willing to admit。
I am inclined to believe； that； putting idiots and extraordinary cases out of the question； every human creature is endowed with talents； which； if rightly directed； would shew him to be apt； adroit； intelligent and acute； in the walk for which his organisation especially fitted him。
But the practices and modes of civilised life prompt us to take the inexhaustible varieties of man； as he is given into our guardianship by the bountiful hand of nature； and train him in one uniform exercise； as the raw recruit is treated when he is brought under the direction of his drill…serjeant。
The son of the nobleman； of the country…gentleman； and of those parents who from vanity or whatever other motive are desirous that their offspring should be devoted to some liberal profession； is in nearly all instances sent to the grammar…school。 It is in this scene principally； that the judgment is formed that not above one boy in a hundred possesses an acute understanding； or will be able to strike into a path of intellect that shall be truly his own。
I do not object to this destination； if temperately pursued。 It is fit that as many children as possible should have their chance of figuring in future life in what are called the higher departments of intellect。 A certain familiar acquaintance with language and the shades of language as a lesson； will be beneficial to all。 The youth who has expended only six months in acquiring the rudiments of the Latin tongue； will probably be more or less the better for it in all his future life。
But seven years are usually spent at the grammar…school by those who are sent to it。 I do not in many cases object to this。 The learned languages are assuredly of slow acquisition。 In the education of those who are destined to what are called the higher departments of intellect； a long period may advantageously be spent in the study of words； while the progress they make in theory and dogmatical knowledge is too generally a store of learning laid up； to be unlearned again when they reach the period of real investigation and independent judgment。 There is small danger of this in the acquisition of words。
But this method； indiscriminately pursued as it is now； is productive of the worst consequences。 Very soon a judgment may be formed by the impartial observer； whether the pupil is at home in the study of the learned languages； and is likely to make an adequate progress。 But parents are not impartial。 There are also two reasons why the schoolmaster is not the proper person to pronounce： first； because； if he pronounces in the negative； he will have reason to fear that the parent will be offended； and secondly； because he does not like to lose his scholar。 But the very moment that it can be ascertained； that the pupil is not at home in the study of the learned languages； and is unlikely to make an adequate progress； at that moment he should be taken from it。
The most palpable deficiency that is to be found in relation to the education of children； is a sound judgment to be formed as to the vocation or employment in which each is most fitted to excel。
As； according to the institutions of Lycurgus； as soon as a boy was born； he was visited by the elders of the ward； who were to decide whether he was to be reared； and would be made an efficient member of the commonwealth； so it were to be desired that； as early