and

presage

that

slowness in catchings

shall not only

We

hourth, by rivaling the foremost of

This truly plous Wonk, but

They have

got the

our superior Abilities

have put it

in

Power. our

Person

with his

15

The mdispensible Duty of way

Ioving and feisure, to

A GENERAL IDEA

OF THE

COLLEGE OF MIRANIA.

TO THE TRUSTEES BY LAW APPOINTED, FOR RECEIVING PROPOSALS, RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COLLEGE IN

NEW-YORK.

GENTLEMEN,

To every one that has the interest and reputation of this province at heart, particularly to you, it must give a very sensible satisfaction to find, at length, the general attention drawn towards the establishing a public seminary in it, under the patronage of the government, for the institution of youth in the liberal arts and sciences.ed}

The day appointed for the meeting of the general assembly now draws near; when, in consequence of a vote of last sessions, this important affair will be the subject of their deliberations. And, as the plan or idea of the whole institution ought, first of all, to be fixed, that every step they take may uniformly tend to the execution of the same, I thought it my duty to contribute my best endeavours to this end, as well on account of what I owe to the public, as to satisfy the expectations of some gentlemen who have, at all times, a right to command me.

While I was ruminating on the constitutions of several colleges, which I had either personally visited,

174

A GENERAL IDEA OF

or read of, without being able to fix on any, which I could wholly recommend as a model for us at present,] I chanced to fall into the company of a valuable young gentleman, named Evander, who is a person of some distinction, of the province of Mirania. After some conversation on learned topics, he was led to give me an account of a seminary established about twelve years ago in that province, which I thought admirably well suited to our circumstances, and therefore I have offered it to your consideration and improvement. Liqu [special importune]

no

Mirania, gentlemen, is one of the provinces of the New World, first settled by our countrymen, the English, about a century ago. In what degree of latitude it lies is of no importance. I am not to write its history, but only to give a general account of its college, and the method of education practised in it; which, as nearly as I can remember, I shall do in Evander's own words, being sensible that every deviation from them would be a defect. After a modest apology, with which I shall not trouble you, he began as follows:

EVANDER'S ACCOUNT OF THE COLLEGE OF MIRANIA.

IT had been the peculiar happiness of my coun. trymen, ever since their first settlement, to enjoy an uninterrupted tranquillity; at peace with their neighbours, unrivalled in their trade, and blest in the administration of a succession of mild and just governors, who had the real interest of the province at heart. These favourable circumstances had, from

time to time, besides constant supplies from the mother-country, invited over vast numbers of foreigners, who, quitting their native land, sought a calm retreat in Mirania; where, under the protection of wise and equal laws, they might enjoy the rights of conscience, and the fruits of their own labour.

Thus, about twelve years ago, the Miranians saw themselves a mighty and flourishing people, in possession of an extensive country, capable of producing all the necessaries and many of the superfluities of life. They reflected that the only method of making these natural advantages of lasting use to themselves and posterity, the only infallible source of tranquillity, happiness and glory, was to contrive and execute a > proper scheme for forming a succession of sober, virtuous, industrious citizens, and checking the course of growing luxury. They were convinced that, without a previous good education, the best laws are little better than verba minantia, and would often be infringed by powerful villainy; that the magistrate can at best but frighten vice into a corner, and that it is education alone which can mend and rectify the heart.

They saw also, that, among the foreigners, who were as numerous as the English themselves, many distinctions were forming upon their different customs, languages and extractions, which, by creating separate interests, might, in the issue, prove fatal to government. They wisely judged, therefore, that nothing could so much contribute to make such a mixture of people coalesce and unite in one common

interest, as the common education of all the youth at the same public schools under the eye of the civil authority. By these means, said they, indissoluble connections and friendships will be formed, prejudices worn off, and the youth will in time, either forget their extraction, or, from a more liberal education, and manly turn of thought, learn to contemn those idle distinctions that arise among the vulgar, because their fathers first spoke a different language, or drew air in a different clime.

With these views the Miranians applied themselves to project a plan of education; every person of genius, learning, and experience, offering his impartial thoughts on this subject, whether in a private or public capacity; as being sensible that an undertaking of such lasting consequence demanded the united councils, the heads and hearts, of a whole country.

The object they kept always in sight, was the easiest, simplest, and most natural method of forming youth to the knowledge and exercise of private and public virtue; and therefore they did not scruple to reject some things commonly taught at colleges, to add others, and shorten or invert the order of others, as best suited their circumstances. They often had this sentence in their mouth, which I think, in other words, I have read in Tillotson, that the knowledge of what tends neither directly nor indirectly to make better men, and better citizens, is but a knowledge of trifles. It is not learning, but a specious and ingenious sort of idleness.

We must not then, said they, bewilder ourselves in the search of truth, in the vast tomes of ancient