The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

LE'ITERS, THACrS, -sfc.2^"^knowledge' in the mind'? of their fcholars ; lilce frigidor impotent people, v/ho are forced to adopt flrangersinto their family, being incapable to beget- any childrenof their own.The faults in education we have mentioned h2LVChad bad eflc61:s on all forts of people who refort orhave reforted to the univerfity, the clergy themfelvesnot excepted 5 and we own, they have Jiad very badeffects upon ourfelves. The things taught are abPtrufeand dark; and it is little to be wondered at if webrought no knowledge of tliem away with us : If anyof us brought away fome knowledge of them^ it is aslittle to be wondered if we foon loft it : It was offuch a nature as to be' eafjly forgot-, it was fo reinotefrom common ufcj that it could not be remembered.Though we have been at fbme pains to acquire alittle knowledge from books and company, v/e arefenfible, that in writing this letter we give but toomanifefb proofs of the defe^tivenefs of our education.But fliil we believe this was no ways owing to ourwant of natural capacity. Our city can bcaft, thatit has produced as complete burgeiies, and gentlemenof as refined- and enlarged underftandings, as any inthe ifland j that is, when they, were educated or improvedat other places.What we have faid is not with a view to depreciatean unfverfity education, but to apologife for•ourfelves, and to remove. Sir, your furprife at ourlittle knowledge, and that fo few of us fend our fons1*0 the univerfity : And by this time we hope our a-pology will appear to be pretty complete j an apologywhich Vv^e have been forced to make» When wefaw the laugh raifed againft our town in ab"noit everycompany of ftrangers, and heard ourfelves fo oftenand fo groundlefsly reproached for want of tafte, wejudged it was but a piece of juilice to ourfelves andour fellow-citizens, to open our minds to a g^entlem?^ik.