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

2 86 LETTERS, TRACTS, \sfC.from the folemnity of the teachers, we at that time fufpeclecjthere might be fome value in them, or perhapstlieir diligence in teaching conferred fome imaginaryworthon every thing they taught.We have often obferved,that the earneil appHcation of teachers to theirbufinefs procures them reputation, and adds weight tothe moft frivolous and infignificant things that maybe delivered by them. The men were guilty of noiittlenefs or folly ; they were men of exterior dignity,and we could not but pay fome regard to every thingthey faid or did. Teachers of that fort, when theknowledge communicated by them is ufeful and fuitable,do fuccefsfully recommend knowledge and virtue; and by their regular, decent, and religious behaviour,they create a liking of religion in the heartsof their fcholars.3. The hours of teaching in the defigned academywill be more than are allotted to it in colleges. Itis abfurd and hypocritical for men to give high commendationsof fcience, and to ufe fo {lender pains,a-nd fpend fo little time in teaching it. Men are becomefo lazy, and the defire of literature is fo feeble,that it is a wonder if knowledge of every fort doesnot take its flight from amongfl us. The practice.ofuniverfities is quite altered j not one half of the hoursare employed in teaching that were one hundred, andnot a thud of them that were two hundred yearsago. The prefident de Mefmcs fliowed a manufcriptof one of his anceftors to Mr. Rollin, wherein thatancient gentleman gave an account of his Itudies atthe univerhty of Toloufe :" In 1545 (fays he) I wasfent to Toloufe with my preceptor and brother tolludy law, under the direction ot an old grey-hairedman, who had travelled much. We got up at four,and having faid our prayers, we began our iludies atfive, with our great books under our arms, and ourwriting-tables and candlefticks in our hands. We attendedat ki^ures till ten without intermifhon j thea