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

tETTERS, TRACTS, isi'C,2§fart of teaching (which he mufl have, otherwife itwere better not to have him), we may reafonably expe6t,in a very few years, to furniih out a choiceof able mathematicians to the univerfity, and fave•them the trouble of going to a great diflance in queftof one.The plan, as we have fpoken of it, extends tofewer parts of literature than that of Perth ;yet weperfuade ourfelves every one muft be convinced ofthe advantage and neceffity of it •, and if polTible wewifh to fee it eftablifhed, or at lead begun this veryfeafon.Many branches of manufa£lures have been intro--duced, and many have been puflied as far by the in-habitants of this city as has been, done by any in the^kingdom ; and if we ftiouid make no provihon for'the inftru£lion of our youth, when fuch provifionis fo neceffary, we (houid but too juftiy deferve reproach.But from the opulence of this city, v/e cannot butindulge the hope, that the academy here will be moreextenfive than that whichu has been agreed upon bythe people of Perth. We wifh the French languagewas taught more perfe£Vly than has yet been donehere: It has become almoit an univerfal ian^'-uaoe,and the knowledge of it is particularly ufeful to'trading people; and efpecially we wifh that there werean Engiillv belles lettres education: Except to gentlemen,and to thofe in the learned profeOions, thelearned lancruages are not neceffary. A man maymake himfelf mafter of an immenfe variety of knowledge,without any other language but Engiifh :And©f how great importance Would it"be if young peoplewere made acquainted withthe beauties of theEngiifh poets and rnoil elegant profe writers, andwere taught fomething of compofition in tiieir own.language. To knov/ their own language well is ofmore importance to them than even the moft fuU^Bb r