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

2^6LETTERS, TRACTS, esfr.We have another gentleman in public oflBce, who=is alfo juftly looked upon as a very extraordinary andhappy genius. His.fkill in commerce is extenfivehis invention of new branches of manufacture fertile jhis a61:ivity to promote them unwearied *, his generofityand public fpirit are difcerned and honoured byfeveral of the nobility, and by many of the gentryand men of tafle, who court his company : He is poffefledof fuch accomplifliments in fcience and tafte,which, by a quick difcernm.ent, he faw the value of,and acquired, that did he not by a fmgular greatnefsof mind* acknowledge the difadvantages of his education,hardly any body that converfes with him wouldfufpedi: but that he had been converfant in literarycontemplations from his earlieft youth.We have befides many citizens whofe knowledgeis extenfive, and whofe elegance of tafte is undifputed.The magiflrates and they will heartily concur topromote fo ufeful a defign :They will be convinced,that among a numerous youth there are, comparative--ly fpeaking, but few who in fcience and tafte canhope to fucceed as they have happily done, unlefs anearly and proper method be taken to facilitate the acquifitionof knov/ledge, and to teach them the elementsof thefe parts which are of univcrfal ufe.For that reafon, fuch an academy as we have givena fketch of is fo ufeful and necciTary, that there oughtto be one of them in every populous city within GreatBritain : And certainly people will fome time or otheropen their eyes, and not fufFer themfelves to be deludedby mere founds, nor imagine that becaufe athing is called an univerfity or feat of learning, thattherefore it will convey every fort of ufeful knowledge; when they fee, or may fee fo plainly, that theknowledge taught is unfuitabie to fuch people as weand, were it fuitable, no fuitable time and pains'are ;are employed to teach it.And we fay one thing further in behalf of our city.