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

LETTERS, TRACTS, B[r. 299who, from fordid love of lucre, are fquintlng at itwith an evil eye, and wifhing to blail it with theirnoxious breath j fuppofe they and their emilTaries beftriving to get hold of tliis hopeful infant, to cruih it,or to llifle it in its cradle ; nay, fuppofe, contrary toall probability, that its frightened and felf-intereftedenemies fhould be able with tlieir poifoned arrows toreach its vitals, and to lay its head in the duft •, it iscertainly poffible to contrive the plan of a manly andgenteel education for men of bufmefs, and to fecurethe execution of it, in this place. There are here agreat number who have been long and deeply practifedin commerce, who have great natural and acquiredabilities, and are poflefled of thofe attainmentswhich are ufeful and which are ornamental. Thefegentlemen are well qualified to direct the educationof young people who are defigned for bufy and a£livelife. And we muft agree, that, till this be done, ourcity will not make that figure in Great Britain whichit is capable of making, nor appear with a luflre inproportion to its trade, its wealth, and its greatnefs.On the difagreeable fuppofition that no academyis fet on foot here, and to prevent, were it in theirpower, the difagreeable and well forefeen efFe£^s ofthat negle£t,there are not wanting a number of judiciouscitizens who feem determined to fend theirfons to be educated at Perth, if they (hall be informedthat the plan agreed upon there is but as well executedas- it is contrived. We hope and afiure ourselvesthat "they will not be under the neceffity of-fending them out of our own cityfor that purpofe.We•At any rate, you know our mind by this letter..hope to be exempted from your fatire ; or, if youfometimes play it off in our company, we will confitlerit as not intended perfonally againft ourfelvesunwilling however to join you in it, even though wefee it juft, we will beg leave to be filent.You fee, Sir, that we pay all poffible deference to