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

Lt;TTERS, TRACTS, Est ^. 317ItheyRemark 7. You feem to fuppofe, that the defire cfknowledge is by far more (Irong and general in thiscity than I take it really to be. That there are fomemen of tafte cannot be denied ; but the general defirehere, at prefent, is to have a little more money jand, confidering the populoufnefs of the place, thereare, alas ! extremely few who trouble thernfelves a-bout any part of fcience whatever. They may talkplaufibly about your fcheme, and even in their judgmentsapprove it ; but it will be great odds if everop?n their purfes to fet it a-going. Could youhave propofed .any^ fcheme which they faw was todouble their gain next month, or next year, theywould very greedily have fu-ipped at the halt. Nay,fom.etimes they will be bufy about the rnofx frivolousthings,- while the moft miomentous are neglefted :At the ele£lion of a parliament-man, which concerns" us exceeding little, you fee here a mighty and almofluniverfai fcir ; but when a proper plan of education'is propofed, which is of the utmoft importance to theinterefl. and -honour of this city, there will be fomefrom whom perhaps you expelled much, who willbe thoroughly drowfy and inacSlive. I thmk, there-'fore, that your hopes of fuccefs are rather too fan-Jg\iine ; for though I am not at prefent in the coun- -cil, I imagine I knov/ their temper: And I liavebutlittle- hope, that tlie magillrates and thc)^ willy likethe town-council of Perth, expend any money in that -'way. Between you and me, they v/ill rather throwit away on parliamenteering ; or on romantic projects,fuch as locks on the river, which can never be executed; and if they could, inflead of being bene£cial,would be highly detrimental.Not that I -defpair43f an academiy altogether. Confideringthe enterpriilng fpirit of this city, it may,perhaps, be ereftcd in a little time. Several of mynext neiglibours, fome of them of confidcrable rankand iniluence, fee the neceflity of it, and talk aboutp d 3