CLASSICAL JOURNAL.

No. XVII.

MARCH, 1814.

A DEFENCE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

NO. III.

I

PROCEED to speak of characters far more to the point, Historians, eminent Scholars, and Statesmen. If our Public Schools are deficient in producing these, particularly eminent Scholars and Statesmen, the question must be given up. I shall, as before, make some observations on the list here produced, and then see what can be said on the other side, not fearing to leave the result to the opinion of all impartial judges.

"The three best Historians that the English language has produced, Clarendon, Hume, and Robertson, were not educated at Public Schools." So says the Review.

We have already mentioned that Clarendon was sent to Oxford at thirteen years of age; he, therefore, may justly be enumerated among those educated at Public Schools, and certainly after that form," to which the English are so much," and with great reason, "attached." Let us now examine more attentively the characters of Hume and Robertson as historians; and we are not disposed to detract in the smallest degree from their deserved reputation. Hume was fluent, perspicuous, eloquent; of copious, but correct, diction, and most happy in embellishing his narrative with those colors of rhetoric that are powerful in winning and disposing his readers on the side to which he had devoted his talents. At the same time, he was wanting in that which is most essential to the cool investigation of truth; fidelity, accuracy, impartiality. So negligent indeed is he in this respect, that his text is not unfrequently found to be in direct opposition to the very authority he quotes.VOL. IX. Cl. Jl. NO. XVII.

A

Robertson stands very high as a judicious, elegant, and discriminating writer; but, bating the amenities of style and language, it is extraordinary to think how little of new light has been thrown by his researches on the periods which he has so pleasingly, I had almost said superficially, illustrated. Let it be observed, however, that Robertson had the advantage of the highest public education in his country. But even if we should confine ourselves to our three greatest Public Schools, have we not Camden, the annalist of Queen Elizabeth, and the great and venerable father of historical topography, educated at Westminster? Have we not Gibbon, who, though unfortunately prejudiced on one great point, has dispelled the darkness of the middle ages, and exhibited them as they stand in connexion with the more authentic periods of Roman History,- brought up at Westminster? Have we not also Coxe, educated at Eton, whose Histories of Austria, and of the Bourbon Kings of Spain, may surely be placed on the same shelf with any work of Robertson; and whose Life and Memoirs of Sir Robert Walpole have superseded all other accounts of the reigns of George I. and II. All these were bred as private gentlemen; and without taking into consideration the exceptions we have made, even as historical writers, they evidently turn the scale in favor of Public Schools.

In speaking of eminent Scholars, I must examine, as before, the list produced by the Critic. Among them we have such eminent names as "Jeremy Taylor, Cardinal Wolsey, Bishop Wilkins, Chillingworth, and Isaac Hooker." Most of these are well known as distinguished for their learning and great qualities; but who is this Isaac Hooker? Dr. Johnson mentions a singular character, who, in a very intelligent company was observed to utter only one word: this word, subsequent information has decided to have been "RICHARD." It is a pity this personage had not been at the Reviewer's elbow, that he might have prompted him to write Richard, instead of Isaac, Hooker. It is probable that this very accurate writer might have intended to put in this place the name of Isaac Barrow; but finding that Barrow had a Public School education, he put out Barrow, and let Isaac remain. Of Hooker's writings it is likely that the notable Reviewer knows as little as he appears to have done of the works of Ben Jonson; we will therefore, after giving him his right name, as we have to Jon

It is to be lamented that, in consequence of his weak and sickly constitution when a boy, he was deprived of the regular course of studies, and was therefore many years incessantly occupied in recovering the ground he had lost. Had he been able to go through the regular education of Westminster, it is probable that his conduct would have been more steady, and his principles more sound.

son,-extract one sentence from the preface to his unrivalled work, Ecclesiastical Polity, which ought to be written in letters of gold for the edification and improvement of some writers: "There will come a time, when three words, uttered with CHARITY and MEEKNESS, shall receive a far more blessed reward than three thousand volumes written with DISDAINFUL SHARPNESS OF WIT."

was sent to Oxford at an early age.

Hooker

Cardinal Wolsey was a member of the same University at eleven years of age, if we may judge from the appellation of "the boy bachelor," which he received for taking his degree at fifteen. Bishop Wilkins went to Oxford also at the same age. The acute and wonderful Chillingworth, the great master of Locke in reasoning, was educated in the Public Academical School attached to Magdalen College, Oxford: and the eloquent, elevated, and holy Jeremy Taylor was so early instructed at Cambridge, that Antony Wood, in his quaint manner, says; "he tumbled out of his mother's womb into the seat of the Muses at Cambridge." It may be proper to observe that, of the other eminent characters mentioned, Cudworth, Tillotson, Middleton, Bentley, Bishop Sherlock, Stillingfleet, Spelman, Clarke, and Bishop Hoadley, went early to Cambridge; Selden, Sir Thomas More, and Bishop Wilkins, to Oxford; and Archbishop King, and Bishop Usher, to Trinity College, Dublin.

We now come to the Statesmen and great political characters. Without strictly examining the whole list, which is full of inaccuracies, the following observations will, I trust, be sufficient. to show how confidently we may appeal from the decisions of the Reviewer, on this important criterion. I therefore request the attention of the reader to the following circumstances.

When the Puritans obtained the predominance in the State, and particularly after the famous visitation by the godly Commissioners at Oxford, the establishments of education lost their

2

These two last were educated at Norwich School.

-It

2 When men so eminent for learning, piety, and every Christian virtue, as Sanderson, Hammond, and Dr. Pococke, were reduced to beggary; when the Soldiers preached in the Public Schools and Churches against human learning, challenging the Scholars to prove their calling from Christ, and denouncing Greek as the sin against the Holy Ghost. may not be improper to mention here that these pious visitors, with Lord Pembroke at their head, found no great difficulty in dispossessing, among other eminent sufferers, Dr. Fell, Dean of Christ-Church and Vice-Chancellor; but Mrs. Fell, the Doctor's wife, "refused to budge." Intreaties, commands, were all in. vain: at last, after seeking the Lord," they put her by force into an arm-chair, brought her into the quadrangle, and locked the door!

Hammond was educated at Eton, and first went there, according to Walker," in his long coats."

repute. These venerable seats,-which in the reign of Henry, Elizabeth, and James, had produced such characters in the political world as Sir Thomas More, Lord Surrey, Sir Philip Sidney, Sir Walter Raleigh; and afterwards, such men as Lord Falkland and Clarendon; and even the best and most accomplished of the Republicans, as Milton, Marvel, Whitelocke, and Selden,―were now filled with a generation as ignorant as they were canting and rapacious. Thus, during twelve or fifteen years there was a kind of lapse of that education, which had produced such characters as I have enumerated. During this period, Hugh Peters adorned the pulpit; and such monsters as "Praise God Barebones," were called to fill the seats of the Senate. It was some years before the nation recovered from this intellectual hiatus, if the expression may be allowed. After the Restoration' the national education went on in its usual channel; but it was not till near the approach of the Revolution that the fruits were perceived. The reign of James II., it has been observed, was remarkably deficient in illustrious men. Sir William Temple was still respected and revered, among a race of venal and profligate courtiers. At length appeared Lord Somers, and the great leaders of his day; who were succeeded, in a subsequent reign, by Bolingbroke, Walpole, Townshend, Chesterfield, Pulteney, all educated at Eton or Westminster. These were followed by the great William Pitt, and his illustrious opponent Henry Fox, and the leading political characters of the middle of the last century. It really seems that the writer of the Review, from a natural hebetude of understanding, or from ignorant conceit, which, in him, even a public education could not cure, has run his head against the very point, which is most pregnant with illustrious examples, in opposition to his arguments. Let him look at the living. Let him look at the Houses of Lords and Commons. Let him look to the most eminent public characters: the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Grenville, Lord Grey, Lord Holland. Let him look at the great leaders of every party, Wellesley, Liverpool, Sidmouth, Canning, and Whitbread. Let him look at an eminent proof of the result of public education, in the Speakers of the House of Commons, whose situation requires an assemblage and union of the highest qualities of the mind; and he will find this arduous and honorable post almost universally occupied by men who have been educated at Public Schools; for instance, Cornwall and Addington at Win

It is a fact, that Rochester was sent to Oxford after its puritanical regeneration. Educated among the saints of the day, at the restoration, like many others, he burst into the contrary extreme, and was notorious only for his talents and profligacy. Dryden was also sent to Cambridge during the ascendancy of the fanatics.

chester, Grenville at Eton, and Abbot at Westminster.' We may here remark that almost all the characters enumerated v goμáxis of the political world were distinguished for their classical attainments in youth. We may refer to Fox's poetical compositions in the Musa Etonenses. Wellesley, Grenville, Sidmouth, Abbot, and Canning, gained University Prizes. Nor ought we to forget the late accomplished Windham.

But even in the list of Statesmen produced by the Reviewer, we shall find that the greatest number enjoyed the advantage of a public education. Lord Somers, Sir Walter Raleigh, Hampden and Sidney, were members at an early age of the University of Oxford; the Earl of Strafford, Sir William Temple, Walsingham, Cromwell, the late W. Pitt, of that of Cambridge; and Burke of Trinity College, Dublin. Sheridan, consigned likewise by the critic to private instruction, was educated in one of those public Schools," conducted" in his own words, "upon the plan of the three first," and doomed by him to the same reprobation.

2

I cannot conclude these observations without earnestly begging the reader's attention to a striking fact, of which I proposed to speak when I took into consideration that part of the Critic's question, "whether Public Schools furnished wiser and better men?" I shall here entreat the reader to look at the list of Poets only, furnished by a few great Schools; and I do this because there exists a vulgar and almost proverbial error, respecting the moral character of poets. Many persons, for want of knowledge, consideration, or candor, are apt to think that the name of a Poet in modern days is synonymous with eccentricity, if not with profligacy. Now look at the list! With the exception of one only, in so large a list, which might still be increased, all are men, whose private life was irreproachable: their morals were as correct, as their talents were extraordinary. Of men so educated, and so mannered, who can speak without respect, not of

The conductors of those great establishments surely deserve the encouragement and remuneration which they, in general, receive from the state. We hail a head-master of Westminster exalted to the rank of Archbishop, as was the case with Markham: we congratulate the otium cum dignitate of so excellent a man, and so distinguished a scholar, as the present Dean of Westminster. Of only one, for many years master of Winchester, it may be said, he has been ungratefully neglected, Dr. Goddard. He may say to those whom he has so ably instructed

Disce, puer, virtutem ex me, verumque laborem,
Fortunam ex aliis.

2 We confess our inability to understand the Critic's object in introducing Mr. Pitt here. That man, who, in his estimate, entailed such calamities on the country, had not, according to him, a public education! Of this great

man we may truly say, that the chief fault in his character, an haughty reserve, would probably have been completely cured by an education at a Public School.