the dicta of four fallible men; and upon these a specious declamation is built, which may astonish, but which cannot now convince.

It may be amusing to bring under the reader's view the following very pithy sentiment. It may contribute to his edification, and is, besides, a savoury specimen of the logic employed upon the discussion now under review. "12th, That if two Latin grammars in one country seem hurtful, two in one seminary must seem much more hurtful, and naturally tend to produce discontents and animosities between teachers; confusion, perplexity, and ignorance, among scholars; and, among boys of less discernment,” (than whom?) "they may produce a disgust at manly hardiness and useful labour, and, perhaps, at last a settled contempt of all grammatical and literary researches."

The authour has never been able to discover, why any human being could be foolish enough to assert, that the existence of two

grammars in one country is an evil to be dreaded. Terrours, proceeding from such a fancied source of inconvenience, are surely too preposterous to find a place in the head of any person, except one intoxicated with liquor. The schoolmasters seem to have imbibed an erroneous notion, which has been an unfailing source of dissension among mankind. They seem to have believed, that it was possible to bring all things to unity, by marking out limits for improvement, and to apply authority, like a grindstone, for effacing all inequalities of mind among a nation of men. In their choice of an argument for this notable purpose, however, they were really unfortunate; and they had much better begun their twelfth objection by saying, " If two multiplied by two make four, two and two are four." The latter part of it is insufferably ridiculous. Did the habit of committing barbarous rhymes to memory, ever prove an incentive to "manly hardiness and useful

labour?" Did it ever encourage the proper exercises of a well-constructed mind? Or, did rules, formed upon the true principles of

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human reason, ever tend to produce ❝ a settled contempt of all grammatical and literary researches ?"

He who replies to these queries in the affirmative, should prove his faith, by forgetting his mathematics as quickly as possible, and by translating the problems of Euclid into Hudibrastic verse.

Time was when the rules of logic, and even the aphorisms of Hippocrates, were taught in Latin and Greek verse. Despauter and Lily were most conspicuous among the versifiers of Latin grammar. The Syntax by Despauter was published in 1509; Lily was appointed first master of St Paul's school in London, by Dr Colet, by whom it was founded, in 1510; and the first complete edition of Despauter's grammar was printed at Cologne, anno 1522. The grammar of Lily was appoint

ed in England to be taught in the established schools, by an act, which, it is believed, is still in force. "The truth is, it seems impracticable to express, with sufficient perspicuity, the principles of grammar in Latin verse; and it appears strange, that when scholastic jargon is exploded from elementary books on other sciences, it should be retained by public authority, where it ought never to have been admitted, in Latin grammars for children."*

The attempt of the schoolmasters, to continue in the use of a grammar to which they had been accustomed, was in itself perfectly consistent, so far as the express arrangements of the rector were not contradicted. To him, as their superior, they were responsible for the exertions which they made for the improvement of the children under their care. Independent of this, however, they had an un

Preface to the fourth edition of Dr Adam's " Principles of
Latin and English Grammar.”

doubted right, and an open opportunity of discussing the comparative merits of the rival works, in the same manner as any other disputed point in literature. In this way liberalminded men would have acted; and it is not probable, that, to Dr Adam, it would have proved a source of offence. But, when they made their plaint to the legislature of Edinburgh, they clearly appear to have been actuated by double motives.* To be sure, if the gentlemen who legislated upon this dispute had possessed any precise notions of the rival works, they would never have issued any positive order for the of settling the contention at a blow.

purpose

Something of a

temporary nature, calculated merely for preventing confusion, would surely have been

* The authour must here express his belief, that this remark does not apply to Mr Luke Fraser, who signed the representation along with his colleagues. That gentleman's candour, his judicious manner of thinking, and his real friendship for Dr Adam, do not permit of any other than an honourable construction being put upon his conduct in these disputes.