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his is a man； a horse； a tree； a flower。
All organised bodies of the animal or vegetable kingdom are cast in a mould of given dimension and feature belonging to a certain number of individuals； though distinguished by inexhaustible varieties。 It is by means of those features that the class of each individual is determined。
To confine ourselves to man。
All men； the monster and the lusus naturae excepted； have a certain form； a certain complement of limbs； a certain internal structure； and organs of sensemay we not add further； certain powers of intellect？
Hence it seems to follow； that man is more like and more equal to man； deformities of body and abortions of intellect excepted； than the disdainful and fastidious censors of our common nature are willing to admit。
I am inclined to believe； that； putting idiots and extraordinary cases out of the question； every human creature is endowed with talents； which； if rightly directed； would shew him to be apt； adroit； intelligent and acute； in the walk for which his organisation especially fitted him。
But the practices and modes of civilised life prompt us to take the inexhaustible varieties of man； as he is given into our guardianship by the bountiful hand of nature； and train him in one uniform exercise； as the raw recruit is treated when he is brought under the direction of his drill…serjeant。
The son of the nobleman； of the country…gentleman； and of those parents who from vanity or whatever other motive are desirous that their offspring should be devoted to some liberal profession； is in nearly all instances sent to the grammar…school。 It is in this scene principally； that the judgment is formed that not above one boy in a hundred possesses an acute understanding； or will be able to strike into a path of intellect that shall be truly his own。
I do not object to this destination； if temperately pursued。 It is fit that as many children as possible should have their chance of figuring in future life in what are called the higher departments of intellect。 A certain familiar acquaintance with language and the shades of language as a lesson； will be beneficial to all。 The youth who has expended only six months in acquiring the rudiments of the Latin tongue； will probably be more or less the better for it in all his future life。
But seven years are usually spent at the grammar…school by those who are sent to it。 I do not in many cases object to this。 The learned languages are assuredly of slow acquisition。 In the education of those who are destined to what are called the higher departments of intellect； a long period may advantageously be spent in the study of words； while the progress they make in theory and dogmatical knowledge is too generally a store of learning laid up； to be unlearned again when they reach the period of real investigation and independent judgment。 There is small danger of this in the acquisition of words。
But this method； indiscriminately pursued as it is now； is productive of the worst consequences。 Very soon a judgment may be formed by the impartial observer； whether the pupil is at home in the study of the learned languages； and is likely to make an adequate progress。 But parents are not impartial。 There are also two reasons why the schoolmaster is not the proper person to pronounce： first； because； if he pronounces in the negative； he will have reason to fear that the parent will be offended； and secondly； because he does not like to lose his scholar。 But the very moment that it can be ascertained； that the pupil is not at home in the study of the learned languages； and is unlikely to make an adequate progress； at that moment he should be taken from it。
The most palpable deficiency that is to be found in relation to the education of children； is a sound judgment to be formed as to the vocation or employment in which each is most fitted to excel。
As； according to the institutions of Lycurgus； as soon as a boy was born； he was visited by the elders of the ward； who were to decide whether he was to be reared； and would be made an efficient member of the commonwealth； so it were to be desired that； as early as a clear discrimination on the subject might be practicable； a competent decision should be given as to the future occupation and destiny of a child。
But this is a question attended with no common degree of difficulty。 To the resolving such a question with sufficient evidence； a very considerable series of observations would become necessary。 The child should be introduced into a variety of scenes； and a magazine； so to speak； of those things about which human industry and skill may be employed； should be successively set before him。 The censor who is to decide on the result of the whole； should be a person of great sagacity； and capable of pronouncing upon a given amount of the most imperfect and incidental indications。 He should be clear…sighted； and vigilant to observe the involuntary turns of an eye； expressions of a lip； and demonstrations of a limb。
The declarations of the child himself are often of very small use in the case。 He may be directed by an impulse； which occurs in the morning； and vanishes in the evening。 His preferences change as rapidly as the shapes we sometimes observe in the evening clouds； and are governed by whim or fantasy； and not by any of those indications which are parcel of his individual constitution。 He desires in many instances to be devoted to a particular occupation； because his playfellow has been assigned to it before him。
The parent is not qualified to judge in this fundamental question； because he is under the dominion of partiality； and wishes that his child may become a lord chancellor； an archbishop； or any thing else； the possessor of which condition shall be enabled to make a splendid figure in the world。 He is not qualified； because he is an interested party； and； either from an exaggerated estimate of his child's merits； or from a selfish shrinking from the cost it might require to mature them； is anxious to arrive at a conclusion not founded upon the intrinsic claims of the case to be considered。
Even supposing it to be sufficiently ascertained in what calling it is that the child will be most beneficially engaged； a thousand extrinsical circumstances will often prevent that from being the calling chosen。 Nature distributes her gifts without any reference to the distinctions of artificial society。 The genius that demanded the most careful and assiduous cultivation； that it might hereafter form the boast and ornament of the world； will be reared amidst the chill blasts of poverty； while he who was best adapted to make an exemplary carpenter or artisan； by being the son of a nobleman is thrown a thousand fathoms wide of his true destination。
Human creatures are born into the world with various dispositions。 According to the memorable saying of Themistocles； One man can play upon a psaltery or harp； and another can by political skill and ingenuity convert a town of small account； weak and insignificant； into a city noble； magnificent and great。
It is comparatively a very little way that we can penetrate into the mysteries of nature。
Music seems to be one of the faculties most clearly defined in early youth。 The child who has received that destination from the hands of nature； will even in infancy manifest a singular delight in musical sounds； and will in no long time imitate snatches of a tune。 The present professor of music in the university of Oxford contrived for himself； I believe at three years old； a way for playing on an instrument； the piano forte； unprompted by any of the persons about him。 This is called having an ear。
Instances nearly as precocious are related of persons； who afterwards distinguished themselves in the art of painting。
These two kinds of original destination appear to be placed beyond the reach of controversy。
Horace says； The poet is born a poet； and cannot be made so by the ingenuity of art： and this seems to be true。 He sees the objects about him with an eye peculiarly his own； the sounds that reach his ear； produce an effect upon him； and leave a memory behind； different from that which is experienced by his fellows。 His perceptions have a singular vividness。
The poet's eye； in a fine frenzy rolling； Doth glance from heaven to earth； from earth to heaven；
And his imagination bodies forth The forms of things unknown；
It is not probable that any trainings of art can give these endowments to him who has not received them from the gift of nature。
The subtle network of the brain； or whatever else it is； that makes a man more fit for； and more qualified to succeed in； one occupation than another； can scarcely be followed up and detected either in the living subject or the dead one。 But； as in the infinite variety of human beings no two faces are so alike that they cannot be distinguished； nor even two leaves plucked from the same tree＇2＇； so it may reasonably be presumed； that there are varieties in the senses； the organs； and the internal structure of the human species； however delicate； and to the touch of the bystander evanescent； which may give to each indiv