feelings are of more uſe, in a moral ſenſe, than any other emotion of taſte; but I contend that the theatrical pomp which gratifies our ſenſes, is to be preferred to the cold parade that inſults the underſtanding without reaching the heart.
Amongſt remarks on national education, ſuch obſervations cannot be miſplaced, eſpecially as the ſupporters of theſe eſtabliſhments, degenerated into puerilities, affect to be the champions of religion.—Religion, pure ſource of comfort in this vale of tears! how has thy clear ſtream been muddied by the dabblers, who have preſumptuouſly endeavoured to confine in one narrow channel, the living waters that ever flow towards God—the ſublime ocean of exiſtence! What would life be without that peace which the love of God, when built on humanity, alone can impart? Every earthly affection turns back, at intervals, to prey upon the heart that feeds it; and the pureſt effuſions of benevolence, often rudely damped by man, muſt mount as a free-will offering to Him who gave them birth, whoſe bright image they faintly reflect.
In public ſchools, however, religion, confounded with irkſome ceremonies and unreaſonable reſtraints, aſſumes the moſt ungracious aſpect: not the ſober auſtere one that commands reſpect whilſt it inſpires fear; but a ludicrous caſt, that ſerves to point a pun. For, in fact, moſt of the good ſtories and ſmart things which enliven the ſpirits that have been concentrated at whiſt, are manufactured out of the incidents to which the very men labour to give a droll turn who countenance the abuſe to live on the ſpoil.
