1818.] On Education, in Reply to Philacribos. "That raven on yon left-hand oak, SLATE QUARRIES. "And if some day, of happier date, "Pan dorrbe y deri A throi 'i cerrig yn vara. "Yn agos i'v Wyddva." The two first lines were fully accomplished in the denudation of the country by Edw. I. and the fulfilling of the two last, seems to have been reserved for Lord Penrhyn, who, by opening and working the slate quarries, and the spirit which his exemplary and successful exertions have excited, bids fair to convert, in the language of Merddyn, "the rocks of Eryri into bread;" and Evan Gethin would, doubtless, now be surprised to see the humble though useful ability of Evan Dowr, so much and so extensively improved upon; and it was, perhaps, far beyond even the prophetic powers of Merddyn, to foresee, that after an inverval of 14 centuries, the rocks of his country would, by an union of ability and perseverance in that public spirited and lamented nobleman, be converted into an elegant and durable covering, not for the dwelling of medioerity only, but for the palaces of princes; and this also in Transatlantic regions, a world of which Europeans, for many ages after that of Merddyn, and for some years after those of Evan Gethin, had no idea, unless indeed we except the impression made in Wales by the return of Madog ap Owen Gwynedd, in the reign of his Brother David, prince Jeuan Gethan ap Jeuan Lleiwion, a poet of the 15th century. 211 of North Wales, from à voya THE HIRLAS-THE WASSAIL CUP. The mead horns of ancient Cambrian hospitality were called the Hirlas.-A beautiful specimen of the ancient Hirlas, was preserved at the late Lord Penrhyn's seat in Carnarvonshire. Fill with mead the Hirlas high, Moes gusan by chaw dibechod, digriv Medrusaidd medrw osod, Er mwyn Duw ar vy min dod! TRANSLATION. Give me the playful, harmless kiss, ANCIENT INSTRUMENT OF MUSIC. The Welsh shepherd, in some districts, still retains his pib-gorn, or pastoral pipe. His dress was formerly remarkable; a crook, covered with characters intelligible only to himself, a conic cap made of rushes, and a loose jacket. These, with Ria ro, or cry, were necessary to the completion of the character of the Cambrian shepherd. ANCIENT NAME OF BRITAIN. called Trioedd ynys Brydain, Triades In the ancient and curious documents named Clas Merddyn, the Green Isle, of the Isle of Britain-this Island is after the arrival of Hy Gadarn, or Hesus the Potent, the first settler Y vel ynys, the Honey Island; but afterwards Prydain, of which Britain is the echo, the fair or beautiful Isle. In the British Tales called Mabinogi, the poetical denomination of Ynys y Cedeira Isle of the mighty- is given it. CAER. 212 On Education, in Reply to Philacribos. of your correspondent, Philacribos, as the greater part of his objections arise from placing a wrong construction on the passage he has selected to make remarks upon. In the first place the whole passage refers to learning, or knowledge, and not to religious opinions, to which there is not the most distant reference. Hence there was not any impropriety in class ing the systems together, as there does not appear to be many shades of difference between the methods of teaching, whether the school be national or dissenting and as to the inventor of the new system, though I would wish the real inventor to have the merit, yet it does not appear necessary to enter upon the inquiry at present, and all I shall say at present on it is, that Philacribos, is too much of a partizan, to suffer me to subscribe to his opinion without further inquiry. I wish, however, that Philacribos would understand distinctly, that I consider the national schools preferable to the others, in many respects, and that as far as religious instruction goes they are decidedly preferable. Now, having restricted the question to knowledge and moral habits, I will endeavour to give my reasons for the assertions have advanced. Education is generally admitted to be one of the most powerful instruments that can be employed in improving the condition and morals of men; of leading them to know and practise the duties of religion; and ultimately of increasing the happiness of mankind. This, however, must depend much on the manner in which it is conducted-but it is evident that it ought not only to lead to the objects above stated, but also to be adapted to each individual's station in society; and the plan of education which is not regulated by these considerations is essentially defective. The term education, must however be taken in a more limited sense when it is applied to that given at schools, as it is the example of their parents, the principles instilled at home, that form the characters of children; the best parents teaching their children habits of honesty, sobriety, and industry, the worst making their's adepts in every species of vice and irregularity; the various shades between constituting the bulk of society. The new system will apply only to the common arts of reading and writing, and a slight knowledge • New Monthly Magazine, vol. X. p. 24. [Oct. 1, of arithmetic, and therefore the system is to be considered levelling, in as far as it reduces the instruction at schools, to those arts. Now, however respectable or capable a village schoolmaster may be, he can have no chance to contend with a school which gives instruction gratis→→→ consequently the children of the respectable part of the inhabitants must either be sent at a considerable expense to a distant school, or be content with the same education which is given to the meanest. All appear desirous of extending the benefits of the arts of reading and writing to every individual, but few have considered the propriety of such a measure, especially when conducted in the hasty and irregular manner at present adopted; as it appears very questionable, whether it will debase or improve the morals of the rising generation-at any rate it will increase the number of newspapers, ballad singers, and circulating libraries, and will enable the girls to read novels, and ballads, and to write love letters; the young men to dabble in religious controversy and politics, to read the weekly philippics of a Cobbet, or Hunt, &c. and to imbibe the delusive principles of pretended reformers, to say nothing of the inducement to join others of similar opinions at the tap-room.Such are the most common applications of the arts of reading and writing among the lower classes. Another, and not the least defect of the system, is that of giving instruction gratis. To place it at a reasonable rate, or within the reach of those parents who choose to exert themselves to procure their children instruction would be a most charitable action, but to give it gratis is no charity at all. Instead of being made the reward of industry only, the idle meet with equal encouragement, and one of the greatest incitements to carefulness and frugality is removed. I do not consider it a charity to give food, raiment, or education, except the former in case of age, sickness, or immediate want; and the latter to orphans. As in other cases it always has the effect of destroying industry, by removing every spur to exertion, and it totally annihilates an independent pride that ought to be encouraged, and paves the way to begging and pauperism. Ifchildren were dependent on their parents for education, those under the constant influence of bad example would be shut out from its advantages, and consequently the school would be in some measure free from the danger of corruption; besides to give education to evil dis 1818.] On Education, in Reply to Philaeribos. posed children, is only to enable them to do more harm in their riper years. It is also to be remembered that one evil disposed boy will do more injury in a school than ten good ones will do good, because vice always supports itself by the ridicule of every thing that is good, and the powerful effect of ridicule on the human mind is too well known to need illustrations. That parents should be desirous of having their children educated, is very reasonable; so it is that they should have them supplied with food, and defended from the effect of the weather; -but would it be prudent to find food and raiment for every half starved child, because its parents had not the power to furnish it with sufficiency? Are not imprudent marriages sufficiently numerous at present, without removing one of the greatest bars against them? viz. that of being obliged to provide for their children. What is to check an overgrown population, if the fruits of every imprudent marriage be to be supported and educated by public charities? While the parish supports the children, and the national school educates them, need we wonder at the increase of paupers and pauperism? Whatever may be the apparent good in respect to the unfortunate children, it will, I am afraid, be attended with most serious consequences to society in general. By some 1 may be considered unjust in saying that the children should suffer for the imprudence of the parent, but it will be only by those inconsiderate people who "spare the rod and spoil the child." Whether we consult the principles of human laws, or the higher authority of religion, we find that the sins of the parents are to be visited upon the children; and whoever considers that virtuous parents are more solicitous about the welfare and safety of their children than their own, will be sensible that these laws were to prevent crimes, by an appeal to affections superior even to self-love, and consequently the most likely to produce the best effects; for the parent that would sacrifice his own children to his passions, what would he not be guilty of? Modern reformers may call this injustice; but who are they, or what have they done, that we should depart from the maxims of antiquity, and the commands of Religion, to gratify their pretended humanity? The indiscriminate censure which Philacribos has passed upon schoolmasters, I shall not reply to-there may be some 213 bad ones, but on the whole they seem equal to any other class of men in the same rank of life... And as to the introduction of the new system into small schools, Philacribos might as well advise the village blacksmith to adopt the division of labour, which is found to facilitate so much the progress of work in an extensive manufactory. It may, and I believe does answer very well, where children are taught in a wholesale way (if I may be allowed the expression) but it is in a great measure inapplicable to a small school. The common schools might be very much improved, by teaching in them such knowledge as would fit children for the station in life which they are intended to fill; but mere reading and writing are of little use without some additional knowledge. A knowledge of the nature and mode of keeping accounts is useful to almost all; that of practical geometry and mensuration is necessary to the carpenter, bricklayer, mason; the rudiments of mechanics to the mill-wright and machine maker; chemistry, to the dyer, bleacher, &c.; and it would tend materially to the improvement of these arts, if men could be grounded in their first principles; and this may be done without making a mill-wright a mathematician, or a dyer a chemical philosopher. How much might landed proprietors improve the manners, and the arts and trades in the villages, on their estates, by giving encouragement to the progress of this kind of knowledge! In the metropolis the diffusion of this kind of knowledge is already considerable. In proportion as men increase in useful knowledge they respect themselves, and are respected by others, and example will encourage the lower classes to imitate them. I wish much to see the knowledge that has been accumulated by men of science diffused for the general good of society, and that it should be rendered as easy of access as possible to the industrious and the prudent, and that with as little appearance of gratuitous instruction as possible. I would wish to see the farmer capable of consulting the works of a Davy, and a mechanic those of a Gregory or a Hutton, &c. and that general knowledge should be encouraged, instead of the foible of a day, which is evidently followed by dissenters, for the purpose of propagating their own modes of worship. As if the love of novelty, which leads men 214 Calumny in the Old Monthly Magazine. to listen to the ravings of ignorance, and to adopt new forms of worship that differ not essentially from the old, and that leads women to forget their duties as mothers, was not sufficient for their purpose. It may be said, if you teach a child to read, you give him access to all kinds of knowledge, as the world is full of books; but though we have abundance of books, how few are there that can be of use to the great mass of mankind? for it is not reading, but a man's own judgment that makes him wise. A sound judgment is not readily formed, hence hasty and imperfect modes of education may make children prate like parrots, about things they do not understand, and by encouraging them to break through the restraints which custom and reverence for their superiors had imposed on their parents; and leaving them without any sound principles to regulate their conduct. Another defect of the new system is, that it always gives the palm to boys of a peculiar talent, leaving those who, though they have not the same, yet may have talents of a superior kind, in the back ground. A ready or kind of artificial memory will be placed before sound judgment and slow mental powers, however great they may be, will meet with little to encourage them; and a boy taught by the new system will,in consequence of its peculiarities, always have more apparent than real information. There is yet another defect which I have to notice, and that is the introduction of the Bible as a common school book; this I consider to be very improper, as there are many parts of the Bible unfit for children to read. Besides, the very nature of the book renders it unsuitable for a school-book-I need not quote the authority of a Tillotson or a Watts on this subject, as it must be evident to any one who gives himself a moment to reflect on the matter. Surely a summary of the principles of Christianity could be drawn up for the use of schools, which would render it quite unnecessary to use the Bible where any other book would do. But, if the Bible be improper in the hands of children, it is still more so in those of people of weak judgment, and of little education. London, Aug. 17th, 1818. [Oct. 1, on the side of infidelity, that he conducted the controversy as though he had a personal quarrel with religion; and there are some men of such a ma lignant spirit, that when an occasion offers to shew their spite, neither respect for truth, nor the dread of shame can restrain them within the bounds of common prudence. Of this a notable instance occurs in the last Number of the Old Monthly Magazine, where the momentary violence of an electioneering mob is thus related: "One of the most remarkable incidents was the resentment of the Dublin populace against the EQUIVOCATING GRATTAN, for his inflammatory Speech in 1815, exciting the combined despots to disregard the independence of France. He narrowly escaped being torn in pieces, and was saved only by the generous eloquence of Mr. Charles Phillips!" The language of this abominable paragraph shews as plainly as words can express meaning, that had the rage of the populace proceeded to the last extremity, the unfeeling author would have recorded the catastrophe with the same phlegm, or rather satisfaction, as he did the assassination of the virtuous Perceval. In that case, he pitied the murderer, and congratulated the country on the fall of the minister. In the present he sets up a sort of justificatory plea for the Irish rabble, vents the foulest calumny upon the aged patriot, and with equal regard to decency, bestows a ridiculous and undeserved compliment upon an orator, for interposing his eloquence, not spontaneously but at the request of others, in an effort to quell the maddened passions of an infuriated populace. The truth, however, is, that the mob did not attack their ancient favorite out of resentment for any speech made by him against the object of the recreant knight's idolatry. This is a mere fabrication, the coinage of a brain continually throwing up the spumous filth of a foul imagination, and directing the stink pot of its malice at every name that stands high in the public estimation, for talents and integrity. The fit of spleen, excited for a moment amidst the uproar of an election when misrule stood for the order of the day, arose from mere local circumstances, in which foreign politics had not the smallest concern. How far Mr. Charles Phillips merited the encomium which he has received for his "generosity," in speaking a word IT was said of a celebrated writer to allay the tumult of the misguided D-t. CALUMNY IN THE OLD MONTHLY MAGAZINE. MR. EDITOR, 1818.J On the Institution of King Arthur's Round Table. multitude, I shall not stoop to enquire; but it is evident enough that had his name sake been placed in the same situa tion he would have acted in a very different manner. It is disagreeable to rake in the common sewer of ribaldry and disloyalty; but having pointed out the detestable malignity of this wholesale calumniator, towards one of my countrymen, I cannot forbear extracting another specimen of his virulence, that they who have any spark of feeling for the honour of their native land may be ashamed of countenancing a magazine of mischief, in which patriotism and morality are insulted, and characters of the first eminence openly aspersed. In the description of the late exhibition at Somerset House, this venomous slanderer, thus notices the portrait of the illustrious Welling ton. "Sir Thomas Lawrence has eight pictures, and some of them are unques tionably the best in the Collection; that of Lady Gower is a master piece; that of the Convention Breaker is deservedly admired as a painting;-but it is deeply regretted by every moralist, that so much talent should have been misemployed on so unworthy a subject !" There was a period, when the writer of so scurrilous a paragraph would have met with the judgment of the law; but at present such is the freedom of the press, that any lying scoundrel may lampoon his betters with impunity, and set public authority at defiance by his im pudence. Aug. 8, 1818. HIBERNICUS. BWRDD ARTHUR, OR THE INSTITUTION OF KING (A Fragment from the original British.) THE following translation contains so many poetic beauties, that I am strongly induced to offer it you, in the hope of its being thought worthy a place in your Magazine. It is from one of the earliest Welsh bards, and although anonymous, is, I believe, the production in a Saxon dress of W. LLWYD, author of "Beau maris Bay." I am doubtful of its receiving the approbation of Mr. Hazlitt, or his worthy co-adjutor in jingling jacobinical rhyme, Mr. Leigh Hunt: but of this I am pretty certain, that it has as strong claims to the new classification of poétic symptoms," as "Walton's Com plete Angler," which, in page 194, of Mr. Hazlitt's lectures, he sagaciously in 215 forms us, is "the best pastoral [poem!] in the language!" But this" Lecturer" ranks "Homer, the Bible, Danté, and Ossian," as "four of the principal works of poetry in the world," and as " Bwrdd Arthur" may be termed, in his affected way, somewhat Ossian-ic, he may perhaps look upon it with a favourable eye. By the way, let me "propound" hint or two: could you induce Messrs. Hunt and Hazlitt to make a tour of this part of the country; Hunt may sing and Hazlitt recite-and the thing would take, as they would infinitely please us Cam brians with their cockneyisms and “drabcoloured" poetry. Pray suggest this. Again. I wish you could "stir up" another Jedediah Cleishbottom in this quarter, as well qualified for his task as the original. We abound in border tra dition; and although we have no Moss troopers,we could accommodate him with as great a variety of martial incident as the "Tales of My Landlord" afford. I assure you we have some good stories, of high historic interest; and I should rejoice to see them embodied in a brace of duodecimos. CAMBRO-BRITANNICUS. Caerlleon, August 8. Spread be my board, round as the hoop* of the firmanent, and as ample as my heart, that there may be no first or last, for odious is distinction where merit is equal. Who is he with his spear yet dripping with gore? It is Meuric,t the Eagle of Dyved, the terror of the Saxons: he gave a banquet to the wolves at Cevyn Kiraeth. Woe be to him who meets him in his wrath. I have heard his shout!-'twas the sound of death! His guards of Cernaes exulted. Like lightning flashed The word, in the original, signifies also the horizon: a sublime figure for the Round Table. + Meurig was a Regulus of Dyved, the present county of Pembroke, and said to he one of the four who bore golden swords be fore Arthur at his coronation feast: several of the gentry in this district trace their descent from him. The mountain of longing, or desire, literally; but here Hiraeth, as desiderium sometimes in Latin, implies grief: a great number of hillocks (traditionally said to be the graves of the slain) cover the surface. In this part of Pembrokeshire was said to be Arthur's palace of Llan hyfer. |
