506 Rational System of Education. mixed mathematics sufficiently to comprehend the theories of Optics, Pneumatics, Hydrostatics, Hydraulics, and Astronomy, with advantage, he may be shewn their nature and application by a set of philosophical apparatus. As consequent to these, the sciences of Chemistry, Mineralogy, and Geology, follow in natural succession; after which Botany, and the Physiology of animals and vegetables may form the subject of the pupil's application, with that part of Chemistry which relates to their properties and composition. As a finish to this fabric of learning, historical facts, in the order of their succession, the subjects of legislation, and of the constitution of his country, are to be enumerated. In the course of these studies it is to be understood that some portion of the day is still to be set apart for the study of the best English authors, that the command of expression be continually inculcated, and the taste confirmed beyond the possibility of adulteration. The youth, now fifteen years of age, and with the advantage of such an education, may, it is to be believed, enter on any walk of life with certainty and honour, and with views very much enlarged to those of him, whose first and best years were spent chiefly in mastering the Greek and Latin Classics. MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS. In teaching the Greek and Latin languages, it would be part of my plan to use a grammar composed in English. By the present mode of enforcing the acquisition of these tongues, from Latin rules, involved in construction, and difficult of comprehension, it seems as if a waste of the pupil's time, rather than his improvement, were aimed at. By this method, I suppose that one year, at least, must be allowed him to understand each grammar thoroughly. Whereas, by putting into his hands some sensible treatise, containing the principles of the language he is to learn, detailed in a form short and perspicuous, three months at the very utmost would answer precisely the same end. By the mode, however, generally adopted, one might be led to suppose that it is the language of its authors solely, not their intellectual beauties, that are in request, as if all men had either the taste to be, or were intended for, philologists. Though, in my plan, the style [June, of an ancient author would not be neglected, yet I should spend neither time in its imitation, nor in a consideration of its minute excellencies, but should grasp at the beauties of thought, at the sources of information which it conveyed; with the bee for a model, I should recommend attacking the citadel of sweets at once, rather than in imitation of the inglorious caterpillar, suffer those to evaporate and glut upon the leaves. Were the question asked me, whether Drawing and Music should be taught to the youth entrusted to my superintendance, I should be inclined to withhold my permission. Like many other innocent and ornamental accomplishments, these may form a branch of female education, as well adapted to engage the attention at a leisure hour, and which may or may not be called into notice in after life, as circumstances may admit. It must be allowed, however, that it is in very elevated situations indeed, where the mother of a family has the leisure to cultivate these, as well as many other pursuits, to which in youth she had directed her attention. Their neglect, nor the time spent in their acquisition, With in her case, is no certain loss. the boy, the case is widely different. There ought not to be a moment of the of his instruction devoted to years any branch of study that leads not to the accomplishment of some useful purpose. With the greatest justice it may be asked, what end is the acquisition of imitating a landscape, delineating a face, of performing a duett of Pleyel, to answer, in a youth destined for the counting-house, for the pursuit of the law, or for that of any of the learned professions? In such situations, the display of even a superior skill in these arts (which can very seldom fall to the lot of him who has allotted but a desultory half hour to their practice) could turn to no advantageous account. On the contrary, it might be proved, without much logic, that these are acquirements which it will be found more advisable to forget than to retain, as their cultivation, after an entrance into active life, may be detrimental to the interests of their possessor, as tending to abstract his attention from more useful objects of study, which bear upon the great business of life, and which contribute to render him 1924.] Education.-Bp. Atterbury-Bath. him respectable among his associates, and useful in society. In these outlines of education, to which I have prefixed the name of rational, the reader may have observed that I have reckoned the study of the classical languages only as secondary to the main object, and rather as contributing to its acquisition than furnishing any thing worthy of attainment of themselves. To what, it may be asked, is neglect so striking, and bearing an opposition so dissonant from the common usage of mankind, owing? Is it that experience has been granted me which has been denied to the practice of successions of ages, or penetration superior to the rest of the species, or judgment more discerning, or taste more correct? To such inquiry I would, in replying, beg of my reader to do me the justice of sincerity, when I affirm that no part of my system, of which the above is an outline, has been proposed, but what has had the conviction of utility for its basis. And, although to complete an education, or to answer some professional purpose, the ancient languages may be learned, yet experience shows, if experience were required in proof of such an assertion, that they must not be learned either to profit or to astonish mankind. On this point I am borne out, by recurring to the discoveries in nature, and to the improvements in the conveniences of life, which in no one instance have been invented or achieved by any thing like deduction from the sources of ancient wisdom. I ask, if it was under the guidance of classic sagacity, that the polarity of the needle, the discovery of the Western world, the invention of the telescope, and the applications of steam, were conceived and adopted? Has it been in subservience to this, that in the recollection of the present generation, the glory of arms and of eloquence have blazed with unprecedented splendour, that the resources of man's happiness have been multiplied, that the secrets of the deep have been inspected, and that the heavens have been disarmed of their violence? In addition to the remarks that have been made, it is throughout to be presumed, that the ability of the instructor must in every case be adequate to the task which he undertakes; as 507 Ith the early poetical essays of T may be worth noticing, to show Swift and Atterbury were occasionally interchanged, that long after the "Impromptu," noticed in your last, p. 405, and which originally came through the hands of Mr. Morice, the Bishop's sonin-law, I received a second copy of it from another branch of the family, the Bishop's grandson, accompanied by the following short Letter. J. N. "DEAR SIR, Cork, Aug. 18, 1788. "SINCE my arrival at this place, I have discovered in a late Irish Magazine the enclosed сору of verses, with this title: The amiable and unfortunate Bishop Atterbury, the friend of Pope and Swift, being challenged by Doctor Garth to write extempore in praise of a goose-quill, produced in a few minutes the following beautiful lines.' I do not recollect to have seen these lines in your collection, nor can I say that I think they are the offspring of my grandfather. I leave every thing to your decision, so make what use you please of them, and believe me your most obliged humble servant, F. ATTERBURY. Mr. URBAN, Dorsetshire, May 14. IN Mr. Brewer's Introduction to the Beauties of England and Wales," I find (page 16) he has placed Bath (Aqua Solis) in the Celtic tribe, the "Hædui." That this town might have been in possession of the tribe at the period of the Roman invasion of Britain, I am not prepared to dispute; but that it was originally included in its limits, I have reason to doubt, as, from such observations as I have been enabled to make, I cannot help thinking that rivers and hills (especially when they chanced to unite) formed the primitive boundaries of our Celtic ancestors; and this I believe is the opinion 508 Bath, the Boundary of the Hædui and Dobuni. opinion of our best Antiquaries. Now, supposing the "Avon" to have been the Northern limit of the "Hædui," "Aquæ Solis" could not have been in possession of that tribe, it being situated on the opposite bank of the river; and that the river was the extreme limit of the "Hædui," the circumstances I am about to state appear greatly to favour. Chancing to be at Bath in the spring of 1823, I observed one day in my walks about the environs of that elegant city, evident traces of a considerable British town on the brow of a hill overlooking the city on its East side, and from which it is separated by the river. This promontory is called "Hampton Down," and is divided from that of Claverton by a "Celtic Vallum," on which a modern wall has been erected. This vallum, with its attendant fosse, forms apparently the only defence on that side (the South); and here, as being I imagine, the most secure, were placed the flocks and herds of the inhabitants, traces of their folds being very distinguishable, and covering a considerable space of the enclosure; these, as well as the stronger defences, appear to have been constructed with stone, of which the hill furnished an abundant supply, being in fact one entire rock of freestone, a circumstance which I regret to say may in time occasion the disappearance of every trace of this interesting station, quarries having been lately opened within it to some extent. The defences on all sides (the South excepted) are strong and numerous; those towards the river descending nearly to the road leading from Bath to the village of Hampton, which favours the supposition that this was the quarter from whence attack might be expected. On the West, which overlooks [June, Bath+, a plantation of fir-trees covers these ancient works. A few yards lower down, on the same side, are some fine springs of water, which must have rendered this station of great importance to the Celtæ. These springs are now secured, and supply the lower part of Bath. A hill to the East of this, and running in a parallel direction, has its promontory likewise towards the river, and apparently as well defended as the former. This hill I did not visit: but as it is situated nearer one of the fords of the river (Bath Ford), there is reason to suppose it was of equal consequence as a frontier station. Immediately facing the station on Hampton Down, on the opposite side of the river, is an insulated hill, having a circular castrametation on its summit; it is called Little_Salisbury," from its resemblance, I presume, to Old Sarum (Sorbiodunum). The relative situation of this last place favours the conjecture of its having served as a frontier town to the adjoining tribe, the "Dobuni.” I had not an opportunity to examine the country, either to the East or West of the places I have noticed; but the impression left on my mind by the survey then made was, that the hills which ran parallel to the Avon on its South side, formed the ancient ramparts of the Hædui, and the river, the boundary of their country. 66 Should these remarks excite the attention of any one of your Correspondents residing now at Bath, and possess ing taste and abilities for researches of this nature, he would be able to ascertain, by viewing the spots I have noticed, how far my conjectures are well founded, which if he would have the goodness to communicate through the medium of your entertaining Miscellany, he would oblige, Y. 1 This kind of vallum traversing a promontory I distinguish by the name Celtic, because I have reason to think, from observation, I have made, that it is the primitive, or (if I may be allowed the term) the Clan Vallum, where the Belgae have encroached on the country of the Celta, and fortified their newly-acquired territory; I have remarked the vallum of the former intersecting that of the latter, which I may have occasion at some future time to notice more particularly. + This plantation was made by the late Ralph Allen, esq. who also erected on the spot a wall, which has the appearance of a castle, a conspicuous object from Bath and the surrounding country. I have not yet met with any notice of the British station on Hampton Down in any History of Bath or its antiquities. Since my visit to this place, a stone coffin has been found very near it, containing human remains and coins of the lower empire; but, independent of these circumstances, there is nothing to induce the belief of its having been adopted as a station by the Romans; though perhaps a more practised eye than my own might detect the Castrametation of that people intermixed with the works of the Celtæ. ANCIENT |