considerable merit from the publication of all important papers, domestic and foreign; and it is lamented by all your friends that these historical records have lately disappeared from your pages to make room for a discussion on the Learned Languages, hot at all connected with the purposes of a Political Register.-Eut as you seem to have become sensible of this impropriety, 1 could wish 10 to Tecur to your former custom as on as possible, and to begin afresh by print this bill by congratulating me upon having thrown aside the discussion relative to the Learned Languages. He will find that I have not. In this number I have inserted all the letters which remain upon that subject, except one or two which contained nothing but mere repetitions of what had been advanced in former letters. I shall now, when I have read all over, give my reasons in support of my propositions; and when I have so done, my correspondent will find, that the subject, which I did enter upon lying Loid Howick's bill, about which so accident, is much more of a political than of a literary nature.- -His objection to the Catholic Bill, upon the score of discipline in the army and navy, might be very solid without at all affecting my position, that it would not have been dangerous to the church; though I cannot help thinking, that he has recourse to a very fertile imagination in supposing, that Popish Priests would get on board our ships in the character of common sailors, especially when he considers, that, for not reefing hardily, they would be liable to receive a couple of dozen at the gangway, without any other ceremony than that of a verbal order of the captain to tie them up and give them the lashes! Popish priests, as well as Protestant priests, he may be assured, lore their carcasses better than this. Their Kalendar is full of Saints; and, if it were not, they would, I am convinced, feel. little inclination to seek canonization through the means of maritime martyrdom.--The close of his letter is, I am sorry to say it, an open apology for deception, and for a total disregard of that constitution, by which it is professed to govern us, and, what is more, for the preservation of which we are called upon to spend our last shilling and to shed the last drop of our blood. It is, however, manly to speak out, as this correspondent has done; but, the fac is, that to attempt disguise any longer is useless. PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES. The Eighth Volume of the PARLIAMENTAKY DEBATES, comprising the period from the commencement of the last session, December 15, 1806, to March 4, 1807, will be published on Saturday next. The Second Volume of the PARLIAMENTARY HISTORY OF ENGLAND (comprising the period from the Accession of Charles I. in 1625, to the Battle of Edge-hill in October, 1642), will be ready for delivery on Sa turday the 4th of July. CATHOLIC BILL. SIR;You doubtless remember that you have occasionally assumed to yourself much discussion has naturally appeared in your Register, as being a question agitated among the public at large. As you are indi-putably a person of much experience and sagacity in political considerations, I confess that I have been led to conclude that you yourself have not given much attention to the latter part of this famous bill, that being in fact the part most objectionable, and which in all probability was fatal to its progress through parliament.-In your letter to Mr. Perceval (p. 993) you state, That the bill proposed 1. "To render it lawful for "the King to grant, if he pleased, commis"sions to English and Irish catholics, "through the whole of the several ranks "of the army and ravy; and 2. to insure, by "law, the free exercise of his worship, to "" every roman catholic soldier and sailor.". -The first part of the bill, I think with you, was not objectionable. Indeed in so far as it went to extend the Irish law, of 793, to the whole United Kingdom, it was not objected to by the King, nor by any other person whatever; and the extension of that law to the higher and confidential situations in the army and, navy, was not very important, as is indeed abundantly manifest from the contempt in which the Irish catholics appear to have held the intended boon. Perhaps they thought it rather aimed at the promotion of some of the catholic connections of the Grenville family, than their benefit; for in the common course of promotion unaided by powerful influence, it was, if at all a benefit, only so to a few of the junior part of the present generation. The second part of the bill -you seem to consider as equally unimportant in its proposed effect; seeing" that (p. 9c3) exercise of it must needs be unobstrusive, aud when not purely religious, at least not mischievous; in the second case, the open exercise of that religion, would become a symbol of distinction, tending to facilitate mutiny. As the effect of this part of the proposed law threatened the navy more nearly than the army, let us suppose a certain proportion (a third for instance) of a ship's crew, to be roman catholics. At present you say, They are, and long have been freed from all restraint as to the exercise "of their worship."-This freedom from restraint however extends no farther than to the private exercise of their worship, nor could it be further extended without introducing in some shape a catholic priest, whose flock would of course be much more obedient to him than to their heretick officers. Under the operation of the intended law, a priest would most probably at first be introduced in the character of a common sailor, and as his condescension in this would make him them ore popular and more dangerous among the crew, it would soon be found necessary to recognize the office, and, to carry two chaplains,one protestant the other catholic, sharing the emoluments of the situation according to the respective number of their flocks. In the natural ambition to increase his own importance on board, the Roman Catholic chaplain would of course raise many discussions with the commanding officer, upon the obvious question of what are and what are not "proper and seasonable times" for attending divine worship, consistent with the Roman Catholic persuasion or opinions. The difference of opinion between the captain and Roman Catholic chaplain would form all the Roman Catholics in the ship into a consistent party; if, indeed, the usual popular assiduity of the Roman Catholic priesthood had not already done so; and it is not difficult to foresee that the numerous class of common sailors, who are but too indifferent to all religion, would naturally range themselves in the same party, as autho rizing them in a legal opposition to their officers.I shall not further pursue this subject, It is manifest, that either the commanding officer must by undue compliances flatter the Roman Catholic chaplain into cooperation with himself, or venture the dangerous disaffection of the crew by opposing him in other words, that there would be two commanding officers in each ship: one armed with the admiralty commission, the other with the popular favour of the crew. How long could subordination be maintained under such circumstances? Or rather, how many of our ships would be steered into the enemy's harbours in a twelvemonth ?—In the army the mischief is not so imminent, though the heavy threat against any officer acting in violation of this law, would very much diminish the prompt authority so essential in the army; wherein, under this law, officers might be threatened, and actually brougnt before a court-martial, by their soldiers, on every pretence of having prevented their attendance at a divine worship consistent with their rcligious opinions. I cannot conclude my letter without noticing to you some unfair arguments and statements which have been used by the favorers of lord Howick's bill. 1. I considerit unfair to argue from any analogy between the Irish Catholics and any other Catholics. The Irish peasantry who contribute to fill the ranks of our army and navy are Catholics; but they are also (not by their own fault, indeed,) less civilized than any other people in Europe. I need not remind you of the Dutch adage quoted by DeWit, that in po"litics as at billiards, the ball must be struck, "not from the best place, but from where "it lies." It would indeed be happy for themselves and us, if the Irish peasantry were already civilized, but as they are not, can they be treated with the same confidence as if they were so ? Civilization is a work of centuries, and I think we see no probability of its advancement by the government of Ireland, which experience shews is too unstable for any good purpose, even if administered by the most capable and patriotic minds. 2. It is also unfair to speculate on any voluntary enlistment of Irish Catholics as consequent from this bill. They enlist in greater proportion than the English already, and without making any inquiries about the exercise of their religion, from this plain motive, that a man who lives in a wretched hut, clothed in rags, and on no better food than potatoes and buttermilk, justly deems the pay and accommodations of the soldier or sailor as an improvement of his condition, while the Englishman feels the contrary. On this ground I do not think that lord Howick's bill would have raised a single recruit. 3. I think it unfair, or at least incautious, in those who now blame what they all the yell of "no popery," not to adduce facts in proof that such a cry has been prevalent. I do not mean that the present administration or any other would not use any cry by which they might bope to influence elections of members of parliament, on which eleetions depends their continuance in office. The nature of things requires this: under whatever stigma of theoretical impropriety, they MUST succeed in procuring a majority in parliament, and so powerful an auxiliary as a popular cry cannot be neglected in this urgency. But where have the present administration succeeded in raising this cry ? At Northampton, at Ipswich, and perhaps at Shields: I am ignorant of any other instances of their success, and should be glad of more extensive information; till which I shall suspect that the cry," that there is "such a general cry," is as unfounded as such a general cry itself could be. Indeed, you have complimented the people of England for not having been misled by a few addresses, which, with becoming prudence, waited till a change of administration was accomplished.I depend on your singular candour for insertion of this letter, which in so many particulars is adverse to your own opinions.-M. P.-8th June, 1807. "" LEARNED LANGUAGES." No. 25. SIR, As you have invited all who wish to try their skill on the subject, to discuss with you the question of the utility of classical learning, by which expression is commonly understood, however improperly, a knowledge of the languages of Greece and Rome, I take the liberty of sending you a few observations. The question, I think, divides itself into two parts: 1st, whether a knowledge of the dead languages be necessary, in our time, to the formation of a correct taste in composition, and to a relish of all that is great and exquisite in the productions of mind? And, 2dly, whether according to our existing institutions, it is necessary to those who aspire to eminence in any of the three liberal professions? As to the first question, I think, that although a knowledge of the learned languages, is not without its use, it is by no means NECESSARY; and, therefore, I conclude that it is not worthy the sacrifice of twelve.or fourteen years in its acquisition. At the period of the revival of literature, this knowledge was NECESSARY for the purpose of forming a taste, and finishing an elegant mind; but we have now obtained models of every spe cies of literary excellence even in our own language, models I will venture to say, equal to the best productions of the best times of Greece and Rome. In sublimity of conception, in variety and richness of fancy and feeling, and in strength and elegance of diction, Milton, in the opinion of the best judges is not inferior to Homer; and, although Homer be the father of poetry, it is not uncommon to find a son superior to his father. In all the higher powers of poetical excellence, Spencer is superior to Virgil; but, perhaps, there is a polish and art in the Roman poet, which the English one has not attained. It must be obvious to every mind formed to feel the highest elevation of a muse of fire, that none of the Greek tragedians is to be compared to Shakespeare, perhaps we have other tragedians equal to any of the Grecian school, not for their elegauce and art; but, sertainly, for all that constitutes real poetry. Fletcher and his great contemporary will not sink in this comparison. In the inferior orders of poetry, in which I class whatever possesses not the highest power of the imagination, Pope, Collins, Gray, and the author of the Castle of Indolence, will bear a comparison with the best productions of the Roman muse. In eloquence, nothing in Demosthenes is superior to some of the happiest flights of Lord Chatham; and Burke, for depth of philosophical observation, for legislative wisdom, for richness and variety of fancy, figure, and illustration, stands without a rival in all antiquity. Cicero, the English orator took for his model (at least such was the opinion of Fox expressed in a letter to me on the subject, after the death of his illustrious friend); but no one can hesitate on the character of Burke's eloquence being superior to that of the Roman consul. The speeches of Burke are not alone to be brought into this comparison, for his Reflections on the French Revolution, his Regicide Peace, his Letter to the Duke of Bedford, form specimens of eloquence, in all its rich variety of power. Cicero, indeed, wrote on all the topics of philosophy which were agitated in his time and country, with great address and eloquence; but he was but the retailer of other men's thoughts, he threw no new light on the speculative sciences, and both his speeches and writings are greatly deficient in extensive and original ideas. In comparing his speeches with those of Burke, another allowance should be made in favour of the English orator, for the speeches of the Roman which we have, appeared from his own hand, whilst few of Burke's enjoyed that advantage Our correct prose writers, leave us nothing in this respect to learn from the antients. The prose writings of Milton, of Swift, and Horne Tooke, invite the imitation of every writer. In history, Hume is equal to any of the historians of Greece and Rome, for profound and extensive philosophical observation; and Gibbon and Robertson, may fairly be classed with the least exceptionable of the Roman writers. Indeed, perhaps, the province of historical composition, is not sufficiently distinct from eloquence and general prose writing, to merit unsound opinion, that the higher orders of society should possess an extension and expansion of mind, a better way of think a separate analysis. I do not touch upon philosophical writings, as they tend rather to strengthen than to polish the mind; and, surely, in this respect, we are above antiqui-ing on all subjects and in all circum stances, than the lower orders. It is generally true, that neither time nor chance will alter the cast of an early disposition to virtue, virtue in its most unlimited sense, ty. Except the revivers of the metaphysics of Plato, few will question this fact. I think few who consider with attention what I have written, and come to it with a truly candid mind, will continue to affirm, that, (how-whether moral, religious, military, or civil; it is proverbially true, that evil communications corrupt good manners. In opposition, therefore, to your sentiment, that "the time given to the learned languages is lost," I conclude, that it keeps those together who are to fill the several posts of the higher orders of society, and that it keeps them separate from those of the lower orders; that it so tends to preserve the best distinctions of high and low, and that it is therefore a positive and important good.-W. B. 66 LEARNED LANGUAGES." ever useful a knowledge of the dead languages may be), it is absolutely NECESSARY to the formation of a truly elegant and cultivated taste. In approaching the second part of the question, whether such knowledge be NECESSARY, to those who aspire to eminence in the liberal professions, I fear I shall be obliged greatly to differ from what I conceive to be your opinion. The records of our religion are in the learned languages; most of the old medical writers use those lan. guages; and the law is often, in its maxims, and sometimes even old conveyances are, in the Latin language. No instance of an eminent divine or physician can be given, who was ignorant of the learned languages; and, I believe, but few lawyers of eminence have been wholly without them. Wallace, who was Attorney General, and a very profound lawyer, is perhaps the most remarkable instance which can be given of eminence in the legal profession, without classical knowledge. Two or three lawyers at present get money enough, without classical learning; but have no great reputation as being profound in their profession. For the professions of divinity and physic, I think classical literature NECESSARY; and for the profession of the law, some Latin seems almost indispensible. I hope the discussion you have provoked will be continued, until this great question be determined, and permit me to say, it is one of as great importance as ever was entered upon the pages of your most valuable Register.-CANDIDUS.-Feb. 25.derstood, requiring much time and atten 66 LEARNED LANGUAGES." SIR-I mean, omitting the consideration of all other advantages of the Learned Languages, to confine myself to one which none of your correspondents seem hitherto to have thought of. We have divine authority for preserving the different gradations in society; high and low, rich and poor, are of God's holy appointment, and are therefore not to be levelled. In the University it used to be held that, not comparative merit alone, but a different kind of knowledge was requisite to entitle a person to the respective ranks of honours conferred at the taking of the bachelor's degree; and it is surely no very SIR-Having in your Register of the 14th inst. reduced your former vague and desultory attack upon classical learning, into two distinct propositions, I will venture to enter the list with you on a topic in which you have hitherto displayed more confidence than knowledge, more valour than discretion, and more zeal than prudence. To your first proposition, viz. that the Greek and Latin languages are improperly called learned languages, I will reply by stating the distinction between learning and wisdom; learning is that which we acquire only by being taught, wisdom is either the gift of God, or the fruit of our own expe rience; in this sense then, every art, science or mystery, which, being reduced to a system of rules, requires to be taught, is a branch of learning. The languages of Greece and Rome, being difficult to be un tion, they who have taken the pains to learn them, or profess to teach them to others, are by long custom and the common consent of mankind called learned, and it would be hard to deprive them of a title which they have so long enjoyed undisturbed, though I will not deny that any man may be called learned in that particular branch of knowledge which he has taken the trouble to acquire. The term learned languages seems therefore exclusively to be applied to those of Greece and Rome, because they require much study to be learnt. To overturn your second proposi tion seems to me not to require much depth of argument, and I should wonder that a man of your penetration and judg ment should have hazarded so weak an affirmation, did I not take it for certain, that your enmity to the dead languages arises from your envy of those who understand them, and an unwillingness to allow any merit to what you yourself do not possess, or highly estimate. I suppose you do not mean to affirm that the writers of Greece and Rome, their poets, orators, historians, metaphysicians and moralists, contain nothing worthy of being known or studied, for if you do you will stand alone in opposition to all the greatest men who have lived since the revival of learning; a situation in which, with all your boldness and talents, I should think you would not choose to place yourself. If then you will allow that much valuable knowledge is to be derived from the study of the Greek and Roman writers to all those professions which you have enumerated, I must inquire whether possessing a knowledge of these writers in their original languages, you prefer that method of understanding their realities, to the muddy medium of translation. If you confess that you have no knowledge of these languages, then I must deny your authority to be competent to decide the dispute. Perhaps you will say, that there is no beauty in languages, that one is just as good as another, and deserves to be considered merely as the vehicle of knowledge. Though by no means a friend to the mere study of language, and despising most heartily those men who spend their time in verbal criticism and learned trifling, yet I am not, I trust, insensible to the beauties of language, nor even to the use of it; for as language is the vehicle of ideas, to understand the ideas of any person thoroughly, we must understand the language in which they are conveyed, or we stand a chance to lose much of his meaning; and even to understand our own language, we must be acquainted with those from which so much of it is borrowed, or else we shall be in danger of repeating words by rote, like children or parrots, and very often lose half the meaning and force of a term for want of knowing whence it is derived. Having thus attempted to prove that the matter contained in the Greek and Roman Classics deserves to be studied by those who wish to store their minds with a knowledge of past events or with the bright ideas of men long celebrated for their talents, and that these can only be thoroughly understood by understanding the languages in which they are conveyed; and having also attempted to prove that the languages themselves contain much beauty and utility, I trust you will bə prevailed on to moderate a little that tone of confident affirmation which on many other subjects leads you into error, and lessens the value of your opinion in many cases where it might be of infinite service. With all my admiration of your talents, and with all my desire to believe in your integrity, I am not blind to your faults; and if I should have any share in diminishing them, I shall think I have served the public in extending the sphere of your utility.-W. BURDON.Hartford, near Morpeth, Feb. 17, 1807. LEARNED LANGUAGES." SIR, Having replied rather too briefly in my former letter, to the confident and dangerous assertion contained in your second position, permit me to resume the subject of classical learning, and endeavour to shew more fully its supereminent advantages in all the different professions in which you have, with unpardonable audacity, declared it to be "worse than useless." The greatest statesmen of modern times, you will probably not deny, if you are at all acquainted with their lives, have formed their minds by the study of ancient history, and ancient morality; and where shall we look for such bright examples of virtue and talents, as in the far famed republics of Greece and Rome, and yet according to your advice, the wisdom of Pericles, the virtue of Aristides, and the patriotism of Leonidas, are all to be despised, and their examp es lost to future ages, because the recital of their actions is contained in a language difficult to be understood; yet, tell me what great character was ever formed without encountering difficulties of various sorts; and where is the wisdom of giving up any branch of knowledge, because it is acquired with difficulty. The mind of man does not proceed from its Maker, like Minerva from the head of Jupiter, finished and complete. Its formation is the work of time, study and experience, it. must be nourished and fed with the milk of knowledge, before it can be said to have arrived at its full growth; and the statesman who should venture to undertake any share in the government of a nation, without having first stored his mind with the precepts of aucient wisdom, and a knowledge of the great events and characters which in former empires contributed to their advancement or decline, would be considered by all sensible Supplement to No. 24, Vol. XI.-Price 10d. |