But, "There have been young men too bookish for a warehouse"-It is granted. But it is probable, they never had a proper turn of mind for business. Their parts were wrong caft. They should have been brought up to fome liberal profeffion, more agreeable to their genius. They were probably obliged to enter upon a line of life not correspondent to their ruling passion. No wonder, they did not fucceed!

The object to be aimed at is, To give a boy, in these intermediate years, to which alone our plan extends, that degree of knowledge and of talte, which may make him more than the MERE MAN OF BUSINESS in future life. The point to be avoided is, The giving him views, habits, and tafte, which may be UNSUITABLE FOR A MAN OF BUSINESS, and which he would have to unlearn again, when he came to fettle down to the regular routine of a warehouse.

How far it would be poffible to gain this advantage, and to avoid this difadvantage, is a point of the utmost concern to determine. Might not a boy, for fome years after he has been introduced into business, have fome intervals allowed him, which might be fufficient for the cultivation of his mind? Is it neceffary that, the moment he enters a warehouse, he should lay down this maxim-"I muft now give every moment to trade-I must have but ONE

object

object-I must give up books, knowledge-and every thought but ONE, that of getting money?"

And even admitting, that there were fome competition, fuch as is afferted, between literature and merchandize; if the plan we are recommending fhould in any degree interfere with an unremitting and exceffive attachment to bufinefs

is it neceffary that business fhall be followed upon this flavish and degrading plan, to the exclufion of every idea, but that of gain? Might not fomething be abated of this overplodding diligence, and yet the mind, even granting fome diminution of fortune, be, upon the whole, an unfpeakable gainer?

It would certainly be a high honour, as well as an unspeakable advantage, to this rifing and opulent town, to have within itself an Inftitution which would proclaim its tafte, as well as its affluence. It would be a laudable ambition, to afpire after a literary, in addition to that mercantile reputation, by which it is already fo greatly diftinguished.

The SOCIETY to which I have now the honour of addreffing myself, has added no fmall degree of refpectability, in the eyes of our fellow. countrymen, and even of foreigners. They have feen, with pleasure, a fet of Gentlemen rise up, in the midst of a place devoted to commerce, as the friends of LITERARY and PHILOSOPHIC excellence. An inftitution, fuch as I am now recommending, would ftrengthen that favourable impreffion,

impreffion, by declaring to the world, that increafing wealth is accompanied with its rare, but honourable attendant, increafing wifdom-and, that thofe, whofe fagacity and industry have been able to extend the manufactures, are equally defirous of extending the best improvement and embellishment, of their country. It would contradict the disgraceful idea, that a spirit of merchandize is incompatible with liberal fentiment, and that it only tends to contract and vulgarise the mind.

But, Gentlemen, in order to the fuccefs of this plan, it is neceffary, that it come before the public UNDER YOUR PATRONAGE AND PROTECTION. -That these imperfect outlines be improved and filled up by your matureft deliberations-That different Gentlemen fhall engage in different departments-And that the scheme be profecuted with vigour, with harmony, and with perfeve

rance.

Under fuch a fanction, and with fuch advantages, it could not fail of success. Perhaps it might become, in the course of years, like a rill, fwelled in its progrefs by fucceffive tributary. ftreams, a noble torrent, and enrich, and adorn the country all around,

N. B. The Scheme bere recommended being approved, and patronifed by the SOCIETY, the following Paper was, at their defire, drawn up by the Rev. Dr. BARNES, and circulated, with the annexed teftimonial from the PRESIDENTS.

RESOLVED,

MANCHESTER, APRIL 23, 1783.

RESOLVED, at a Meeting of the LITERARY and PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY-That the following Paper, drawn up by a Member, at the Request of the Society, be printed, and offered to the Confideration of the Public.

JAMES MASSEY,

THOMAS PERCIVAL,}

PRESIDENTS.

PROPOSALS for ESTABLISHING in MANCHESTER a PLAN of LIBERAL EDUCATION, for YOUNG MEN defigned for CIVIL and ACTIVE LIFE, whether in TRADE, or in any of the PROFESSIONS.

HERE is no fubject, except RELIGION, in which every perfon is more deeply interested, both as an individual, and as a member of fociety, than in EDUCATION. And it is to the honour of the prefent age, that it encourages, with diftinguished generofity, every well-planned. fcheme, the object of which is, to improve the fyftem of education, and to extend its beneficial influences.

enjoyed the advantages of early tuition, in a more eminent degree. Our public and private schools have justly obtained a very confiderable celebrity, both at home and abroad.

There is, however, in the opinion of many intelligent perfons, deeply interested in the fubject, fomething effential ftill wanting among us, to compleat the courfe of education, for active and commercial life. In their judgment, a period fubfifts, in the life of a young man defigned for trade, which it is not eafy to fill up in the moft advantageous manner. The want of a happy tranfition from a grammar school to bufiness, by fome mode of more general and manly inftruction, fuited to that intermediate ftage, has been fenfibly felt, as a defideratum of unfpeakable importance. At prefent, there is hardly any middle line of education, between that, of a school for the elements of language and accompts, and that, of a college-the latter of which feems better adapted for a profeffional man, than for one defigned for commerce, It is furely desirable, that he fhall now rife, from words to things, from language to fentiment. All that he has yet been doing, is only preparatory to real knowledge. Language, of itself, is but a scaffolding to fcience. And fhall the labour of fo many years be now loft and forgotten, as it too commonly is, when a young man leaves the school, and enters upon life? Or, fhall the gleanings of mixed

and