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OR, A

PRACTICAL TREATISE

ON THE METHODS OF ACQUIRING

USEFUL AND POLITE LEARNING.

BY

VICESIMUS KNOX, M. A.

FORMERLY FELLOW OF ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, OXFORD,
AND NOW MASTER OF TUNBRIDGE-SCHOOL.

THE SEVENTH EDITION,

IN TWO VOLUME S.

VOL. I.

ΟΥ ΜΙΚΡΟΝ ΔΙΑΦΕΡΕΙ ΤΟ ΟΥΤΩΣ Η ΟΥΤΩΣ ΕΥΘΥΣ ΕΚ
ΝΕΩΝ ΕΘΙΖΕΣΘΑΙ, ΑΛΛΑ ΠΑΜΠΟΛΥ ΜΑΛΛΟΝ ΔΕ, ΤΟ ΠΑΝ,
ARISTOT.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR C. DILLY, IN THE POULTRY.
MDCCLXXXV.

LB

775 K74 1785 Y. I

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THE fulfome language of a flattering Dedication would be no less disagreeable to you to receive, than to me to offer. But I will not lofe an opportunity of publicly expreffing to you the honeft fentiments of an unfeigned refpect. There seems, indeed, a peculiar propriety in dedicating a Treatife on Education to those who have conftituted me, in a manner which increafes the obligation, the fuperintendant of an ancient and respectable feminary.

To the honour of the commercial orders in the community, it must be remarked, that, amidst the avocations of lucrative pursuits, they have ufually paid

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attention

attention to the ftate of literature, and have greatly contributed to the diffufion of polite learning, by expending the fuperfluity of their opulence in literary eftablishments.

If we examine the origin of many antient foundations, we fhall find a great number of schools and colleges inftituted, endowed, and augmented, by the liberality of rich citizens; by a liberality dif played at that early period, when reviving learning, in a state of infantine immaturity, might again have expired, had fhe not been fostered by the warm protection of mercantile munificence.

As one of the early benefactors to literature, Sir Andrew Judd, a Lord Mayor of London, and the pious founder of Tunbridge-School in the reign of Edward the Sixth, claims a fhare of general gratitude. He was one of the many generous and worthy characters who have adorned your very respectable Society, and, fortunately for the school, has appointed you the guardians and adminiftrators of his bounty. You have not only expended his bequefts in the fervice of the fchool with the ftricteft integrity, but from other refources have adorned and enlarged the edifice, and promoted

every improvement which can conduce to the comfort of the mafter, and the accommodation of the fcholar.

A fortune acquired by commerce, when it is difcreetly expended in advancing learning, and in other acts of beneficence, acquires a grace and elegance, which a life devoted to the accumulation of money for its own fake, can feldom poffefs. Indeed, the many inftances of the English citizens generofity in building and enriching fchools and colleges, and in affording exhibitions for the maintenance of studious youth * at the universities, feem to prove the error of an opinion very generally received, that a laborious attention to trade renders the fentiments mean and narrow. In a few individuals, indeed, of neglected education, and confined ideas, it certainly

*Sir Thomas Smythe, an ancestor of the late Lord Chief Baron, gave fix exhibitions to Tunbridge fcholars, and was in other refpects a great benefactor. Several other perfons, chiefly rich CITIZENS, have alfo bequeathed exhibitions to the fchool. There are few of the City Companies which have not many exhibitions in their difpofal, left by fome of their members for ftudents in the univerfities. The Skinners, I am informed, have many. So alfo have the Grocers, the Clothworkers, the Fishmongers, and, I believe, all the TWELVE and many of the inferior Companies.

VOL. I.

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