Letter from Charles Harris to Dr. Charles Harris, April 10, 1795
University
April 10th 1795
Dr Sir,
We have begun to introduce, by degrees the regulations of the University, and as yet have not been disappointed. There is one
class in Natural Philosophy & Geography & four in the
Languages.
The constitution of this college is on a more liberal plan than any in America, & by
the amendments which I think it will receive at the next meeting of the
trustees, its usefulness will probably be much promoted. The
notion that true learning consists rather in exercising the reasoning
faculties, & laying up a store of useful knowledge, than in
overloading the memory with words of a dead language, is becoming daily more
prevalent. It appears hard to deny a young Gentleman the honour of a
College, after he has with much labour& painful attention acquired a competent knowledge of the
Sciences; of composing & speaking with propriety in his own
language, & has conned the first principles of whatever might render
him useful or creditable in the world, merely because he could not read a
language 2000 years old. Tho' the laws at present require that the Latin
& Greek be understood by a graduate, they will in all probability be
mitigated in this respect. These old forms, "which have been
sanctioned by time but not by utility" ought to be dispensed with.
I have lately found many good hints on education in a book entitled the
rights of woman. a book of very great merit, the production of an
original genius, & penned in such a strong, masterly style that you
would scarcely believe it the work of a woman. For we are taught to
believe, by many able writers & tolerable accurate observers of
mankind that the natural weakness of a woman's body extends to her mind,
& becomes characteristic ofher
thoughts & words as well as of her actions. Miss Mary Wollstonecraft
is the lady born effectually to rectify these misrepresentations from which
so much evil has spring. Miss' intention is to bring about a total reform in the education of
women. But takes occasion to speak of the errors in the present plan of
teaching young men & Boys in Europe. "The memory"
says she "is loaded with unintelligible
words, to make a shew of, without the understanding's acquiring any distinct ideas;
but only that education deserves emphatically to be termed cultivation of
mind, which teaches young people how to begin to think." She
effectually overthrows Chesterfield's plan of bringing up boys. The amendments which she
proposes are too Numerous to be detailed in a letter, but are such as do the
greatest honor to the authoress & may be highly beneficial to
mankind. That there is much wrong in the old manner of educating is plain
& whatever alterations will be made in ourUniversity will be made by those who can be
actuated by no other principle than general utility. At present we find much
difficulty in procuring books. The trustees have ordered 200 Dol. to
be expended for that purpose; but it is very uncertain when the Books will
arrive; Dr Williamson is commissioned to purchase
& he is so totally engaged about his own book which he is preparing
for the press, that he may forget others of less importance. Col. More presents us with Globes Mr Benehan
with an air pump as soon as it can be procured. We will shortly
have an Electrical Machine & other trifles.
Our society is not so good at this place as we could wish. My only resort is
to Mr
Ker who makes ample amends to me for the want of any other. He is
a violent Republican & is continually deprecating the Aristocratical
principles which have lately prevailed much in our Executive. The debates on
self-created societies has broughtto light
many unrepublican principles that have been secretly growing in the bosom of
our government. The Rev.d. Stanhope Smith has in the last winter become a politician.
He declaims against Libertinism in politics as being attended by no less an
evil than Atheism. Smith has been long known to be an aristocrat & he is
not a man of such conciliating manner as to have avoided the creating some
personal enemies. A writer styled Arbiter in Oswald paper is not delicate in his remarks on the
vice-president & is indeed illiberal in some general reflections on
the Clergy. Smith's sermon referred to by Arbiter on the subjects of national
Gratitude lies on my table. It has many fine turned periods; many fine
thoughts, But besides Mr Arbiter's objections. His
description of the present government is too highly coloured to be the copy
of a human fabrication, hisEncomium on the
President is quite fulsome. Tho' he be the greatest man in America, it smells
strong of Brittish seasoning. In page 23 he says "I see him like a
rock in the midst of the ocean, receive unshaken all its waves, violence,
intrigue, faction, dash themselves to pieces against him, & fall in
empty murmers at his feet."
I have been engaged in such a manner since I arrived here, that I have done
but little for myself; Blackstone's 1mo Vol. is nearly finished
but the remaining vol. will require much more time and attention. I wish to
ground myself well in the principles of Law, yet have made no provision for
supplying books of a proper kind. I have interested myself much in the
education of my brother, he is now growing fast & receiving none of
those improvements which he ought. I could not prevail with my father to let
him come to this place. I wish you would again mention it tohim in a way that you may think proper; it can
scarcely be pecuniary wants that hinder his complying with my request. Nor
can it be I hope, any distrust of my principles, as I have heard suggested,
he & I have ever been very free in speaking on tenets & I
never observed any great degree of disapprobation. If the latter be the
cause I have no more to say. Please send me your communications by every
opportunity.
I am yours
with much
respect
Chas. W. Harris
Doctor Charles
Harris.