That every age is, as it were, an improved edition of the preceding one, and that in the natural course of events, the human race is making a gradual advance to a state of comparative perfectibility in knowledge and virtue, I think cannot be doubted by an accurate observer of what is going on in the world. The daily discoveries in science ; the vast improvements in the mechanical arts; the immense number of societies for disseminating religion, and bettering the morals of the race of mankind—and, above all, the prodigious advances made of late years in the mode of educating children, cannot fail in due time of producing that great consummation denominated the Millennium.

The present age is, however, most particularly distinguished for the singular improvement made in the mode of instruction generally pursued among civilized nations, which, notwithstanding it had been somewhere about six thousand years in practice, was, it is pretty well demonstrated, founded in an utter ignorance of the nature of the human faculties, as well as their manner of developing themselves. Indeed, when we consider the march of the world in arts, science, and general knowledge, we cannot help acknowledging the natural and innate vigour of the human mind, which was enabled to make so great a progress, notwithstanding the obstacles thrown in its way by such a preposterous system of education. The wonder is not that people continued so long in comparative ignorance, but that they acquired so much under so many disadvantages.

SALMAGUNDI. No. VIII. — SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1819.
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