Permit me now to assume the prerogative of the executive, in this
body, to address you on such subjects as are adapted to your present situations
with an application of
Page 2
of the remarks to your
future expectations—We are placed fellow members in a situation enjoyed
by few in any country in concsequence of the unequal distribution of the goods
of fortune and other circumstances, in constant attendance upon every form of
government—There always will be an inequality in pecuniary relations if
not in other respects—This at first view would seem a misfortune to man
in his present state but upon mature reflection all will admit it to be one of
the most essential benefits, bestowed upon him by his
Creator—For concieve for a moment all men equal in
rank and pecuniary means, and where would be that perpetual circulation of
property, which serves to keep all government civil and domestic in its perfect
equilibrio—Where would be those arts scientific and mechanical which
serve to protect and sustain as well as enlighten and adorn their fortunate
possessors—To particularize, what would become of Agriculture,
Manufactures, and Commerce without which no nation could subsist and what would
insure the continuance of every useful profession, however humble and degraded
in its appearance—We see then the benignity of providence in thus
witholding from us those things which would be injurious to our welfare—I
need not inform you that you are of the favoured part of the community, you are
conscious of it by a very superficial glance around the circle of your
immediate acquaintance—You are
Page 3
perhaps
destined to act conspicuous parts on the theatre of life—Some of you
r when your honoured ancestors shall return
to their primitive dust, will by the irresistible command of your country be
forced to assume the mantles which they dropped at their final departure, and
grasp the slippery reins of government—It is therefore a duty incumbent
on you, both for your own interet, and that of your country, to prepare for the
important stations which will be assigned to you, and the awful responsibility
that will devolve upon you in your political capacity—I shall point out
to you as perspicuously as I can, such studies as occur to me the most
prominent, in advantage towards the formation of a statesman, professional
character or man of learning—The studies of college are of primitive
importance to those situated as we are at present and expect to be at some
future period of life—They are adapted to the purposes of public and
private life and for this reason alone demand our most studious
attention—But when we consider that a knowledge of these studies, is an
essential prerequisite to association with the polished circles of society, and
a just claim to respectability, it ought to be, to us, a grand incentive to
application—From the
study of dead
languages
Edmund
Burke derived his most noble sentiments beautiful imagery and solid
instruction, because he studied them like a philosopher not like a
pedant—The study of the mathematics by the frequent exercise of
ingenuity
Page 4
and judgment strengthens the mind and
enables us to withstand the assaults of sophistry and deception—The study
of Rhetoric is absolutely necessary to form "taste and direct Genius"
3—The studies of Natural philosophy
4 is
perhaps the most important part in science from the magnitude of its subject
and the valuable information, which it imparts—Moral Philosophy,
5
explains the nature and obligation of our duties
6 to
God and man, and
amply discusses the principles of politics and jurisprudence, with which,
unquestionably every public character ought to be profoundly conversant—I
have thus concisely stated to you the principal studies of college with their
evident advantages; I deem it tedious and altogether unnecessary to
particularise further as in a short time they will demand your immediate
consideration—
Permit me no
tw to call your
attention to a branch of improvement unconnected with the college requisitions,
and in which I flatter
7 myself
we shall concur in opinion I mean
reading. We live
at a peculiarly fortunate era, for which peri
od the benevolence of providence has reserved us—Blessed
with a republican government, wherof Liberty and equality are the chief
characteristics, all the other blessings of heaven showered down upon us with a
perennial hand, one would think that the measure of our felicity was filled
up—But these are not the only blessings bestowed on us—Those who
lived at an earlier period of the world, were necessitated to form principles
and devise regulations, for their public and private conduct
Page 5
without any guide but judgment unenlightened as it was
in those days, and their own frequently rash and impetuous
inclination—Every species of policy among them, was only experimental,
formed on no model on account of the non existence of any—Hence by
considering the liability of human beings to error, we can assign the true
reason of the failures and imperfections of early governments—=This=
History is the mirror which reflects to us the
causes of the downfal of so many states and nations—If we even trace
government to the 16
th century, we shall find a gross
ignorance of those principles, requisite to maintain good order in
Society—The most enlightened nations of that age were tormented with the
most disastrous revolutions, wars and intestine commotions—The causes of
the defection of those nations, have been transmitted to posterity by the
impartial and authentic information of able historians—By availing
ourselves of those principles, which, experience shewed them, were congenial to
the success and prosperity of the nation, and equally avoiding those abuses
which proved pernicious to them, we are consequently able to form a polity
which should possess the advantages, without the defects of ancient
governments—By this, though undoubtedly in connection with other
circumstancs our wise and patriotic ancestors, were enabled to rear a
government which defies all human power and excites all human
admiration—They considered the advantages and evils of every government,
within their knowledge adopted the former and discarded the latter from their
civil policy and jurisprudence—It remains with us by our future conduct
to insure its continuance
Page 6
and evince our gratitude
to its founders, which cannot be more eminently exhibited, than by preserving
the sacred and precious deposit
with which
they have entrusted us—It was from knowledge derived from books, in
connection with other circumstances, and by a comparison of the advantages and
evils incident to other governments, that our constitution, was
consolidated—Let it be our study then to peruse such books, as will, by
shewing us the principles on which the government was founded, inspire us with
such sentiments and enable us to take such measures as will render it firm and
unalterable—But reading is not only a clue to the labyrinths and
intricate mazes of government but it is, in fact, the study of human
nature—If in history we meet with characters, who have distinguished
themselves, we are naturally disposed to examine the motives, which actuated
their conduct during life—By frequent investigations, of this sort, we
become conversant with human nature the knowledge of which far transcends, any
acquisition within the reach of human powers—Another and, one by no means
to be overlooked, is that reading furnishes a rich and various store of ideas,
on almost every subject and leads the way to
another more eminent advantages, "fluency of speech"
and elegance of diction and solidity of
matter—When ideas are clear and abundant, they can always be expressed by
those who concieve them, in strong and energetic language, and by reading
chaste and elegant authors, we acquire a chaste and copious style—Regard
must be had, too, to the kind
Page 7
of books which we
peruse, for nothing is more apparent than that, the sentiments of an author
will be adopted by the reader or at least his mannner of reasoning or
thinking—If a person impartially peruses the works of
Hume,
Shaftsbury and other sceptical writers, it is evident,
that
the
y would acquire their sceptical manner—A knowledge of
the most important facts which have
transpired, is requisite to form a complete scholar and man of public business,
and he that is without some knowledge derived from books is deprived of most of
the sublime pleasures of fancy and imagination—Besides, no man destitute
8 of
this species of literary knowledge, is admitted to that rank and
respectability, which he would otherwise hold; and the rational and delightful
enjoyments of conversation will be denied to him, on account of the
superficiality of his acquisitions, in this part of polite literature—Not
that I concieve, you regard this subject with indifference, have I addres
sed you on this point, a superficial glance would
convince me to the contrary, but the repetition of the advantages of the
9 duties
of society would perhaps be tedious, being so well understood—I therefore
presumed to desert the usual
ly
subjects, though I am aware that you are perfectly acquainted with the one
which I have introduced, yet, this seat gives a licentiousness to its occupant
which in another situation would be extremely liable to fix on a private
person, the imputation of vanity and persumption—
Page 8
With a few remarks upon your present in reference to your future
situation I will conclude, and relieve you of your impatience—We are all
probationers in this world and know not what the Divine providence has in
reserve for us—A hasty view of this, like most other
10 of
the gifts of the Almighty, would perhaps incline us to the opinion that the
most of his bounties were of immaterial value—But concieve a person to
have full and perfect prescience of his future destiny where should we search
for those latent, heaven-born, principles, which stimulate human exertion to
the atchievements of grand and important designs—All you will admit, will
be extinct. [all will cease to operate to make room for the entrance of luxury,
folly, and dissipation]
omit this, obs[c]ure,
box if on one hand his fate was prosperous he would sink into a state of
listless stupidity, if unfortunate heart-rending melancholoy would succeed, so
that both would equally render him unfit to transact the business of society
whether civil or domestic—What will apply, in this case to individuals
will evidently apply to nations. Thus we see the benevolence of
God exemplified to
his creatures, in this, as, in every other case—Every man, is in some
degree, the author of his own fortune, and in order to succe
ed in life, he should acquire the necessary claims to the
public favour—Let this stimulate your industry, and perseverance, in
every branch of improvement, within your power—Conscious of the
opportunities, you enjoy, and the responsibility, which may devolve on
Page 9
you, exert yourselves to "act well your parts,
to"
11
whatever station or profession you may be called.
in life. You will thus be beloved and
respected by your, friends, relations and acquaintances,
and esteemed by your most inveterate
enemies—The consciousness of having performed the duty assigned to you
will cheer your declining years and you will descend to the tomb, lamented and
honoured, by the tears of thousands, of your countrymen—That profidence
may aid you in the pursuit of useful knowledge, preserve, and prosper you
through your lives and at last recieve you at last into his kingdom, is the
fervent prayer of him who now addresses you.