462

CONCLUSION.

Such are the well-matured observations of three of the lead-ing minds of the times in which we live, on the relation of educa-1 tion and knowledge to the formation and preservation of character.They seem to me, in a masterly manner, and in very briefterms, to do full justice to the subject. They show, that educa-tion and knowledge are not always a sufficient guaranty againstthe commission of crime, but are mighty instruments for eithergood or evil, according as they are directed ; and that the greatobject of education ought to be, the cultivation of the moralfeelings , habits , and character.

There appears no reason to doubt, that crime is increasing inGreat Britain and Ireland ; * and there is too much reason to be-lieve, that this is the case in the United States. The tendencyof the age is almost entirely physical, mechanical, and utilitarian,not moral and religious, — and moral education has been toomuch neglected, both in this country and in England. Our besteducated men must be conscious of this defect in their education,if they will reflect on the subject. While, in our universitiesand colleges, the classical, physical, mathematical, and physico-mathematical chairs are ably filled, and a large portion of severalyears is devoted to instruction in these sciences, a small portionof time, perhaps a single session, or more probably a remnant ofa session, is assigned to the study of moral philosophy. Thisphysical and mechanical tendency of our times, ought to befirmly resisted and counteracted ; otherwise it threatens to drawevery thing within its sway, and to overwhelm whatever of theintellectual, the moral, and the religious still remains to us.

3. Next to the reforming and purifying influence of Chris-tianity, and the elevating and conservative tendency and effect ofknowledge, we must rely upon the progress of freedom , main-tained by well-regulated free governments and free institutions,for the improvement of morals. Nor is this view of the bene-ficial influence of general (political) freedom new, — it is atleast as ancient as Longinus. This celebrated author observes,that almost all distinguished writers had been born and flourished

* See the American Almanac for 1837, pp. 69 - 72; Walsh’s National Gazette,19th and 21st of August, 1834.