less will the people be 'tossed to and fro by the sleight of men, and
cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.' To tyrants,
indeed, and bad rulers, the progress of knowledge among the mass of
mankind is a just object of terror: it is fatal to them and their
designs; they know this by unerring instinct, and unceasingly they
dread the light. But they will find it more easy to curse than to
extinguish. It is spreading in spite of them, even in those countries
where arbitrary power deems itself most secure; and in England,
any attempt to check its progress would only bring about the sudden
destruction of him who should be insane enough to make it.

"To the Upper Classes of society, then, I would say, that the question
no longer is whether or not the people shall be instructed--for that
has been determined long ago, and the decision is irreversible--but
whether they shall be well or ill taught--half informed or as
thoroughly as their circumstances permit and their wants require.
Let no one be afraid of the bulk of the community becoming too
accomplished for their superiors. Well educated, and even well versed
in the most elevated sciences, they assuredly may become; and the
worst consequence that can follow to their superiors will be, that to
deserve being called their _betters_, they too must devote themselves
more to the pursuit of solid and refined learning; the present public
seminaries must be enlarged: and some of the greater cities of the
kingdom, especially the metropolis, must not be left destitute of the
regular means within themselves of scientific education.

"To the Working Classes I would say, that this is the time when by
a great effort they may secure for ever the inestimable blessing of
knowledge. Never was the disposition more universal among the rich to
lend the requisite assistance for setting in motion the great engines