my own breast taught me to emancipate myself from the slavery of
so predominant a principle: and I thought that my honest intentions
would be the more meritorious as they should appear to proceed,
not from sudden impulse, bttt from the dictates of cool and
deliberate reflection. I considered, besides, that I was not engaging
myself to exhibit public games or gladiatorial combats, but to
establish an annual fund for the support and education of young
men of good families but scanty means. The pleasures of the
senses are so far from wanting the oratorical arts to recommend
them that we stand in need of all the powers of eloquence to
moderate and restrain rather than stir up their influence. But the
work of getting anybody to cheerfully undertake the monotony and
drudgery of education must be effected not by pay merely, but by a
skilfully worked-up appeal to the emotions as well. If physicians
find it expedient to use the most insinuating address in
recommending to their patients a wholesome though, perhaps,
unpleasant regimen, how much more occasion had he to exert all
the powers of persuasion who, out of regard to the public welfare,
was endeavouring to reconcile it to a most useful though not
equally popular benefaction? Particularly, as my aim was to
recommend an institution, calculated solely for the benefit of those
who were parents to men who, at present, had no children; and to
persuade the greater number to wait patiently until they should be
entitled to an honour of which a few only could immediately
partake. But as at that fime, when I attempted to explain and
enforce the general design and benefit of my institution, I
considered more the general good of my countrymen, than any
reputation which might result to myself; so I am apprehensive lest,
if I publish that pIece, it may perhaps look as if I had a view rather
to my own personal credit than the benefit of others, Besides, I am