(* 22) Publick Disputes
warm the Imagination, whet the Industry, and strengthen the natural
Abilities.
When Youth are told, that the Great Men whose Lives and Actions
they read in History, spoke two of the best Languages that ever were,
the most expressive, copious, beautiful; and that the finest
Writings, the most correct Compositions, the most perfect Productions
of human Wit and Wisdom, are in those Languages, which have endured
Ages, and will endure while there are Men; that no Translation can do
them Justice, or give the Pleasure found in Reading the Originals;
that those Languages contain all Science; that one of them is become
almost universal, being the Language of Learned Men in all Countries;
that to understand them is a distinguishing Ornament, _&c_. they may
be thereby made desirous of learning those Languages, and their
Industry sharpen'd in the Acquisition of them. All intended for
Divinity should be taught the _Latin_ and _Greek_; for Physick, the
_Latin_, _Greek_ and _French_; for Law, the _Latin_ and _French_;
Merchants, the _French_, _German_, and _Spanish_: And though all
should not be compell'd to learn _Latin_, _Greek_, or the modern
foreign Languages; yet none that have an ardent Desire to learn them
should be refused; their _English_, Arithmetick, and other Studies
absolutely necessary, being at the same Time not neglected.
If the new _Universal History_ were also read, it would give a
_connected_ Idea of human Affairs, so far as it goes, which should be
follow'd by the best modern Histories, particularly of our Mother
Country; then of these Colonies; which should be accompanied with
Observations on their Rise, Encrease, Use to _Great-Britain_,
Encouragements, Discouragements, _&c_.
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