Alden, Timothy. Seven forensic disputations on the question whether the time usually spent in learning the Latin, Greek, & Oriental languages be usefully occupied : by Timothy Alden, Samuel Dana, Jotham Bender, James Kendall, David Kendall, William Wells,

sublimity of thought, that Grecian rotundity, that transporting elegance and grandeur of expression.

There is an antient Arabic proverb, which says that a man without learning is like a body without a Soul. Learning is emphatically the soul of republican gover - ments. Where the mode of government is republican the welfare of the country depends on the cultivation of Science. In monarchies the prosperity of the ministry, which is usually a prime object, depends in a great measure on the ignorance of the populace. In republican governments, where the voice of the peopple is the law of the land, it is certain that, unless their minds are enlightened, the most erroneous judgment will often be given and the most fatal consequences will ensue. It is the glory and excellence of such governments that, the more the minds of the people are enlightened, the greater will be their national prosperity. Whenever Science shall be neglected in such governments they must expect to be tossed about by every gale of faction and, like a Ship without rudder, to be liable every moment to

be ingulfed in quicksands or dashed on rocks.

From the observations, to which our subject has led us, the inference is obvious. It has been our endeavor to give a fair and simple Statement of some of the principal advantages, which result from a research into the Latin, Greek and Oriental languages. It appears that a knowledge of these is useful and important to all, who have lesiure and inclination to ransack the immense Storehouse of eastern Science. The lawyer finds the acquisition of the Latin of some importance. The traveller cannot dispense with it. The physician acknowledges the great utility of the Latin and Greek. The divine, who would be critical, learned, and extensively useful in his profession, is Sensible that a knowledge of the Latin, Greek, and Oriental languages is absolutely indispensible. It is evident from the experience of ages that, to acquire with accuracy and in an extensive degree our vernacular tongue the direct method is to become adepts in the Latin and Greek. In these languages it appears that we

have models for every kind of writing, which the brightest geniuses the world has ever produced despairing ever to excel have made it their boast, their glory, and ambition to imitate. It is in vain to expect that we shall ever realize the unnumbered beauties of the antients in any other languages, than the original; for, although the best translations of the celebrated eastern productions may present us with much useful and interessting information; yet, they are but blind leaders of the blind.

In Seeing for ourselves there is a Satisfaction, which amply compensates every trouble of exploring the treasures of antient learning. When we consider how many in the civil and religious world have been imposed upon through ignorance, our reason, our judgment, our conscience warn us in thundering accents never to take any thing, for granted, which is capable of a demonstration.

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Timothy Alden

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