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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 27

Classical Study

Classical Study.

Perhaps the weakest point in your Public Library will be the number of classical authors you will have. There will be a perfect set of the Latin classics, some few of the first Greek authors, but still my own library was formerly stripped of the finest editions of those authors that they might go to another colony; and in that point there will be a certain degree of weakness. But let me add a few words now of my own thoughts on this subject. They may be weak thoughts, but they are convictions I firmly entertain, and I should like to impress one of my ardent wishes upon your minds. Remember that the great Latin writers had in their boyhood no ancient language to study. The years that are passed by our youths in some of the colleges and universities, in studying dead languages were, by the great Latin writers and the great Greek writers given to the study of their own languages; and if the Romans learned Greek they learned it as we learn French—they learned from the mouths of their living slaves, from the mouths of their living friends, from frequent intercourse with Greeks, and thus principally studying their own language they arrived at a per page 11 fection in it which but few writers have attained in the English tongue. The life of a literary man was in those ancient days entirely devoted to that one thing. They did not spend years in acquiring a knowledge of dead languages, which were but of little use to them in after life. Now, what I argue from this is as follows: For myself, I have always said, let Latin and Greek be taught, and in those charters which I have issued, on the foundation of public schools, I have inserted a clause providing that Greek and Latin should be taught in them. Those who understand either one of these languages, or who understand them both, have open to them vast storehouses of information, a vast amount of pleasure, and a vast amount of food for their imagination. I would say they have open to them a road to great delight and great enjoyment. But, upon the other hand, there are but few who in this busy world and this lifetime can, without detriment to their proper duties, afford sufficient interval to acquire such a knowledge of those languages as to enable them to use them with facility in future years, to render them a necessary part of their existence. The greatest living master of the English language, Mr. Bright— (applause)—knew neither of these languages. There are now ample and beautiful translations of every author of merit which can be read in the classics. While, therefore, I would take care that every institution founded here taught the Greek and Latin languages, 1 would venture to say this—I think it cruel to say to any man who speaks fluently the English tongue, and is thoroughly master of it, who has learnt some branch of knowledge thoroughly—I say it is cruel to say we will prevent you entering some profession which you may earnestly desire to enter because you do not know Latin or Greek. (Applause.) I say this, that if men abandon their homes in all parts of the earth for the purpose of coming to this colony, and of rising here to distinction and honour, they have a right to have every pathway to such distinctions and honours laid fairly open to them. (Applause.) No obstacles of that kind should be thrown in their way— (applause)—obstacles, the overcoming of which will neither render them better men nor more useful to their fellow-citizens. (Hear, hear.) Therefore, whilst I tell you that great provision, or considerable provision, has been made to procure for this colony manuscripts in the Latin and Greek tongues, thus allowing new readings to be made of authors, and in this way encouraging the study of those languages by those who have the time and opportunity so to study them, I will never be a party myself to using them to shut out from employment and from distinction men who are masters of their own language and of other subjects. (Cheers.)