the mind of each, when any new truth is offered to it, upon which depends, as we shall see hereafter, many of the consequences of even Genius itself. Besides these objections, who can believe it possible to commence at birth, and to continue from that moment, during the whole education of the mind, a strict equality of active and passive discipline, without a single interuption, without a single deviation; and yet, if these be not preserved, the parallelism is destroyed for ever, and the specious conclusion drawn from it, falls to the ground. But, in addition to the rest, I would ask, who will undertake to pronounce upon the equality of physical organization? Independent of which all reasoning is vain, and every inference deceptive.

The opinion advanced by Addison, and of those who agree with him, is not only palpably absurd, but contrary to every thing we know of men of Genius. If they have not studied in the Portico, inter sylvas Academi; nor listened to the oracles of a University Chair, yet their education, their self discipline, has ever been more laboriously prosecuted than that of the attendants upon those resorts of learning. Nor would it be so near the truth to say, that the University taught Newton as that Newton taught the University.

With respect to phrenological proof, I must, in consequence of the circumscribed limits of my Essay, forbear to say much. My opinion is, that if there be some truth in it, there is much more of

error; that a comparatively confined, hasty, and of course, imperfect induction, has been drawn to support extensive, and even fanciful generalities.. Whilst mankind, ever pleased with novelty, and always glad to be relieved of the labour of thought, or to be conducted easily to general conclusions, have readily embraced them, mistaking the pleasing phantom for a reality.

All these conjectures, however, though they furnished plausible solutions of the problem of Genius, were inadequate and unsatisfactory. There is no difficulty in nature which cannot be solved by an hypothesis. But as this ingenii facilis labor is the main pillar which supports the whole imaginary fabric, let us extend our researches to a few facts and testimonies which will shake it from its base: for when this prop is removed, the fanciful structure will disappear, and leave neither ruins, nor a wreck behind" for its votaries to admire.

Had men of Genius attained to eminence without exertion; or had their exertions been less than that of other men, then, indeed, these conjectures would have possessed some weight; but the reverse of this is the fact. Men of Genius are always men of industry; and if they gather more fruit than their cotemporaries, the rest of mankind, they have also prepared and cultivated the soil, watched and watered the plant of knowledge, with more assiduity than the rest of mankind. How far the soil may differ, and what influence this have upon the

may

quantity and quality of the fruit, we shall see hereafter; but the necessity of diligent cultivation a few authorities will sufficiently establish and no exception is made in favor of Genius.

What says Horace to the candidate for literary fame? Does he encourage confidence in Genius? Does he expect spontaneous excellence? No such thing. He instructs him to keep his work under his eye "nonum in annum," until the ninth year, that by careful and iterated revision, by the "limæ labor ac mora," by time and the file, he may polish what was at first rude, and perfect what was incomplete. Neither does he, in the unguarded language of Addison, advise the student to trust "to the mere strength of natural parts," under a belief that Genius," without any assistance of art or learning," can conduct its possessor to distinction. No! Referring to the approved works and labours of others, he enjoins him, "nocturna versate manu, versate diurna," to read them by day and meditate by night. How reasonable this advice! How certain the success of him who follows it?

And what says my Lord Bacon? Why, that "reading makes a full man, and that if he read little, he had need have much cunning, (mark! not Genius,) to seem to know that he doth not." And we are all aware that the inductive philosophy of this great man, is founded upon diligent observation, a laborious exercise of the senses.

Swift read eight hours every day, and probably

C

wrote four more. Petrarch pined, and fell into a fever on the third day after he was deprived of the use of his library. And what says the immortal Newton respecting Genius, of whom the Marquis de l'Hospital asked, "Does Mr. Newton eat, or drink, or sleep like other men? I represent him to myself," said he, "as a celestial genius, entirely disengaged from matter." To all which, the words of Newton himself, used on another occasion, do not unaptly reply. "That if he had done any thing worthy of notice, and of service to the world, it was owing more to industry and patience of thought, than to any extraordinary sagacity. I keep the subject," says the modest and amiable philosopher, "constantly before me, and wait till the first dawnings open slowly, by little and little, into a full and clear light." How true a portraiture of Genius! How faithful a description of its labours!

And who is ignorant of the sea-side persevering industry, and the uphill, patient exertions of Demosthenes? Who, but with admiration, beholds him transcribing for the third time, the narrative of Thucydides? What a model for imitation! How it puts to flight the privileged claims of Genius!

"Nil sine magno vita labore dedit mortalibus," says the classical Poet, which may be thus paraphrased: Nature grants nothing to the indolent, but offers her rewards liberally to the industrious.

Of Apelles we learn, so regular was his application, that "nulla dies sine linea," no day was suffered to pass by, without adding a stroke to his picture. Let this be done by all, and the same success will attend their labours.

David, also, speaks the language of philosophy, as well as of devotion, when he says, "Great are the works of the Lord, sought out of all them who have pleasure therein." The careless and the idle see them not; they are unfolded to the vision of the diligent only.

And why, also, did the Roman youths drink the infusion of cummin seed; which "in vino epotum pallorem infert," and which Horace calls “exsangue cuminum," but that they might resemble in paleness the countenance of those who had watched the midnight lamp, and wasted health in the pursuit of knowledge; of those who had acquired eminence by toils and perseverance?-Men of Genius.

And, lastly, to draw your attention to a Genius of our own times, what patient perseverance did Herschel display in the prosecution of his optical labours? Application seemed to become more intense as disasters threatened to frustrate success: and in the end he accomplished his design.

To what conclusion do all these varied instances of the labours of Genius lead us? To none other than reason herself would prescribe for the education of all men; diligence, unwearied diligence; to trust to the "culture, not the soil." Though I