Gazette Of The United States

On Monday, the 2d inst. a Publick Examination took place in the new academy lately founded in Allen's Township, Northampton county, when the Visitors and Founder of the Seminary expressed their admiration of the improvement of the boys, and were pleased to congratulate the masters on their success in their respective professions. The following Oration was delivered by one of the young Gentlemen.

In meditating on the superior advantages, which must in all places and at all times arise to those of liberal and moral education, no country has ever displayed so extensive a field to young merit, as that in which providence has cast our lot. Favored by heaven with a mild and happy government, we behold ourselves participating in all the sweets of liberty, enjoying without interruption the necessaries, nay, the delicacies of a fruitful and friendly soil. Strangers to the tyrannic sway of arbitrary power, we no longer hear the piercing groans of the victims of oppression—we are no longer taught to consider ourselves the children of an enslaved people, subject to the caprice of no foreign usurpers, and exposed to the rigid impositions of no hostile wielding of ill-gotten power, we possess (if we can but discover the means of enjoyment) no small portion of the most necessary ingredients of human happiness. Our country the most extensive, the most independent, of any in the Christian world has within herself innumerable resources of growing greatness and wealth. Blessed with a vast variety of climate, her southern territories are plentifully furnished with the produce of those of the north, whilst they in return are indebted to the north for those superfluities, which are ever in demand by a rich and civilized people. Not confined to the limits of her own dominions, nature has prescribed means of her becoming great by the assistance of people removed from us by immense oceans, whose untoward climates deny them the luxuries, which ours most liberally supplies. Peculiarly fortunate in her enterprises, her sons now may justly claim that respectability, which must ever mark a great and commercial people—a people whose actuating principle is universal liberty, whose affairs are conducted by the most disinterested, the most patriotic members of the community, whose every wish regards the public good. Under whose lenient guidance we not only are strangers to those religious contentions, which have ever deluged the world with blood; but behold universal toleration of sentiment pervade every civil and political body; see amity reign between societies of various denominations, and the primeval spirit of equality upheld here, in a greater degree of purity, than in any other country under heaven. Under the influence of such invaluable advantages, ought we not to improve our opportunities? ought we not to endeavor to attain that portion of felicity, which life is capable of? that felicity (without vanity I express myself) which may be procured in this land of freedom, more easily than in any other part of the universe. To effect this end what particulars ought to call for the attention of parents? what claim their unremitting assiduity if not the education of their children? this is the basis of promotion in this life—this (if not perverted) is the ground work of eternal happiness. By this the soul is expanded and raised to views worthy of herself—by this she becomes acquainted with the stupendous works of her creator, and is familiarized with the most remote causes of things. How then can that which is big with such inestimable treasures be neglected? do we not behold the daily advancement of men of parts? do we not see merit conducted to its reward? have not liberally bred men of all countries met with encouragement in America; and shall we, who are entitled to superior privileges, deny ourselves a participation of those rights which as a free people we may justly expect? no, the spirit of ambition has operated, with success in different parts of the union, and still continues to spread its wholesome influence. The flame seems now to have reached this part. O! may it work up the resolutions of you my countrymen, to so laudable an undertaking.

Polymnia, the father of the celebrated Epaminondas, is said to have spent the most of the fortune he could give his son upon his education; the last quarrel of his life shews to what infinite advantage it was applied. Would this noble spirit inflame your bosoms, would ye devote part of the property which must be theirs at your dissolution, to their education, you would not only discharge the duty of parents, but that of men anxious for the prosperity of our country—ye would make a more weighty, a more intrinsically valuable donation to the community by such an application, than by bequeathing the most affluent, the most excessive fortunes. Your children would be the props of your old age, an honor to themselves and pride of their country. Were men to think as the ancient Spartans formerly did, respecting the education of youth, no consideration could prevail on them to omit a matter of such public utility.

That wise and prudent people conceiving the Spartan youth to be more immediately the children of their country, than those of their respective parents, established seminaries, into which they sent all their youth—here they remained until the age of maturity, under the care of able masters, and from hence, as the inclination of each directed, launched into the employment of their country.

The wisdom of the Persians in the management of their children has been no less admired. They did not permit parents to bestow what education they pleased on them; but obliged them to send them to schools founded at the public charge, where they received such instruction, as was deemed necessary to fit them for the various employments of their country. All those who accidentally did not partake of this public mode of education, were indiscriminately excluded from all the honorary services of their country? Shall Americans then, in the enlightened days of Christianity, prove more remiss than those heathens? Shall they decline the acceptance of those favors, which Providence most bountifully offers? Shall they still remain unacquainted with the blessings which are in store for them? That ambition which operates in the bosoms of many of our countrymen to represent their fellow subjects in the legislature of their country, should stimulate them to furnish their children with the rudiments of wisdom, that they may the more certainly have it in their power to render her in their turn, those services, which she may one day stand in need of, and which their respective situations in life may make acceptable.

This, independently of other more interesting considerations, ought to determine your doubts on this head. Let this then, my countrymen, call forth your consideration. A moment's attention must convince you, that no provision you can make for your children, will more amply answer your wishes, more amply repay the toils and difficulties which must be encountered by youth in the attainment of any kind of knowledge, than a good and virtuous education.