onnoisseur; a knowledge of
acoustics to the musician and musical critic. "No artist," says Mr.
Spencer, "can produce a healthful work of whatever kind without he
understands the laws of the phenomena he represents; he must also
understand how the minds of the spectator or listener will be affected by
his work--a question of psychology." The spectator or listener must
equally be acquainted with the laws of such phenomena, or he fails to
attain to the highest appreciation.

I now come to the last and most serious aspect of this question, and I
fearlessly assert that classical studies have a most pernicious influence
upon the morals and character of their votaries.

It should not be forgotten that Greeks and Romans alike lived by slavery
(which is robbery), by rapine, and by plunder; yet we, born into a
Christian community which lives by honest labor, propose to impregnate the
impressionable minds of youth with the morals and literature of nations of
robbers!

This letter has already extended to so great a length that I am compelled
to abstain from making extracts from the works of the greatest thinkers,
which I had desired: and I can now but cite them in support, more or less
pronounced, of the views above put forward, viz.: President Barnard, of
Columbia College, who with rare honesty and boldness has spoken loudly
against the conventional folly of classical studies; Professor Newman,
himself Professor of Latin at the University of London, England;
Professors Tindall, Henfry, Huxley, Forbes, Pajet, Whewell, Faraday,
Liebig, Draper, De Morgan, Lindley, Youmans, Drs. Hodgson, Carpenter,
Hooker, Acland, Sir John Herschell, Sir Charles Lyell, Dr. Seguin, and,
rising above them all in _educational science_, _Bastiat_ and _Herbert
Spencer_. To a modified extent, the name of Mr. John Stuart Mill may be
quoted--for he loudly advocates science for all--science, which is
unavoidably excluded by the introduction of, or at least the prominence
given to, Latin and Greek in our College. Mr. Mill, it is true also,
advocates classical studies, but for certain special classes which exist
in England who have no regular occupations in life.

Neither is it without importance as a guide to ourselves to observe that
in the very best school in this country--a school perhaps not surpassed by
any in the world, viz., the Military Academy at West Point--neither Latin
nor Greek studies are permitted.

If now, in any career whatever, any use co