inds are
sufficiently laborious or acute to love the reading of metaphysical
inquiries, will by the same labour and acuteness separate the chaff
from the corn--the false from the true. It is the young, the light, the
superficial, who are easily misled by error, and incapable of
discerning its fallacy; but tell me, if it is the light, the young, the
superficial, who are in the habit of reading the abstruse and subtle
speculations of the philosopher. No, no! believe me that it is the very
studies Monsieur Schlegel recommends, which do harm to morality and
virtue; it is the study of literature itself, the play, the poem, the
novel, which all minds, however frivolous, can enjoy and understand,
that constitute the real foes to religion and moral improvement."

"Ma foi," cried Monsieur de G., (who was a little writer, and a great
reader of romances) "why, you would not deprive us of the politer
literature, you would not bid us shut up our novels, and burn our
theatres."

"Certainly not!" replied Vincent; "and it is in this particular that I
differ from certain modern philosophers of our own country, for whom,
for the most part, I entertain the highest veneration. I would not
deprive life of a single grace, or a single enjoyment, but I would
counteract whatever is pernicious in whatever is elegant; if among my
flowers there is a snake, I would not root up my flowers, I would kill
the snake. Thus, who are they that derive from fiction and literature
a prejudicial effect? We have seen already--the light and
superficial;--but who are they that derive profit from them?--they who
enjoy well regulated and discerning minds. Who pleasure?--all mankind!
Would it not therefore be better, instead of depriving some of profit,
and all of pleasure, by banishing poetry and fiction from our Utopia,
to correct the minds which find evil, where, if they were properly
instructed, they would find good? Whether we agree with Helvetius, that
all men are born with an equal capacity of improvement, or merely go
the length with all other metaphysicians, that education can improve the
human mind to an extent yet incalculable, it must be quite clear, that
we can give sound views instead of fallacies, and make common truths as
easy to discern and adopt as common errors. But if we effect this,
which we all allow is so easy, with our children; if we strengthen their
minds, instead of weakening them, and clear their vision, rather than
confuse it, from tha