been written to
illustrate, viz., by a "selection from the records of Philosophy,
Literature, and Art, in all ages and countries, of a body of examples, to
show how the most unpropitious circumstances have been unable to conquer
an ardent desire for the acquisition of knowledge."(13) That further
advantages accrue to us and redound to others by its possession, over and
above what it is in itself, I am very far indeed from denying; but,
independent of these, we are satisfying a direct need of our nature in its
very acquisition; and, whereas our nature, unlike that of the inferior
creation, does not at once reach its perfection, but depends, in order to
it, on a number of external aids and appliances, Knowledge, as one of the
principal of these, is valuable for what its very presence in us does for
us after the manner of a habit, even though it be turned to no further
account, nor subserve any direct end.

3.

Hence it is that Cicero, in enumerating the various heads of mental
excellence, lays down the pursuit of Knowledge for its own sake, as the
first of them. "This pertains most of all to human nature," he says, "for
we are all of us drawn to the pursuit of Knowledge; in which to excel we
consider excellent, whereas to mistake, to err, to be ignorant, to be
deceived, is both an evil and a disgrace."(14) And he considers Knowledge
the very first object to which we are attracted, after the supply of our
physical wants. After the calls and duties of our animal existence, as
they may be termed, as regards ourselves, our family, and our neighbours,
follows, he tells us, "the search after truth. Accordingly, as soon as we
escape from the pressure of necessary cares, forthwith we desire to see,
to hear, and to learn; and consider the knowledge of what is hidden or is
wonderful a condition of our happiness."

This passage, though it is but one of many similar passages in a multitude
of authors, I take for the very reason that it is so familiarly known to
us; and I wish you to observe, Gentlemen, how distinctly it separates the
pursuit of Knowledge from those ulterior objects to which certainly it can
be made to conduce, and which are, I suppose, solely contemplated by the
persons who would ask of me the use of a University or Liberal Education.
So far from dreaming of the cultivation of Knowledge directly and mainly
in order to our physical comfort and enjoyment, for the sake of life and
person, of health, of the conju