A Seasonable Discourse, Part 4
Of an Agencie for Advancement of Univerſall Learning.
BY Univerſall Learning is meant a generall inſight and obſervation of all the Objects and Faculties of Reaſon, and of the Wayes to bring the ſame to perfection by helping all mens Reaſonings as they are communicable and teachable unto others.
By an Agency to advance this kinde of Learning is meant an Employment amongſt men, whereof the Scope and Aime ſhould be to diſcover to the Publike, and propoſe in particular to every one as occaſion ſhall be offered, all the advantages which are found and can be imparted unto all or any, for the improvement both of Reaſon it ſelf, and of particular Mens gifts towards a Common Good.
This Agency is properly a Negotiation with the Society and Nature of Man, to take notice thereof in Reference to that Good, which may be found therein in a Publike or Private way; that Addreſſes may be had from one to another, to the end that the Defects of the one being ſupply'd by the other; The Rationall ways of Humane Communications may redound, as to the mutuall content of Particulars, ſo to the Common Good of all Mankind.
That ſuch an Agency may be ſet afoot, and ought to be intended for a Publike Good is evident, becauſe there is nothing more ſutable unto the Nature of Humane Society to make it compleat, then ſuch a kind of employment about thoſe Objects which are properly Humane. We ſee that in all kinds of Societies there be ſeverall Agencies relating thereunto, and no Common-wealth can ſubſiſt without ſome of them; but theſe are all for particular Intereſts, which ſeldom are attein'd without ſome particular prejudice unto others, if not to the Generall diſadvantage of all. For from thence all our ſtrife in the world is begotten between States and States, and between one Corporation and another in the ſame State: Now if we believe that there is any ſuch thing as the Nature of Man, wherein hee differs from beaſts; or that there ſhould be any Society between Man and Man upon the Grounds of a Common Intereſt; or that the ways of Reaſon, and the Communication thereof may be uſefull unto a Society of Men, and are worth the looking after, then it cannot be poſſibly doubted off, by any which is Rationall, that is a Man, whether any ſuch Agency may be ſet afoot and ought to be intended amongſt Men, for the Publike Good of their Society? The wilde beaſts of the Foreſt, and fiſhes of the Sea, every one preys for himſelf; and the ſtrongeſt devoures the weakeſt; ſo are the brutiſh men of the world to be counted worſe then they; who having forgotten the true Intereſt of Humanity, make none other uſe of their neerneſſe to others, of others ſociable inclinations towards them and of their own wit and ſtrength, but to prey upon their. Neighbours, to domineer over them, and devoure them for their private ends. The tamer and more docile Creatures made to ſerve man, joyn in herds and flocks, where all are as one; and one is as all; in reſpect of that which is uſefull unto them. To teach Man who is the Leader, and made to rule all Creatures in all their Societies; to lead and rule himſelf by the ſociableneſſe of his diſpoſition, to finde the contentment of all his deſires & advantages, rather in a Common then in a particular way. The wiſe State of Venice, the moſt Ancient and beſt ſetled republican Society of the World; hath amongſt many other excellent Conſtitutions, this for one, that whoſoever doth ſhew unto that State any thing that may advance the Publike Good; ſhall receive a reward anſwerable to that which he doth offer: by this means the Aime of a Common Good is upheld in the ſpirits of men; and Induſtry for the publike, (as it is a vertue; is encouraged and rewarded as it ought to be) by the Publike it ſelf. Whether there be any where elſe, in any Kingdom or State ſuch like Conſtitutions I know not, ſure I am in this place hitherto; Univerſall endevours and the thoughts of a publike Good free from partiality; have been lookt upon by many; and thoſe alſo in publike places rather as ridiculous whimſies & projects, then matters worth any encouragement; but ſeeing we are now about a Reformation of our Ways, and neceſſitated to think upon the publike Good, even for our preſervation from utter ruine and confuſion; and ſeeing ſome ſuch thing as the Advancement of Learning hath been oftner, and in a more publike Way, at leaſt mentioned in this Nation of late, then in former times, partly by the publication of thoſe excellent Works of the Lord Verulam which at ſuch a matter; partly by ſome reflection which the Honourable Houſe of Commons hath made that way, for the ſetting of a Gentleman apart for ſuch a uſe (although hetherto it hath been wholly fruitleſſe; and the party deſign'd for the ſervice left deſtitute of helps, yet) I ſay, ſeeing theſe things are ſo, and chiefly ſeeing there is a Reſerve of Means purpoſely kept to be employ'd for the Advancement of Religion and Learning, and we are inform'd that an Ordinance is drawing up for the effectuall diſpoſall thereof towards thoſe ends; ſeeing (I ſay againe) theſe things are ſo, we ought not to deſpaire of ſome good iſſue at laſt; and therefore in reference to the Advancement of this Deſigne, which doth ſeeme already to be own'd and countenanc'd by Authority; I hope it will be counted no preſumption, if a Motion ſhould be made to make it more effectuall, then perhaps otherwiſe it is likely to prove, in caſe the Motion which men have ordinarily of that which is called Learning, and of the Advancement thereof be not rectified. We ſhall then (as concern'd in the Publike, uſe our rationall freedome to ſuggeſt thus much. That except the bounds of Learning be extended beyond the Univerſities; and be underſtood equall to the bounds of Schools, and to the care of Education, incumbent to a well Regulated Society of Men; And except the bounds of Schools be made as large as the borders of Rationality in Mankinde; we ſhall come very farre ſhort of that Aime, which ſhould be meant by the Advancement of Learning.
It is far frō me to leſſen the honour due to the Univerſities; I rather ſtudy to increaſe the ſame; by making many Schools ſubordinate unto them, and ſubſervient unto their eminent ends; but I would not have that counted an honour due unto them, that they alone ſhould Monopolize all the Means of Learning, as if without the Formalities and Conſtitutions of old ſetled in them; there could be no truth of Learning, or right uſe of Reaſon advanced to attaine to Humane or Divine Sciences elſwhere. I ſay, I would not have that to be counted their Honour, which is a Reall prejudice to the whole Common-wealth, and Society of Mankinde: therefore let no Art nor Science want his own Profeſſor, or Lecturer in the Univerſitie, nor either of the Univerſities want any of thoſe Profeſſors? Let none of thoſe Profeſſors want any encouragements, which may enable them to live comfortably, and proceed cheerfully and induſtriouſly to perfect the tasks of their profeſſion; Let (I ſay) all be done in this kinde that may be deſired, and nothing that may advance Induſtrie neglected; but yet let not this be counted all, that is either Uſefull or Neceſſary to be done, for it will be found uſefull and neceſſary that the Foundations & firſt Principles of Learning be rightly laid in other Schools, which are to prepare Schollers for the Univerſities; for if this be not intended with carefulneſſe, the publike Lectures of the Univerſities will hardly ever bring any thing to perfection; becauſe the ſuperſtructures which they are to labour in, towards their Schollers; will finde no bottome to ſupport them; and therefore will moulderaway without any benefit to the publike. But my purpoſe is not now to enlarge upon this ſubject; or to make out what the particular Cōſtitutions of Schools ought to be; that may be done at another time more ſeaſonably; al that I would intimate at this time is this, that ſome proviſions will be neceſſary for inferiour Schools as well as for the Profeſſorſhips of the Univerſities, and that for the compleating of both the ſuperiour and inferiour Schools, towards the ends for which they are to be conſtituted; a publike Agencie for Univerſall Learning will be; if not even neceſſary, yet ſo extraordinarily uſefull, that without it there will be litle life and advancement towards any perfection in all the other Conſtitutions. For without ſome effectuall provocations, and grounds of vertuous emulations, mens ſpirits (chiefly when they are well provided for outwardly and feare no want) grow flat and ſluggiſh, they ſettle on their lees, and degenerate quickly. Nor is this all, why ſuch an Agency is requiſite; there is another thing of no leſſe, if not of greater importance then this, whereunto it will ſerve; and that is the proper end thereof, which is upon the diſcovery of Defects in publike or private ways of Learning of what kind ſoever; to intend a ſupply thereof, either by a free communication of ſuch advantages as are found uſefull to that effect; or by an enquirie and ſearch into the Means by which they may be found out if they be univerſally wanting. And again, upon the diſcovery of perfections attained unto, or probably attainable in any kind, and any where, amongſt the Learned at home or abroad; to ſpread and divulge the ſame to all ſuch as can any way improve them to a publike Good; or advantage their own Meditations by them. So that he being a Generall Inſpector of Mens Spirits, an Obſerver of their parts, an Overſeer of their ways in Learning, is to negotiate. for them and with them upon all occaſions, concerning every thing; which is deſirable towards the propagation of Divine or Humane Sciences. His trade is then to animate the Profeſſors of all Arts and Sciences, by a Correſpondency with all that are of any note, to waken them by one another unto all Induſtry, and to gather up the fruits thereof, to be apply'd unto all the Schools for the Advancement of Learning therein. How neceſſary this will be at the firſt conſtitution of Reformed Schools; and how unvaluably profitable, it will be at the progreſſe of the Reformation thereof; may be evident to all, that will conſider, That the chiefe cauſe of our diſtractions and moſt lamentable-diſorders in Learning is this; that there is no Concurrence in any common Aime, nor in any Rules which lead thereunto amongſt the Profeſſors of the ſame kinde of Learning; which makes every one of them walk by themſelves differently; ſolitarily: and without that helpe which their communications about the conquering of common difficulties would yield unto them: And this doth fall out, becauſe none doth ſolicit a Common Intereſt amongſt them, or giveth them occaſion to be engaged thereunto. For it is evident that men of themſelves otherwiſe are not averſe from Communications; becauſe when the opportunity thereof is offer'd unto them, we ſee it is embrac'd with joy; but they are unacquainted one with another, and a Centrall Object of Concurrence is wanting, which might make them meet one with another: This Center then ſhould be this Agencie, which ſhould be employ'd to diſcern in every kinde the ſeverall Abilities of Men & their Undertakings to acquaint them with other mens endeavours of the like abilities, labouring in the ſame ſubjects, either the ſame or a different way, that by mutuall acquaintance & Conference their thoughts may be ripened, they may perfect, rectifie and benefit one another, and beat out the hidden paths of Truth, which in due time ſeaſonably may be publiſhed for the benefit of all. This Agency will not only impregnate the Spirits of fruitfull men with Conceptions, but will be as a Midwife to bring them to birth; and when they have brought them forth, it will addreſſe them unto the publike uſes whereunto they may be moſt ſerviceable for the Advancement of Learning. In a word briefly. What ever Neceſſity or uſe there may be of a Generall Solicitor in any publike Affairs, for the good of any Societie; that ſame neceſſity & uſe is here to be found in this Agency for the Common-wealth of Learning in general, and more eſpecially for the Reformation and Conſtitution of Schools: and except they who ſhall be appointed by the State to intend the Advancement of Learning have ſuch an Inſtrument & Agent at hand, who ſhal be able to impart unto them from all hands, that repreſentation of matters which ſhall conduce unto their Aime; their proceedings will be exceeding imperfect, lame and defective; but if one be ſet thus apart. to become the Center of all ſuch Communications as ſhall conduce to their deſigne; from time to time, and all men of parts be drawn to contribute and ſuggeſt what they have gain'd by Meditation, Obſervation and Experience to be uſefull towards the Advancement thereof, they may hope for a compleat eſtabliſhment of thoſe ways of Learning, which will make this Nation not only happy within it ſelf in one Age or two, but a Bleſſing unto others, and a Praiſe unto Poſterity.
And to bring all this ſuccesfully to paſſe, Theſe things are to be deſired in this Agencie.
1 THat the Agent already deſign'd by the Parliament, and long agoe exerciſed in this way, and known to the chiefe men of parts at home and abroad, be ſpeedily provided for with a competent ſubſiſtance for himſelfe and family, that he may attend this worke without diſtraction, and with ſome allowance to defray the charges of his ordinary, and extraordinary Negotiation, of which he ſhall be accountable to the joynt Overſeers of the whole buſineſſe.
2 That ſome Truſtees be appointed, Men of publique ſpirits, of Univerſall parts and learning, of credit with all ſides, who ſhould together with and by the Agent, ſuper-intend the univerſall courſe, and the Advancement of Learning, that whilſt the Committee which is appointed for the diſpoſall of the reſerve, for the maintenance of Religion and Learning; ſhall be making the diſtribution of ſetled Salaries for Miniſters, Profeſſors and School-maſters throughout the Kingdome, in places moſt convenient, Theſe Truſtees may have 500 or 1000 lib. put into their hands as a yearly allowance from the State, towards the advancement of the wayes of Learning in generall, to be diſpos'd of by them in a more univerſall way, as the occaſions ſhall be offer'd unto them, advantagiouſly to be employ'd.
3 Theſe Truſtees ſhould have power to receive voluntarie Contributions and Legacies, which may be made from time to time by the wel-willers to the Meanes of Univerſall Learning; to ſee the ſame employ'd towards the ends for which they ſhall be contributed.
4 Thoſe Truſtees ſhould make a particular and exact deſcription both of the Univerſal Objects of Learning, about which they ſhould be converſant, and alſo of the ways of their Conſultations, Cares, deliberation, and intendencie over the ſame, and of the managing of the Means betruſted unto them, which ſhould not be made common to every body, but onelyonly communicated to all that are in places of Authority, that they may be ſatiſfied in the uſefulneſſe of their employment.
5 To theſe Truſtees, the common Agent, as one of them, ſhould be ſubſervient, and they ſhould be his Co-adjutors; ſo that he ſhould be oblig'd to make them acquainted with all his Negotiations, and upon mature deliberations follow their directions in the proſecution thereof.
6 They ſhould be Authoriz'd by the Supream Power of the Kingdom, to over-ſee all the Schools, to conſider all the Schoolmaſters, and their lives and abilities, and to furniſh them with helps as they ſhall ſee expedient for the rectifying of their ways of Teaching and Educating.
7 They ſhould have a regular correſpondencie with men of eminent and publique parts in forrain places by the means of their Agent, to diſcover by them, and gain from them, all the feats of Learning which from time to time ſpring up amongſt them, that being found uſefull, they may be ſet afoot amongſt us, and accommodated unto our more profitable ways.
8 To this effect a learned Secretary, one or more, for Latine, and other Vulgar Languages ſhould be entertain'd, to be under the direction of the Agent, according to the advice of the Truſtees, and ſome Clerks and Tranſcribers are to be had, which are skill'd to write in more Languages then one.
9 The Hoſpitall entertainment of Travelling Learned Strangers, by whoſe means Intelligence may be gotten of things elſwhere moſt conſiderable, is to be allow'd as an extraordinary charge unto the Agent, who is to gain their acquaintance.
10 They ſhould have a peculiar Preſſe for Printing of things to be deſtributed and communicated to the Schools and Univerſities, or univerſally to the chiefe learned men of the Land, to poſſeſſe them with thoſe things which may ſeaſon their ſpirits with thoughts of a Publike concernment.
Other things ſubordinate unto theſe Ends, without which the Agencie cannot be effectuall, and which are matters of coſt and charge are to be wholly referr'd unto the Truſtees, that the Means betruſted unto them may be beſtow'd to the beſt Uſes, which the opportunities of times, places, and perſons do afford.
Many excellent feats of Learning in Men, and in Manuſcripts lie dead and buried in oblivion, and cannot be brought to any perfection for want of ſome patronage, but by the judgment of the Truſtees, and their faithfulneſſe to their Univerſall Aimes, and the diligence of their Agent, who is to bring all unto their hands, and by their advice to publiſh and communicate what is uſefull, this publike evill may be remedied, and a way open'd for the encouragement of Vertue and Induſtry, in the beſt and moſt eminently uſefull Objects of Divine and Humane Knowledge.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Dury, A Seasonable Discourse (1649)