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Now, by bringing into one view the three learned professions, together with the proportion and standing of those, who, in each of them, were previously nurtured in some of our collegial institutions, it will be easy to estimate, in general, the influence, which gentlemen publicly educated, have in society, and the importance, which is consequently attached to their characters.

Should you find, in this representation, any thing to excite your vanity, it will, I hope, be effectually allayed by a rational view of your dangers and obligations. As you are now coming forward to take some part in life, and to produce some degree of effect on the condition and character of men, the sphere of duty will be enlarged, and your defects and errors, and vices, will be rendered the more public, and the more reprehensible.

From the remarks, which have been made, as to the effects, which colleges have on public manners and public happiness, you cannot doubt, that every enlightened friend to his country is a friend to them. But on you, in common with all, who in youth have enjoyed similar advantages, they have peculiar claims. It would be no unsuitable way of satisfying these claims, should you manifest a settled and uniform attachment to literature, and habitual industry in the pursuit of it. It will follow of course, that by conversation and effort, so far as your influence may extend, you give aid to all well directed endeavors to improve science, diffuse a literary taste, and to render our systems of public instruction more comprehensive and more perfect. But, especially, let your deportment be such as to do honor to the collegiate character. Make it evident, that you have not obtained knowledge at the expense of correct principles and sober habits; and thus allay the fears of virtuous parents, lest the atmosphere of a public seminary should communicate to their sons a moral contagion.

I have said that your character as scholars, requires you to cultivate and encourage a correct literary taste. There may be a more intimate connexion between this, and your influence on the morals and piety of those around you, than is at first apprehended. Every effort to promote religion, as well as all other purposes of benevolence, receives material detriment, when

connected with what is gross, absurd, or extravagant. The style and manner, in which these purposes are proposed and urged, are, by no means, immaterial to their success. As the present

in an era of great events, it is likewise an era of strong feelings. These naturally impel to corresponding expressions. Hence may arise a style, wild and inflated; a manner of speaking and writing, which must ever be offensive to a correct scholar, and to every man of nice discernment. Hence, too, may arise a morbid sensibility, that is never satisfied with the modesty, purity, and simplicity of nature.

The great design of every person on earth should be to do good. This is the object of God himself; and it is this, which renders his character lovely in the estimation of good beings. But as he always pursues this end, in a way of righteousness and wisdom, he requires us to be no less conscientious in the means used, than in the purpose to be accomplished. That good, which cannot be attained, without the violation of justice or charity, however it may, through the vapors which surround our intellectual vision, swell upon the sight, is not to be the object either of effort or desire: God does not require us to commit crimes, in order to facilitate the operations of his providence. That the ark might be preserved from falling, it was not necessary, that Uzziah should commit sacrilege.

The field of legitimate benevolence was never more extensive, nor more inviting, than it is at present. Never was there a period, which afforded a fairer opportunity for exerting a beneficent influence. In that comprehensive system of charitable effort, by which the present day is so honorably distinguished; there is some place, in which every person may operate to advantage, some spring, which he may set at liberty,—some wheel, which he may put in motion. If he cannot endow a hospital, or institute a professorship; he may, at least, instruct some child, ignorant, vicious, and forlorn, in the first rudiments of knowledge, and the first principles of duty.

When I consider the harmony, which prevails, and gains strength in our own beloved country,-the pacific aspect of

Europe, and that impulse of munificence, compassion, and piety, which seems to have been simultaneously felt in every part of Christendom, and the essential tendency, which a knowledge of the Scriptures has to establish "peace on earth and good will towards men;" it is impossible not to cherish a confident hope, that a change for the better is soon to be effected in the character and condition of man. To a mind, that is gladdened by these prospects, the sun seems to shine with a more benignant and uniform radiance, the clouds seem skirted with colors of uncommon richness and beauty,-a deeper green rests on the face of nature; and all the powers of life are exhilarated, as its blessings are multiplied: Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree. The mountains and hills shall break forth into singing; and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

But whether our anticipations are too sanguine or not, your duties, young gentlemen, are not doubtful. According to the sphere, in which your are placed, and the abilities bestowed on you, you are debtors to every man, whose knowledge, moral feelings, or happiness, may be influenced by your endeavors. These obligations you will feel with peculiar sensibility, if conscious, that during your collegiate life, you have received impressions, more valuable than those, which are made on the intellect, and have enjoyed consolations more rich than those, imparted even by the acquisition of knowledge.

But let your expectations of enjoyment, and your purposes of usefulness be formed with distinct reference to human frailty. Reminded, as I have been, that the loveliest flowers may blossom but for the grave ;* admonished, as you are, by the gradual decays of a fellow pupil,† whom disease prevents from participating the exercises of this day, we should both be criminal, did we forget, that every earthly hope may be blasted, and every

*The President's youngest son, an interesting child aged two years, died Oct. 19, 1817.

† Isaac P. Anderson here alluded to, died Dec. 16, 1818.

human purpose may be rendered vain, by the uncontrollable decrees of infinite, but unsearchable wisdom.

Young Gentlemen,—I can add nothing, but to assure you, that in departing from this seminary, you carry with you, in no ordinary degree, our confidence and our affection.

A DISSERTATION

ON THE QUESTION

"WHAT CONSTITUTES GOOD USE OF A WORD IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ?”*

As the assignment of this subject to me, resulted from the circumstance of my having expressed doubts concerning it, lit

This Dissertation was prepared for the convention of Colleges, and was read by a friend at the convention held May 31, 1820, after the death of the author. For a brief notice of this convention the reader is referred to the memoir prefixed to the first volume.

The fondness of President Appleton for philological inquiries is alluded to in the memoir of his life and character. The interest felt by him in the subject of this Dissertation appears to have arisen several years before it was written. The following letter addressed to the late learned and deeply lamented Benjamin Vaughan Esq. of Hallowell, on the same subject, will not be without interest in this connexion.

Brunswick, May 12, 1809.

SIR, I would request the favor of your opinion as to the rule which ought to be adopted in the use of English words. It is evident, that the language is perpetually fluctuating. Some terms, used a century and a half ago by the best writers, would not now be used by writers of the same description. It seems to be a point, universally conceded, that new discoveries in physics render new terms necessary. Modern chemists have certainly gone on this principle. Nor do new discoveries constitute the only ground, as it would appear, on which new terms may be introduced. For as it must be allowed, that some words become obsolete, unless others come into use, the language would be gradually impoverished.

Must such words, as progress, (a verb), grade, lengthy, and derangement, be invariably marked, as unfit for use, while out-frown, knoed, kicksy-wicksy, and lovelily, pass under the authority of Dr. Johnson?

The making of new words does not appear to be confined to New England; though it is not denied, that we are culpably addicted to it.

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