tellectual and immortal nature. My learned and much valued friend, Professor McVickar of Columbia College, N. Y., in his concluding remarks to his republication of McCullochs outlines of Political Economy, adopts this forcible language, in which I entirely coincide. "Without incurring the charge of enthusiasm, it may be maintained to be the redeeming science of modern times-the regenerating principle that in connexion with the spirit of Christianity, is at work in the civilized governments of the world, not to revolutionize, but to reform. It is to states what religion is to individuals, the "preacher of righteousness,"-what religion reproves as wrong, Political Economy rejects as inexpedient—what religion condemns as contrary to duty and virtue, Political Economy proves to be equally opposed to the peace, good order, and permanent prosperity of the community." Should not such a science be made more universally the subject of attention? Should not its rudiments be taught in our schools, and its higher principles in our colleges? And yet how is it neglected in both ? Not universally in our Colleges-in Columbia College N. Y., it has been long and ably taught. It is a prominent part of the course of instruction in Washington College, Hartford, and very possibly in other of our higher seminaries of learning, although I am not informed upon this point. But what has been done, and is doing for it, in our own favored and beloved university? If in this particular department there is not an adequate endowment, to support regular instruction in so important a science, surely there cannot be wanting the means, in our intelligent and noble spirited community, to accomplish this object. Deeply interested as merchants, manufacturers, agriculturalists, capitalists are, in having correct views upon their various interests distributed throughout the community, will they not all cheerfully aid in maintaining a system of instruction which shall effect this purpose? Where can this better be done than within the venerable walls of Harvard?

"I trust, says Professor Whately, that while due encour

agement shall still be afforded to those more strictly professional studies which conduce to the professional advancement in life of each individual, Political Economy will, ere long be enrolled in the list of those branches of knowledge, which more particularly demand the attention of an endowed University. The time is not I trust, far distant when it will be regarded as discreditable, not to have regularly studied those subjects, respecting which, even now, every one is expected to feel an interest-most are ready to adopt opinions, and many are called on to form practical decisions." The suggestion is as important to enlightened and liberal minded persons here, as to those on the other side of the Atlantic. Let us not be behind hand in availing ourselves of it.

Great, and doubtless to a very considerable extent, well founded prejudice has been excited against Political Economy in consequence of the conflicting theories that have been advanced in regard to its fundamental principles, and the dull, confused, pedantic, and often mystical way in which it has been treated. There are very many practical men, who are even now too apt to regard it as a system of solemn quackery. And when we see some of them, as we do occasionally in conversation, and in the debates of our legislative assemblies, come directly at sound conclusions by a process of simple, direct and forcible argument, without any knowledge of a word that has been written in books, concerning exchanges, value, price, wages, capital, &c., we can hardly be surprised at such an impression gaining ground, unfortunate and mistaken though it be. But such occurrences are no more valid as an argument against pursuing Political Economy as a science, than the fact that such men as Franklin have made great discoveries in physical science, without the regular mental discipline of the schools, is an argument against having Professorships of Mathematics and Natural and Experimental Philosophy in our colleges. All they prove is, that now and then, men of powerful and discriminating minds rise up, who can do more without the aid

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of systematic education, than the common order of men can do with it. But education has a tendency to remove the inequality produced by variety of natural endowments, and therefore it is just as well as benevolent to promote it.

No one has yet mastered the Science of Political Economy. It is probably the most difficult and complex of all the moral sciences, and when some gifted mind shall disencumber it of paradoxes, ambiguous phraseology, and subtle and unprofitable questions, and shall exhibit its fundamental principles in clear and bold relief, it will be discovered that it is, at the least, as interesting and important as any one of them, and perhaps the best calculated of all, to give to the mind that discipline which shall render it discriminating, practical and efficient in conducting the transactions of real life.

Teachers in this department and their books are fast improving witness the ones referred to in the preceding note. And let it not be regarded as the prejudice of friendship that would speak in terms of unqualified praise of the style of writing and the method of argument and illustration as exhibited upon the subject in the "Manual of Political Economy, by Willard Phillips," without, however, choosing to be responsible for any opinion upon the conclusions to which this author arrives on some disputed points. The treatise itself, though obviously the fruit of extensive reading and profound thought, has less of the parade of learning, and the confusion arising from a careless use of language, and more of condensed and valuable information relating to the subject, in connexion with our own country, than any that has yet appeared.

[C.]

Upon the important subject of wages, laborers and their condition, see Chapter vii. of Phillips' Manual of Pol. Econ. replete with judicious and philanthropic suggestions. Especially see the eloquent passage p. 151. Laborers should be able to save.