Under this absurd and ridiculous prejudice, all the universities of
Europe have laboured for many years, and are only just beginning to see
their error, by the encouragement of natural philosophy. Experimental
learning is the only mode by which the juvenile mind should be trained
and exercised, in order to bring all its faculties to their proper
action: instead of being involved in the mists of antiquity." Can it be
possible, thought I, this is the person of whom my friend Tom gave
such a curious account? Can this be the man who is described as a being
always buried in abstracted thoughtfulness on the architer cural remains
of antiquity, whose opinions are said never to harmonize with those of
other heads of colleges; who is described as eccentric, because he has a
singular veneration for truth, and an utter abhorrence of the dogmas
of scholastic prejudice 1 There are some few characters in the most
elevated situations of life, who possess the amiable secret of attaching
every one to them who have the honour of being admitted into their
presence, without losing one particle of dignity, by their courteous
manner. This agreeable qualification the doctor appeared to possess in
an eminent degree. I had not been five minutes in his company before
I felt as perfectly unembarrassed as if I had known him intimately for
twelve months.
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