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agreeable effects。 Nothing but the most exemplary morals can give
dignity to a man of small fortune。 The vices of levity and vanity
necessarily render him ridiculous； and are； besides； almost as
ruinous to him as they are to the common people。 In his own
conduct； therefore； he is obliged to follow that system of morals
which the common people respect the most。 He gains their esteem
and affection by that plan of life which his own interest and
situation would lead him to follow。 The common people look upon
him with that kindness with which we naturally regard one who
approaches somewhat to our own condition； but who； we think；
ought to be in a higher。 Their kindness naturally provokes his
kindness。 He becomes careful to instruct them； and attentive to
assist and relieve them。 He does not even despise the prejudices
of people who are disposed to be so favourable to him； and never
treats them with those contemptuous and arrogant airs which we so
often meet with in the proud dignitaries of opulent and
well…endowed churches。 The Presbyterian clergy； accordingly； have
more influence over the minds of the common people than perhaps
the clergy of any other established church。 It is accordingly in
Presbyterian countries only that we ever find the common people
converted； without persecution； completely； and almost to a man；
to the established church。
In countries where church benefices are the greater part of
them very moderate； a chair in a university is generally a better
establishment than a church benefice。 The universities have； in
this case； the picking and choosing of their members from all the
churchmen of the country； who； in every country； constitute by
far the most numerous class of men of letters。 Where church
benefices； on the contrary； are many of them very considerable；
the church naturally draws from the universities the greater part
of their eminent men of letters； who generally find some patron
who does himself honour by procuring them church preferment。 In
the former situation we are likely to find the universities
filled with the most eminent men of letters that are to be found
in the country。 In the latter we are likely to find few eminent
men among them； and those few among the youngest members of the
society； who are likely； too； to be drained away from it before
they can have acquired experience and knowledge enough to be of
much use to it。 It is observed by Mr。 de Voltaire； that Father
Porrie； a Jesuit of no great eminence in the republic of letters；
was the only professor they had ever had in France whose works
were worth the reading。 In a country which has produced so many
eminent men of letters； it must appear somewhat singular that
scarce one of them should have been a professor in a university。
The famous Gassendi was； in the beginning of his life； a
professor in the University of Aix。 Upon the first dawning of his
genius； it was represented to him that by going into the church
he could easily find a much more quiet and comfortable
subsistence； as well as a better situation for pursuing his
studies； and he immediately followed the advice。 The observation
of Mr。 de Voltaire may be applied； I believe； not only to France；
but to all other Roman Catholic countries。 We very rarely find；
in any of them； an eminent man of letters who is a professor in a
university； except； perhaps； in the professions of law and
physic； professions from which the church is not so likely to
draw them。 After the Church of Rome； that of England is by far
the richest and best endowed church in Christendom。 In England；
accordingly； the church is continually draining the universities
of all their best and ablest members； and an old college tutor；
who is known and distinguished in Europe as an eminent man of
letters； is as rarely to be found there as in any Roman Catholic
country。 In Geneva； on the contrary； in the Protestant cantons of
Switzerland； in the Protestant countries of Germany； in Holland；
in Scotland； in Sweden； and Denmark； the most eminent men of
letters whom those countries have produced； have； not all indeed；
but the far greater part of them； been professors in
universities。 In those countries the universities are continually
draining the church of all its most eminent men of letters。
It may； perhaps； be worth while to remark that； if we expect
the poets； a few orators； and a few historians； the far greater
part of the other eminent men of letters； both of Greece and
Rome； appear to have been either public or private teachers；
generally either of philosophy or of rhetoric。 This remark will
be found to hold true from the days of Lysias and Isocrates； of
Plato and Aristotle； down to those of Plutarch and Epictetus； of
Suetonius and Quintilian。 To impose upon any man the necessity of
teaching； year after year； any particular branch of science；
seems； in reality； to be the most effectual method for rendering
him completely master of it himself。 By being obliged to go every
year over the same ground； if he is good for anything； he
necessarily becomes； in a few years； well acquainted with every
part of it： and if upon any particular point he should form too
hasty an opinion one year； when he comes in the course of his
lectures to reconsider the same subject the year thereafter； he
is very likely to correct it。 As to be a teacher of science is
certainly the natural employment of a mere man of letters； so is
it likewise； perhaps； the education which is most likely to
render him a man of solid learning and knowledge。 The mediocity
of church benefices naturally tends to draw the greater part of
men of letters； in the country where it takes place； to the
employment in which they can be the most useful to the public；
and； at the same time； to give them the best education； perhaps；
they are capable of receiving。 It tends to render their learning
both as solid as possible； and as useful as possible。
The revenue of every established church； such parts of it
excepted as may arise from particular lands or manors； is a
branch； it ought to be observed； of the general revenue of the
state which is thus diverted to a purpose very different from the
defence of the state。 The tithe； for example； is a real land…tax；
which puts it out of the power of the proprietors of land to
contribute so largely towards the defence of the state as they
otherwise might be able to do。 The rent of land； however； is；
according to some； the sole fund； and； according to others； the
principal fund； from which； in all great monarchies； the
exigencies of the state must be ultimately supplied。 The more of
this fund that is given to the church； the less； it is evident；
can be spared to the state。 It may be laid down as a certain
maxim that； all other things being supposed equal； the richer the
church； the poorer must necessarily be； either the sovereign on
the one hand； or the people on the other； and； in all cases； the
less able must