[xxxvi. 52]

1821 July 5 1822 Aug. 10.

First Lines

Constitut Cod.

Constitutional

/[...?] Good [...?]

Incorporeal instruments

2. Delusion/

\ZA\Employ this in the Chapter of [...?] on Examinations.

Delusion is either introductive /positive/, or say insertive, or exclusive.

1. Introductive /Positive/, by introduction of false and mischievous lights.

2. Exclusive, by exclusion put upon true and useful lights.

Exclusion is either direct or indirect.

1. Direct, for instance viz by prohibition enforced by punishment, as in case of libel law.

2. Indirect: viz by invitation enforced by reward, applied to produce the introduction of such lights as are either say positively mischievous or useless and thence in a sort of negative way mischievous by drawing of, that attention and those exertions which otherwise would have been employed in the acquisition & introduction of useful lights.

Of introductive delusion an example is afforded by the encouragement given to despotism - supporting newspapers, reviews and other periodicals.

Of the indirectly exclusive delusion an example is afforded by the pains taken in both the Church of England Universities, to apply the whole time and labour of all young men of distinguished talents to the study of the most useless parts that can be found in mathematics & the greek language. This is done by attaching rewards in the shape of rich fellowships and scholarships, to what is thus held out in the character of merit: of which merit such as it is the Degrees are established by what is really the most effectual method or rather the only effectual method, viz. public examinations. In fact in Cambridge such is the effect of this device that of the whole number of three or four thousand students, all those possessed of the strongest talents are made to bestow the whole of their disposable time to the acquisition of these useful points of learning, if learning it is to be called: and such is the energy thus produced, that by it, many a healthy constitution has notoriously be injured not to say destroyed by it.

This is one of the means by which the whole [...?] of that seminary for Public men, has most effectually been abstracted from the study of government and religion through any other books than those which are put into their hands for the delusive purpose.