ONEUROPEANEDUCATION
_ToJohnBanister，Jr。_
_Paris，October15，1785_
DEARSIR，——Ishouldsoonerhaveansweredtheparagraphinyourletter，ofSeptemberthe19th，respectingthebestseminaryfortheeducationofyouth，inEurope，butthatitwasnecessaryformetomakeinquiriesonthesubject。Theresultofthesehasbeen，toconsiderthecompetitionasrestingbetweenGenevaandRome。Theyareequallycheap，andprobablyareequalinthecourseofeducationpursued。TheadvantageofGeneva，is，thatstudentsacquiretherethehabitofspeakingFrench。TheadvantagesofRome，are，theacquiringalocalknowledgeofaspotsoclassicalandsocelebrated；
theacquiringthetruepronunciationoftheLatinlanguage；ajusttasteinthefinearts，moreparticularlythoseofpainting，sculpture，architecture，andmusic；afamiliaritywiththoseobjectsandprocessesofagriculture，whichexperiencehasshewnbestadaptedtoaclimatelikeours；andlastly，theadvantageofafineclimateforhealth。Itisprobable，too，thatbybeingboardedinaFrenchfamily，thehabitofspeakingthatlanguagemaybeobtained。IdonotcountonanyadvantagetobederivedinGeneva，fromafamiliaracquaintancewiththeprinciplesofthatgovernment。Thelaterevolutionhasrendereditatyrannicalaristocracy，morelikelytogiveill，thangoodideastoanAmerican。IthinkthebalanceinfavorofRome。Pisaissometimesspokenof，asaplaceofeducation。