ENGLISH PESSIMISM.
[To TRH EDITOR Or THIS "ancorkroa.1 SIR,—In your article under the above heading in the Spectator of August 11th, the remark occurs : " Our commercial educa- tion is neither complete enough nor scientific enough." Your writer refers, it would appear, to commercial education as something by itself and distinct from other curriculums, and be infers, I take it, that such education is more complete and scientific on the Continent, which is what is currently stated, and as generally believed. Yet what are the facts P There is no reason why Switzerland, whose example is referred to in other departments, should not also be quoted in this, seeing that the yearly turnover of her trade is larger per head of population than that of any other country in Europe, and that her sons havie worked out for themselves honourable com- mercial positions in many countries. " Commercial " educa- tion as a separate branch is unknown in Switzerland ! A "Faculty of Commerce" does not exist, nor is the want of it felt. It would seem that there is only one kind of education which is best for the man of commerce, and that is the most general possible, and one without regard to commerce. The wider his studies in physical sciences, the more certain will he
be to evolve that "superior manufacturing skill" for which you argue; and the more he has assimilated of the humanities, the better will he perform the part through which alone in the end the mission of commerce can he fulfilled.—I am,
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