The Advice to Hartlib

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The Advice to Hartlib
File:Petty1647Hartlib001c.png
Author William Petty
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Publication date
 1647
Pages 26
OCLC 933071718
Text The Advice to Hartlib at Wikisource

The Advice to Hartlib was a treatise on education, written by Sir William Petty (1623–1687) in 1647[1] and published in 1647/8.[2] It was the first printed work by Petty and covers a total of 31 pages.

William Petty was educated in France and in Holland, and returned to England in 1646, to study medicine at Oxford University. By that time he had close contacts with scientists like Thomas Hobbes. He developed an instrument for double-writing and became friends with Samuel Hartlib and Robert Boyle.

Samuel Hartlib (c. 1600 – 1662) was interested in many fields of science and was especially active in creating (written) contacts with a number of persons, often scientists, part of whom were members of the Hartlib Circle. He had a clear vision on the importance of education and the spread of knowledge. In 1644 John Milton (1608–1674) wrote his tract Of Education as a letter to Hartlib. Hartlib himself wrote a pamphlet concerning education in 1647.[3] The Advice to Hartlib was William Petty's contribution to the debate.

Bibliographical information

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References to Bibliographies, Bibliographical databases and online editions
Hull:[4]  3a, 3b, 3c, 3d Keynes:[5]   1 Wing's:[6]   P1914, P1914A ESTC:[7]   R5444, R 33397
BLO:[8]   014764413. COPAC:[9]   23017940 BL:[10] 002892260 EEBO-TCP:[11]   A54605.
OCLC 933071718[12] 16px Wikisource logo Wikisource: The Advice to Hartlib The Advice to Hartlib on Open Library at the Internet Archive IA: Petty1948Hartlib
16px Wikidata logo Wikidata: Q44414768

The pamphlet was reprinted in The Harleian Miscellany, London 1745, vol. vi, pp. 1–13[13] and London 1810, vol. vi, pp. 1–14.[14]

In 1862 large parts of the text were reissued in Barnard, Henry – English Pedagogy, under the caption of 'Plan of an Industrial School'.[15]

Parts of the Advice were also reproduced in Ulich, Robert (1954) – Three Thousand Years of Educational Wisdom.[16]

Background

In the days that Petty published his treatise, Samuel Hartlib was the patron of up-and-coming young men. He had a stimulating influence on many others in persuading them to publish their ideas. In 1644 for instance, John Milton (1608-1674) wrote his tractate Of Education as a letter to Hartlib.[17] In 1647 Hartlib himself published a tract, advocating the establishment of an 'office of public address'. This office would have as a main function the dissemination of information about new inventions.

William Petty, aged 27, got involved in this debate about education, and published his Advice.

Contents

The first page of Advice to Hartlib is a kind of advertisement for an instrument for "double writing" that was invented by Petty (and that would again be introduced in his pamphlet Double Writing in 1648), "which is not strictly relevant to the rest of the pamphlet."[18]

On the next page, with the title "To his honoured friend Master Samuel Hartlib", Petty dedicates his treatise to Samuel Hartlib, and describes the main issue of his treatise as "the Advancement of Reall Learning."[19]

He has strong sympathies with Hartlib's idea to create an 'Office of Publick addresse' and is willing to donate all the money he gains with his invention of double writing to this good cause.

In the body of the pamphlet, titled 'The Advice for Advancement of some particular Parts of Learning', which has a total of 26 pages, Petty begins with placing himself in the tradition of Francis Bacon ("Lord Verulam").[20]

He states that the advancement of learning should begin with a large survey of all that is already known to mankind, and by means of that to discover what is not yet known.
This survey should start by perusing all books and taking notice of all "Mechanicall Inventions". All the "Reall or Experimentall Learning" may be sifted and collected. To that purpose every book must be read by two separate persons, who get exact directions for their work. This may finally result in one book, consisting of many volumes, and with good index tables or other helps for ready finding, remembering and understanding of all things contained in the books.[21]

In order to fulfill this task, Petty proposes the establishment of 'Ergastula Literaria,' or 'Literary Workhouses,' in which children may be taught to read and write. To these institutions all children of seven years old might be sent, none being excluded by reason of the poverty or inability of their parents.

'The business of education' he continues, should not be committed to the worst and unworthiest of men; but that it be seriously studied and practised by the best and ablest persons.[22] The study of arithmetic and geometry he recommends to all students. But also some 'gentile Manufacture' like making watches and musical instruments, botanics, chemistry and anatomy should be part of the curriculum.[23]

Next Petty suggests the establishment of a 'Gymnasium Mechanicum,' or 'College of Tradesmen,' to be such that one at least of every trade (the prime most ingenious workman) might be elected a Fellow, and allowed therein a handsome dwelling rent free. From such an institution the projector conceived that all trades not only 'would miraculously progress and new inventions be more frequent, but that there would also be the best and most effectual opportunities and means for writing a history of Trades in perfection and exactnesse.'[24]

Within the walls of the Gymnasium there was also to be a 'Nosocomium Academicum,' or model hospital for the benefit of the scientific practitioner, as well as of the patient, and a complete 'Theatrum botanicum', 'stalls and Cages for all strange Beastes and Birds, with Ponds and Conservatories for all exotick Fishes'. The design concludes with the expression of a regret that no 'Society of Men' as yet exists 'as careful to advance arts as the Jesuits are to propagate their religion.'[25]

A large part of The Advice to Hartlib consists of a detailed description of the 'Nosocomium Academicum'. It could be made out of an old hospital, and could be overseen by three or four curators. The staff of the hospital should consist of a Mathematician for Steward, a Physician, Chirurgeon and Apothecary. They would be assisted by a vice-physician, a student, a chirurgeons mate and an apothecaries mate, two apprentices and nurses.[26] The tasks of the different staff members are described.[27]

The following pages of The Advice to Hartlib are reserved for the books, that should be used in the schools. Petty first refers to "Master Pells three Mathematical Treatises".[28] He then proposes compiling a work with the title Vellus Aureum sive Facultatum Lucriferarum discriptio Magna (the Golden Fleece, or great description of the Money-making Faculties), "wherein all the practesed wayes of getting a Subsistance and whereby Men raise their fortunes, may be at large declared.".[29] An extensive description follows of this compilation, that is sometimes referred to as a "History of Trades".

The Advice to Hartlib concludes with the expression of a regret that no 'Society of Men' as yet exists 'as careful to advance arts as the Jesuits are to propagate their religion,' and with a suggestion of a work on the lines of Bacon's 'Advancement of Learning,' which should be a treatise on 'Nature free,' or on arts and manufactures relieved of restraint, in contrast with a 'History of Nature vexed and disturbed,' or of trade under the restraints of the then existing commercial system.[30]

Critical reception

The only work in which Petty wrote extensively about education has acquired quite some attention in scholarly circles. His concept of the Ergastula Literaria is often mentioned.

Bevan, Wilson Lloyd, in his Sir William Petty - A Study in English Economic Literature (1894)[31] gives a rather extensive description of the Advice to Hartlib, naming it "the Tractate on Education".[32] He considers the work, in its "youthful performance", as a demonstration of Petty's "cast of mind", showing the strength and weakness of his character. He writes among other things about the difference between the visions of Milton and Petty on educational reform. .[33]

Anderson, John William, professor of Education in the University of London,[34] mentions Petty as one of the "Pioneers of Modern Education" of the seventeenth century. Anderson gives much attention to the "universal schools" that Petty wanted to establish, the "Ergastula Literaria", "a phrase which is meant to cover a whole theory of Education, and that a revolutionary one." [35]

According to Knox, H. M., professor of Education at Queen's University Belfast, who wrote an essay about The Advice to Hartlib in 1953[36] the work was difficult to find for a long period, until it was republished in 1876, and again in 1946. Knox starts his essay with the following statement: "To few it is given to write an enduring treatise on education at the age of twenty-four (he means: twenty-seven), but few possess the versatile genius of Sir William Petty."[37] Knox also makes a comparison with the tractate Of Education of John Milton, published 1644, and thinks that the Advice to Hartlib is "full of original matter worthy of detailed study". [38]

References

  1. ↑ According to Petty's own list of his writings, it was written in 1647 (Fitzmaurice 1895, Appendix I).
  2. ↑ On the year of publication: the British Library holds two specimen which are identical, but only differ in date of publication; one is published in 1647, one in 1648. According to Knox 1953, p. 132 it was published early in 1648.
  3. ↑ Samuel Hartlib (1647) – Considerations tending to the happy accomplishment of England's reformation in church and state : humbly presented to the piety and wisdome of the high and honourable court of Parliament. OCLC 540966817, online, but not freely available in EEBO; also printed in: Webster (1970) – Samuel Hartlib and the advancement of learning (OCLC 102956).
  4. ↑ Bibliography number in 'Bibliography of the Printed Writings of Sir William Petty' in: Hull (1899), p. 633/4.
  5. ↑ Bibliography number in Keynes (1971), p. 1. Keynes gives an overview of eight copies in libraries.
  6. ↑ Reference number in Wing's Short Title Catalogue (as used in Keynes 1971).
  7. ↑ Reference number(s) in English Short Title Catalogue (ESTC) – see ESTC citation number property in Wikidata. Can be used as a direct link to the ESTC catalogue, e.g. (William Petty's) The Advice to Hartlib (1647): R5444, through: http://estc.bl.uk/R5444.
  8. ↑ Reference number in Bodleian Library of the University of Oxford. Can be used as a direct link to the BLO catalogue, e.g. The Advice to Hartlib: 014764413, through: http://solo.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/OXVU1:LSCOP_OX:oxfaleph014764413; the Oxford Library contains two copies.
  9. ↑ Reference number in COPAC catalogue. Can be used as a direct link to the COPAC catalogue, e.g. The Advice to Hartlib: 23017940, through: http://copac.jisc.ac.uk/id/23017940?style=html.
  10. ↑ Reference number in catalogue of the British Library. This library contains two identical holdings; one is dated 1647, and one is dated 1648. See also Keynes 1947, p. 1.
  11. ↑ Reference number in Early English Books–Text Creation Partnership; the original scans are (not freely) available on EEBO.
  12. ↑ See also: OCLC 540975671, 933132326 and 911829758
  13. ↑ Copy in archive.org.
  14. ↑ Copy in archive.org. Or p. 141-158, in this copy in Google books.
  15. ↑ Barnard (1862) – English Pedagogy (OCLC 844697199), p. 199-208. Online available in Google books. Accessed 2018-01-02.
  16. ↑ Ulich (1954) – Three Thousand Years of Educational Wisdom (OCLC 803875746), p. 347-354. Online available via paysite.
  17. ↑ Fitzmaurce 1895, p. 11.
  18. ↑ Keynes 1971, p. 1: the text is "in much the same terms as in the broadside published shortly afterwards" (Keynes bibliography number 3, p. 5; see also Double Writing).
  19. ↑ Petty 1647, p. v.
  20. ↑ Bacon (1605) - The Advancement of Learning. Petty: "To give an exact Definition or nice Division of Learning, or of the Advancement thereof, we shall not undertake (it being already so accurately done by the great Lord Verulam)…." (p. 1).
  21. ↑ Petty 1647, p. 2-3.
  22. ↑ Petty 1647, p. 4; see also Fitzmaurice 1895, pp. 11–12.
  23. ↑ Petty 1647, p. 6.
  24. ↑ Petty 1647, p. 7.
  25. ↑ Petty 1647, p. 8.
  26. ↑ Petty 1647, p. 10f.
  27. ↑ Petty 1647, p. 11-17.
  28. ↑ Petty 1647, p. 17.
  29. ↑ Petty 1647, p. 18.
  30. ↑ Fitzmaurice 1895, p. 12. Fitzmaurice's quotes are taken from the pages 8 and 26 of The Advice to Hartlib. Fitzmaurice does not write a single word about the proposals that are made by Petty in the pages in between.
  31. ↑ Bevan 1894.
  32. ↑ Bevan 1894, p. 40f.
  33. ↑ Bevan 1894, p. 92.
  34. ↑ Adamson 1921, p. 118-137.
  35. ↑ Adamson 1921, p. 132.
  36. ↑ Knox 1953.
  37. ↑ Knox 1953, p. 131.
  38. ↑ Knox 1953, p. 132.

Bibliography

Further reading

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External links

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