Elements of the philosophy of the human mind. By Dugald Stewart. Rev. and abridged, with critical and explanatory notes, for the use of colleges and schools. By Francis Bowen ...

314 MEOIRY.
contrivances have been very little, if at all, made use of by publie speakers; but various ingenious attempts have been made,
to assist the AMemory in acquiring and retaining those branches
of knowledge which it has been supposed necessary for a
scholar to carry always about with him; and which, at the same
time, firom the number of particular details which they involve,
are not calculated, of themselves, to make a very lasting impression on the mind. Of this sort is the lemnor~ea Technica of
BMr. Grey, in which a great deal of historical, chronological,
and geographical knowledge is comprised in a set of verses,
which the student is supposed to make as familiar to himself as
school-boys do the rules of grammar. These verses are, in
general, a mere assemblage of proper names, disposed in a rude
sort of measure; some slight alterations being occasionally
made on the final syllables of the words, so as to be significant
(according to certain principles laid down in the beginning of
the work) of important dates, or of other particulars which it
appeared to the author useful to associate with the names.
I have heard very opposite opinions with respect to the
utility of this ingenious system. The prevailing opinion is, I
believe, against it; although it has been mentioned in terms of
high approbation by some writers of eminence. Dr. Priestley,
whose judgment, in matters of this sort, is certainly entitled to
respect, has said, that " it is a method so easily learned, and
which may be of so much use in recollecting dates, when other
methods are not at hand, that he thinks all persons of a liberal
education inexcusable, who will not take the small degree of
pains that is necessary to make themselves masters of it; or
who think any thing mean, or unworthy of their notice, which
is so useful and convenient."
In judging of the utility of this, or of any other contrivance
of the same kind, to a particular person, a great deal must depend on the species of Memory which he has received from
nature, or has acquired in the course of his early education.
Some men, as I already remarked, (especially among those who
have been habitually exercised in childhood in getting by heart
grammar rules,) have an extraordinary facility in srequiring and