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Entered according to tlie Act of Assembly, the 5tli day of November, 1842, by George R. Young, of Halifax, Esq. i i DEDICATION. day of Esq. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE LUCIUS BENTINCK. VISCOUNT FALKLAND, KwiQiiT Grand Cross of the Gcelpihc Order, awd Member of Her Majesty's Most Hororable* Pri- vy Council,— Lieutenant-Governor and Com- mander-in-Chief, IN, AND over Her Ma- jesty's Province of Nova-Scotia, AND its dependencies. Mr Lord, — I have ^eat pleasure in acknowledging tlie penDission given of dedicating tliis volume to your Lordsliip, because, it is known, tliat your Lordship cherishes an earnest attach- ment for tlie refined and elegant pursuit of letters. It will bo to me, as a Colonist, a high gratification, if a perusal of these Lectures shall induce your Lordship to aid tlie only desire which has animated me in tlie labour of pre- paring tliem,— of reforming the educational institutions, ele- vating the literary tastes, and improving tlie principles of LegislaUon in Nova-ScoUa, and tlie other Colonics of BritisJi Nortli America. To be a good FaUier or a good Landlord, is no dishonour- able reputation— but to be a good Governor, and to cxerci*o IV. PEDlCATIOrf. the high prerogatives of the Crown, in founding institutions calcuhited to promote the intelligence, improve tlic habita* and extend the religion of a people, is one of the first duties, aa it is one of the noblest privileges, of a statesman. That Your Lordahip may continue to labour diligently in this sphere, and by benefitting these Colonies, preserve the favour of your Sovereign, and lay up a store of consolatory recollections for future years, is tlie sincere wish * Of Your Lordship's, Very Obedient humble Servant, GEORGE R. YOUNG. lUuFAXf 1st November, 1842. istitutiona he habitst rst duties, in. That lis sphere, ur of your ollcctions tint, »UNG, ,'•1 CONTENTS. LlTnODUCTION p^,^^ y^, ExPLAWATIOKS LECTURE I. Introduction to (Jonoral Litfrature and Science; The cfTt^cts and b( 5 r- VI. CONTENTS. LECTURE IX. On thn Public Spoakinsr of Ancient and Modern Timos— Thrir 'JiHtinctivo characteristics and uses — Labour and Study on- Bcntial to exccllenco in Oratory 2(>3 LECTURE X. Snmo Subject Continued — Eloquence of the Dark Ages — American and French IlovolutionH ifc>6 LECTURE XL Same Subject Continued— Modern Eloquence. . . . 309 LECTURE XIL Same Subject Concluded— On the Study of Eloquence— Hints to Students 337 ADDENDA. Science — Education in Upper Canada — Do. in Newfound- land 355 Errata 358 General Index 3oJ) Contents of Volume 2d., &c 3(J3 )' I INTRODUCTION. 358 359 303 i I I J. IIE following lectures have been written to carry out and complete a literary design, which was formed some years aga Durinnf tlie two sessions in which I was President of tlio In- Btitute in Halifax, it occurred to me tliat a series of Lectures might bo prepared upon distinct and attractive branches of letters, philosophy and legislation, so as to give a condciua componere parvis," the essays in the Spectator upon the Imagination and Eviden- ces of the Cliristian Religion — Hume's and Knox's volumes — the series of popular dissertations on science contained in Chrjnbers's Edinburgh Journal and the Penny Magazine — vin INTnODUCTIOfT. I HlackHf/>nn'«, Kent's and Story's Comniontarioa on Ln^, aro all works whcro conii)rohnnMivo and jjopiilnr views arc prc- ii(;nt()d()f tlio diflbront branches of l(nirninTa- mids — each individual soldier exalts tlie strength of an army — and Science itself, however abstract and recondite, is but tiio multiplication of single ideas : so every fresh contribution to colonial literature rnay add to the provincial fame. I sub- mit tliese volumes in patient hope to tJie criticism of my fel- low colonists, whose decision on former efrort;3 has cheered meditative and solitary hours ; but be the decision as it may, I trust the example set will soon be followed by others, and tliat it will not be long before these Colonies reach tliat po- sition in tlie history of Education, Li \ture, and enlightened principles of Legislation, which it is tlieir high and undoubted destiny yet to occupy. There is a spring and vivacity in tJie xu iNTBODUCTIOrr. k\i Provincial mind wliich cannot be repressed : — it is flashing Qxoimd U3 with promctlican fire — it is visible in tlie rapid rise and extent of private and public enterprises — in Uie increase* Bpirit, and talent of the Colonial Press, — and the blessings of Providence cannot but descend upon tliose, who, with an humble, earnest and candid spirit, labour to give it a right di- rection, and to base the pursuit of intellectual improvement and Colonial polity on the principles of a Catholic faith. — ' Happy is tlie man, says the sage of old, that getteth wisdoni, and tlic man tliat ^cttetli understanding. For tlie merchan- dize of it is better than the merchandize of silver, and tlie gain tliercof tlian fine gold. She is more precious tiian rubies ; and all tiie things that are desired are not to be compared to her. Lcngtii of days are in her right hand and in her left hand are riches and honour, her ways are ways of plea- aAWT.^ESS, AND ALL HER PATHS ARE PEACE" — tllis IS tllO lan- guage of inspiration and therefore tlie language of trutli ; and adopting- tliesc passages as a text, it will be my duty in the aubsc(iuent passages to prove that they are the results which j3ow to individuals end nations, from tlie cultivation of liter- ature and science. Halifax, May 1, 1842. i flashing rapid rise increase' )ssing8 of with an L right di- rovement ; faith. — wisdom, merchan- 1 the gain 1 rubies; npared to 1 her left OF PLEA- 3 tlie lan- ■utli ; and ty in the Its which of liter- EXPLANATIONS. Now that the first volume has passed through the press, I think it right to submit it to the reader with the following explanations : — In writing tlie " History of Knowledge," which is given in the two first lectures, and in illustrating the pleasure's and advantages derived from literature and science, I have had a two-fold object in view : — to circulate, in the first place, sound and liberal views ; and, in the second, to extend the fame of the best books and popular authors, by whom tlic same questions have been more fully discussed. It will be recollected that tlie book is not written to instruct the scho- lar, — it professes no such lofty intention, — it is published to beget a love for literature and education in the Colonial mind — to popularize letters and science, in circles where they are not duly appreciated ; and with tliis view I have often pre- ferred an extract to original composition, and quoted an au- thority, where some may think it savours of parade. I trust also that other authors in the Colonies, and the many able men who cherish the same tastes as my own, will do mo the credit of believing, that, in endeavouring to raise our Colo- nial literature and education on a broader basis, I have had pvery desire to pay due homage to then: labours, — and in free- -'H ■13 IIT KXPLAIfATIOJfS. . I i I ly referring to them, whenever they could bo made available, to claim no undue merit for my own. I should do injustice here to my own feelings, if I did not offer my acknowledgements to the editors of the Colonial Press, for the very kind and flattering expressions, tliey have used in introducing the prospectus to the notice of their readers — they have spoken thus of the promise, — it will gratify me to learn that the performance has not disappointed their expec- tations ; and that the appearance of the subsequent volumes, upon subjects, not inferior in importance to tliose already treated, will tlius be assured of a favourable reception. It is to be observed, tliat one or two of tlie lectures are frank- ed, as if they had been previously read before a Literary So- ciety. In consequence also, of tlie mass of statistics on Co- lonial education, and on the Schools in New England, which has crowded in upon me since the publication of the pros- pectus, I have been obliged, in giving space to tliem, to transfer three lectures, intended for tliis, to the second vo- lume. It has cost me much labour and anxiety to condense tlie information I wished to convey, within tlie prescribed limits. I have lastly to express my acknowledgements to my pub- lisher, Mr. Crosskill, and to tlie Printer, Mr. Barnes, for the infinite pains they have taken to render tlie volume, in mechanical execution, creditable to tlie Colonial Press. Had I looked to economy, or adopted the advice of many friends, tlie book would have been published in England or the Uni- ted States. I do not regret now, that a work on Colonial Li- terature, although published at an extra cost, has been issu- ed from a Local Press. r v •1 do available, if I did not lonial Press, y have used •readers — Tatify me to leir cxpec- it volumes, 5se already ptioa ?s are frarp- iterary So- tics on Co- and, which ' the pros- ) tliem, to econd vo- condenso 3rescribed ) my pub- RNES, for jiume, in ss. Had y friends, tlie Uni- onial Li- ?en issu- 1^ r I' i I t ( s u LECTURE I. Introduction to General lilteratnrc and Science; The ef- fects and benefit of tUeir cultivation on Individuals, mid nations ; Comparison bet^veen Ajucicut and Modem i^uowled^e. CONTENTS. Literature of the Golden Ages — the eras of Literature defi- ned. In the two first learning confined to a chosen -few ; not extended to the people ; — the vigour and originality of the works then produced. Literature of the Ancient and Middle ages — no press — books nor mode of publication. — Authors and Works — Rev. Mr. Wishart's " Rough Sketch of English Literature" — English Language — influence of Chaucer. Age of Queen Anne and Louis the Great — state of education among the common people — Lord Bacon's be- lief in Divination — tri.ils for Witchcraft — state of Morals and Education — Mr. Colquhoon's Lecture — Revival. Pub- lication of the Spectator — style of English Authors — the rise of the present Age of letters — Historians and Philoso- phers — publication of Edinburgh and Quarterly Reviews — their influence upon style and Literature. — Increase of Re- views and Periodicals. — A review of the improvements and discoveries of the age. — Names and productions of the great; men who have adorned it — Astronomy — Geology — Colonial System — Steam Engine — Political Economy, «&c. oINCE tlie close of the last century up to the present time, no question has been more warmly discussed than that of Popular Education. There are many who have even yielded their opposition in so far as to admit the expediency of edu- cating the mass in the elementary branches ; but who unhe- sitatingly condemn tlie introduction of Institutes, Libraries, and the spread of Popular Science and Philosophy, by any *2 OOLDK.'l AGES OF LITERATURE. general system, as dangerous to the good order and well-be- ing of society. They object to the action of the age, not in the pursuit of letters and science among tlio higlier classes, but in tlie extent and cliaracter of education attempted to be given to tlie mass ; and doubt if tliis more extended intelligence is calculated to promote the cause of morals and general liap- pniess, and ameliorate and dignify tlie destinies of mankind. There arc not nfew of these, both in these Colonies and otlier countries ; and who, from advocating these opinions, oppose the progress of popular instruction, and, according to the views of many, the success of general literature. I intend to meet this question as one of pure logic ; and by tracing the pro- gress of knowledge, and by a reference to historical facts, to vindicate before you the auspicious results — ^tlie improve- ment and embellishment which are attendant on the spread of philosophy and letters. We cannot look to tlie experience of tlie past, and tlie exertions which are making ahroadj witli- out learning lessons useful at home ; and it is an impression, which has been long and deeply implanted in many patriotic minds, that to improve the systems of education, and elevate the Literature of these Colonies, is one of the noblest, because most useful, spheres of public enterprise. There is perhaps no mode in which this argument can bo so effectively pursued, as in drawing a contrast between tlie present and the past ages of philosophy and literature ; and thus tracing tlie tendency of knowledge upon national morals and general happiness. The present age — justly distinguish- ed as one of the golden and palmy times of literature and learning, presents different aspects, and prospects far supe- rior, to any which has preceded it Voltaire, in his introduc- |i t M ERAS DEFINED EV BCTLEIU n J wcll-be- Tc, not iii lusses, but be given itolligenco neral liap- ' mankind. 1 and otiier ns, oppose ) the views id to meet ig the pro- rical facts, 3 improve - 3 spread of experience oad, witti- pression, patriotic d elevate because tnt can bo tween tlie |;ure; and lal morals Ptinguish- liture and far supe- lintroduc- lion to "Lc S' '"Ic de Louis le Grande," has arranged tlicse into four*. 'I he age of Akxander^ in which Homer and Phidias, Thucydidcs and Demostlienes, shed tlie glories of genius upon Greece. The Ai s^istan age, when Horace and Virgil left their poetry as inheritances to Rome. The age of tlie Dt .Media, of which Roscoe has drawn the picture in sucli splendid colouring. And, lastly, tliat era in which the contemporaneous Courts of Louis and our own Queen Anne, were honoured with such a galaxy of poets, historians, states- men, and philosophers. Butler, in the Reminiscent dividcK the ages of literature into different cycles or periods. Hm arrangement is as follows : — " Every learned reader is aware that history presents seve- ral eras, in which the powers of the human mind have been eminently displayed in various branches of knowledge — Ist among these may be reckoned the age of Homer ; his pf>ems are tlie only memorial of it which has reached us : but it i? impossible that they should have been tlie single instance of genius and taste produced during the period in which that poet lived. 2. The next may (but with great laxity of Chro- nology) be caded the age of PIdlip and Alexander : 3, tlie age of Plolomy Philadelphis, king of Egypt, follows ; it is not often mentioned, but it produced Theocritus, Apollinufc, Rhodius, many persons eminent in Art and Science, and one certainly of the most important works of antiquity, the Greek version of the Old Testament, usually tenned the Septuagint : 4, the Augustan age is illustrated by names fa- miliar to every classical reader : 5, the Saracenic period, or the era of the Ominiades ; " the flourishing ages" as they are *See Blair's Lectures, 2d Vol. p. 179. I ) ^1 ERAS OF LEARNING. I \ described by Swinburn, " of Arabian gallantry and magnifi- cence, which rendered the Moors of Spain superior to all their contemporaries in arts and arms, and made Cordova one of tlie moat splendid cities of the world. Cordova was the cen- tre of politeness, taste and genius ; tilts and tournaments, with otlier costly siiows, were long tlie darling pastimes of a weal- thy and happy people, and this was tlie only city of the west where geometry, astronomy, and physic were regularly prac- tised :" G, tlie rto-e of Julius the second and Leo the ienth^ so admirably illustrated by Mr. Roscoe in his lives of Lorenzo de Medici and Leo. The Reminiscent has sometimes thought that an interesting history of the revival of literature in this age might be formed by supposing a literary tour on Uie plan of " TVie Travels of Jlnachnrsis the Younger.''^ A young Sasmathian initiated in the classics by some Italian or Ger- man, whom war or commerce had carried beyond the Vistula might make his way into Italy ; and after much wandering become the commensal of Erasmus at Basle, and remain with him but witli a liberal allowance for cat?ual excursions until his decease ; then he might resume his wanderings, vi- sit England and Scotland, and spend his last days with Gro- tius. Much of couse he should see, read and hear ; and all he saw, read or heard he should communicate to some favour- ed correspondent, who after the decease of his friend should publish his letters with notes. Such a work, from a pen of taste, learning and industry, would be even more interest- ing tlian that of Barthilimi, and find its way to every school, every library, and almost every toilette in Europe. How irrateful it would be to men of letters to hear that Mr. Hal- lam was engaged in such a work ! 7, tlie age of Louis the 1-5 ■'V FIFTH AND PRESENT ACE. id ma^ifi* to all their lova one of IS the cen- lentfl, with of a weal- )f the west ilarly prac- le tenth, so Lorenzo de 98 tliought terature in tour on tlie A young in or Ger- Jhc Vistula wandering id remain excursions Brings, vi- with Gro- ; and all ne favour- nd should a pen of interest- ry school, )e. How Mr. Hal- Louis the fourteenth, is yet the glory of Franco. Witli tlic single ex- ception of Music, every Art and Science, every branch of elegant or profound literature was then cultivated in that kingdom, by persons to whom the public opinion of all Eu- rope has uniformly assigned a lofty place in the temple of fame." 'W These four^ above alluded to in the arrangement of Vol- taire, arc distinguished from the fflh and present, in this grand and essential difference — tha" in all of these anterior ages, letters and learning were confined to Uicfewj and un- known or forbidden to the many. The volume tlien sealed, except to the elect, is now unclasped and open. In the sub- limer manifestations of genius, in the freshness and concentra- ted energy of single minds, — tliey may have surpassed us ; for some exalt the productions of these ages, and especially those of antiquity, as infinitely superior to any in modern times, but the altars upon which their votive offerings to the muses were hung, were sanctified only by their own presence, and a few chosen and appointed worshippers : no crowd ever ga- thered at the threshold, or entered the temple — it had a sub- lime, but it was an austere and lonely gradeur. In each age, a single, or a few productions have appeared of transcendant, if not incomparable excellence. There is no modem epic, for example, not even excepting Paradise Lost, which can match the Iliad of Homer ; and no orations in modem times, which could have kindled the latent springs of the heart, whether allied to patriotism or the nobler passions, like the Phillippics of Demosthenes, or the Cata- lines of Cicero. It is admitted that no Satirist has ever yet appeajred to equal Horace, in his knowledge of human cha- .■^ • A5CIENT AUTIIOns. racier, graceful pleasantry, or barbed wit. Pope's Essay on Man, valued as it is, and deserves to bo, can have no com- parison witli tlie " Ars Pootica," The iEncid of Virgil la a worit sui frcncris, — Btanding alone, and pcrhai)8 incompa- rable. And if we study tlic ages in which tliosc works were produced, nr) philosophers dcsorvo more unqualified admira- tion tlian Cicero, tlio Elder Pliny, or tJio Divine Plato. And yet it is known Uiat in the eras in which tliesc — the illus- trious — " tlic truly illustrious dead " flourished, tlie moss of the people were untaught, and were sunk in tlie lowest state of religious and social barbarism. The art, of printing did not tlicn exist, and tlic works of these gifted men, which now are the school-boy books of the ago, and form tlie cottage li- braries of tiio Peasantries of Iceland, and tlie soutJi west coaflt of Ireland*, were elaborated on tablets of wax, or en- wrought upon costly rolls of papyrus, accessible to, and of course known, only by a few. The Grecian and Roman au- thors published tlieir works by public readings at the Olym- pic Games in Greece, m Ci in the Forum at Rome. Beyond the crowd, upon whose car tlie voice of tlie Reader fell, tliey were compuutively unknown. In tlic Provinces they were unlieard of, and their illumination instead of brightening the general mind, and extending a light to all — shed an intense and brilliant flame upon a narrow circle of admirers. The learning of the Middle ages had neither a more com- prehensive, nor more effective influence, upon the people. — The Gotlis and Vandals, when they issued from their nor- *During a visit paid in 1838 to the lakes of Killarney, I was fortunate enough to fall in with several examples of the "Poor Scholar" — I examined some of them in the Classics, and found them respectably versed in ancient learning. 4 f f ! f) VtODLF, a0F«<. Essay on ) no com- ''irgil id a incompa- orks were (1 admira- ato. And -the illua- ic mass of west state inting did vhich now cottage li- loutJi west ox, or on- to, and of oman au- e Olym- Beyond fell, tliey [they were ening the n intense lore com- jpeople. — leir nor- ^ey, I was -' Poor Isics, and M. them fastnesses, and invaded tJio fruitful territories of t^>c south, tramplinjf down in their march nrry fabric of civili- zation — Ujo temples of the Gods, the arches of the Emperors, built to commemorate their triumphs — the noblest speci- mens of sculpture, — annihilating tlio architecturnl glories of Alliens, and sacking Imperial Rome herself, expelled philo- sophy, literature, and the Arts, to Asia Minor, and the coun- tries of tlie East In tliem, happily, they were preserved and cherished. When the dominion of these barbarians ha«l passed away — when Italy sprang from its lon.f? night of dark- ness, and founded another and blushing fame upon a body of young and vigorous republics — when tlic spirit of the cru- sades and of commerce, had created a closer intercourse be- tween Europe and Asia, tJic Sciences and Arts were recalled frona tlieir banishment, and restored to a congenial soil, ra- pidly advanced to their former excellence ; still they were confined to tlieir cities, and embraced by their literal^ and dif- fused no intelligence, and spread no genial and kindly influ- ence, to the mass. The learning of these times was brilliant OS the solar light at its centre ; but there were no rays pene- trating to and irradiating tlie system to the extreme bounda- ries of the circle. In Robertson's Introduction to the History of Charles Stli, which contains so masterly a view of tlie rise of the feudal system, and of the importation of the arts and letters from the East to Europe, from the intercourse created by the Cru- sades and Commerce, there is the following graphic and striking passage : — " But from these expeditions, extravagant as they were, beneficial consequences followed, which had neither been foreseen nor expected. In their progress to- 8 EFFECT OF THE CRUSADES A u. I wards the Holy Land, tho followers of the Cross marched tlirough countries better cultivated than their own. Their first rendezvous was commonly in Italy, in which Venice, Genoa, Pisa and other cities had began to apply themselves to commerce, and had made considerable advances toward wealth as well as refinement. They embarked there, and landing at Dalmatia, pursued their course by land i Con- stantinople. Though the military spirit had been long ex- tinct in tlie Eastern Empire, and a despotism of the worst species had annihilated almost every public virtue, yet Con- stantinople never having felt the destructive rage of the bar- barous nations, was the greatest as well as the most beauti- ful city in Europe, and the only one in which there remain- ed any image of tlie ancient elegance in manners and arts. The naval power of the eastern empire was considerable. — Manufactures of the most curious fabric were carried on in its dominions. Constantinople was tlie chief mart in Europe for tlie commodities of tlie East Indies. Although the East Saracens and Turks had torn from the Empire many of its richest provinces, and had reduced it within very narrow bounds, yet great wealth flowed into the capital from these various sources, which not only cherished such a taste for magnificence, but kept alive such a relish for the sciences, as appears considerable, when compared with what was known in other parts of Europe. Even in Asia, the Europe- ans who had assumed the cross, found the remains of the knowledge and arts which the example and encouragement of the Caliphs had diffused through the empire. Although tlie attention pf tlie historians of the Crusades, was fixed on other objects than the state of society and manners, among AND OF COMMERCE. 9 I marched n. Their i Venice, hemselves es toward Jiere, and d Con- 1 long ex- the worst yet Con- f the bar- 9t beauti- e remain- and arts. ierable. — Tied on in in Europe I the East my of its narrow om these taste for sciences, 'hat was Europe- t3 of the agement Uthough fixed on I, among § tlie nations which they invaded, although most of them had neither taste nor discernment enough to describe these, they relate, however, such signal acts of humanity and generosity, in the conduct of Saladdin, as well as some other leaders of the Mahometans, as give us a very high idea of their man- ners. It was not possible for the Crusaders to pass through so many countries, and to behold their various customs and institutions, without acquiring information and improvei ent. Their views enlarged ; their prejudices wore off ; new ideas crowded into tlieir minds ; and tliey must have been sensible of the rusticity of their own manners, when compared witli those of a more polished people. These impressions were not so slight as to be effaced upon their return to their na- tive countries. A close intercourse subsisted between the East and West during two centuries ; new armies were con- tinually marching from Europe to Asia, while former adven- turers returned home, and imported many of the customs to which tliey had been familiarised by a long residence a- broad. Accordingly, we discover, soon after the commence- ment of the crusades, greater splendour in the Courts of Princes, greater pomp in public ceremonies, a more refined taste in pleasures and amusements, together with a more ro- mantic spirit of enterprise, spreading gradually over Europe ; and to these wild expeditions, the effect of superstition or folly, we owe the first gleams of light, which tended to dis- pel barbarism and ignorance." In this era we have Dante,* Petrarch, Ariosto, Tasso, Chau- * For a beautiful Review of the Poetry and Character of Dante and Petrarch, see Hallam's Europe and the Middle Ages, 2d vol., p. 322. i iO LITERATURE OP THE cer, Michael Angelo, Raphael and Titian, but these men produced rather inheritances for posterity, tlian any fountain of intellectual wealtli, at which the people could drink freely. The Court and nobility appreciated tlieir value and felt their izL'?piration. They were ornaments for tlic Palace and the CJofltle, not the Arts or Books of the cottage.* Learning then was shut up in the cloister and college. The ancient autliorg treasured up in costly manuscripts, were familiar only to the fatJvers, — literarum dodi. Tliey had no mode of repro*" duction except by the slow labours of tlie pen. The finest ta- lents of tlie age were confined to tlie metaphysical subtleties of the schools ; or to the profound, though perplexing, inves- tigations of theological controversy. Of the learning of theso ages, Robertson in his introduction to Charles V. thus speaks : " The first literary efforts, liowever, of the European na^ tions in the middle ages, were extremely ill directed. Among tmtions, as well as individuals, the powers of imagination atr tain some degree of vigour before tlie intellectual faculties «xe much exercised in speculative or abstract disquisition.— Men are poets ''cfore they are philosophers; tliey feel with eensibility, and describe with force, when they have made but little progress in investigation or reasoning. Tlie age of Homer and of Hesiod long preceded tliat of Thales or of So- crates. But, unhappily for literature, our ancestors deviated from this course which nature points out, plunged at onc« *0f the Literature of the Middle Ages, a very graphic pic- ttire is contained in the Edinburgh Review for April 1841, Vol. 22, p. 22. It is founded on Berrington's elaborate work on the same subject. After a review of the Authors of Anti- quity, the Critic says — " It thus sufficiently appears, that in Uie most useful branches of Literature, the Romans Jiad Qiad« oo progress at all, and the Greeks very little." ii 3IIDDLE AGES. 11 hic pic- 1 1841, te work if Anti- that in id iimdt into the depths of abstruse and metaphysical enquiry. They iiad been converted to the Christian faith, soon after they settled in tlieir new conquests, but they did not receive it pure. The presumption of bad men had added to the simple and instructive doctrines of Christianity the tiieories of a vain philosophy, that attempted to penetrate into mysteries, and to decide questions which the limited faculties of the human mind are unable to comprehend or to resolve. These over- curious speculations were incorporated with the system of religion, and came to be considered as the most essential part of it. As soon, then, as curiosity prompted men to en- quire and to reason, these were tlie subjects which first -pre- sented themselves, and engaofed their attention. The scho- lastic theology, with its infinite train of bold disquisitions and subtile distinctions, concerning points which are not tlie object of human reason, was tlie first production of the spirit of inquiry, after it began to resume some degree of activity and vigour in Europe. It was not, however, tliis circum- stance alone that gave such a wrong turn to the minds of men, when they began again to exercise talents which they had so long neglected. Most of the persons who attempted to revive literature in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, had received instruction, or derived tlieir principles of sci- ence, from tlie Greeks in the Eastern empire, or from the Arabians in Spain and Africa, Botli these people, acute and inquisitive to excess, had corrupted those sciences which they cultivated. The former rendered Theology a system of speculative refinement, or of endless controversy ; the latter communicated to philosophy a spirit of metaphysical and fri- volous subtlety. Misled by tliese guides, the persons who t I. ..i! ! < V 12 LITERATURE OF THE first applied to science were involved in a maze of intricate inquiries. Instead of allowing tlicir fancy to take its natural range, and to produce such works of invention as might have improved their taste and refined their sentiments ; in- stead of cultivating those arts which embellish human life, and render it comfortable, they were fettered by authority, they were led astray by example, and wasted the whole force of their genius in speculations as unavailing as they were difficult" These were investigations, far beyond the reach of the common mind. It was in this age that Galileo suifered mar- tyrdom for his philosophy — and that Faust for his invention of letters, was supposed by the learned in Paris to have been gifted with tlie magic art The feudal system reigned in all its plenitude and rigour. The Peasantry were called villeins or slaves. They were adscripti glebes, and passed with the title, like the other appendages of the soil. Machiavel then wrote his " Prince." The benefit of clergy was introduced in this cycle into the English code of criminal law, as an in- ducement tliat the monks and the laity might learn to read ; and if such were tlie humble qualifications required for the Teacher, it was apparent that the primer could not be com- mon amongst his flock. In Mr. Dick's work " On the improvement of Society by the diffusion of knowledge," there is a popular and pleasing sketchoftlie state of learning in this age. "So great was the ignorance which then prevailed, tliat persona of the most distinguished rank could neither read nor write. Even many of the clergy did not understand the breviary, or book of common prayer, which they were daily accustomed to recite, MIDDLE AGES. la r intricate its natural as might nents; in- uman life, authority, the whole ig as they ich of the Efered mar- i invention have been gned in all led villeins pd with the liavel thei> introduced as an in- rn to read ; ed for the be corn- society by d pleasing great was »f tlie most Iven many r book of to recite, m and SMne of them could scarcely read it" In the Appen- dix No 1. he presents the following summary of fucti^, which are derived chiefly from the "Historian" of Charles the 5th. " In the ninth century, Herband Comes Palatin, though supreme judge of the empire, by virtue of his office, could not subscribe his name. As late as the fourteeatli century, Du Gueselin, constable of France, the greatest man in the state, could neither read nor write ; nor was this ignorance confined to Inymen, the greater part even of Uie clergy were not many degrees superior to tliem in science. Many digni- fied ecclesiastics could not subscribe the canons of tlioso councils of which they sat at as members. One of the (jjiics- tions appointed by the canons to be put to persons who were candidates for holy orders, was this — " wliether they couhl read tlie Gospels and Epistles, and explain the tenor of them, at least literally ?" Alfred the Great complained, tliat from tlie Humber to the Thames, there was not a priest who un- derstood the liturgy in his mother tongue, or wlio could trans- late the easiest piece of Latin, and that, from the Thames t( > the sea, the ecclesiastics were still more ignorant. One of the causes of tlie universal ignorance wliich prevailed during that period, were the scarcity of books, along with their ex- orbitant price, and the difficulty of rendering tliem more common. The Romans wrote tlieir books cither on parch- ment or on paper made of tlie Egyptian papyrus. The latter being the cheapest was, of course, the most commonly used. But after the communication between Europe and Egypt was broken off, on account of the latter having been seized upon by the Saracens, the papyrus was no longer in use in Italy and other European countries. They were obliged on that 14 REV. MB, WI9H\RT's SKETCHES. account to write their books upon parcliment, and o.s its price was higli, books became extremely rare, and of great value. We may judge of tlie scarcity of the material for writing them from one circumstance. There still remain several manuscripts of the eighth, ninth, and following centuries, written on parchment from whicii some former writings have been erased, in order to substitute anew composition in its place, in this manner it is probable, several works of the an- cients perished. A book of Livy or of Tacitus might be e- rased, to make room for the legendary tale of a Saint, or the prayer of a missal." Before passing from the features of this age, it would be unjust, in a work avowedly devoted to Colonial Literature, if reference were not made to a series of beautiful ori- ginal papers which appeared in tlie Halifax Novascotian, (1840) entitled — " A Rough Sketch of English Literature, from its first commencement to the age of Elizabeth." They are from the pen of the Rev. Mr. Wishart, lately Minister at Shelburne, but now situate at St. John, N. B. These rough Notes, and the masterly sketches of the Nineteenth Century by the same hand, contained in the earlie: numbers of the Novascotian for 1840, have been regarded, and justly so, as tlie evide.ices of a richly cultivated mind, and superior pow- ers of analysis and comprehension. I embody here a few extracts from his history of English Literature, in the hope that tlie sketches themselves may be more generally read, and that some spirited Colonial publisher may be induced to give them, and those of the Nineteenth Century, a more per- manCiit existence and wider circulation, than they can enjoy while only to be found in the evanescent pages of a newspa- SAXON LITEHATCRE. 15 s its price •eat value. 3r writing in several centuries, tings have tion in its of the an- light be e- lint, or the , would be Literature, autiful ori- ovascotian, Literature, th." They Minister at hese rough jth Century ers of tlie stly so, as erior pow- ere a feAv the hope ally read, nduced to more per- can enjoy la newspa- per. Of the state of literature among the Saxons, and th« influence of tlie Norman invasion upon tlie English language, (and it is to this view alone I will confine the present seleo^ tions, because it is an inquiry peculiarly interesting to us ;) ho presents tlie following sketch : ** A history of English Literature, written as it ought to be, \^ould demand on the part of the author more time and research tlian authors are now willing to bestow — and would require a public more patient, more curious, and more ei>- thusiastic of tlie beautiful, tlian is to be found in the Nine- teentli Century. ^ We only could have wished tliat we possessed the pow- ers and tlie leisure, and tlie independence requisite to th« ta^k, and spite of the utilitarian character of our times, \v% would have set about it manfully. But, alas ! we can do nothing more than indicate tlie deficiency — leaving it fop some abler and more fortunate man to supply. At present we shall endeavour to trace out a very meagre outline of our literature, formed from the scattered facts that we have ga- tliered from various sources, and interspersed witli the re- flections tliat may suggest themselves as we advance. " Our knowledge of our Saxon ancestors is remarkably su- perficial and imperfect They have left fewer traces of their existence behind them, than any other nation of modem Eu- rope. In no instance with which we are acquainted, has tlie character and language of the conquered, been so thoroughly merged in tiiat of the conquerors. The general principle which we gather from history, is, that the invaders of a country, being less numerous, and commonly less civilised than its inhabitants, adopt its manners, customs and Ian- t 16 INrLCENCE OF THE r ) ! guage. But the Normans, on the contrary, were more civi- lised than those whom thiey attacked, and hence the almost total obliteration of the characteristics of the Saxon race. It is upon our language that they have left the most numerous traces of their existence ; and probably from it are to be de- rived the most exact memorial of their prejudices. Some- thing may be learned from what remains of tlieir architec- ture — something more from otlier sources, but all put toge- ther the amount is woefully insignificant. " We have consulted several autliorities, and all tliat we have gleaned from tliem amounts to this ; that the Saxons were a tame and sober race, and that the poetry which they liave transmitted to us bears the impress of tlicir character, consisting almost wholly of metrical legends of their favou- rite saints, garnished with a more than sufficient quantity of miraculous incident Their most learned authors wrote in Latin, and have left us some heavy and prolix chronicles, into which the marvellous enters, almost in as large a pro- portion as into tlie legendary poetry. " Such then are the remains of the Anglo-Saxon literature, fabulous chronicles in Latin, fabulous biographies in the ver- nacular dialect, both the performances of superstitious men, and displaying neither fancy nor discrimination. — Innumerable manuscripts of this period crowd tlie shelves of our great libraries, but so destitute are they of all that can interest, that few or none of them have been opened but by tlie curious and patient antiquarian. " The origin of English literature, properly speaking, dates no higher than the conquest ; anything written anterior to that event is too insignificant to be taken into the account. — -j^ NORMAN INVASION. 17 lOrc civi- le almost race. It Qumcrous to be de- . Some- architec - put togc- 1 tliat we le Saxons hich they character, leir favou- [uantity of 3 wrote in hronicles, rge a pro- literature, in the ver- [perstitious lination. — shelves of [1 that can led but by ping, dates Interior to iccount.— The study of the Anglo Saxon period mny rcwnrd the anii- quory with many facts, curious and even valuable in an ety- mological view : it can yield but very little to tlie literary critic. "The Norman invasion produced a marked and almost in- stantaneous change upon the national character. The high- er orders among tlio Saxons vied with each other in adopt- ing tlie manners and language of their warlike comiuerors, who, on their side, were not backward in constraining an imitation on the lower classes, who adhered tenaciously tc their own customs and speecli. " The language ^vas tiio first thing to yield — the Saxo;i nobles seem to have been long ashamed of its nidencss, for, centuries before the conquest it had been usual with thcni to send their children to be educated in French monasteries, they therefore willingly adopted the speech of their masters. Royal Edicts assisted in diffusing tlie Norman — all legal and judicial proceedings were ordered to be carried on in it — it was commanded to be taught in schools — it formed t)ic only medium of communication at court and among the no- bility. So severely was it discouraged that we frequently see religious communities translating their charters into tia- tin from the original Saxon, a proof that no rights were re- cognised, which were conveyed in that tongue. Still the Normans were few compared with the original inhabitants — and men cling with great tenacity to the language of thrir fathers — tlie Saxon especially in the remote districts, and among the lower orders, struggled on for upwards of threa centuries, and tlie amalgam of tlie two tongues were not complete before the days of Chaucer:^ •3J h^ Id CHAUCER ON THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. ^.. i 1 In a aubscquoiit passage of the some article ho tlma refers to the influence of Chaucer, in giving force, variety and bcaU' ty to the English tongue : — " It is striking to contrast together tlie writings of tlio same man "wiien he makes use of tlic Latin and of the vulvar idi- om ; no stronger evidence of tiie influence of language over tliought could be adduced. In tlic one case he is always in- telligible, at times spirited and even elegant — in tlie other he drags along witli much and frequent efibrt, seems tongue- tied or pours forth incoherent sentences, which, at best ena- ble you faintly to comprehend at wliat he is aiming. It is difllcult to believe that in both instances he is the same man who speaks. The union of the two tongues which had been proceeding slowly during tJiree centuries, was accelerated by Chaucer. English Language and Literatuve date from him, before him the two languages had refused to coalesce — from his time they began to harmonise. He obviously inclines towards the Saxon portion, and it would have been Avell for our poetry at least, hud succeeding writers followed the same directions. lie performed for our language sometliiii'^ of the same office as Dante for the Italian ; he found it in a shape- less and vacillating condition, and he gave it form and solidi- ty ; we are far from asserting tliat he did as much as the grreat man to whom we have compared him. In the hands of Dante, the Italian assumed almost as much force, precision, and grace, as it was capable of receiving. The English af- ter Chaucer underwent numerous modifications ere it acquir- ed its last degree from Spencer and Shakspeare. Chaucer'a task however was the more difficult of the two — Dante had but to settle the idiom which though loose and arbitrary was ■i 'I COLDF..N AOF OF AN.Ni:. ID ug refert nd bcau- thc same ilgar idi- a(TC over Iways in- Uic other IS tongue- best ena- ug. It is same man 1 had been Dlerated by from him, ?scc — from ,y inclines |en well for (1 the same |hi.'«^ of the |n a shape- and solidi- ch as the le hands of precision, ngUsh af- it acquir- Chaucer'a JDante had itrary was far from inelegant. Chaucer to politsh what was barbarous, to mould what was without form and comeliness, to select from the synonimous terms of the two languages, to choose wiint was best in each to supply the deficiencies of both from the richer vocabularies of their tonguos; upon tlic whole he has succeeded in the uttemi)t. Tliut he was far from com- pleting the amalgam appears from the passages of his poems, where ^axon and Norman iippear j)ure and unmixed. \Vc cannot compare him with fithcr of his two g^oat contempora- ries, Boccacio and Petrarch— thu ono the architect of Iuh country's prose, tlie other tiic most elegant of her poets ; ho never loses so nnich as when viewed in company with these illustrious spirits." The fourth era alluded to in this division, the age of Loui« the XIV of France, and ofQuovn Anne and William of Eng- land, exhibited marked indications of improvement.* Louis, although ignorant himself, and so little indebted to tlio *In this goucr.il sketch of tlio pro^rrssof knowledge, I have endeavoured to make my references to books of easy access. To thorie wlio wisii to h.ive deep and profound views upon tlii^ enticing and interestinir sul)iect, 1 would recommend the able and elaborate diricourjes of I'rofessors Stewart and Playfair, to be found in tiie suppleincnts of the Encyclopedia Uritannica — tlie first entitled "A General view of the progress of Meta- physical, Etiiical, and Political Science sinct; the revival of letters," and ilw second "On the 'Jistory of the Physical and exact Sciences." J3oth of these treatises an* reirarded as stan- dard works bv men of lenrnin"-, and are distintruished for their taste, profundity, and eloquence. "The History of the Induc- tive Sciences, from the earlit^stto the presimt times," by Pro- fessor Whewell, of Trinity C(-ll(>ge, Cambridge, 3 vols., l!*37, is a book of acknowledged excellence and research. For tho History of Literature Mr. Hallam's works stand pre-eminent, and in the last volumes he has published " On the loth and IGth centuries, wo believe, he has supplied the History of that interesting period, to v.^hich the lleminisceut dirr-cLed thu public attention in the extract contained in a prccediujj p^i-gt,'. t \4 ii ' n \ j i s 20 EDUCATION AMONO THE PEOPLE. Bclioolri, that he could scarcely subscribe hia own name, and certainly could neither have dictated a state paper, nor writ* ten a letter correct in its orthography, was u munificent pa- tron of learning and tlic Arts, and held out that cncouroge- nicnt to genius', which, divine as it is, is not witliout its ef- fect Franco never was so much distinguished for her Poets, Philosophers and Gcnomls — for by military autliors it is doubted, wjicther, even tlio trained marshals of Buona- parte, yoult, Junot, or McDonald, were superior to the Con- do or Turcuno of Louis lo Gmndo. There were Corncille, llichilicu, Molicrc, Racine, Fenelon, Massillon, Bordaloue, all names who stand in Uie van of talented men. In Eng- land, the glories of Uie age were founded upon the reputation of men, to whom even tlieso were not superior. There were Marlborough iii war — Boyle and Newton in Philosophy- Milton and Pope in Verse — Burnet and Tillotson in the Church — Temple and Addison in General Literature — Hale and Holt in the Law — Clarendon and Bolingbroke as States- men — and these are only the greater stars of the time. To Englishmen no recollections can furnish food for nobler pride ; and yet, if we refer to tlie cotemporary historians of the pe- riod it will be seen, tliat the paysans of France were then a simple untaught race, chained in the deepest ignorance, and alive to the grossest superstitions. The peasantry of Eng- land, in their order of intelligence, were scarcely more ad- vanced. I might quote on this point, if I had space, some curious passages from the historians of the age. " The great body of the people," says one of them, " and of the poorer classes in tlie towns, were destitute of the simplest elemen- 'ary education. They could not even read their Bibles."— POPULAn SUPERSTITIONS. 91 ic, find Dr writ- cnt pa* ourogc- it its cf- r Poets, rs it 19 Buona* the Con- Jorncille, ^rdalouc, In Eng- Dputation lerc were osophy— )n in the re— Hale \a Statcs- imc. To ler pride ; if the pe- re then a ince, and of Eng- more ad- ,ce, some 'he great e poorer elemen- libles."— 4 1 Docon, vvlio had Uie strcngtJj of mind to reject tlic nncicnt ticliools, and tlic genius to strike outtlic inductive philosophy, gravely recommended* divination ad a branch of science wortJiy of cultivation. Trials for witchcraft f were then not infrequent. Chief Justice Holt, in the reign of James H, conducted no less Uian twcl .c. The power of fortune-tcll- mg was as much confided in as revclation.| Hale, when Chief Justice, did not deny tlic gift of supernatural powers ; and Johnson, great as he was in intellect, had not .surnKHin- ted the lingering superstitions of the age — for half a century j)Osterior, during his visit to tlie Highlands, he l)ccfiiii(; ;i convert to the doctrine of " second sight" To tJiis subject, and it is a curious one, Dick in his admi- rable work " On the improvement of Society by the diffusion of knowledge," has devoted an entire chapter, and given a con- densed and luminous view of the Iiistory of Omens. Atlcr *In his treatise " De Dig et Ang." — he distinctly conyiderr* the doctrines of Angels and spirits as an ap})t'ndix to natural Theology, and holds that their nature may be investigated by Science, including tliat of unclean spirits or demons, which he says holds the same place as poisons do in physics, or vices in ethics. (Lib. iii. c. 2.) Natural magic, the doctrine of fascination, the discovery of futurity from dreams and exsta- cies, especially in bad health; from deatli-bed glimpses — in a word, Z>ici/iafion he holds to te branches of Science, worthy of cultivation, though he warns them against Sorcery, or the practice of Witchcraft.— (lb. lib. iv. c. 3. lib. ii. c. 2.) tFor a very curious abstract of the prosecutions for witch- craft, both in Great Britain and the Continent of Europe, sec the last chapter of Coombe's Constitution of Man. p. 3i>6.— Boston Edition. tThe Puritans carried this along with their severe and cau- etic spirit across the Atlantic, and hence the renowned cede which prevailed throughout the New England States, known by the name of the Blue Bates of Connecticut. See Scott h letters. In Captain Marryatt's "Diary in America,," many of these laws are extracted. ! i ?i 2d POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS. m\ » ( I' ■/J !' !;." t, ■' referring to the universality and prevalence of tliese beliefs, among the Chaldeans, the Assyrians, Egyptians, Greeks, and other nations, in ancient times, in astrology — the faith of the Bramins in India in the Science, and their influence over tlic happiness of tlieir believers ; he adds — " In almost every country in the world this art is still practised, and on- ly a short period has elapsed since the princes and legislators of Europe were directed in the most important concerns of tlie state by tlie predictions of astrologers. In tlie time of Queen Catlierine de Medic is, astrology Avas so much in vogue, tliat nothing, however trifling, was to be done with- out consulting the stars. The astrologer Morin, in the se- venteenth century, directed Cardinal Ricliilicu's motions in some of his journeys, and Louisa Maria de Gouzaga, Queen of Poland, gnve 2,000 crowns to carry on an edition of his Astrologia Gallica ; Piid in tlie reigns of Henry tlie tliird and Henry the fourUi of France, the predictions of astrologers were tlie common tliemc of the Court conversations." In referring to tlie history of these ages he gives the following additional facts — " In tlie duchy of Lorraine 900 females were delivered to tlie flames by one tribunal — under this accusation it is reckoned tliat upwards of 30,- 000 women have perished by tlie hands of the persecutor — the records of criminal justice in Scotland, are full of tri- als for Witchcraft, and it is said tliat more deranged old women are condemned tliere for the imaginary curse, tlian in any otlier country ; but to tliose who wish to pursue the enquiry furtlier — to see tlie popular delusions of tlie day, which are still extant — and the influence wliich tlie spread of knowledge and popular science has exercised, and is still :i I POt'lTLAR srPERSTlTlONS. 23 beliefs, Greeks, faith of ifluenco I almost and on- crislators icerns of ; time of much in one with- n the se- notiona in ra, Q,uecn don of his 3 tliird and .strologers lis." gives the irraine 900 tribunal — •ds of 30,- irsecutor — full of tii- |ranged old urse, tlian pursue the )f tlie day, tlie spread and is still destined to exercise in destroying tiiem, and tlieir pemicioufl influence on tlie human mind, I refer to Dick's work, and its Appendixes, and to Sir Walter Scott's letters on Demonology and Witchcraft Although these influences have passed away by tlie spread of sound and practical knowledge, and are now rejected by educated men as the features of a darker age, many super- stitions still linger among the common people, and thus prove Uiat, altho' learning and literature have advanced, there still remains much to bo done in the education of the mass. Tn re- ferring to these beliefs still prevalent, Mr. Dick adds : — Even in the present day, and in the metropolis of the British em- pire, this fallacious art is practised, and its professors are resorted to for judicial information, not only by tlie vulgar? but even by many in the higher walks of life. The extensive annual sale of more than 240,000 copies of " Moore's Alma- nac, which abounds with such predictions, and of similar publications, is a striking proof of the belief which is still at- tached to the doctrines of astrology in our own age and coun- try, and of the ignorance and credulity from which such a belief proceeds.* Parhelia, parselenae, shooting stars, fiery *That the absurdities of astrologers are still in vogue among a certain class, appears from the publication of such works as the following — A treatise on Zodiacal Physiognomy, illustra- ted by engravings of heads and fetitures, and accompanied by tables of the times of the rising of the twelve signs of the Zo- diac, and containing also new astrological explanations of some remarkable portions of ancient mythological history. — By J. Vanley. No. 1, large 8 vo., pp. GO, to be comprised in four parts. Longman &- Co., 1826. A specimen of some of the fooleries and absurdities, gravely treated of by this sapient author, will be found in Nos. Ill and IV of tho appendix to this volume.— />ic/i. 11? L A- I >. I (• r 'i '24 AGE OF QCEEN ANNE, meteors, luminous arches, lunar rainbows, and other atmos- pherical phenomena, have likewise been considered by some, as ominous of impending calamities." Mr. Colquhoun, of Killcrmont, M. P., in an introductory lecture delivered at tlie opening of the Institute at Glasgow, (Mititled " The moral character of Britain the cause of its po- litical pre-eminence," thus speaks of the literature and edu- cation of tlie golden age of Queen Anne, and the causes which led to an improvement and revival : — " The njoral state of this country in the period to which I Hin alluding, the reigns of Anne, and the two first Georges, wan iwrhaps tlie lowest, both in religion and popular educa- tion, which Britain ever knew. There was literature, indeed, f)nre and elegant — the literature of Steel, and Addison, and Pope. There was political knowledge, nor were there ever jK'tlitical combatants more famous than Swift and Bolingbroke ; nor did tlic science of government ever advance more rapidly, iiian when her great principles were brought into daily con- troversy ; these are times indeed, to which a political stu- dent will turn for tlio most ample and solid instruction. Yet political knowledge did not raise our condition, and tlie peo- ple looked on witli indifference at an arena, upon which they *vcre not fitted to enter. Nor was there in these days any want of critical acuteness, or of able theology; Clarke dis- played his learning — Warburton exhibited his profound phi- losophy — Hurd collected his classical stores — and Hoadly enlisted tiie thunders of the pulpit in defence of liberty. But none of these touched the chord which vibrates to the hearts of the people, and therefore, none of them produced any im- pression on the public mind. Both in England and Scot- ( MORAL CDARACTER OF BRITAIN. 25 itmos- some, uctory asgow, its po- id edu- causes vhich I leorges, • educa- , indeed, ion, and ere ever icrbroke ; rapidly, Aly con- cal stu- •n. Yet tlie peo- ich they ays any Irke dis- nd phi- Hoadly y. But e hearts any im- Id Scot- land, the great mass of that mind lay de 1 and motionless ; and tlie pulpits of the church, though sounding with high words of learning, lot fall none of that electric spaik which oould animate the heart Within ttie English church, litera- ture ill concealed the Arianism that was spreading. Witli- out the church, the decline was so rapid, that the chapels founded by the Puritans, fell at tliis time into the hands of tlie Unitarians, who still retain them ; and thus a frigid and lifeless philosophy, chilled into stone with its sepulchral touch, the warm piety of a better age. In Scotland, at the very mDment when the church was placed on a sound foot- ing, a spirit of lukewarmness went up from all classes, and jiorvaded its institutions ; so that, at the time, when, if wc look to their principles, wc should judge them incapable of lapse, we find them falling headlong into the abuses of pa- tronag-e. Popular education was at the same time neglected ; education, which ever aits at the feet of Christianity, active bv£ at her bidding, motionless during her slumbers : its value teas then forgot, and its endowments perverted to other purposes ; for llien arose that heap of abuses which has lately attracted the attention, and been exposed by the mgHance of Parliament. — It was during this general decline of piety, and this low state of morals, that religion, excluded from the pulpit, disowned in the literature, and despised in tlie politics of the age, de- scended into the humble walks of society, and selected for herself two champions, by whom she prepared to rebuke tJie learning, and revive the patriotism of Britain, by an awaken- ing of a moral kind, similar to that which heretofore she had adopted. The men whom she selected for this work, were not remarkable until animated by her spirit, but under her a Irl 96 EFFECT OF 'WESLET AND WHITFIELD. influence, they exhibited powers of a superior kind. They filiared between them those qualil'es, wliich, in an eminent degree, distinguished the Reformer : the acuteness, tlie lo- gical skill, diplomatic sagacity of Knox, Wesley possessed ; Whitfield his fervid orator}'', and bold appeals to popular feeling. By the preaching of these two men an effect was produced, wliich, in these days, it is difficult to us to con- ceive. Through England and Scotland, even into tlie reces- ses of Wales, the contagious impulse spread and was com- municated. The hardy Welsh mountaineers crowded round the preaching of Wesley, and the districts of Cumberland and Westmoreland poured out their multitudes. Bristol sent fortli her numbers, charmed by the eloquence of Whitfield,* cmd tlie calmer temperament of our own country was roused. The capital, and our western metropolis, stood in breathless wonder at his eloquence ; criticism was silenced, and even the scepticism of Hume burst into involuntary praise. " Here lay the springs of our national character ; and by tliese men they were effectually touched ; and under the touch, tlie whole body of society was moved, and vibrated as with a new impulse. The higher ranks were interested, the lower were roused at the welcome sound of that voice which had been silent for more than half a century, but which they Btill recognised and loved. In vain had Warburton poured his philosophy upon them, and Addison rebuked them with Ills dignified morality, and Clarke demonstrated to them the *See the Life and times of the Rev. George Whitfield, M. A., by Robert Phillips, London, 1838 — the work is very ably reviewed in the Edinburgh Review, vol. G7, p. 500, and a lively and graphic sketch given in the article of the life, elo- quence and influence of this extraordinary man. % It PRESENT AGE OF LKTTERS. 27 They iinent le lo- jssed ; opiilar ;t was :o con- reccs- ls com- 1 round berland itol sent litfield,* I roused, ■eatliless nd even and by ider the irated as ited, the e which lich they poured 3m with lem the ield, M. rery ably lO, and a llife, elo- ii attributes of a God ; those thinj^s were too high and too re- fined for them ; but tlio plain impressive appeal of christian truth, that appeal which liad met them in barbarism, and raised them in ig'norancc, which had sustained them in their strucfo-los afjaiast religious dominion, and cheered them in the civil contests for their liberty ; that appeal, when it reached them again in the eloquence of Wesley and Whit- field, they felt, and understood and acknowledged." I come now to the present and tlie last. In the march of mmd, in the useful triumphs of genius — in the general spread of education and intelligence — how fur, how immeasurably far, docs this surpass any former age of knowledge — [Enriche des dccouvortos des trois (four) autres," says Voltaire in his inti'oduction to Lc Steele de Louis Le Grand, " il a plus fait en certain genres, que les trois fou ensemble."] It is difficult to delineate the exact line of demarcation between the fourth and the present — for from Milton, Addison, and Newton, up to tlie era of Person, Johnston, Ilerschel, Scott, Byron, Moore, Allison, Bulwer and Dickins, there seems no break in tlie line of illustrious men. This age of literary atchieve- ment, may be dated from the time of Chatham, Hume, Gib- bon and Robertson ; all of whom imparted a more masculine and nen'ous vigour to tlie national stylo and eloquence. But tlie earliest manifestations of tlie " concentrated genius " of the age, were exhibited in tlie publication of the Edinburgh Review — the bright precursor of that host of competitors which have since given to learning and criticism tlieir pecu- liar efficacy and influence. It called out the London Quarterly, and tliey have since prosecuted in politics and letters, altliough in different spheres, a noble and inspi- '' i ^ '^ MODERN LEARNING. / .i i •I-, i 5 n I, f ( I ring rivalry. It would be easy to dilate upon tlic inspiration which tlie exciting events of the American and French Re- volution had upon the intellect of Europe. The first fired the oratory of Chatham, and since the days of Demosthenes, never did the potent spell of eloquence charm up so glorious a band of worshippers : — Pitt, Fox, Sheridan, Burke, Ers- kino, Canning, Brougham, Jeffery, O'Connell, and McAulay. Tlie mantle of the classica seems to have descended upon tliem. The greatest historians of modem times, %vho may justly be contrasted with Herodotus, Thurcydides, Tacitus and Livy, are of this period. Adam Smith followed out tlie crude and immature conceptions of the French Elcono- mists, and laid the foundation of Political Economy — a So i- encc wJiich must eventually form the basis of all just and en- lightened legislation. He has not only reformed the French School, but opened the path which Malthus, Ricardo, Mc- Cullocli, Scrope, and Wheatley, have since pursued so suc- cessfully. Herschel has pierced beyond the discoveries of Halley and Ne\vton, until he has widened the limits of our planetary system, and extended beyond all former estimate the boundaries of visible and peopled space.* His son is now *Nichol3' Architecture of the Heavens, a work admirably fitted for popular use, gives a sublime view of tlie range of the telescope, and the luminous light of indistinguishable and dis- tant Kystems, which it discovers to the student. In the Appen- dix the following beautiful and curious illustration is given of the Solar System : — " The Solar System is composed of a ma- jestic central luminary (whose mass is made up of matter, like the eartii, the atmosphere alone being luminous,) and a num- ber of small engirdling bodies, which revolve around him in various ])eriods. Toys named Orreries have generally been used to give a description of this meclfanism : — they are mere toys, but never instructive, nor indeed can they be otherwise, as you will learn froiD the statement of the distances, and com- '■1 MODERN LRARNINC. 29 nirably of the nd dig- /Vppen- iven of ' a ma- er, like num- him in J been J mere ^rwise, dcom- .11 tj-acking tlic Heavens iii another Hemisphere, in search of new fields of vision, and labouring to give the telescope a wider range over the distant and unknov/n universe. His suhlime end beautiful theory of Nebulae and clusters of stars, han multiplied the probable theatres, not of worlds, but oi sys- tems, till the mind is lost and subdued in its contemplations, not only of what the universe is, but what it may be. Every new improvement ofthe telescope opens fresh discoveries, and new regions of infinity peopled with stars — where, wiiere, 13 this boundary — what the intelligence and hannony that created and sustains them ? " The Heavens do indeed declare the glory of God, and the firmament shewcth forth his han3y- work." Poetry has assumed a nobler, and more useful, because a eimpler range. Criticism has become more practical and healthy. The Novel deals with men and the events of life, and less with fancy and wild romance. By the genius of Scott it has been moulded into its most perfect form, and now blends the learning of history and the influence of mo- rals, with the graces of the imagination. Add to this the parative magnitude of the several bodies, which I extract from Sir John Herschel's work. Choose any well levelled field or bowling green, on it place a globe two feet in diameter ; this will represent the Sun; Mercury will be represented by a grain of mustard seed, on the circumference of a circle 164 feet in diameter from its orbit ; Venus a pea, on a circle of 284 feet in diameter ; the Earth also a pea, on a circle 430 feet ; Mars, a large pin's head, on a circle of 654 feet; Juno, Ceres, Vesta, and Pallas, grains of sand in osbit, of from 1000tol20<> feet ; Jupiter, a moderate sized orange, in a circle nearly half a mile across ; Saturn, a small orange in a circle of four-fifths of a mile ; and Uranus, a full sized cherry or small plum, upon the circumference of a circle more than a mile and a half in nt of New York and Judge Story of Cambridge — two of the first lawyers of tlie age — and alike remarkable for the uprightness of their public principles, and the purity of their domestic lives, as for their high talents and profound acquirements. *See Kidds' Bridgewater Treatise on the physical condition of Man, for the opinion of Lucretius on the constitution of mat- ter in general, p. 304. IFor a popular sketch of the knowledge of the ancients in Geography, see Notes to Robertson's America — Note i.toviii. tin Adam Smith's Posthumous Works there is a very curi- ous paper on the Astronomy of the ancients. — See introduc- tion to ^iglaud's View of the World, vol. i., p. 12, 13- t' / i I 4 i i :i vi n s COMPARISON BETWEEN ANCIENT trtst these facta witli subsequent discoveries, and our sct- llod, and even familiar knowledge, of intelloctual and physical science. Compare the logic of Aristotle witli tliat of Rcid and Brown ; — Metaphysics now reduced to a creed, tlie pro- vinces of the senses known, and the human powers classified into a general and harmonious system — Reid, Stewart and Abcrcpombie, with tlieir beautiful and perfect system of mind, taught in the schools ; — the four original elements of matter proved by modern chemistry to be compounds ; — air and water to be composed of gases of the most opposite and conflicting powers ; — and the earth to be composed of some seventy original elements of matter, to which the Chemists ajre daily adding. But in Geology how vast the progress I — We have traced back already tlic physical history of the earth, for periods of time on which hiatory is silent ; and open- ed up a magnificent* series of formations, changes, decom- pOBitions^ volcanoes — plants, animals and races— genera and species extinct — affording the evidence of miracles not less wonderful, and not less convincing, than those on which the Christian Revelation is founded. Human testimony says the Sceptic may deceive — in reply, says the philosopher, these miracles thus legibly written upon matter — ■. record itself visible yel to the eye, tangible to the hand, cannot de- ceive ; and makes the evidences of miracles rest on the soun- dest foundation. But in Geography and in Astronomy how boundless the acquisitions, and into what magnificent and unseen vistas do they lead. We know the earth to be a pla- *See upon this subject Buckland'e Bridgewater Treatises. — Geology, chap. 13, on the general History of Fossil Organic Remains, p. 106, and Gesner's Geology for the Cumberland Coal Fields of Nova Scotia, p. 158, IDU. \v A5D MODERN KNOWLEDGE. 33 iir set- lysicftl r Rcid le pro- issified irt and Item of lents of is ;— air site and )f some Ihemista rress ! — \f of the od open- decom- lera and not les3 hich the [says the ir, these •d itself not de- le Boun- |my how mt and e a pla- itises. — (Organic Wrland 5 m YT* not — and every part of it has been travelled. Parry Ims stood at tlio centre of the Nortli Polo, and discovery is busy to reach tlie centre of the Antartic circle, yet unpierced and un- known. The quadrant, clironometer and theodolite enable lu to have the planets and stars as beacons to guide our vesselii across tlic vast and unfathomable seas. The poles of the earth are believed to have been changed — the Continents,* now in- habited, lay for ages embedded in the depths of tlie ocean, and are covered ■with the relics and ikhris of extinct volca- noes. The sea is advancing on some continents and retreat- ing from others ; and in looking forward to future ages wq see the coral worm raising up new temples and worlds in the Eastern seas. For wliat destiny is it, it may be asked, has an instinct so curious and perfect, been conferred upon these myriads of insects, that they raise tlicir erectionsf on the best principles of science, to resist tlic pressure and vio- lence of the wave, and thus carry out the designs of a Pro- vidence, far, indeed, Loyond tlic limited comprehensions of man. Turn, however, to astronomy — to the simplicity of its laws and unerring calculations, by which tlie motions of the stars and planets, and even the comets in their eccentric or- bits, have been defined for a century past, and, if the past can guide the future, for centuries to come. If, however, contemplation is lost in the distant ages and formations of the world of which tlie discoveries of Geology are tlie record — in the elegant and coloured structures, matchless, it is said, "^Lyoirs Groloory, 4 vol. p. 320, chap. 25, on the relativo contig>iity of^Viuntain chains. tLyoll's ''U'-ild^v, ;{ vol. p. 274. In Capt. Hall's travels in Loo choo, th( ''^ is ;i beautiful picture drawn of the appearanco of the Coral reel's. 31 n£OUL\R TUEORT. i i } i \.i ^ if ! in tlicir beauty and proportions, rojrulurly springing up to tho surface of tlio broad Pacific — tlic mind is even further lost and subdued when wc reflect on tlic boundless diacove- ries of tlie telescope, and trace in tiie ncbuluiis stars, tlic acmblancc and probability of truth ♦iiat systems and worlds jito in tlic progress of change and creation in the heavens.— In Whcwell's Bridgcwater treatise on astronomy and general physics, there is a chapter devoted to the nebular hypotlic- sis : tlie folloMing passage is drawn from it — p. 14G to 148. " The reflectior.s ji-.st stated may lo illustrated by the fur- Uier consideration of the nebular hypothesis. This opinion refers us to a sun surrounded witii an atmosphere of enor- mously elevated temperature revolving and cooling. But as we ascend to a still earlier period, what state of tilings are wc to support ? — at still higher temperature, a still more diffused atmosphere. Laplace conceives that in its prhnitivc state the sun consisted in a diffused luminosity, so as to re- semble those nebuliE among the fixed stars, which are seen by Uie aid of tlic telescope, and which exhibit a nucleus more or less brilliant, surrounded by a cloudy brightness. — "This anterior state was itself preceded by other states in whi^'h tlie nebulous matter was more and more diffuse, tlie nucleus being less and less luminous. We arrive," Laplace aays, " in tJiis manner at a nebulosity so diffuse, tliat its ex- istance could scarcely be suspected." " Such is," he adds, " in fact tlie first state of the nebul© which Herschel discovered by means of his powerful teles- copes, lie traced tlie progress of condensation not indeed in one nebula), for this progress can only become perceptibio to U3 in tho course of centuries, but in the assemblage of 1 I* 1 ) MEBUL-^A TIIEORT. 35 up to urthcr kjc ove- rs, tlio worlds rcns. — nreneral yrpoUiC- to 148. the fur- opinion of cnor- ig. But f tilings till more primitive as to rc- are seen nucleus itness. — tatcs in use, tlie Laplace ^t its ex- nebulo? i\ teles- mdecd in |:ceptibio jlage of ncbtilec ; much in the same manner as in a large forest xrc may trace the growUi of trees among tlie examples of diflbr- cnt ages wiiicli stand side by side. He saw in tlio drst place tlie nebulous matter di»i)crscd, in tlio difierent parta of tlie sky. He saw in some of tlicsc latches this mat- ter feebly condensed romul one or more faint nucleus. — In otiicr nebulie tliesc nuclei were brighter in proj)ortion to the surrounding nebulosity ; when, by a further conden- sation, the atmosplicrc of each nucleus becomes separate fro\n tlie oUiers, the result is multiple nebulous stars formed by I llliant nuc/ci very near each otiier, and each surrounded by an atmosphere ; sometimes tiie nebulous nsnttcr condens- ing in a uniform manner ho.s produced nebulous systems, wliich arc called plandarj.* Finally a still great* ; degree of condensation transforms all these nebulous systems into etars. The nebula) classed according to this piiilosophical view, indicate, witli extreme probability their future trans- formation into stars, the anterior nebulous condition of tlxe stars which now exist. " Leaving then to otlicr persons, and to future ages to de- cide upon the scientific merits of the nebular hypotliesis, we conceive that the final fate of this oj)inion nmst in sound reason strengthen tiic view which we have been endeavour- ing to illustrate, — tlie view of the universe, as the work of a wise and good Creator. Let it be supposed that the point to which this hypothesis leads us is the ultimate point of phy- sical science ; that tlie fartliest glimpse wc can obtain of the f *Sce Nichol's Architecture of tlio Iloavcns, for a full and popular duvclopcmcut of the Nebular theory. I ss COLONIAL SYSTEM OF GREAT BRITAIJf, * material universe, by our natural faculties, show it to us oc* oupicd by a boundless abyss of luminous matter. Still we iwk, how space came to be thus occupied, — how matter came to be tlms luminous ? If we establish, by physical proofs, that tlie first act which can be traced in the history of the "world, is, tliat " tliere was light," we shall still be led even by our natural reason to suppose, that before this could oc- cur " God said, let there be light" If any additional arguments were required to lift this age to a standard far superior to all tliose which have preceded it, it would be tlie lofty and pre-eminent station which Britain occupies in the Congress of Nations. Altliough but a small apeck or point lying on tlie outline of tlie broad map of the old world — not larger tlian some principalities in tlie Ger- manic league or a district of France — she rules nearly su- preme over the destinies of the world. To what does she owe tliis high pre-eminence ? to the vigour — intellectual and physical — of tlie Saxon race. It is to these characteristics of her people she is indebted for her past advances in the arts — sciences — wealth and letters, and especially for that high moral influence she unquestionably enjoys. It is by them her soil has been covered with Cities, Manufactories, Castles, Temples and Minsters, embodying all Uiat is solid, ideal and beautiful — and her ports filled with her countless commercial and naval marine ; by tlicm slic has been, and is, enabled to lead tlio way in literature and science, and ex- ercise a sovereign, tliougli secret influence, on the rule and policy of other states. But, under the decrees of Providence, she cannot have been raised tlms to tliis state of civilization, to have such influence confined to Uiat narrow sphere in COLONIAL SYSTEM OP GREAT BRITAIN. w tion, in ■which it has been produced. The restless energy of her people, their advance in tlie practical arts, their almost boundless powers of production, have made the internal sup* ply far exceed tlie internal demapd, and forced them to seek new markets for tlieir surplus productions. To these a.ga.m she is indebted for the creation of her foreign c jn jncrce ; and it is these wonderful, and yet ever increasing powers, which give such an impulse to the powers of colonization. — If it is true, as before suggested, and it is a dream of philo eophy so beautiful that one loves to cling to it, that tlie clus- ters o^ JVebulcE arc the elements of new systems and world* in tlie process of creation — if tlie coral worm in rearing iti structures is spreading tlie basis of new continents and em- pires over the Pacific, it is but following out the harmony which tlie universe every where displays, and gives unity and system to the Physical and Moral World to believe, that tlie elevation to which Britain has reached, and tlie co- lonial system she has fostered, is a part of a great and mag- nificent plan of which the present developements are work- ing for futurity. Certain it is, however, that these facta seem to unfold the outline of a benevolent and practical de- sign to extend the Institutions, the improvements, and the li- terature of Europe over the Eastern Archipelago. New Holland, Van Dieman's Land, New Zealand have each tho elements of a New Britain starting on its race of prosperi- ty, with her Institutions, and that nobler inheritance — the gathered experience of some three thousand years — extending, refilling, and adorning every branch of human knowledge. — Into every Colony England carries her Constitution, her laws, her arts, her literature, and that which is the beit gift , t ' I n i / * 'I I M J ; I 38 KMIGRATIOir. of all — tlie virtues and energy of her people. A ceiittfry ivill not pas3 on before Syria, Palestine, Chaldea, Persia, and Ara- bia — once the fairest scenes of civilization, will lie between countries blessed and adorned with the finest attainments of human enterprise and genius ; — the Steam Boat will daily pierce tlie Tigris and Euphrates, — thread the course of the Red Sea, and career over the Persian Gulf; — it will probably not be long before the Rail Road runs from Cairo to Suez, and from tlie Mediterranean to Aleppo by Bcles ; and it can- not be conceived, that, if the intercourse in the middle ages, by tlic Crusades and otherwise, brouglit to Europe letters from tlie Ea«t, but that this blessing may yet be returned, and the lettGi>- of l^*^ West again pass to the East, improved and sancliiic.l Ly thei exile, — European civilization be trans- ferred to thcve regioiis from whence its germs were first de- rived, — countries now desolate yield again their harvest re- turns of two-hundred fold — Palestine bo wrested from the In- fidel, — and the scattered tribes of Israel gathered again into tlie holy land. If such be a prospect which may rationally bo entertained, the world owes a deep debt of gratitude to tlie men who have made tlie principles of colonization a stu- dy, — Columbus, Drake, Cabot, Raleigh, and among tliese none stands more pre-eminent at the present day than tliat of Wakefield, who, in his profound work of England and Ame- rica, first suggested the* principle now adopted by the Go- *Sec appendix to Mr. Wakefield's Work. Merlvale's Lec- tures on colonies and colonization, and an article in the Edin- burgh Review for July, 1840, entitled "New Theory of Colo- nization," — p. 281. Too much praise cannot be given to the public men of Upper Canada for the exertions they have lately made to lead emigration to that fertile Province. Its resour- ces are boundless, and the rapid increase of a British Popu- i I STEAM COMMUNICATION. ;» ' f vemmcnt, and universally acted on, which has given, of latR years, so vast and steady an influence to tlie tide of British emigration flowing to the Eastern seas, and to her other co- lonial possessions tliroughout the world. In nothing, however, does this age present the signs of so wonderful and almost miraculous a progress as in tlie incan» of communication introduced to track the ocean by steam. — In the facilities of intercourse, the advances made, in the last twenty years, far surparis the bounds of human conception. — At the close of tlio last century the Royal Mail from London to Edinburgh occupied six days in its transportation from the one capital to the otlier. Letters from Dublin to London were sometimes ten days in their passage. The vessels engag- ed in the American Trade from the English ports, performed one voyage in a twelvemonth. A journey from London to Paris was the py'^iusHng labour often or twelve days. Sup- pose any prophv ' <\ then risen and foretold, that, before forty years an in. v t.on would be introduced, by which a let- ter from Dublin, mailed at 5 o'clock one evening, would be de- livered in London — a distance of 420 miles — on the following day at noon ; that the journey from Edinburgh to London would be reduced to 23 hours ; Paris and London brought lation will not only give a new impulse to its prospCTity — but will tend to that equalization of races in the United Province, which will produce political and social harmony. The past exertions of the Canada Company, and British North America Land Company are well known, but Dr. Rolph and Sir Allan McNab, for their late mission to the Mother Country, deserve the public gratitude, because they are likely to advance not the emigration of numbers only, but of capital and intelligence ; and thus multiply those nuclei of British society and deling, of which so many exist in Ca- -nada West. I 40 STEAM B0AT9. \« I., within the moderate distance o<^ one and a half days* journey ; and that tlie broad Atlantic could be traversed from the one Continent to the other, in elegant and floating Hotels, in tliQ brief space, and with almost unerring certainty, of 10 to 14 days, he would have been treated as a visionary, and his pre- dictions laughed to scorn. And yet all these achievementa have been accomplished. The speed of art surpasses even the fleetnesg of tlie clouds. In a strong gale they fly at the rate of *40 miles an hour — a balloon has been driven at tlie rate of 80 miles. The steam carriages on tlie Great Wes- tern Railway between London and Bristol, go regularly t40 miles an hour — in tlie Liverpool and Manchester Railway a ■peed of 70 miles per hour has been accomplislied. Dr. Lardner, in his treatise on the steam eng'ine, has asserted, that tlie mails will yet be conveyed, on the rail road, at tlie inconceivable, and almost fearful, rate of 100 miles per hour. There is scarcely a sea or magnificent river into which the Steam boat has not penetrated. In the river Hudson a speed has been reached of 25| miles per hour, the average of the boats tliere is 18 miles per hour. They are upon the Elbe and tlie Rhone — have ascended the Rhine as far as Chalons — penetrate Austria and Hungary from tlie Black Sea by the Danube — encircle the shores of tlie Mediterranean from Gib- raltar to Venice, and from Malta to Alexandria — ^navisrate the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and ^convey the mails from *Joyce's Scientific Dialogues, c. 99, p. 212, new edition. tSee report of Select Committee on Railways, returned to House of Commons 27th May, 1841. iLardner on the Steam Engine, p. 270. 5 Lardner on the Steam Engine, p. 158. A very excellent eammary of the History of Steam Navigation will be found in the Appendix to Dick's Christian Philosopher, No. 9, p. 281). 1 ITEAM BOATS* 41 I ;d to illent id in 2dU. tho East Indies up tlie Euphrates and Tigris. In the ports of Great Britain 1100 steam boats are now owned. But the mag* nificent lines of communication established by them, hav* their widest circle in the New World. A traveller can no\» cmter a steam vessel in Liverpool, and be landed in 16 dayt in Quebec — enter a steam boat tlicro, and ascending tho 8t Lawrence and Ottawa, and by tlie Ridcau and Welland Canals reach Lake Erie and Lake Superior, a distance of 6000 miles ; or at Lake Erie he may pass tlirough tlie Canal cut there leading to the Ohio, descend it and tlie Mississippi to Ne\f Orleans, embark tlience for Cuba or tlie Bahamas, meet thd West India line, and be transported to Southampton in Eng- land — the mighty motlier of these magnificent projects — after completing a circle of 15,000 miles. In addition to theso lines already fonned, magnificent designs are still in contem* plation. Mr. McGrigor in his late work, published in Au- gust 1841, *"onthe Commercial and Financial Legislation of Modern Europe," p. 2C4, refers tlius to this Modern Enter* prise : — "Many other arrangements for carrying tlie mails by steam have been made by the Treasury and Admiralty, belting thQ world, as it were, from England to the Gulf of Mexico, and then to meet other Steam Ships on the West of tlie IsthmuB of Panama, to communicate over the Pacific to New Zealand and New Holland, — meeting other lines communicating with India, and the Red Sea ; and by crossing over tlie Istlimuj» of Suez, meeting the British Mail steam packets for England • Lardner on the Steam Engine, 3d American, from the 6th London ed., p. 271, for the detailed account of plana in •ontsmpUtion. I !* I. 4l!t EFFECTS OF COSmERCE. at Alexandria, wc believe to be far from an impracticable delusion. The practicable and not unprofitable establish- ment of all tliis is not far distant ; especially when we all know how very lately the practicability of running steam ships across the Atlantic was questioned, doubted and de- nied. Yet within the last year one British subject, Mr. Cu- nard, has not only entered boldly into a contract with the government to build four steam ships of 1200 tons, and with engines of 300 horse power each, and to run tlicm across the Atlantic once a fortnight ; but he has fulfilled that, consider- ed most hazardous bond, by those ships having been all con- etructed, and by each of them having performed the voyage regularly, and with equal certainty as to time, in from ele- ven to twelve days, and under every circumstance of fair weatlier, and gales, and of tremendous storms blowing either witli or against tliosc ships." When wc reflect upon the effect which these will hav6 upon *Commercc — upon tlie extension of friendly relations — upon the diffusion of Science, tlie Arts and Literature — upon the propagation of Christianity — all in fact which adorns and dignifies the human race — it will he readily conceded that tlic destinies of tJio world seem to stand upon a new era, and *Upon the effect of Commerce in the spread of civilization there is an excellent article in Bell's edition of RoUin's Arts and Sciences — article Commerce. See also Butler's Remi- niscent on the same subject. Inaugural oration on laying the first stone of the London Institution, p. 347. Upon this Bubject the Introduction to Parks' Law of Insurance — the first Lecture of Chancellor Kent's Commentaries on the Law of Nations — and Sir James Mcintosh's disquisition on the same subject, may be advantageously consulted to establish the bq- neficial effect of Commerce and Christianity, in extending the social ties by which Nations are held together. j f I lization Is Arts Remi- [laying )n this le first iaw of same \he bq- 1 KrCOWLEDGE OF STATISTICS. 43 that a prospect is opened for the future, far more bright, hopeful, and gladdeninf^ tlian has rested upon the past In the law of mind, as in the law of physics, it is admitted that when the impulse of motion has once been given, the pro- pelling power is ever on the increase, and no boundaries can be set to the unseen limits to which improvements may yet be carried. As another striking and leading cliara.cteristic of the age. I would also refer to the attention ppid by every enlightened Government to the collection Stt.. 'cs. Within tlie 1 "-t twenty years an advance has been made, almost incredible, in gathering up the results of past experience. They em- brace almost every branch of human knowledge upon which legislation and general laws can have any bearing or opera- tion. The influence of the commercial codes of every country — tariffs and protection — on exchange and production, — of taxation upon comforts and tlie power of consumption — the results of machinery — Scliools, Penitentiaries, — the effects of education upon crime, — t; e consequence of religious training upon national character and morals — the ruin attendant upon strikes and combinations — the benefits of liberality in the laws regulating trade and exchange between different coun- tries — have been gathered, classified, and digested in tables of figures, till questions involving the prosperity of nations, the success of Uie arts, and even the" spread of intelligence and religion, which before were subjects of absti'act specula- tion and enquiry, have been reduced to settled rules and ac- knowledged principles. To prove the importance of these acquisitions we have only to turn to Baron Moreau and Du- pin's tables, illustrative of tlie progress, prosperity and great- ! cl ^ ;l l\l 1 I ) I ' .1, :t K-^ ^ t .. It V 44 POLITICAL ECONOMY. nesa of England— Marshall's tables, laid before Parliament — Porter's tables of statistics, issued regularly from the Lon- don Board of Trade — Porter's admirable volumes entitled " Progress of tlie Nation " — the Journals of tlie London Sta- tistical Society, and tlie valuable contributions to statistict furnished by the press of Continental Europe and the United States, and it will at once be admitted that these, as laying a solid foundation to the science of Political Economy, which combines in itself tlie principles of government and legisla- tion — the causes which influence and extend national wealtli, happiness and virtue, — would alone give tins era a vast and in- calculable superiority ; and yet I am satisfied tlie effect of tliese acquisitions is only beginning to be felt, and before long tliat they will give an entirely new impulse to tlie Arts, and all the elements of national prosperity. I allude here only to one result : — these statistics, the unerring knowledge derived from experience — the returns and figures which cannot falsi- fy, have revolutionized the intelligent public mind in Eng- land in favour of free trade — have established the principle that all legitimate taxation ought to be imposed solely for the purposes of Revenue — and have united both parties in tlie British Parliament into a common and resolute policy in the adoption of these great principles, which, when brought into full action, will, it is expected, be as magnificent and wonder- ful in tlieir results, as they are benign and generous in their intentions. The principles of free trade — to buy the product in the country Avhere nature yields it most bountifully — to purchase the article from the Artist whose skill enables him to manufacture it at tlie lowest rate — is an approximation to tjbie Christian principle of treating mankind as a general bro- AQRICOLA — COLONIAL STATISTICS. 45 therliood, and surrounding all nations with one band of social alliance.* But with this detail of all tliat has been accomplished in the past, we have yet to enquire if the fields of knowledge have been exhausted — if there are yet no new regions to explore — no new worlds to discover. I answer tliesc enqui- *The value of Political Economy and Statistics upon tho sound principles of Icf^islation, aro not yot fully appreciated in our Colonial Legislatures. I recollect when Agricola, my late respected parent, entered the IIousi" of AKsenil)ly in No- va-Scotia in 1825, wlK.'never he r(>ferred to Political Economy, — a science in which he was profoundly versed, — so:ne of the lead- ers of that day invariably rewarded him with a sneer ; and he wag told it was a science not fitted for a young country, — in other words, that " wc were not old enough to be wise." With all our advances in knowledge, even at this time, no adequate provi- sion is made to collect and classify returns or facts, which aro the fruits of experience, and the safest guid(> to sound conclu- eions). In the reports of the debates the i)lainest j)rincij)les of the science arc daily violated and attacked, without a defen- der. There is a wide field for improvement in the training of Provincial Statesmen. ]\Iy lamented father so o'" n felt tho want of this useful and indispensable branch of ki. wlcdge in the Assembly of Nova Scotin, that he sketched the plan of an e.xtensivo work on Political Economy, and luul amassof noteg gathered preparatory to it. Tiiey ari> left to his family as an inheritance. Death struck him down before tiie work was com- pleted, but, with all the predilections and aflections of a son, perhaps too fondly bound to and proud of a jjarent, I often looked forward to the completion and appearance of tliis book as likely to produce a new era in the science. The peculiar and searching powers of mind — the clenr analysis and logic which the late Agricola could bring to the inv(>stigationof tlie most abstruse principle, are known, and, I believe, universal- ly acknowledged. I may be pardoned for saying here that I never met a mind e(pxal to hi.s in this scitMice ; besides, hia powers had often been tried, and had been followed, on some occasions, by brilliant succe:;s. V/hen Commissioner of Po- lice in GlasfTow, in 1S14, during one of the excitements of the Cotton Weavers, ho v.-as induced by the Board, of which he was a member, to write a pamphlet upon wages — some thousands were sold in the eour-se of a week, and I have been since told by his friendd that it Ixad the effect of calming tha « ,..1 n I 1 4C riKLDS FOR IMPROVKME.NT ' ? ncs by the following extract from Mr. Dick's Improvemt ' of Knowledge, bcinj^ tlic concludiiij[j passage of tlio section in which he illustrates tliat Scicntilio Iniowlcdgc will render mechanics more skilful, and cnablo tliom to make improve- ments in the Arts and in tlie pliysical Sciences, with which tlicir occupations arc connected. "We have, tliorefore, every reason to hope, that, were scientific knowledge universally diffused among the working classes, every department of tlio useful arts would proceed witli a rapid progress to perfection, and new arts and inven- tions, hitherto unknown, be introduced on the theatre of tho world, to incroaso the enjoyments of domestic society, and to embellish the face of nature. No possible limits can be assigned to tlie powers of genius, to the resources of science, to tlie improvement of machinery, to tlic aids to be derived from chymical researches, and to the industry and skill of mechanics and labourers when guided by tho light whicJh scientific discoveries have diffused around Uiem. Almost 1 excitement — of convincing oven tlio leaders of it thoy were wrong, and of thus restoring tho city to peace. Several of tho copies of this pamphlet are in my possession. — FortboBta- tistics of the Colonies, refen-nco may be made to the Parlia- mentary Tables by Mr. Porter, and ]>ublished in separate vo- lumes, entitled "Colonies;" to the '* Blue Books," being an- nual oflicial Returns made to tho Colonial Hocretary by tho Provincial Secretaries of the dilierent Colonic.'?, and of which copies arc now sent to the Assemblies — to Montgomery Mar- tin's " British Colonics,'" a work chielly di voted to statistics — to the "Colonial Library;" by tho same author; — and for the statistics of our Trade, to Bliss' Pan'plilctjj, and Young's Letters to Lord Stanley, on tho "Rights of Fit^hery and Colo- nial Policy," — Bouchette's British Dominions in Norlh Ame- rica, — tho appendixes to Lord Durham's Report are full of Sta- tistical information relative to the Colonies of Briti^jli North America. |ng an- )y Iho which Mar- itistics Lnd for toung's Colo- Amc- lof Sta- Noith IN THE SCIENCES AND ARTS. <7 every new discovery in nature lay a tlio foundation of a new art ; and since the recent discoveries in cliyiiiistry lead to tlie conviction that the propcrtiis and powers of viatenal substances are only beirinning to be discovered — the rcsonrcea of art mu:*t, in some measure, kc. j pace uitli our knowledge of the powers of nature. It is by st'izin|^ on these poAvers and employing tlicm in subsorsicncy to his designs, thatmon lias been enabled to perfonn operations which tlio whole uni- ted force of mere animal strength could never have accom- plished. Steam, galvanism, tlie atmospheric pressure, oxy- gen, hydrogen, and otlicr natural agents, formerly unnoticed or unknown, have been called into action by tlic genius of science ; and, in tlie form of steam-boats and carriages. Vol- taic batteries, gasometers and air-balloons, have generated forces, effocted decompositions, diflused the most brilliant illuminations, and produced a celerity of motion both on sea and land, which have astonished ever, the philosophical world, and which former generations would have been dis- posed to ascribe to the agencies of infernal demons." " A'or let it be argtied lliat tlic great hulk of inan!:i)ul, par- ticularly the middling and lower ranks of Society, are incapa- ble of making any important discoveries in Science. If what we have already stated be correct, they are possessed of all the essential requisites not only for acquiring all the elemen- tary principles of knowledge, but also for penetrating beyond the circle which marks tlic present boundaries of science. — They are all organised in nearly the same manner, (a few insulated individuals only excepted) and consequently have nearly an equal aptitude for the exorcises of conception, judgment, and ratiocination. They have the same organs of 1 I i ! L h' 45 BCIEXCE l»n»ROVED BT MECnANICS. ■ / J eonsation, and the samo powers of intellect, as persons intht highest ranks of society. The grand scene of the universe is equally open to peasants and mechanics, as to princes and legislators ; and they have tlie same opportunities of making observations on the phenomena of nUurc, and the processci of art,— nay, in many instances, tlieir particular situations end modes of life aflbrd them peculiar advantages in tliia respect, which are not enjoyed by persons of a superior ranJs. In short, tliey have the samo innate curiosity and taste for relishing such investigations, provided the path of knowledge be smoothed before them, and their attention tlioroughly di- rected to intellectual acquisitions. ** jYor, again, should it he ohjcded that an attention to such ehjectSf and an exquisite relish for mental enjoyments would unfit them for the ordinary duties of active life. Every man under a well-regulated government, enjoys a cctain portion of leisure from the duties of his station, which, in too many instances, is either wasted in listless inaction, or in tlie pur- suits of folly and dissipation, Tliis leisure is all tliat is re- it quisite for the purpose in view. It would only be requisite that during its continuance the train of tlioughts should be directed into a channel which would lead to more pleasing associations, and more substantial pleasures, than tlie gene- ral current of human thought is calculated to produce. That those w)io are in the habit of exercising their faculties as ra- tional subjects, are thereby rendered more unfit for tlio com- mon duties of life, it would be absurd to suppose. He who habitually exercises liis judgment on scientific subjects i3 gradually improving his mental powers, and must, from this very circumstance be better qualified tlian others for exer- 'i KNOWLKPUE AND \ IJlTl K • OMBINKI*. 40 ciftinsv Uk^iii in his particular trtulo or profcr^siion. Tor ilic liahit of cx<.'iting the intellectual liicuiti«\s in any one depiirl- inent^ must necesjinrily lit them Ibr vigorous exertion on any oilier tJuhjfCt, whether mechaniciil, a;,'ricultin'al, social or (lomestie, to which tlio attention may he directed. The evils which at present dornnsfothe harmony of society, so far from arisini^' trom a vi!j;orou.s exertion of intellect, arc to bo ascribed, for the most part, to an oj)j)osito craiso. The in- tellectual powers, in the case of the ^reat bulk of mttnkind, lie in a g:reat measure dormant, tiieir onercfic.s are not suiTi- ciontly exerted in any department of active life ; and when ocjcasionally aroused from their inactivity, they arc teo 'O- quently exercised in the arts of deception, of mischief, and of human destruction. To direct the current of human thought, therefore, into a different channel, bc^^idcs its inHu- ence on the proirress of .Science, would be productive of ma- ny happy effects on the social and moral condition of man- kind ; and as far as nvj crperience <^ocs, ivilh a vcn/Jliv (xcep- tlons, I li'ive found that those wlio are addided to rat'onal pursuits, are the most ■industrious and respectable mtmbcrs of civil and Chridian 5ociV/;/." Those sound and cheerful views will bo more fully illus- trated in a subsequent part of this volume. 1 give them hero upon this autliority, because the author ranks high as a po- pular and philosophical writer, and because, with hi:- •-.pt-^c- tion, I trust tliey will be embedded, as admitt prmcipi i 1 1 iijto tlic Colonial mind, (I I'. LECTURE II. lutrmluction to Gcui-rnl I^ltcmtnre an«l fcltnci-; Tlit ef- Kei-ia and Iicncilt of tUcir cultivation on iitdivfdualK, naitl nations : 'oiiiuari:>ou betvvt-eu Aucient an J JHoKlern CONTENTS. lU^rnarbable features of the A^ in the diffusion bf iearnm;^ — •^tale of Education— Now principles in the schools— Educatjcr' (it'circuinBtanccs — Per.ny Magazines — Popular Publication-. — Fellonberg — Ernugharu — Birbeck — History of W. and R; Chambers, and of Cljainbcrs' Journal, &c. — On the extent .L'id propagation of Christianity — a Religion of Reason — Keit!) on the Prophecies. — Evidences of Improvement in tills AL'e — Catholic Emancipation — Temperance — Plans u> Mviliz'-! Africa by Buxton — Science now the hand-maid of lv<»li£»ion — Buckland's defence of the Bible — Tbo Bible noi intended to teach Science. — Institutues, and their eliecl!; upon social and public principles — Dr. Chalmers and IxTd Bronghani on the necessity of instructing the people in Po- litical Lconomy — Progress of mind cannot be resisted — Wisdo!:i of directing it — New viev.'s-on Education — It is u basines^j of the State. OO'T ii)ji tigG IS remarkable, and it is ui tJiis f)oml of .soperiority, and tiie bearinc" it has upon our present axgii- uicnt, I nov7 press it u{)on the notice of the Institute, in th> am. a fM3 tzkrukd (o Uie education oftfte people The systeii: P^hItsucJ in Colleges ha.^ been raodernizGd, and tlieir ancient privileges invaded and brokem down, so as to open thrir jwrrals, and. extend their benefits to classes before exciudcfl in London alone the t."n-o rival institutions of the London Uni- versity and Kmg^' C^i'llege, bid fair to dim the lienors cf i i t 11 \ 52 F.DtCATIOX IN FOREIOX COUNTRFES. tJjcir older si«tcrs of Cambridge and Oxford. Schools have been multiplied ; and tiio classics and popular sciences taught to those, to wliom before they wore unknown and inaccessi- ble. The Minister of education forms an important member of tJie cabinet, in most popular governments. A liberal (|uota of the public funds is placed at bis disposal. France, Prussia, the Russian Autocrat, and America*, pursue witli *I havo now before mc a Report upon Elementary Public Instruction, laid before thoLeirislaturoof Oliio iiil83i>, by Dr. Ciilvin E. Stowe, Professor of one of the Literary Institutions' (ff that Slate, and giving the results of a tour {hen recently made by liim in Europe, under the authority of the General Assembly, in order to cnjjuire into the Educational Institu- tions of tllcfOld World, and to frame a practical and efficient tsystem of Otiuimon School Education for their own State. — It has been pi in<^ed by the Legislatures of Ohio, Pennsylva- nia, Massac!iuri- iil, — he thus reverts to the exertions for education making in I iio difuTcnt kiuirdom.s of the world : — '*• Thus three sovereiLTns, / EDUCATION LH FOREIGN COUNTRIES .Vi common zeal tliis noble course of national advancement Ite- form has thus readied and recast the learning of tlie scboole ; but the effect of improvement, " the march of intellect " is chiefly to be traced in tlie eJimUion of circumstances, to whicli the popular iiund is subjected. ( allude to tlio number of or, " I rear- Mition !l,od to was )('nt in so tlio vounsi; Ill of (1 fV(>n ofth.-. "s s]>i- mii' in iviL'n^:, reptesenting tho three groat divisions of Christeudoni, the Protestant, tiie Romish, and the (xrcckjare now zealonsly on- gaged in doiiitr, wliat despotic sovereigns have sehloni doni; before — enliglitcning iind educating their people ; and tliat too with better plans of insf ruction, and a more elficicut acconi- ■•plishment in practice, than the world lias ever l»efore witness- ed. Nor is the spirit of education confined to those nations. The kingdom of Wirtcnibnrg, and the grand duchy of Baden are not behind Prusaia or Bavaria. The smaller states of Ger- many, and even old Au.sl.ria, are pushing forward in the h'ame career; France 13 all awake; Spain and Italy are beginning to open their eyes ; the government of England, wliich hii* hitherto neglectod the'education of the common people more than any other Protestant country of Europe — is beginning to bestir itself; and even tlie Sultan of Turkey, and the Pacha of Egypt, are looking around for well-qualified tcMchers to go among their people. In London and Paris, J saw Turks, A- rabsy and Greeks, tcho had been sent by their respective go- vernments to these cities, for the express purpose of being edu- cated for teachers in their native countries ; if not for the wlioU' peoi)le, at least for the favoured few. At Canstantinople a society has been formed for the promotion of useful knowledge, which publish(*s a monthly journal, edited by one of the Turks, who studied in Paris ; and the Saltan now employs a French teacher in his capital, whom he especially invited from France. And here too, in our own country, in the movements of New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and several other of the States, we are strongly reminded of tluj educational zeal of the age. In short, the whole world seems t.o be awake, and combining in one simultaneous effort for the spread of education; and sad indeed will be the condition oj that rommunity which lags behind in this universal march.'' — 1 recommend this cheap tract, published by Marsh, Capen, Lyon, and Webb, Boston, as giving an admirable body of facts and suggestions, relative to Common and Normal Schooln, — but I will refer to it again in the chapter devoted to the* aubjects. 1 54 l^PULAR PUBLICATIONS OP THE ACE- P»:^iodicals* and Newspapers published and circuKittKi—the innurncrablo host of volumes issuing from tlie press, m \}te form of Cabinet Cyclopedias, Family Librarira, &(:•- andfcfj tiio patronag-o of societies for Uic "diffusion of useful kri^v- lodge, which are intended to bring Science and Literature witliin the reach and means of Uio middle orders ; the estabr lislm^^nt of societies for the learned, of uhich tlie British Association for the advancement of Science is one brilliant example ; and tf Mechanics' Institutes for tlie Artizans and operative classes ; and lastly, the publication of tliose Jour- nals and Penny Magazines, which, In their sober sense, sa- gacious maxims — in their philosophy and literary execution, when contrasted witli the cheapness of tlieir price, — are such honourable trophias to tlie genius and Arts of the age. In France and Germany the same sort of publications appear m c<7untlc33 variety, and have immense circulatioru And yc^ with tliese obvious improvements in society — in the advamy.' fif the sciences and the arts — in the number of publicEitions * Tho circumstance which most distinguislict? tlii? pre- sent era of British Literature from all otliers, is tlie general (iiffusion both of useful and ornamental knowledge among e- Vi»ry rank of society, in a manner unknown to former tim^, and yet unknown to every other nation. With all the faults imputable to newspapers and other periodical effusions of the press, how mu<;Ji useful information is diffused by them te> «»very rank of society. The author of an excellent article in the Edinburgh Review for October 1819, shows, that in a gi- ven time, an Englishman reads about seventy-five timea at* much of the newspapers of his country, as a Frenchman dotw of his. What a spread of information .' It may be said, that tlie reading might be more useful and edifying : hut what an exercise of the mental powers ! what an excitement to better reading and further attainments ! A person can seldom fiml himself in a mixed society in which there is not more than one person both elegantly and c.xtt^nsivcly instructed. — But- lers Reminiscences ^ p. 2>H, rorrLAU hblicatio.ns or the A6t. ill tiiG;r tripJo tonn of voiunics, fH^nodicais', nnd Lie\vs>pa}X)rs» — in the ir.crcasomenil, tluit as m a primeval ag-e, die "tree of knowledge is Uie root o{"e\iL" Among the great men who have been the in^tnuiienti? vfei- f^->cting these comprehensive changes in the spre-ad of {K)pu- lar knowledge, alluded to in a previous page, and liavc lent tlie energy and impulse of superior talents and re^olut^' pur- pose to the opinions and actions of the age, there are a fan who have erected monuments for themselves, in tlic re?pr< t and affections of the people, which can never be shakon vere tiie foundci's of tiie London * Society "fortljc diffusion of use- 'Tlu- Jiistnry of tliis Socioty will bo found ii.n Manorial laid liofort' tlif Scnalo at Washinirton, on thf 1-th F^h., lr''A\\ by a CotamJttCf sent by tho "American Suticty for the diffusion of lisr'fiil Knowlrdgp," fDundcd in New- York in 1^^3vi, and iricor()onited by the Logisl.ituro of that State in 1-37. The Mr-morial, " pray'mrr the nttciith»n of Coii^rriss to tlic impor- ia.ui oljjocts of tii;it Instritution," jrivos not only a full synop- KJri of thoir own jjatriotic inti-ntionn and designs, but a history of the leading sociotics founded in Europe Ibr lit^^rary and re- ligious purposes. U was ])reprired, 1 believe, l)y the Revd. Ciorhani D. Al)bott — the brotiu r of tlio c(>lebratrd Jacob Ab- bott — and gave tli(> n .suits of a tour made by hiin in Europe, and a collection of literary st-itistic;*, cnd)racing some voluniCB of manuscripts. Hv has acciuired a wide and deserved fame for hi.s cx'crlions in the sprciiit of popular literature. "There are in London," gays the MenioriaJ» "no less tlian twenty- six associations, comprising r.»,;ji)U members^ founded for the sole purpose of promoting the interests of Irarning and science, and for ditlusiiig tiseful knowledge." It gives a history of the hiociety fur ]>ro}noting Christian Knowledge — of the Saturday Magazine and Penny M-igazine — and of the Public Societies in Paris for the advancement of national and similar oljects. The ni(MTiorial is published in octiivo form, ^3 pngesi, and is numbered [2'^'*] of the Senate papers, Uoth Congress, 3d ed.^ »nd these references to it are given thus minutely, brcaust^ it is a publication which I hope to see widely circulated in these provinces. The Aiuerican Society numbers among its Executive othcers, several of the first literary names of Ame- rica — Gallatin, Hamilton, Everett, Webster, Abbott, Stowe, Colquhoun — and t«) give nn accurate view of the useful and benevolent intentions of its founders, the following extractn «n» derived from the conclusion of the Memorial : — " Our ob- ject in presenting these sketches of European societies, has been to show how much talent and philanthropic enterprise are employed abroad, in associated efforts to advance the in- terests of literature, science, and the arts; and to diffuse a- mong nil classes of the community select jjublications, adapt- ed to the popular taste, and calculated to promote the highest wtMfare of men. If in England such socii-ties are found desi- rable, and such results have attendi^d their labors, surely si- milar ones may e.\ert a most valuable influence in a country lik(» ours, where intelligimco and virtue are acknowledged by I r1 or USEFUL KJrOWLElKJB. $i ful knowledge,*' to whom tho world is indebted for tJie Pen* ny Magazine. The same band of tlie friends of cnlii.rhtpn» eii cducatiou, of which his Lordship and Mr. Horner wero poinmon consent, lo bo tho only ])illrir of nil that i« valuable iu our insititulious. Tlio already protncfrd li'ii;rth of U)W jjraniphlet i)rechuh'.s any Curther notiee of i'nreiijn BociotifS, or tiie insertion of statistics relative ti» (lie j»ro<^resd of the press in our o-nnand other countri»'». Snlfioe it to Hfiy, that the an- nual issues of tho Enfrlish press aveni^o about twelve hundred volumes: those of the French and (jlrrnian, five thousand •^•jich. In ten years to come, estiiiuitluir from the increase du- xiag ton ye.irs past, there will he issued in En;^'l;ind, France, nnd Geniiaay, more than one hvndrtd and fftij thousand new books. There are now mon; than eiglity periodicals in Great Britain, devoted to ?M the variou ieparlments of useful hu- man knowledge. Many of them are conducted witli, great ability. The number also in Frunee and Germany is very t;f)nsiderable. From all these fctreifrn resources, us well iu» from the increasing productions of American talent, the com- mittee hope to bring together, and to issue in the most sub- stantial and attractive manner, whatever may subpervc tlw best interests of society, in its social, intellectual, and moral relations. The first jrreat object of the society is the publica- tion of a library for the schools of our country, desi^rned to wnbrace, wlien completed, a few hundred vcdumes, written and compih'd with special reference to the wants of the youth (»f our country. It will include in the rani^e of its subjecLi works in the various departnients of knowledge, most inter- «*ting and useful to the great body of the people ; including history, voyaires, and travels, biography, natural history, the physical, intellectual, moral, and political sciences, agricul- ture^ manufactures, arts, commerce, the belles lettres, and the history and philosophy of education ; the whole to be pre- pared with a viDi UP EDUCATION. \:\ ( t'ii3 acknowlcilfjcJ leo.dcra, i*aisCd tlie Lonrlon Uwivereitj;. — Out of tho spirit of useful rivalry which tliese engendered, i\)Q Kinnfa College sprang up, and the society for promotinj^ ('hristian Knowledge appointed their committee for general literature and education, wliosc Bchool-books and publica- tions are so honorable to them and to tho age. Baron Du- pin. Cousin, and Victor Ilugho are all entitled to be pla- ced on this list for tlieir exertiona in France. But last, though not least, in tliis branch of honorable exertion, I refer with tmquaJifiod praise to tho names of the Chambers of Edin- burgh, whose journal wa? the precursor of tlie Penny Mu- pazinea. It has tlie honour of being the first periodica) of this kind published in Europe, and the brilliant success ::iinitte^' tiiat tho whole be pervaded and characterised by a spirit of Christian morality, calculated to refine and elevate the nural ciiaracter of our nation. The eommittee are now making ar- rangements with author? in different parts of the United States, for the preparation of various works adapt(;d to the purpose ? uf tho society. A library for mechanics, another for fannern, one for seamen, one for children, &c. &c., will engage at- tention so soon as they can be advantageously commenced. — Home of thfc proposed works it is intended to carry through tiic press as speedily as they can be prepared. It is c^pact*>il also that the society will take measures to obtain from EwC- land and Franco such facilities as can be commanded thert;, fi^r the efficient prosecution of tho objects in view, by corris- pnndence with authors, publishers, and publishing institutions ; by importing books, stereotype casts, cuts, engravings, &c. ; njid availing itself of all t';e advantages which can be derived from that quarter, in carrying forward its designs. The ex- e.cutive committee respectfully invite the attention of Ameri- ''in philanthropists to this subject, and solicit tiioir nid and ivj-op^ration in the great wofk proposed.' I i- PENNY MAOAZI.NEa. SO DiLriotic and public spirited men to extend tlicir enterprise Lj tho "Educational Course" and to tlic "People's Edition at' Standard Works " — of which the copy-riglit haa cxj>ire(l. The past circulation and growinj^ jwpularity of tliis joumaJ i-» culo<^ itself to the charactor of the age — its Buccesj may he attributed to its entire freedom from party and tjcctiiritui views, — to its salutary and engagin:»' morality, — to its fervid t/>no of pure and refined Christianity, — to its admirable lessons iif life, — and the popular views it presents of literature, sci- »'tice, and the circle of tlie arts. VVitli Mr. Robert Charn- bers I have ppent many pleasant and delightful hours, — im> Cran was e\'cr blessed witli a more benign temper, a -purer pllilanthropy, or a more exquisite pleasure in doing what br tjiinks practical and substantial good. His whole conversa- tion breathes the warmest benevolence and charity. Their et*- tiblishment is one of the wonders of tlie modem Atliensi Tlieir jrist life and progress is a study which cannot fail to iaspire the young with high and honorable incitements. In August, 1B41, a public entertainment was given at Peebles, Scotlan«.l, In order to present tliem with tlie freedom of that Burgh — incy being natives of the town. A report of this entertainment w?is subsequently published, in pamphlet form, for private circulation, and from some of tho speeches then delivered tiiy following instructive lessons may be drawn. Of the ex- tent of their establishment, Mr. W. Chambers then gnve tl* tallowing account : — ■ The very favourable manner in which oil our ptiblic»- tions have been received excites in us tiio most heartfelt gtatitudcL At present we are distributing 1(50,000 alv^ef^ wGokly, or at the rate of 8,000,000 per annum — a large nf>r- W (i) Wi>RK8 vrnLisnr.D bt tue chambers*!;. tioii vTirfc3, each machine doing tlie work of twelve men. The pnper which we consume amounts to about 1500 reams in a month, or 18,000 reams in the year, and is all made on the Eflk, near Penicuik. To give you a better idea of the quan- tity of paper coiL'ii. ned in a year, if it were all spread out in a. line, sheet by Khect, it would extend over JiOOO miles (great applause)." Of their Education he thus speaks — what a noble reward to Uie parent who has laboured to implant the principles of religion and morality into tlie bosoms of her children >— *^The trutli is, like every one who has been reared in the cjwmtry, amidst hills and dales and sparkling rivers and ri- vulets, I remain a passionate admirer of every thing ruraL— • I consider that no boy can be said to be rightly educated who does not spend several years in the country. There he has an opportunity of going to one of the highest sourcee df instruction — the book of Nature, a work of which GqjJ hixn« ^{ .] TnriR EART-T TRAITINC. <;i Kclfis tlie nutlior (applause). Tlicro ho Ifflmf* a tlnnu.uul mofnl facts in comiootion witli naluni! Insior}'. lie i^ pnu'- tically rnado acqiiaintf^d with various inln.'.-j of animalM, tn^ts Jicrbs, flowers, rivers, and loams much I'lar, ho could nf^^ nnquirc in tlic confined stn-cls and alleys dfa city (hear, hear, fuid ciiocrs). Well, then, Gcntlcnicn, tlr»l was a. ?p»(cios qf education which I had tlio liappincss of eiijoyiTiof anion^rt you, and which has boon of incalculahle value (o me thiou^fh life. But here, aUo, I was pivi)ar«^d in other respects for IIjh business of the great worhl. 1 here first received a t :e lor literary and scientific pursuits from my father,* and here did' I receive tlie elements of instruction in tiic principic-s of n*- ligion and morals from my excellent mother (L'rcat appl-uisc). These were Mrecions lessons. Well do I remember, as if it were but yesterday, the plain but emphatic manner in which my parents used to point out the superior vahie of honesty and steadiness over irregularities, even when combined %vith all the brilliancy of genius; contrastinj^ the condition of iiv- dividuals who followed these opposite lines of conduct, tiiG beautiful opening verses of tlie Psalmist wore poured intJLsmcn wlio leave tlic scenes of tlieir cliildiioo*!, owe much ot' tlicir success in life (cheers)." The euccess and character of tliO Journal is thus cimply !«ketclfcd: — ^Chamber's Bdinhv.rgh Journal was started in February 1832. The success of this cheap pcriodicul waj nitogcthcr amazin|T. Of tlic first number J]0,(X)0 copies vivm sold in a few days. The circulation rose rapidly from fJiia fiuit'.t, and has been fur some years about 70,0()0 copies week- ly (great applause). 1 wish yon to understand, genLIonlel^ t.'iat tliero wrrc cheap sheets prior to the publication of Charn hors's . Journal ; and, therefore, the only claim of originality which wo put forward, is that of imparting to tl^.at humok; order of publicatious sonic degree of originality and a per- fectly sound moral tone. Our design was to furnisii, at tiir smallest charge, a weekly store of hamdess amusement and rtTolly useful instruction to those classes of tlie people who had hitliorto been in a great measure excluded from a parti - C4[)ation in the pleasures and advuntage.-5 of literaturo, 1 wish you also to remark, tliat, in carr/inj^ th.ese objects intx) execution, we took especial care to avoid all topics of a con- troversial nature (hear, Jiear). We wrote not, and do not now write, for any sect, party, or class. These are dLstinctions of which, in our literary capacity, we know nothing ; ne;t}ier do we write for any countr}', or time, or season, but fijr mankind at large (loud applause). We would note\-en wound the coiLscientidus convictions of a Mahometan — we would at- tempt to instruct and amuse him, and by tliat means dispel the mist of error in wliich he was involved, but ne\'cr run counter to his prejudices (ciioers). By thus keeping aloof imm prejudices and prcposjessions, and in on especial maii- n i| EXTENT Op TnriR EM'EHPRISE. 03 COTV- no'.v ctions e;tiief U; fi.»r otind Idat- dispel 3r run aloof niau- rvit n'riting in tiic cause of tliopoor iinil tlio liclpless, welu.v*-^ jT-iiincd almost a universal auditory ; and I believe no mvu who ever wielded tiio same miifhty engine had reason to soy th'?y iiad made fewer enemies. If wo ore doini^ any pixKi, jfLMitloineii, by adopting and following tliis course, I hold it t.') bo no small matter that our euccess haa iudnccd niar.v 'Jther labourers to enter the same field of exertion. We have be«"'n imitated by dozea^ and all have our best wislies f.)r their success (hear, hcaj-V No imitation, however, has ever loswciwd our own circulation, whicli, williout any axtrirtfji; aid whatsoever, continues daily to increase (cheers^ With r(js[KX5t to thio quality of Uio litoraturc embraced in tlic pagt'H of our Journal, and of which you have been pleased to e.\- prosa so high encomiums, I feel tliat I only perform an Hx't of justice in awarding incomparably the largest share of any •merit it possesses to my brother (tremendous cheers and wa- ving of handkerchiefs) — for, with a fQw exceptions, he liaM pgimod all tliosc original essays on men and manners which axe allowed to confer upon the work its highest value as a literary production." On the health of Mrs. Cliambers being given — the motiicr of these two sons, of whom Scotland may be justly proud- Mr. W. Chambers made the following exquisite and touching reply : — " I feel this toast to be altogether overwhelming. I can stand any allusion to myself; but I am overcome by your kind notice of my mother. It is to her kindness we owe everything. Throughout years of adversity she buoyed up our youthful hopes, and taught us to look forward to the re- wards of hoaest industry : and, in the event of oar being at "11 - liarly ajpropriiite f()r a work of this kind. But the improvements of the aixo are not only visible in the Jiumber of those popul.-ir publications, but in the superior qua- lity and character o*' them. In one of tJie early volumes of tlie London Penny Mairaziiie a history of the work is lh- ven, and a full sketch of tlie modern improvements eirected incuttim,' on wood and cnj^ravinpf on metal. Thet-e added to the art of Lithorfraphy * has enabled the friends of popular knowledge to illustrate and adorn tlioir works, -with all that *Pco JJ;il)bo(ro on the Economy of Miinufacturos, Cap. XI on copying', for a full history of these iiiiprovcmenta. 1 ENGRAVING AND LITnOGPAPHT. (;r> ap. XI js beautiful nnd perfect in architecture, statuary and the fiiiO nrts ; and by the latter invention, copies of the ^at fwiirt- ings, which, when first from the hands of the master would cost thousands, are afforded at a price so moderate, thattliey are brought within the means of the middle and industrious classes, and thus extend their influence upon the tastes of ti;e mass. The beauties of the Grecian architecture, the car- toons of Raphael, the inimitable productions of Ruben?, Claude, Hogarth, West, Reynolds, Allen, Martin, arc i»o longer confined to those who possess the originals — they are uow multiplied and reproduced — adorn not one household but thousands, the cottage as well as the castle, and have made the taste for the fine arts nearly universal. In sketching thiS picture tliere arc two other r*^tures which are entitled to especial reference. In WasMngu-n Irving's life of CJolumbus an attractive odour and even sanctity is given to his entlmsiasm in search of a New World, because he believed it to be a land of gold and of rubies, and said that if he reached it he would bring bark hjs gatliered spoils to raise a Crusade, tluit he might wrest the temple of Jerusalem, and the tQm.b of our Saviour, from the infidel. It was a heroic and noble conception, — but it was not more praiseworthy, although it may liave been rnor« '- (Liring, than the magnificent plans we have seen formed an({ attempted to be carried out in the planting of colonies in the Indian Archipelago, and in the late enterprise on iitc JNfger. Tme, the latter has failed — true, the climate has done its work upon the European Martyrs who went out on this * Joriorn lujjiCi' of Christianity, commerce, and civihzation— but this does not ».eeseD the roerit of the design, nor diminish our respect for tlie :/ M i' H >' # M r/i AFRICAN C!VILIZATIO.V — TEMPERA.\Ct'. j)iulaiithropista who conceived, and lent tiieir exertions and mean- and even perilled their «reputation and life, to com- plete it : — to destroy tlie intestine wars of a continent by un- proving it^ agriculture — by irrigating tiie deserts — by bring- iii^T down from Oie mountains the interior streams flowing i'ron^ the deep lakee tliey enclose — to introduce tlic arts and manufactures — V) spread ■'religion, and thus to elevate mil- .l>')ns troni slavery and gross barbarism into tlie peace, tlie Jiopcs, and the iiappincss of a christian life. The rise and progress of tlie principles of Temperance are u!ikc favourable to Stirling morality, and to tlic perform- ance of tlie active and nobler duties of life. The mission of Fatlicr Matthcw,f and tlie effect of his apostolic progresses 111 Ireland, in weaning millions from tlie seducing cup — sccins to be not an event but a miracle ; and as if tlie Deity intended to give another example of divine power, in arrest - uvr the j)rogres3 of immorality and ruin. To meet the assertion before referred to, that tlic tree of iaiowledge is the root of evil, or in otlier words that general C'lucation is attended with danger, I would say that it doc--- socni to s]X)ak disparagingly both of the divine influences of religion, and tlic devotion of its ministers, if it suffer from the spread of intelligence, and do not impart, amid tlio lights! of learning, a more Apostolic odour and sanctity of charac- ter to Its follovrers. Its doctrines were never so widely dis- ki 'Tho Slave- Trade and its Remedy, by T. F. Buxton— Lon- don, Murray, 1840. This is a very curious and interesting b')-)k. A popular abstract of it has been published, prico Is. tSec Memoir of the Rev. Theobald Matthew, by the Revd. Jamns B:;rmiiigham, edited by P. H. Morris, M. 1)., with an esaay on the evil cfte«ts of Intemperance. New Yprk, Id'll. >i l^iMii nXi- CIRCULATION OF THB BIBLE. 67 ighU larac- dis- ■csting ;o Is. Rovd. ith ail 1641. aCQiuiated, and tlic altar of tlie true God never encircled by tjuch a crowd of worshippers as at the pr;c6CRt time. This subject is skilfully treated by KeiUi, in tlie 2d Chapter of his work on the Prophecies, in which he describes the " pro- pagation and extent of Christianity." The following extract gives a condensed view of tlie general argument: — " The prophesied success and extension of the gosjX!! is not less obvious in die New Testament than in the Old. A .single instance may suffice : — " I saw an angel fly in the midst of heaven, having tlie everlasting gospel to preach un- to tiicin tliat dwelt on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." These are the words of a hrmished man, secluded on a small island from which he could not remove ; a believer in a new religion every where spoken against and persecuted. They were uttered at a time when tjieir truth could not possibly have been ijcalized to tlie degree to which it actually is at present, even if all human power had been combined for extending, instead of extin- guishing the gospel. The diffusion of knowledge was then extremely ditficult ; the art of printing was tiicn unknown ; rmd many countries which tlie gospel has now reached were tlicn undiscovered. And multiplied as books now are, niore than at any former period of the history of man, — cxtensr c as tlic range of commerce is, beyond what Tyre, or Cartiiagc^ or Rome could have ever boasted, — the dissemination of liu .scriptures surpasses botli one and tlie otlicr ; — tliey have pcn- etrattMl regions unknown to any work of human genii,s, tnd • untouched even by tlie ardour of commercial speculation, •ind wirh the prescription of more than seventeen cent'.iries in its favour, the prophesy of tli^ poor pu^onet at Patmos : :.l '] GS ABOLITION- OF SLAVERY. ;! i3 now exemplified, and thus proved to be more tlian a mor- tal vision in the unexampled communicaticn of the everUiPt- ing gospel unto tiiem tliat dwell on the eartli co e%*cry nation, and kindred, and ton^e, and people Christianity is profess- pd over Europe and America. Christians are settled tlirough- out every part of the earth. The gospel is now translated into one hundred and fifty languages and dialects, which are prevalent in countries from the one extremity of the world to the other ; and what other book since the creation lias ever neen read or known in a tenth part of the number r"* The zeal of missionaries, and tlie equally effective aids of ccmraerce are daily extending the sphere of its divine influence. And yet is there in fact less virtue, less charity, is the golden rule of morals, is the first and last great com- mandment of love to God and justice to man, more openly violated, and vice more daring and avowed in Uie presJent than in the past ages of History .'' I ask the proof, for it seems to me, apart from general declamation — that abstract reasoning:, as v.-ell as the experience of mankind support ?,n opposite conclusion. The voluntary appropriation of twenty niillions by ijie British Parliament to abolish slavery Uirc-ugh- out the Empire, stands by itself as a permanent monument to tlie triumph of Christian principle. The increase of Chujch- es, the rise of institutions for the deaf and domb, for tht *Out of the 180 millionsof inhabitants of Em-opc,8ay8 Scik.- bler in his "Present State of Christianity," about 160 mil- iioms belong to some one of the different Christian Chnrciu'^. Humboldt, who CBtimatee the population of Europe at IfiH inUlions, assumes, that out of this number 103 millions are Roman Catholics, 52 railliohs Protestants, 38 millions folloAv- crs of the Greek ritual, and 5 millions Mahomedanfl.— 3 chap, p 29. li GROC.^DS OP CHRFSTIAN FAITH. 69 / blind and the insane, the Reform in Prison discipline, and tJie concessions yielded to the Catliolica afford the clearest ovidence that tlie age ia melting under the divine spirit of our holy religion. The extension of societies to promote the cause of peace, to teach charity and kindness in national mtcrcoursc, and to break down those rivalries which flashed out and burned in deadly conflict, are also trophies of our steady advance in religion and morals. The whole tone and essence of divine faith is favourable to intelligence, and courts tlie spirit of unsparing enquiry. It seeks no shelter from tlie boldest and sternest investiga- tion. A religion divine, and intended to be universal— ^to be permanent — enduring— fixed upon the rock of ages, and the same from the days of the Apostles to the end of time, ne- ver can dread 'the subtlest enquiries of tb.at spirit which it is meant to address, to animate, to soften, and to control. I extract from " Keith upon the projlhecies," a book which has now reached its 25th edition, and which every scholar ought to study in order to comprehend how legibly the de- crees of God have been written in the fate of kingdoms — tlie following paragraphs in illustration of these views: — "No subject can be of greater importance either to the unbeliever or the Christian, than an investigation of the evidence of Christianity. The former, if his mind be not fettered by Uie strongest prejudice, and if he be actuated in the least by a spirit of free and fair enquiry, cannot disavow his obligation to examine its claims to a divine origin. He cannot rest secure in his unbelief, to tlie satisfaction of his own mind without manifest danger of the moot falftl error, till he lyia impartially weighed all tlie reasons that may be urged in its ii M Ni 70 CHRISTIANITY. f ' I t ,:i . ' 1 I ; I I ( J ( behalf. The proof of a ncsrative is acknowledged and lelt to be difficult; and it can never in any case be attained, till all direct and positive evidence to the contrary be completely destroyed. And this at least must be done before it can be proved tliat Christianity is not true. Witliout this carrfuJ and candid examination, all gratuitous assumptions, and fan- ciful speculations, all hypothetical reasoning or analogical inferences, tliat seem to militate against the tnith of religion, may be totally erroneous ; and though tlicy may tend to ex- cite a transient doubt, they cannot justify a settled unbelief. Being exclusively regarded or being united to a misappre- hension of tiio real nature of tl\e Christian religion, tlic un- derst-ai^.]j;tg may embrace Uiem as convincing; but such con- viction li nether rational nor consistent, it is only a misa|)- plication of tliG name of free-tliinking. For, as Christianity vxpiK'al^' ' ^J ^iibmits its credentials, as it courts and commands the inosi uying scrutiny, tliat scrutiny the unbeliever is bound according to his own principles to engage in. If he be fear- less of wavering in his unbelief, he will not shrink from the enquiry, or if truth be his object, ho will not resist the only means of its attaimnent, that he may either disprove what be could only doubt of before, or yield to the conviction of posi- tive evidence, and undoubted truUu This unhesitating chal- lenge religion gives ; and tliat man is neither a champion of infidelity, nor a lover of wisdom or of trutl , who will disown or decline it. • * * « * • * " To the sincere christian it r ^v^jt ev c be an object of tho higliest interest, to search into ^le reason of thiN '.ope. The fartlicr that he searched, the fimi or will be his belifef. Know- ledge i8 th9 fruit of mental labour, the ftxxi and feast of tii© .1 ,i i CimiSTlANITT. 71 ! mind. In the pursuit of Kno"wledge, the greater the cxcc'- lence of tJie subject of inquiry, tlie deeper ought to be the in- terest, the more ardent tlio investigation, and the dearer to the mind tiie acquisition of the truUi. And that knowledge which immediately affects tlie soul, which tends to exalt the moral nature, and to enlarge the religious capacities ol'man, which pertains to eternity, which leads not merely to the contemplation of the works of the great architect of the uni- vcrs©, but Fecks also to discover an accredited revelation of his will, and a way to his favou>, and which rests not in liis progress till it find assurance of faith, or complete conviction, a witness without as well as a witness within, is surely ""like unto a treasure which a man found hid in a field, and sold all tliat he had and bousfht it," And it is deliffhtful to liavo every doubt removed by tlie positive proof of the trutii of Christianity, — to feel that conviction of its certainty, which infidelity can never impart to its votaries, — and to receive that assurance of the faith, which is as superior in the hope which it communicates, as in the certainty on wliich it rests, to tlie cheerless and disquieting doubts of the unbelieving mind. Instead of being a mere prejudice of education, which may be easily shaken, belief, thus founded on reason be- comes fixed and immoveable ; and all the scofRngs of the scomer, and speculations of the infidel, lie as lightly on the mind, or pass as imperceptibly over, and make as little im- pression there, as spray upon a rock." I cannot comprehend the doctrine of Charming, who would impart to christiatiity a plastic ch&racter, the power of yield- ing to tlie pressure of change and circumstance, for as it is true, truth is eternal, and tlie eseence of morality muet be the M tl ^4 BIBLE NOT KVTENDED TO TEACH SCIE.VCE. .1 \ aamcin every former age as in tliis. But is not the Bible itself n. fountain of living wiadom, and of Uie philosophy of moraJs ? The perfection, the benevolence, tlie omnipotence of the Deity, arc shadowed out and dwelt upon in tlie wonders of t}w frinamenlf tlie beauty of the earth, and the moving of tlie ;?roat waters. The extent of divine power is measured by tlic things of the earth, " he layetli the beams of his cham- ber upon tlie water, ho maketh tJhe clouds his chariot, ho walketh upon the winga of the wind." — Psalm 104. The pie- ty of believers is inspired by a reference to tlie manifesta- tion of tlie supreme intdligence visible in the productions of tiie natural world. The abuse of knowledge — the tenden- cy of shallow tliinking — prompted by an unlioly and feverish ambition, may create doubt, disbelief, and the propagation of tlie erring creeds ; but the spirit of sound philosophy, blend- ing ^tflclf witli the love of truth, brings new arguments to support that faith which is founded upon revelation. In Buckland's Treatiiio upon Geology, an objection raised against the authenticity of the Bible, because some of the re- cent discoveries in science seemed inconsistent with the language of the sacred record, is thus triumphantly refuted : — " The disappointment of those who look for a detailed ac- count of geological phenomena in the Bible, rests on a gra- tuitous hope of finding therein historical information, respect- ing all the operations of the Creator in times and places with which the human race has no concern ; as reasonably might we object that the Mosaic history is imperfect, because it makes no specific mentiop of tlie satellites of Jupiter, or the rmgs of Saturn, as feel disappointment at not finding it in tlie history of geological phenomena, the details of which f ,ll «'! BIBLE NOT INTENDED T*> TEACH 3CIE5CE 7:3 i may be fit matter for an encyclopedia of science, but f >- reign to tlie objects of a volume intended only to be a guide to religious belief and moral conduct VVc may fairly ask of those persona who consider physical science a fit subject for revelation, what point they can imagine short of Omni9>- cicncc, at which such a revelation might have slopped, with- o^Jt imperfections of omission, less in degree, but similar in kind, to that which they impute to the existing narrative of Moses ? A revelation of so much only of astronomy as waa known to Copeniicus, would have seemed imperfect after the discoveries of Newton ; and a revelation of the science of Newton would have appeared defective to La Place ; a revela- tion ot all the chemical discoveries of the eighteenth century would have been as deficient in comparison with the informa- tion of the present day, as what is now known in this science will probably appear before the expiration of another age ; in tlie whole circle of sciences, there is not one to which this argument may not be extended, until we should require from revelation a full developement of all the mysterious agen- cies that uphold the mechanism of the material world. Such a revelation might indeed be suited to beings of a more ex- alted order than mankind, and the attainment of such ^ow- ledge of the works as well aa the ways of God, may perhaps form some part of our happiness in a future state ; but unless human nature had been constituted otherwise than it is, the above supposed communication of Omniscience would haw been imparted to creatures utterly incapable of receiving it, under any past or present moral or physical condition of tlie human race ; and would have been also at variance with all God's other disclosures of himself, the end ofwhidi baa uni- iy Il 74 SCIENCE Tlir, HANDMAID (»F RF.IJCTO.V. fvi r'- Ibrrnly been, /Jot to impart inielUdvnl but moral kiwwUdge.'** It affords one of tlio noblest fields for eloquence iipc^n whicli the disciples of Christianity dcligrht to expatiate, that tlie most profound moral philosophers — Barrow, J^ocko, New- ton, lioyle,* Ilerschel, Davy — tiiose who have penetrated tiie arcana of nature — who have reached the highest i)iimaclos of tiiosc eternal hills of truth and science which human genius has yet ascended, and thus surveyed in its comprehen- sive and illimitable rani'-e — the connexion of mind and mat- tor — Uic obedience, if I may so speak, of tho phjsical eJJ'eci to the divine cause — hqve been the most pions and humble be- lievers. It is the proudest boast of the present age tliat phi- losophy has been made tlie handmaid of ReligioiL Let any "Tho following is the language of Boyle — soo Lives of Emi- nent 'hristians, vol. IJ, p. IV^1>. — '• But above all it must be mentioned to his honour, that he viewed every fresh disco- very as a further domonstaiion of the greatness and glory of Go(i, and that il was his constan* aim to elevate his thoughts and to raise the minds of his accpiaintances and readers, froiii the study of the creati' n to the leverence of the Creator.'" — "I must needs acknowledjrp," he says in his youth, "that when V iih bold teJescopoii I -urvey tlie old and newly disco- vered sLars ta.t lidorn the upper rejrions of the world, — and when with excellent microscuues I discern in otherwise invi- sible objects, the inimitable subti'ity of nature's curious work- manship, and when, in a word, by the help of anatomical knives, and the light of chemical furnaces, I study the book of nature, and con ull tlu> glasses of Aristotle, Epicurus, Para- celsus, Harvey, HeJmont, and other learned expositors of that instructive volume, I find myself oftentimes reduced 1/) say with the Psalmist, How manifold arc thy works lyrrd ' in wisdom hast thou made them all ! And when I have Ixien losing myself in admiration of v/hat I understand not, but e- nougk to admire and not to comprehend, I am oflen olliged to interrupt or break off my enquiries, by applying to tlie work of God's creation, the expression used by St. Paul of those of his providence — the depths of the riches both of the toisdojn and knowledge of God .' How "unsearchable are his judgments and his ways nnttaceable f SCIENCE AND RELIGION COMBINED. ■that f Coptic sit down to study, with a desire of altaininp tJio trull;. Palcy'g Natural Philosophy, illustrated by Ixjrd Brouglini.i vind Boll, Dick's* Chrij?tian PhiloFopher, Shuttlcworlirs CVui- sistcncy of Revelation, Consolations in Travel or tlie last dnys of a dying philosopher by Davy, that splendid ail- dition to pious leaniing, the Bridgewatcr Treatises, and the la.-5t chapter of Coombc on the Constitution of Man, on " the relation between Science and Scripture," and he will then U- convinced that the cultivation of science and general know- ledn^o is not hostile to the Christian faith. The Consolations in Travel, by Davy, above qu' *ed, is a book of miraculous powers in sketching the rise n' iW of kingdomS"the fulfdment of tlie prophecies, and Uie discoverii-f of science — and conducts tlie artrument so a« to build faiili dn the broadest ground of experience, learning, and know]c> ^^<^ f<^ <> ^ — filled aa the latter is with hundreds of choice volumes on all branches of human knowledge, and every volume read ha- ving voluminous notes and abstracts in his own hand- writing — liis fame will stand upon even higher ground tlian it has yet reached, and his Tasculum be honoured like tlie Tusculum of old. Men of inferior minds cannot expect to reach these high standards, but they may study the habits of such men, and imitate or endeavour to imitate them. This task at least will botli incite and improve. The two volumes entitled " Pur- suits of Knowledge," forming the first of the series of the Library of Entertaining Knowledge, may be studied with advantage. Of the lives tliere given let the enquirer read those of Ferguson, Hunter and Watt — the eloge on the lat- ter, by Arago, is an exquisite piece of biography. After them peruse Cobbett's " Letters of advice to a young man," a work which is a mine of practical and curious knowledge : Cobbett's life by his son, and tlie life of Niebur the Historian ; and, if he have the right spirit, he will rise convinced from tliis history of instruction, that even, amid tlie most pressing duties of life, and surrounded by circumstances tlie most ad- verse, it will be possible, with diligence and resolution, by the economy of time as if it were money, to make a respect- able progress in literature and letters. Mr. Robert Cham- bers, in one of th^ 5e practical essays, which are to the scho- lar the main charm of the Edinburgh Journal, has said, and said truly, that in cities all public improvements, and the af- fairs of public companies and institutions, are superintended by and under tiie control of the busiest men. The desire for improvement, and the pursuit of learning conducted on a sys- CHARM3 OF LITERATURE. 95 torn resolutely followed, will, even in tlic brief apace of hu- man life, accomplish miracles.* It is necessary, say tlie sages of tliis world, in tlie morn- ing, in the strength and energy of life, to husband our means — to economise — to ky up a competency for sicknes:^, adversity, and old age. " In approaching age itself," says Bulwer in one of his essays in tlie student, " we ought to have less need of economy. Nature recoils at tiie miser, coining maiimion witli one hand, while deatli plucks him by the other. We should provide for our age, in order tliat our age may have no urgent wants of tlie world to absorb it from tlie me- '*To every youBg person attached to letters, I would fur- ther recommend the perusal of Dr. Channing's popular es- say on Self-improvement. It has been widely disseminated throughout the United States, and has already passed throusjli several editions in the mother country. It is full of profound reflection and eloquent and beautiful illustration. There i» also a volume lately published by the Harpers of New- York, being No. 126 of the District School Library, containing Lord Brougham's celebrated discourse " on the objects, advantagon and pleasures of Science," being the first pamphlet published by the London Society for the diffusion of useful knowledge ; Professor Sedgwick's discourse "on Classical, Metaphysical, Moral, and natural studies," read before the Juniors of Tri- nity College, Cambridge, in 1832 ; and other essays by Pro- fessor A. Potter, and Mr, Verplanck, upon the pleasures and advantages of Science, Literature, and ger>eral Knowledge, which is well entitled to a place in every village and private Library. The fame and ability of these productions are alrea- dy universally acknowledged by literary men, and I know of no popular work where the pursuits of letters and science, and their effect upon character and happiness are advocated with a higher range of argument and eloquence. To one in searcii of the inspiration of the spirit of philosophy, a diligent peru- sal of these discourses will be as refreshing as instructive. In Dr. Dick's work on the improvement of Knowledge by the means of Education, section 5th, on the pleasures o^ Science, is in- stinct with knowledge. "The " Christian Philosopher," by the same author is an admirable and engaging book for leisure hours. f V 0*) INDEPENDENCE OF LITERARY TASTE?. tlitation of the next. It is awful to see the lean hands of tloUxgp. making a coffer of tJie grrave." Why not apply, 1 ask, the same reasoning to the acquisition of learning — to the fortune of new ideas, the solacing reminiscences — tlie glorious conceptions which it garners up. There is a period in every man's life when tlie active duties of the world, its pomp and busy bustle become distasteful. No one is exempt from sickness and physical debility. If struck down by the hand of Providence wliat resource have we then — what avail even the gifts of fortune, if we cannot derive pleasure from books, and that cheerful, pure, and en- lightened companionship they afford. With these we can then summon to our couch, the Poet^, the Philosophers, the Historians of all past time ; and, although fixed to one narrow and darkened chamber, lying perhaps incapable of motion or of speecli, we yet may revel in all the treasures * of the mind 'Professor Wilson at the public dinner given to Dickens in Edinburgh in 1841, delivered a beautiful speech in praise of literary pursuits and tastes. Tn a popular work published in BoHton in 1839, entitled Letters to School-Children, by John ios, and tlio bustling tlirong of fasliion ; we prefer the ([uic-t •ind intellectual converse enjoyed with friendly and conire- mal mindis. ]]ut how few are the hourr; of eacii day avIucIi can be thus devoted, and to what resources can we turn, if wo are incapa1)lc of rosortinix to books, and tlicir store of plea- Hfint reflections. How miserable — liow querulous — how pain- jiil t/) itself, and its connections is an io-norant old ajre, wast- ed in impotent repinings or in worthless tritles! JSuch is an in2:iori()us tenuination to a manhood of useful activity. And yet how brifrht, and cheerful, and Godlike may an intellij^'ent old age be made. None of Cicero's productions display so much tlie philosophy of his mind, tlie purity of iiis rcliirion, or the lofViness of his contemplations, as his treatise, " De Senediik.!'^ In it he has recorded the Iio])es which inf'pired hint, '■^^uod si in hoc crro quod nnimos homiimm immortales esse credfim, lihenter crro, nee mild hinc errorem, quo detector, dum vivo, cxtorquen volo" — a proof he had passed 'beyond Uie mythology of his era, and had penetrated like Plato bc- "Oftlie "anciont dontrino of the immortality of tho soul,' Ihorc is a very clear abstract in Nnto viii, to Brougham's Dis- course on Natural Theology. Extracts are there given from Plato, Socrates, Xonophon, and Cicero, and the well-known ))assage of the latter writer in the Sovinium Scipionis — where celestial enjoyments are held out as the rewards to public vir- tue referred to. "The precision of the language," says His Lordship, "touching a future state, which marks this treatise is sinjrularly approaching to that of the New Testament," — See Id. p. 82 and 83. f i;Kbt'RllECTI()> «)1- Tiin niLi.F." •»•» iiind tlfit, ciirtam which t!in boliof of tho age had hiin^ be- ihrn tiic invhlictil riios of tlio Ilont.iii ii (jods. []',it J jiiui.ie hcrt! to introduoo a di.'5tinclion wiucii ouL'ta nnvor to he forgoLt'Jii. The hopes of Uio aucicn'i.-i uen; u (hirk, dim. uiy.stcrioiis imccrtnimy. IMclvillc tlius FpcnJ-:,s, lo iiis own fasfcinatint^ and sublime cloqiicnro. of llio '" Resar- roct.ioi), which is tho doctrine of tiio Bible." '• Wo are so accustoinnd, from our cnrlie.st infiinoy, to bc- li:v(; miplinitiy t!ie doclriiio of Uio I'yiif.s immortuhty — it i^. t.'!.M,',Wit iiH, 1 mijrhi, say, in our cradles — and so wuiind up with ail the institutions of rolioion. and all tlic asaociati(jn.s of life, *h;i.t wo jwss into a couij)arative for-glin;;^"s which were m'^'hty, but which were v/hololy incflectual, to thr.)U' themselves int'» the deep roLnons which lavbe\'oud tliep-i-ovc, and to t-iiatcli soiiio fraji'ments of knuwicd;''c which n;ifiht hr held up to the admiration and p^axo of a v>orld lyin^' ii» ij:- noranc(\ rn\l'un-;et llml alwmjs previous to the ap/ztarance vj tynrlU on earth, and indi'pcndtiit of the assistance of dii i/n- 'ytnimuiiicilion, there certainly have tjcen mta 'gifted nltovtUair Jdlows, ivho pondered deeply on futurit\j, and grapjiltd ivith the iio/.ilcrlnns .ihndows of sonic comimj; destinies ; i/et a liuni- :ious doubt iv-ts, after all, the ven/ summit of their afta'nir.er.h. and a splendid conjecture the hiL>-hest result of their most la- horious searchin!j!;s after trvih. Even if human science had j-cn'oaled with the c'ounral (ievclo])i,ient of the fact, that man, frail as he seems and feeble, doth yet carry ia himsell' a (-park of celestial lire, which can no more be quenched thari the Deity which is the light of the universe ; still that bone .should come again to bone — tliat tho dust which is (scattered to the winds of heaven shall he compounded once more into sliape and symmetry, and tlie rude heaps of tho charnol- liouse shall resolve themselves into living forms — that cor- ruption shall put on incorruption, and mortal jnit on immor- tality — O there never could be ])hilosophy Avliich master.* this ; it was above it — it was bevond it : and while familianU' |V 300 IM»!ORTALITY OF THE SOCL. J \ i r in ■with Uio truth takes off some of the stmnn^cncss of Ujc mnr vol ; yet I pray yoii to romeiiiber, that you see a grave pro- pared, and the coffin lowered, and tlie tears of Uie inourrirrB almost dried up, by the brilliant tliought that the body of tho brother or sister which they thus commit to so cold a custody Fhall not only moulder or waste away, but shall stir at U'nfrth in its narrow home, and throw off, as with a giant's strengiii, the ponderous burthen of the sepulchre, and come forth with that body glorified and purified, which is now encompassed with all the dishonours of death — when, I sny, you behold a fcipectacle liko this, a spectacle which would be deemed a most unaccountable prodigy if it were not of common occur- rence. O it is the soul's loftiest triumph — a triumph over the wreck of all tliat is material or sensible — a triumph over bone, and flesh, and sinew, dislocated, and decomposed, and shattered ; — tlien I pray you to give the honour alone where the honour is due, to ascribe the victory to tlie true and ac- tual conqueror, and to remember that the gospel of Christ is the gospel of the resurrection ; and tliat until the Redeemer appropriated the character to himself, there was never a be- ing who could have dreamt in the wildest dream of enthusi- asm of uttering such words as these — " I am the resurrection and the life." What a charm has Cicero thrown around the occupa- tions pf venerable age, and how eloquently does he recom- mend for this purpose the pursuits of philosophy and the stu- dy of tlie Grecian letters. Cumano in his essay upon Tem- perance, has illustrated the same subject with a captivating, because practical eloquence. It is a subject alike instructive in this, aa in the Augustan, or any previous age. Tp read, to learn, to lay up the treasures of knowledge, is as useful a duty with a view to the happy close of this life, as to the en- joyment of the next The soul dies not Some believe its powers, its capacities, its aptitude in acquiring and in con- templation, will pass with its acquisitions here to immortali- ty. If we are to mingle in the society of superior natures, will we not enjoy in these regions of bliss and of enlarged FUTURE STATE OF EXISTENCK. 10 1 I i coulcmplalion, wlicii tlic glory of the Universe will have biirHt upon us in its aubiiuier niysttnes, and tlic pleasured of ao:tsc are at an end, a more ex(iuisitc enjoyment accordinj; to tlic intoiloctuul grasp witli which wc can mciiauro, com- prehend, and athnirc tliein. Thci '^ are some beautiful essays by Addison in the Spectator, ujwn tliis srjbjoct, conveying an elevated train of thought This idea is curiously illustrated in tiie life of Crabbe by his son : — *■ lie had a notion, perhaps somcwliat whimsical, that wo shall be gaincjrs in a future state by the cultivation of Uie intellect, and always artixed a sense of this nature, also, to the more important meaning of the word 'talents' in-the pa- rable, and tills stimulus doubtless increased his avidity for knowledge, at a period when such study was of little iiao besides tlie amusement of the present hour." Lord Brougham, in the spirit of tlic gravest philosophy, had suggested the same idea in his late work upon Natural The- ology. 1 have space here for only one extract : — " Vet may we conceive that hereafter such of our affections as have been the most cherished in life shall form again the delight of meeting those from whom deatli has severed us — tiiat tlie soul may enjoy the purest delights in the exercise of its powers, alone for the investigation of truth — that it may expatiate in the discovery of whatever has hitherto been most .strangely revealed or most carefully hidden from its view — tliat it may be gratified with the sight of the useful harvest reaped by tlic world from the good seed which it helped to sow." And in one of Melville's sermons, entitled " Life a state of discipline for Eternity," immortality is cormected witli tliis hope — if true, and if believed, it is the highest reward for tlie diligent and faithful cultivation of our talents and virtues. " You will often meet in tlie perusal of Scripture witli re- fereKcea to our present state of being as most strictly prepa- t; lY'' k 10-2 A VIEW OK JMMORTALITT. ratory to aiiOtlicr. Tiic frcncrni ropn sentntion of tho ll.hin uppeurs to bo that tliirf earth is not only a scone of probation but, that it is yet farther, a scene of moral discipline, and that by the schoolinir and training- of which ue are Jiero riiade the, .subjects., \vc become fitted for Ihe business and enjoyments of a iiigher .sphere. And there are few points in Tlicoiojiy Avhich, for practical worth, deserve more to bo in.prof-sed on mens' mind>s than this — that, over and above the obtaining];' the right of admission to heaven, there mn^t bo obtained a. ineetnoss for its possession. It is (jnito evident that Avhat- «n*or the scenery and cliaractcristics which we ascribe to the futin-c home of the saints, wo must suppose ourselves endow- ed with just those organs and faculties Aviiich .shall be otTcc- tual for appropriating' the beauty and tlio blessedness; other- wise (to use a common expression) tJiO whole would bo du'own away on us, and we could be nothinf^ advnntiu^'ed by the splendid tilings and lovely, whicli might girdle us around. '' Js it not then a most fair expectation, that, for as nuu-h as our present life may be considered to bear on our future, exactly that relation which the infancy of this state of being- hears to its manhood — is it not, we say, a most fair expccta- t'lan, that we arc placed on earth in order that we may be pre])ared Ibv a higher jdacc in creation : yea, and tliat it' there be a frittering away of the opportunities of that vhich yvo are bold to call the childhood of our immortality, so that v.e pass into eternity uneducated for its lofty concernments, wo shall be just in the condition of the full grown man launclied upon life, without any of t]io teachings of instruc- tion, or habit or experience, and thus bo fitted for no other part throughout the broad ages of the immortality of our spe- cies, but that of furnishing an exhibition of moral shipwreck, and telling out to the intelligent universe, tliat the attempt to set aside God's ordinance of discipline \7oulfl issue in nc^- thing but everlasting rum — perfect in one tiling, but that, one thing wretchedness." A modern author of eminence has illustrated this view of unmortality by a beautiful train of reasoning, and as 1 can- not but regard it as a belief which leads to the practice of virtue and to honorable exertion, both in the prosecution ( {' self-improvement and of these benevolent schemes destined r.NJOYME.NTS OF HEAVEN — LNTELLKt TL Ai.. II ;; Oi t, { I to bless and elevate mankind, I pause hero to j^ive tlie foi- Jowinf^ passages : — " If tlien we admit that the present state is connected miiIi the? tuture, and tliat tJic liotir of deaiii iy not tlie tiTiiiinatioii • 'f our cxiiitence, it must be a matter of the utmost impor- t:mcc, that the mind of every candidate for immortality i;<.' tutored in tlioso departments of kno\vlcd;io ■which have a re- lation to tlie future world, and which will tend tf> ([uality iiim for cngairinrr in the employments, and for relishinir tho j)leasures and enjoyments of that titate. The following re- marks arc intended to illustrate tliis position : — " Wo m.iy remark, in the first place, in ;^fonornl that ino knowledyo acquired in the present state, whatever be ii>« nature, will be carried alon<]^ Avith us when wo ^^ln only two small protuberances he perceives several thousands of beautiful transparent globes exquisitely rounded aiid polislied, placed witli the utmost regularity in rows, crossing each other lik(» a kind of lattice-work, and forming the most admirable piece of mechanism that the eye can contemplate. The small durt that covers tlie wings of moths and butterflies he perceives to consist of an infinite multitude of feathers of various fonns not much unlike the featliers of birds, and adorned with tlie most bright and vivid colours. In an animal so small that the naked eye can scarcely distinguish it as a visible point, he perceives a head, mouth, eyes, legs, joints, bristles, hair and other animal parts and functions as nicely formed and adjusted, and endowed witli as much vivacity, agility and in- telligence, as the larger animals. In tlie tail of a small fish or the foot of a frog-, he can perceive the variegated branch- ings of the veins and arteries, and the blood circulating through tliem with amazing velocity. In a drop of stagnant water he perceives thousands of living beings of various shapes and sizes, beautifully formed and swimming witii wanton vivacity, like fishes in the midst of tlie ocean. In short by this instrument he perceives that the whole earth is full of animation, and that there is not a single tree, plant or flower, and scarcely a drop of water, that is not teeming Avitli life, and peopled with its peculiar inhabitants. He thus en4 lers as it were into a new world invisible to other jeyes, whero every object in the animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms presents a new and interesting aspect, and unfolds beauties, harmonies, contrasts and exquisite contrivances, altogetlier inconceivable by tlie ignorant and unreflecting mind. " In the invisible atmosphere which surronnds him, where ■other minds discern nothing but an immense blank, ho be- H II WONDERS or SCIENCE. h .1 l! ; holds an n^--!!onil)lai;o of wonders, nnd a strikinrr gcrno of Di- vine wisdom anil oiiinipotencc'. IIo viown tliis invisiblo u^^ciit not, only us a mntcrinl but a compound Hubstanco (;onij)ound- ed of two oppo.sito principlcH, tiie one the source of llanie and nninial lii'e, and the other destructive to botli, and producini; by their ditVercnt combinations tlie most diversified and be- neficent crtects. He perceives it ns the agent und(!r the Al- mighty, which ))roduces the fjermination and jifrowthofplant.s and all the beauties of the vegetable creation — which pre- serves water in a licjuid state — supjwrta tire and llame, and produces animal heal, — which sustains the clouds and gives buoyancy to the feathered tribes — which is the cause of winds — the vehicle of smells — tlie medium of sounds — the source of all the pleasures wo derive from the harmonies of music — the cause of tliat universal light and splendour which ia dift'used around us, and of the advantages we derive from tiio morning and evening twilight In short he contemplates it n'^ the i)rimo mover in a variety of machines — as imj)elling piiip;i across the ocean, blowing our turnaces, grinding our corn, raising water from the deepest pit, extinguishing Are, setting power looms in motion, propelling steam boats along rivers and canals, raising baloons to the region of the clouds, and performing a thousand other beniticent agencies without wliicli our globe would cease to bo a habitable world, all which views and contemplations have an evident tendency to enlarge the capacity of the mind, to stimulate its fucul- i\2s^ and to produce rational enjoyment " Again, the man of knoAvledge, even when shrouded in darkness and in solitude, where other minds could find nu enjoyment, can entertain himself with most sublime contem- plations. He can trace the huge globe on which we stand, iiying through the depths of space carrying along with it its vast population at the rate of sixty thousand miles every hour, and by the inclination of its axis bringing about the alternate succession of summer and winter, spring and harvest By tlio aid of his telescope he can transport himself towards the moon, and survey the circular plains, the deep caverns, the conical hills, the lody peaks, the shadows of the hills and vales, and the rugged and romantic mountain scenery, which diversify the surface of this orb of night By the help of tlie same instrument he can range through the planetary system, ■wing his way through the regions of space, along with the S'.viflest orbs, and trace many of the physical aspects and re- volutions wlucJi have a relation to distant worlds. He can I SPEED or THE PLANETS. li:> onteni- stand, th it ltd ry hour, ernato t. By ds the the I transport hinisolfto tlio pinnct of Saturn, and behold n stu- |»on(l"U:-; riDir miles in circuuireroMcr, rcvnhiii^ u» iinjcHtic i^fniiidenr every t"ii Ijoum arDund a j^lohu I'DO tiiiie.'^ larger than ti»e earth, n hilo seven moons larj^er than ours, nlonir with an innumera!)ln ho.sl of stars, (hsplay th»Mr radiaiici? to rdoni t!ie rinunmenl of that ma;;iiific(;iit uorhi. lie ''an vnii; his thL''lit to the sfil! more (hstant rejrions of the uni- verse, leavini*" the sun and all iiis i)huicis behind iiiin, till they appear liki.' •; noarcjly discertiible speck in cnvition, and contomj)late thousandrf and million.*! of stars and f-tarry systems beyond the range of the unassisted eye, and wander anioiifr Huns and worlds dispersed throui,Miont the i)oundle?'ft dmionsions of t-'pace. fie can fill uj) in imarrination tho>"? bhu'.kt? wiiioii Jistronomy has never directly ex{)lored, jvn I eoncoive thousands ol' systems, and ten thousands of worlds, beyond all that is visible by this optic tube, etretchini? out to infinity on every hand — new creations incessantly stiulini; into existence — peopled with intellitrencc of various orders, and all under the superintendence and g-overnniont of "the Kin;:^ Eternal, Immort^il and Invisible," whose power is om- nipotent, and the limits of his dominions pa^t iindiuijf out.'' It is evident that a mind capable of such excursions and contemplations as I have now supposed, must experience en- joyment infinitely suj)erior to tiiose of the individual whose soul is enveloped in intellectual darkness. If substantial happiness i^ chiefly seated in the mind, if it consists in tlie vigorous exercise of its faculties, if it depends on the multi- plicity of knowledge, which lie \\ithin the range of its con- templation, if it is augmented by the s'levr of the scenes of beauty and sublimity, and displays of infinite intelligence, and power, if it is connected with tranquillity of mind which generally accompanies intellectual pursuits, and with the subjugation of tlie pleasures of sense to the dictates of rea- son — the enlightened mind must enjoy gratifications as tar superior to those of tiio ignorant, as man is superior in sta- tion and capacity to tlio worms of the dust. h Pi rn rr •.n it i ' V> 'J I ,! I'i UG O.H PHYSICAL AND MORAL CULTURE. However we contemplate the influence of intelliffcncs upon ourselves or on our country — upon our condition here anrl the life hereafter — the cultivation of mind, and the spread of education, must be impressed on us as a personal and so- cial duty. The importance of intellectual occupations and pursuits can indeed be vindicated and enforced by the high- est and purest sanctions. The beautiful " parable of the ta- lents," contained in the New Testament, has been interpret- ed by eminent and practical divines, to apply not to tlie mere gifts of fortune, but to the powers of the mind, and the af- fections and predispositions of the heart; and the "outer darkness " threatened there " to the unprofitable servant," — and tJie "weeping and gnashing of teeth" have been repre- sented as pimishments foredoomed to those who neglect to cultivate their intellectual gifts, to sweeten the affections, and strengthen the social ties. Independent then of all per- sonal benefit from the sources of internal happiness and of social influences which knowledge confers, the acquisition of it, and the sharpening of the mental powers, is elevated, by this practical application of a religious lesson, into obedi- ence to an express and peremptory mandate from on high. There is no rational being and no parent who does nolj deem it a sacred obligation to improve and preserve his owi^ health and energies, and those of his offspring and depen-i dants. Nay, there are persons who will often devote weeksf and months, to secure to themselves, their children, or rela-| dves, the benefit of exercise an'' free air — to recall the rud4 dy hue of liealth to the cheek, and give new tone and actiorf to the muscular system, — who yet will be strangely and su^ pinely blind, either to the increase of their own knowledg-e, oj n } MIND AND MATTER CONTRASTED. 117 n llic education of tlieir cliildren and tlie other members of tlie domestic circle. They thus exalt tlie physical over the mo- ral agencies of our nature — forgetting that the one is of the eartli, tlic other of heaven — that the one springs from dust, and the otlier is a direct emanation from, and connecting link with, the godhead. In a late work entitled the " Handmaid,* or the principles of Literature and Philosophy considered as subservient to tlie interests of morality and religion," tlie contrast between the two is thus strikingly sketched : — " It is impossible to contemplate the nature of man, as it displays itself in different individuals of the species, without observing the immense disproportion which prevails between his physical and mental energies. In bodily strengtli, and in the vigour of his organic structure, man is far interior to many of the lower animals ; but be possesses a hidden, a mys- terious power, which raises him above the level of his corpo- real nature, which triumphs over the feebleness of his mate- rial frame, and brings the unwieldy and impetuous tenants of the forest prostrate in willing subjection at his feet When ■we survey some of tlie mightier efforts of human labour, some of the massive structures that have been reared by human hands ; when we mount the summit of some lofty edifice, which commands a view of the wide panoramaof domes, tern- pies, and palaces, with which it is surrounded ; when we contemplate the colossal achievements of ancient industry and art — tlie pyramids, the triumphal arches, the vast aque- ducts, some faint vestiges of which, just sufficient to testify tlieir stupenduous magnitude, are still to be observed on the soils of Egypt, Greece, and Rome ; when we transfer our *I recommend this work, published by Parker, London, 1S41, to the student. It is from the pen of the Revd. T. Da- vis, B. D., and is composed of five desertations — 1, on Ba- con's principles of induction — 2, the spirit of philosophy— 3, cultivation of the mind an object of primary importance — 4, national character as influenced by intellectual pursuits — and 5, moral obligations connected with talent and sci. eace. It is argumentative and philosophical, and the last chapter an attractive and striking illustration of its subject. IP, ■ V i 'I 1 1 :n8 lAFLUE.N'tK VV (.A£AT MES. I! M 11^^ .c^azc to another clement, and '.vitncss one of tiiose float; f.^^ inasses, which seem to nflbrd the most vivid represcntutioji of a "world standing out of the water and in the water:" ^vhen we notice these diversified results of human power and skill, and contrast them with the physical c:ierffy of the a- j^ent, wc are struck with astonishment at the apparent dispa- rity which they display. We might imagine that some high- «,'r power had been at work — tliat some mightier arni uiust have wielded the elements which have thus combined — that some being more tlian Iiuman must have moulded nature to his will. " But when we calmly and deliberately snr\-ey these ob- jects as the mere results of well-directed human clfort, anil rompare at our leisure the effect with the immediate agent-, wo turn away from tlic scene with a deeper and more over- whelming conviction of tlie superiority of mind to matter. — We perceive with wonder that, provided witii how small an apparatus of bones and muscles, man can rear monumenty of power, which seem to bid defiance to the ravages of timc^ anri to partake of the permanency of creation itself. We al- juost cease to regard it as a sally of extravagance, when the philosopher, in the pride of conscious talent, and with a view to tlie application of meclianical power, exclaimed " Give me a place, where I may stand, and I Avill move the earth." " If any parent were disposed to take a philosophical and moral, and yet sober, view of the ijnportanco of these two classes of duty, he has only to turn to history, and trace the ijifluence which single minds have had upon tlie destiny and iiappiness of our species. Bacon for example struck out the inductive system, and not only changed tlie character of sci- ence, but evolved principles which will guide as long as letters have history. Galileo,* Tycho Brache, and Newton founded tJie school of modern astronomy, and discovered those unerring *For the lives of Galileo, Tycho Brache, and Keppler, soo Brewster's "Martyrs' of Science," forming one of the vo- lumes of the Library of Entertaining Knowledge. Tycho Bracho's establishment at the Island of iluen, Denmarit, re- sembles an Eastern tale more than reality. It is a book which will charm every student in Science. A INFLUENCE OF GREAT MEN no laws which regulate the movements of the illimitable universe. Columbus discovered a new world, and Washington lias built up a new fabric of civil liberty. Scott and Edgeworti) have elevated tlie virtues and patriotism of their age, and have transfused their own refined and generous morality into the hearts of millions. Contrast the benign and sanitary influ- ences of tliese names, witli that of a Vcllaire, Buonaparte, Byron — wlio aimed to sap the foundations of virtue, honour, and religion, and who have gathered to themselves so odi- ous a reputation, that all good men say it would be better for the world had they never been born : and no argument could be advanced more effective to prove the obligation of parents giving to the young mind a riglit and vigorous di- rection. No one knows from what womb, or in what iiousc- hold, the highest order of mental endowments may break fortii. Intellectual power belongs to no privileged class, and des- cends in no line of hereditary succession ; and hence every parent, in looking upon those precious living treasures, with which God may have blessed him, should regard each as the possible germ of some great intellect, destined to give an impress to the age, and pursue a high destiny, whether for good or evil. To have children around us playing an iio- nourable part in the world, gatliering a harvest of fame for good deeds, giving to the family name a lustre, while they are storing up tlie hopes of a glorious immortality — is said to be one of tlie most exquisite and purest enjoyments of hu- man life while the reverse is one of tlie bitterest pangs with which the human heart can be wrung. If to the parent of Bacon, or Scott, or Heber there was exstacy, and to tiic mo- ther of Voltaire or Byron there was anguish, it is obvious 'li if m INFLUENCE OF SINGLE MIND9. w in Iv thut tlie pleasures of tlie one, and the misery of the other, ■would be enhanced by the conviction, tliat these opposite features of character were in any degree attributable to tlie training tliey had been subjected to in tlieir infant years. — These it is true are references to great names, but says tlie autlior of tlie Handmaid : — " Nor is the privilege of exerting a plastic influence upon the character and habits of the community confined to tran- scendent genius. It is not Uie monarclis of intellect only •who radiate this species of effusive and assimilating energy upon those around them. The possession of even an ordina- ry measure of talent and infonnation is often sufficient to spread it over a sphere of very considerable extent A slight degree of mental superiority seldom fails to make an indivi- dual tlie centre of a little circle — the oracle of the small community to which he belongs ; and to those who are com- prised within tliat limit he imparts with ease and success hia own habitudes of thought and feeling. In a reading age tlie power and opportunity of producing an impression, and of circulating influential principles, through the medium of a free press, are incalculably augmented, and in such a con- 'D LETTERS CONTRASTED. our knov/lcdgc moro extensive, our faith will suffer no decay and our virtue no diminution. Tlierc is tliis fuilher distinction between money and Icarn- infT, that wc cannot impart the first to oUiers without lessen- inr,' our stock, but we may give freely of the last, and that whicl) remains will be undiminished and even purified. — (Communion polishes intelligent minds. Without books so- ciety becomes a continuation of business — a conversation upon the transactions of tlic day, or it descends to the for- tunes and the foibles of our friends. — Then comes satire and the ready censure, the uncharitable construction of conduct. We cannot speak praise at all times. The flesh will war against the spirit, and gain the mastery. If we talk continu- ally about other men, the tongue, from the very love of vari- ety will dip itself in tlio bitter waters of scandal, and the mind catch tiie darkening hues of sarcasm. Philosophy and the temper and disposition it creates, shrinks from such topics, and returns to its own fancy and ideal world. A knowledge of books gives to character a new amiability, 'o society a fresher and racier charm. Exceptions there are, but this is the rule. No man tlierefore who regards his own happiness — the part he is to play in the world's stage, the charms of do- mestic life — his standing in the social circle — his capability of receiving or imparting enjoyment to others, ought to de- i?pise the graces of learning and of philosophy, for without them he is barren of the most affluent sources of social en- joyment, and with them he is independent of fortune and cir- cumstance. D'Isreali has written a curious chapter upon tlie literary labours of autliors, while placed in confinement. Charles the » BOOKS WRITTEN IN CONFINEMENT. \U3 first composed the ' Icon Basilike' during his imprisonmcnr, at Hohnsby ; — Sir Walter Raleigh never discovered, or, ;it. least, diiijilayed, the force or impress of his own genius, un- til Queen Fdizabetli had consigned him to the Tower : iii3 elaborate History of the World was tliere designed and per- fected ; — The Henriade of Voltaire, and the Pilgi-ini's Pro- gross of Bunyan, were both composed under similar circum- stances — Don Quixote was written by Cervantes, to brighten a period of captivity. When Home Zookc was threatened with imprisonment for his politicaJ offences, he said " give '• me light, books, and my pen, and I care not how soon vom *' close the doors of tlie dungeon upon me." Wakefield who has published tlie modern edition of the Wealth of Nations, and has acquired so wide a fame for his discovery of tiie new theory of colonization, wrote his " England and America'" in Newgate, and Cobbett produced tliere also his admirable Essays of Paper against Gold. Beranger was delighting France with his National Songs, vhile the inmate of a cell under the mandate of Louis Philippe. Thus does the mind rise superior to situation by the fertility of its own revela- tions, and bring the "landscapes of thought," bright and il- limitable as they are, to give variety and enjoyment to soli- tude. But let it not be supposed that I wish to cast any unde- served odium upon the disposition of mind and habits, which tend to accumulation. All I wish to illustrate is tJie fallacy and fruitlessness of a too exclusive pursuit of it, of making tJie acquisition of money a sordid and exclusive occupation. Fortune to a certain extent is essential, and it ought to be the ambition of every man to acquire at least enough to pre- i^l 1^4 F-ORTU.fE Ar^D LITERATURE. i. t !;i I * ■ . i i- vent old age from sinking to penuiy and want ; but let not Uie means be made the end, so as to sacrifice, in its attain- ment, tliose more rational acquisitions which give to their possessor dignity and enjoyment I wish not to place the spirit of accumulation and tlie love of books as opposite or conflicting aptitudes or principles, — for I come now to tliis proposition, that the best educated and most intelligent na- tions have been in all past ages, tiie most industrious and tlie most wealthy. In the age of Alexander the arts and sciences had reach- ed their zenith in Athens, and at that time the Pierius was crowded with a vast and busy commercial marine. Never before or since did the iEgean sea or Archipelago exhibit a scene of such active and prosperous commerce. The Romans •were never an industrious or commercial people, and hence tiiey furnish no analogy for the present argument In the Augustan and golden age, tliey prosecuted trade, but Rome was only a depot for the productions of the provinces, and was itself the «i<) rO^ITION OF FHlIALEs. which preceded it, has been introduced for that reason only, out of its natural order. I intended to dilate furtlierupontlje effects of learning in mellowing the heart and mannerrf — ia guing to life an enthusiasm and poetic cmbellishinent — in ionding', in the words of Irving, "to tlie stars life, to tlie flowers enchantment, and to all nature eloquence," — hut I refrain, and pass to graver and more practical illustration. — I drav/ to a conclusion in tracing the effect"? of tliis spread of learning upon the position and destinies of tlie softer sex. Of all classes of Society none have so deep an interest in ]}io si)read of learning and civilization as females. In rudu iatates of Society tliey are the slaves, ratlier tlian tlie com- piiniona of their lords. Amongst the Indians of Nortli Ame- rica the wife IS reduced to the most laborious and menial ol- lices. Amongst the French in Canada and Cape Breton, and tlie Dutch in Lunenburg, they are subjected to labour re- quiring the severest muscular exertion. In the fishing set- tlements of tliese Provinces they are the cultivators of the soil, they plant, reap, and hoe, bear the barrow, and raise the t\sh pile — all labours useful and necessary in tJiemselves, but scarce fitted for the slighter frame and delicacy of woman. — In these she neither occupies her proper station, nor exerci- .ses her proper influence upon society. As education and ci- vilization advance, her position in the social scale is eleva- ted. She is then confined to the duties of domestic life, and becomes the Q,ueen of her household ; in place of being tlie slave or servant of an migracious master, she is elevated to be his friend and companion. Slie shares his good and evil fortune — briglitens success, and softens adversity. It be- comes her, then, above otiiers, to be the patroness and friend I-VFLrE.VCE OF WOMEN. lar of of education. It elevates her consequence and extends hrr dominion, and history siiows she has never tailed anipl>to repay tlie privileges and dignity thu3 conferred. How nuich ot" tlie national virtue is dependant upon the gentler sex. — They mould tlic tone of general manners, and render man virtuous, or otherwise, at their will. They exercise a secret, l)ut resistless influence. No system or individual can stand uguiiist their ban. Many domestic kingdom;? are ruled by :i. Catlierino De Mcdicis, whoso agency is never seen — but it is fortunate, that for one Catlierine there arc ten Portias and ten Cornelias. — In general it is their aim to soiten, purify, exalt, — tlicy infuse a charity and mildness into the uitor- coursc of society, and come to controul and heal those con- tlicts of tlie evil passions, in which men, however prudent, if forced into tlie tide of the world, are involved. But the influence of the sex is chiefly felt in their capachy as mo- thers. To tliein 'belongs tlio early development of tlie mind — the formation of character and habits. They have tiio modelling of the wax, while it is ductile and freely inclined — tliey may inspire to virtue and patriotism, or degrade to selfishness, — make religion an element of character, or a tiling to be scoffed at,- implant virtue or the seeds of vice, — compel industry, or suffer idleness and inattention. The household under their dominion is either a heaven or a hell. But experience teaches that the higher their elevation is set in the social scale, and the more kindly they are treated, tlioir influences are inspired with better inducements ; and hence, if education exalts them, and they from the position to wliicli tlicy are raised, shed down more benign and kindly auspi- late years been disseminated among a variety of individuals in different classes of society, yet among the great majority of the population of every country, a degree of ignorance siiil prevails, degrading to the rank of intellectual nations. — Witli respect to the great mass of the inhabitants of the world, it may still be said with propriety, that "darkness covers tlie earth and gross darkness the people." The great- er part of tlie continent of America, the extensive plains of Africa, the vast regions of Siberia, Tartary, Tliibet, and the Turkish empire — the immense territories of New Holland, Sumatra, Borneo, and tlio 13urman empire, the numerous is- lands which are scattered tliroughout the Indian and Pacific oceans, Avith many otlier extensive regions inhabited by iiuraan beings, still lie within the confines of mental darkness. I 1 I ] I There is perhaps no country in the world whore the body of the people are better educated and more intelligent tlian in Nortii Britain, yet we need not go far, cither in tlie city or in the country to be convinced tliat tlie most absurd and superstitious notions, and the grossest ignorance respecting many hnportant subjects, intimately connected with human liappiness, still prevail among the great majority of the po- pulation. Of two millions of inhabitants, which constitute tlie population of the northern part of our island, there are not perhaps 20,000, or the hundredth part of the wiiole wliere •knowledge extends to any subject of importance beyond the range of Sieir daily avocations. Witli resjject to tJic remaining 1,980,000 it may perhaps bo said with propriety, that of tiic figure and magnitude of the world they live in, of tlie seas and rivers, continents and islands, which diversify its surface, and of the various tribes of men and animals by which it is inliabited, of the nature and properties of the atmosphere which sun'ounds them, — of the discoveries which have been made in light, heat, electricity, and magnetism — of the gene- ral laws which regulate the economy of nature — of the va- rious combinations and effects of chymical and mechanical powers — of tlie motions and magnitude of the planetary and the starry orbs — of the principles of legitimate reasoning — of tJie just conceptions of the attributes and moral government of the supreme being — of many otlier things interesting to rational and immortal beings — tliey are almost as enthely ig- norant as the wandering Tartar or untutored Indian. " Of eight lumdred millions of human beings wliicli people the globe wc iiiliabit, tliere we not perhaps two millions who3e ESTIMATE OF INTELLIGENCE. 131 minds arc truly enlijjhtcned aatlicy ought to be — wtio prose- cute rational study tor tlieir own sake, and IVoin a pure lovo of science independently of the knowledj^e requisite for tlieir respective professions and eniploynienti^. For we must ex- clude from tiie rank of rational enquirer^ afler knowledge all tlioso who have acquired a smatterin<^ of learning, witli no otlier view than to gain a subsistence, or to appear fashion- able and politg. And if this rule be admitted, I am afraid a goodly number even of lawyers, ])hy.-;ician'=, clergymen, teachers, n-iy even some authors and proll'ssors in universi- ties and academies, would be struck ofl"from tlie list of lovers of science and rational enquirers after truth. Admitting this Btatcment, it will follow that there is not one in>livi(lual out of four hundred of the human race, tliat passes his life as a rational and intelliirent being, employing his faculties in tliose trains of thougiit and active exorcises w hich are wor- tliy of an intellectual nature ! For in so far as the attention of mankind is absorbed merely in making j)rovision for ani- mal subsistence, and in gratilying the sensual appetitci? of tlieir nature, they can be consideri.'d as little superior in dig- nity to the lower orders of animated existence." To educate and elevate these to an intellectual stand- ing are, so far as the mass of our colonial population in concerned, the labours v.liich arc yet to be achieved. Their accomplishment is in our own power. According to tlie ancient fables " the Gods inclined a gracious ear," and dealt their gifts most liberally to tliose wlio w-.'i-e faithful to themselves — who were "not slothful in business, fervent in spirit" The surest way of winning fortune is to desen'C it- Let us then continue our oertions in the acniirement of knowledge. Educato our children — support Institutes — found and adorn museums — establish and sup})ort libraries of useful knowledge. The love of, and appetite for science and literature, grow with their enjoyment. Public opinion which is the moving power, and the reforming principle of our Colonial GcverinncntS; «vill grow Btroni-a degraded and demoralized population; while France only aim ndoned llie splendid vices of the Age of Louis XIV, to adopt tlie grosser immoralities of tlie succeeding reigns. "These causes la., edthe whole of society, and vitiated the sources of theii- • l-^rity, and it was these which in- fused feebleness in' • frame A\'ork of tlieir institutions, so tluit whether these were republican as in Rome or Greece, or despotic as in Spain, France and Austria, the/ equally fell and decayed under this ihlluence. It was a siuiilar cause that proved fatal to the Republics that rose in Italy in tlie middle Ages, and threw a gleam of bright splendour over tJie dark annals of those tiuies. Tho vice and ignorance of the people undermined the strength of Florence — sn])ped the foundations of Genoa — cast in tlie dust the glory of Milan — darkened the luorc peaceful lustre of Rologne — quenched the light of learning at Padua — poured decay upon the deserted streets of Ferrara — broke the stern independence of Pisa, and drew down the strength of Sienna from the fastness of her gloomy hills. All these States, though free in their go- vernment, entirely popular in their institutions, toll, under- mined and shattered by the vices of their citizens. Tlio re- publican form of their government cannot account for tiiis; for Venice, which was bound ui the chain of tlic sternest 134 MORALS THE SOURCE OF NATIONAL STRENGTH. oli^rchy, fell in like manner dissolved in tlic vices of her pubjectfl ; and Arragon whoso j^overnment was balanced like our own, saw Jicr li^ht go down at mid-day. Ml these histo- ries plainly indicate the truth, that the morals of a people are more essential to the nation than the forms of its political ^o- vemment. lh\t this trutli will receive a more complete illus- tration from the history of our own country. Alone, of all tlio nations of Europe, our constitution has advanced witli firm progress, gaining strength, instead of feebleness witli tJio advance of years. To what is this to be attributed ? not certainly to natural advantages, for the Romans found us in a state of savage destitution. — Not to their improvements, for tliey left us as they found us, — not to the institutions of our Saxon Conquerors, for they liad no effect upon us ; and when tlic notice of Rome was again attracted to us in the 7th cen- tury, we were immersed as before in a state of tlie deepest barbarism. " The first great step of our progress was effected by the introduction of Christianity ;" and the author then proceeds to trace a history of our institutions, and to show how admi- rably tliey are adapted to sustain tlie institutions of religion, and to promote National virtue. These Institutions have come to us as Colonists by inheritance, and it will be to our own disgrace if we do not work out, to permanent and ge- neral good, the inestimable privileges they confer. LECTURE IV. 3fatloual Systems of Education In the 01«l and New AVorld.— Oil tlie lucniis and principles of Mupporting ttoeni. CONTENTS. Advantajjos of Education — Three views of a personal nature — 1st, Duty to cultivate our powers, 2ndly, Eflect on Mo- rals, ordly, Superior endowments may pass with the soul to immortality — Three views of a national character, — 1st, Manual skill, an element of national wealth — Rev. Mr. Crawley's letters on Education, entitled "The People's Interest " — kindly, Necessary to preserve an equality in"Na- tional Compction — Sam Slick a shrewd lecturer on Educa- tion, his satires on Colonial manners; the Yankees and New Englanders contrasted, to induce the former to copy tho example and habits of the latter; — and 3rdly, the indirect preventive of crime. — Progress of Manufactures — Effects of Education on British and Continental workmen — A general system calls out the finest minds and talents from every class — Education a business of the State. No people well educated, where education has not been conducted on a ge- neral and National system — Feeling in Scotland in favour of Education — Sacrifices made there by parents to eduoatt? their children — Parish Scools in Scotland — Extract from the report of the Committee on Education to the House of As- sembly of Nova Scotia in I83G. State of Education in Prussia, funds and taxes — Sums expended in Prussia for Education — Mr. Wyse's description of the ordinances in Prussia for the regulation of Common Schools — New Eng- land Schools, how supported — Hon. John A. Dixsexertions to improve the education of New York — The Hon. Horace Mann's eminent services for the education of Massachu- setts. — The absolute necessity of supporting schools bij assess- ment considered, by shewing that no national and succesfl- ful system has been supported without it. 1 DO not intend to open tliis Lecture "witli any elaborate disquisition upon the advantages of education. The highest i\ mi BENEFITS OF EDtCA.TIO.V. 1! f powers of eloquence and the subtlest logic of tlie schools would add little to the effect of those great maxims or jjostulates upon wliicii its expediency arc freely admitted. I shall there- fore content myself by stating them, with an unfeigned re- gard to briefness and simplicity. 1st. — As Providence has invested man with intellectual powers, which admit of miraculous developeiacnt and im- provement, in cultivating tlicse — in foniiing and strengthen- ing intellectual habits, — in adding to and refining his stock of ideas or knowledge, — is to fulfil one of the most obvious and noble ends of his creation. To improve lliat Avhich is improveable is only acting in obedience to that groat and ge- neral law of change and development — of an incomplete be- ginning and mature end — which distinguishes the divine po- licy both in the moral and physical world. If capable of im- provement they are designed to be improved — tlic Deity never designs nor acts in vain ! 2nd. — It has been found by experience, that the liigher these powers are cultivated — and tlie more intimately we can penetrate and comprehend the laM's and arcana which con- troul, and are made visible in tlie operations of matter and mind, we form nobler and purer cone options of the attributes of God. Education or knowledge, the more extensive it is, adds to that fervour and piety inspired by the Religion of Nature. But science comes now to support the truths of Re- velation. Education, ilierefore rightly conducted and based on religious principle, will make Man more pious and more devoted — he will be more moral — and consequently more tranquil and happy, — a better man and a purer Christian. 3rd. — It is a growing opinion that the powers and capaci-» M EDUCATION ON NATIONAL WEALTH. 137 tips wc acquire in this life may pass* with tlie soul to immor- tality. The eloquence we cultivate — the knowledge of sci- ence we acquire — tiic habits and virtues we practice may rise witli us beyond the grave. — The wiser and better we are here we shall rise, if blessed by tlie inlluences of grace and faith, better able to comprehend tliose more enlarged and sublime views of the Universe which will open upon ua — better fitted to be the companions of angels. Can any in- ducement be higher or more exciting tlian tliis ? We sub- mit to labour and to sacrifice — to reap a refined and an enduring, because an eternal ^" a These tlirec postv- lates arc personal. I come now to ^^ii^strate tliose which make education the business and duty of the state. No Ex- ecutive performs its obligations to tJie body politic, whose energies are not devoted to tlie instruction and amelioration of tlie mass. 1st. — National wealth, it is true, is represented by matter — by products which are tangible — but these are produced by the operation of mind upon matter. Wealth is composed of matter, into which tlie skill and tlie labour of man has been incorporated. The improvement of tlie mind adds to to the skill and manipulation of tlie hand, and thus enlarges its powers of production. The science and skill of the me- chanic are a part of his annual income — of his powers of pro- duction — and clearly a part of his Avealth, and of course of the wealth of the state. If the hand of one man can be form- ed and trained to do tlie labour often, the food he consumes gives a ten-fold value to the products of its industry. The cul- tivation of tlie mind encreases skill, multiplies inventions, *Vide ante page 101, - ■^. -wtW-^^^MN v Va^j 'd 138 JlNTEIiLECT LIKE A MINE OF GOLD. m and givc3 now power and facility to tlic mechanic. The in- tellect of a nation becomes tlius its richest mine of *Gold. — It is ever ready, energetic, coinmandable ; and therefore it is as imperative upon the government to cultivate and im- prove it, as it would be to call a new element of national wealth into existence, or to encourage one if discovered. — Some politicians now argue with somo show and force of reasoning, tliat national weath cannot bo estimated, because tlierc is no exact standard or measure by which we can value tlio combined energy, skill, and productive powers of tJic peo- ple — these arc elements ever capable of being improved and stimulated, and thus encreasing their returns by hundred-fold?. The steam power of Great Britain, entirely the effect of me- chanical skill, is equal to tlie labour of 200 millions — the annual products of the population has thus been increased ten-fold, in addition to all tlie brilliant results the engine is yet to accomplish. Another Watt, or Black, or Fulton, may yet spring from tlie form of a Parish or Industrial 8chool, and give to practical Science a new scope, and break up new, deep, and ever increasing fountains of national wealtli. Upon the subject of education the Rev. Mr. Crawley pub- lished, in the Halifax Nova-Scotian for 1840, a series of let lers entitled " the People's Interest" Although compelled lo differ from the able Professor in some of his sectarian views, the earnest zeal these letters exhibit in favour of *See Horace Mann's Report to the Legislature of Massa- chusetts, Boston, 1st January 1342, p. 101, for a collection of facts as to the productive powers of the educated and unedu- cated, in letters from practical men. See this report, p. 112, for several extracts from popular and scientific works, in proof tf th'e maxim that "Knowledge ia power," 1 ■^ MR. Crawley's letters. ino fli general and practical system of education, founded on as- sessment, and the blending of religious and secular instnic- tutions — tlie two pillars on which an effective and useAil system can alone be reared,— entitle him to respect, and I glad- ly avail myself here, as I intend to do in subsequent times, of some of his illustrations : — "The mental field is surely as precious and as productive as any of the rich districts of our beautiful country, which the owners would grieve to tlirow into tJie hands of ignorant and miserable pretenders to husbandry, who should suffer them to become overrun wiUi weeds, or spoiled for want of proper tillage. It is the mental field which the friends of education are called on to cultivate. The enlightened among them fail not to see in it a noble and invaluable object Fortii from that field with correct and judicious cultivation, tliey see proceeding their country's best and dearest hopes — in- creased energy, enterprise and talent — greater elevation of mind — greater refinement of manners — greater commercial, social, and political prosperity. Thence come the men who shall not be ashamed to take their rank with tlie wise, the learned, the ingenious, the distinguished, of other nations, the intellectual ornaments of the country, the able States- men, the practical men of science, and men o. enlightened rninds, blending science with art — in every department of modern avocation, which, modern improvement, with rapid strides, is so constantly multiplying." 2d. — The Government enact laws to control and subjugate tlie passions and vices of the people, by the influence of penalties and punishments. This is the direct — the impera- tive check upon crime. It is enforced by the whip, the pil- lor}% the gaol — by punishments leading to fear and degrada- tion. Is it not bound by higher responsibilities to apply the moral* — the indirect check — To prevent rather than to cure *Mr. Crawley, on this subject, says again : — " Moreover ought you not to reflect that assessments are already imposed, and no one sees any thing in them hostile to freedom. You sustain your poor, you uphold your Court Houses and prose- c u H ^ ; J40 KnUCATIOX PREVENTS CRIME. or to punisli ? Sound education hiw thw cfiect, — it softenji tJic unj^ry passions of our nature — it improves our virtuoua tendencies. By education the Government will make tlie peo- ple more i'vlu.strious, more moral, more cheerful and content- ed. If it be tlic duty or rulers to build gaols and workhouses, it is surely not less their duty to build schools, and open insti- tutes and museums, to prevent the fonner from being filled. The spirit and policy of Prison discipline, is to discharge tiic convict with a loathing detestation of his crime — of the pu- nishments and confinement it produced — teach* him this when cute your criminals, and do many otlior things of tliis piihlio nature by means of assessments for, poor niid county rates you know are raised in tills way. Do you satisfy thoso as- Hossnients by the public nature and ni'eessity of the thing, and still withbold your consent for an educational assessment, be- cause education, as an important advantage, is joss necessary and less public in the benefit it confers ? Will this bear exa- mination ? Is it less important that a population should bo well educated than that the poor should be maintained and the criminals brought to justice ? lu answer to this I ask what would be tlie condition of that people who should bo left wholly uneducated ? Does any one in the present ago doubt that pauperism and crime would rapidly increase ? and that with their increase the amounts assessed on these accounts would proportionably advance? that, in a word, civilization would decay, improvement cease, and tyranny and larbarism speedily follow." *I well know the consequences of the present system of pu- nishment, and, in truth, nothing can be worse. There are in London thousands of juvenile otfenders, as they are termed, and not incorrectly, for they are eight, nine, ton, and eleven years of age, and tbey have offended; but they are as yet be- ginners in villainy ; they are not adult criminals ; they are not inured and hardened in vice ; they have accidentally, occa- sionally, as it were, violated the law ; but enclosed for a week or two in Newgate, or some other school of crime, some re- ceptacle for accomplished villains, the immature rogues per- form their noviciate among the most finished adepts in tho art, and return thoroughbred, irreclaimable profligates to that society which they had left raw and tenaer delinquents. Vice EDCCATIOV PREVi:>TS CRIME. 141 •/i a boy — inspire him with tlicso fecliniTs not it/ler^ but btfure ho commits the crime, and luulergooa ita disirnicc nnd pu- nislimcnt. Lot liim be improved so as to avoid tiio work- house — in j)hicc of delayini^ Jii.s instruction until ho lias fallen, and ho cannot return to society, Avitli the virttics of a later training-, without the blemish and the load of his former trans^essions ever resting, like a shadow on his forehead, disturbing his peace of mind, and depressing his notions of fiolf-respect, by the stings of a loaded and guilty conscience. To awaken him to a sense of his fonner errors, and to h'end him back to society a reformed man, is ever attended witii painful and witlicring reflections. How much wiser would it be to save him from all these, by giving him a diataste for crime when a child. Hrd. — 13ut as Colonists of Great Britain we must now recollo't that we can no longer look upon this as a broad question, to be decided upon abstract and philosophical ,)rin- ciples. I The subjects of the British empire stand in that po- eition that tliey must feel, and be pressed forward, by tlie in- fluence of others. To acquire and maintain a pre-eminence in intelligence — in morals — in the arts and manufactures we must turn to tlio policy of other and rival states, and examine tlie progress of their exertions. The nations of tlie contineni of Europe are now prosecuting a noble rivalry, in tlie moral improvement of the people, and in the spread of the arts, would be then prevented— nipped in the bud, instead of being; fostered and trained up to maturity, — and more would be done to eradicate crimes, than the gallows, the convict-ship, the Penitentiary, the treadmill, can accomplish, oven if the prison discipline were so amended, as no longer to be tiie nursery of vice. — Lord Brougham's Speech on the Education of the Pec- fle, delivered in the House of Lords, May 23, 1835. 142 NF.CESSITY FOR KDUCATIO.T « . .' tendinjif equally to increase their national rcrfourcea, and tlu? fluni of liuinan happiness.* In Fran(;<>, Prussia, Gennany and in this New World, in the United States of America, education has been established as a national system. They iiavo Ministers and Boards of educati >n, and they (are now Jicld up, not as foils, but mirrors, — as examples to follow. In tliis branch of state policy the motiicr country and ourselves are behind — not before our sister nations. Lord Brougham, Mr. Wyse, Mr. Hill, James, Simpson, Combe, all Uic legis- lators and authors, who take tlie lead in promoting general education, dilate upon these examples, and urge tlie necessi- ty which exists, that this stain upon tlie national character Bliould be blotted out — a Board of Education established, and tlie educatioii of the people reduced to a general and uniform Bystcm. The wisdom of and necessity for it is obvious. — During the close of the last, and tlie early part of this cen- tury, tlic different nations of tlie continent were convulsed, and the peaceful arts and social relations disturbed and bro- ken up by general war. The mass of their jiopulation, tlieir strength and manual labour were entirely withdrawn from the arts and manufactures — and Great Britain, protected from invasion, by insular position, and tlic spirit of her peo- ple, prosecuted her career in the practical arts, and added to tlie sources and amount of national wealtli, free of rivalry and competition. Circumstances have now altered. In France, Prussia, and Gennany, tlie attention of the people and of the governments, are now directed to tlie spread and improvement of tlie arts and manufactures. In many they *See Euler's evidence in Dr. Kay's Report, to the Council of Education, on the training of paupers' children, p. 4, 5,6. EIVALRY or FOREIOW WATIONS. H3 have already reached a superior skill. In some liio supply not oidy lucetti the domestic demand, but aflbrds a surplus to 8upi)ly other natioiw. The domestic demand is jjuardcd by a t.iriff and tiystom of {)rutcctive duties. They now com- jKite with our mother land, in the markots* of America, India, Asia Minor, and tiie Mediterranean. Tin; United States have of late years made rapid progress and ellccted vast im- provements in ManuUicturcs ; and in those of cotton, and se- veral other of coarser fabric tlicy supply not only tlieir own people and the markets of South America, but even Greece and Asia Minor. The best improvements in Cotton Machinery have been the invention of American artists. Their taritl is sufficiently heavy to keep tlie domestic demand, e.\clusively, in many branches, to tlie domestic manufacturer. In the appli ances, in skill, in invention, in tlic wide circle of the fine and useful arts. Great Britain, if she Mishes to retain her supre- macy and pre-eminence, must begin at the foundation, and, by introducing a system of national education, i)ush skill and invention to the highest attainable limits. By making the system general, so as to embrace all, every mind and every *U])on the oxtont and progress of Foreign Manufactures, eee "Porter's progress of the nation," vol. y, p. IIKS, in Sax- ony, &c. "Tlie Commercial and Financial Legislation of Europe," by J. McGregor, V. P. Board of Trade, March, 1841, a book lull of farts and profound views, and the Report of the Committee on Trade and Maimfactures, laid before the Hoasc of Commons, March 1841. The evidence given before this (committee, on these questions, are most curious and st.,'t''ng. See Report and Appendix, j). (J4. Capital and labo-n aro both quitting the United Kingdom, to be engaged in the Ma- nufactures of the Continent. Most of the Cotton Factories in Venice, lloui'u, Belgium, Holland, Leige, are sup^r. intended by English and Scotch foremen. Appendix, n. dli. 1 ear- nestly reconunend the study of Mr. McGregor's book, and this Report, to those inimical to the doctrines of Free Trade. 4 u 144 EDUCATIO.t INCREASES PRODUCTION. L* - s I talent is more likely to be developed, find the national powers of production to be of course cncreased. The application of Ihis reasoning is clear and obvious. In tliesc Colonics wc arc placed in direct competition "vvith the resources and skill, and in the products of our labour, witli those oftlic New Eng- land States. We are bound not only to equal them in our sys- tems of education, but, if we can, to surpass them ; and thus to retain and secure that superiority Avhich the forms, and the spirit of our political institutions, confer upon us, and which a broad and general system of Colonial education can alone render firm and enduring. I have ever read and valued tiie Conversations of Sam Slick not for their himiour, exquisite and racy as it is, in many of the Chapters, — but for the deep and instructive moral — the sound lessons of practical education they convey to tlic coun- try. There is not a provincial custom, opinion nor preju- dice, opposed to steady and persevering industry, and of course to tlic progress of individual and general prosperity, which is not exposed and treated with consummate tact and ridicule. The self-sufficiency of Sam Slick — his larfs at the Bluenoses and the Englishcrs — his continual puffing of the New Englanders, and the pictures he draws of the superior cuteness, industry, and craft of the latter, are no doubt intend- ed to teach the Colonist, that it is in vain to expect that he will ever succeed, in the race of national rivalry, till he learns and practices the same habits. The natural advan- tages of this countrv, Nuva Scotia, are drawn in erlowinff co- lours — but these are ever sot oft' witli jokes upon indolence and want of energy and speculation, too highly coloured per- haps, but still done with suflicient skill "to point the moral." I SAM SLICK'S LETTERS. 145 ^ .»',. ^1 \i pi J^'r 140 SAM SLICK A MORALIST. " I ncvor seed or licard tell of a country that had so many natural |)rivilegcs as this. Why tliero are twice as many harbors and water powers here, as avc have all tlie way from Eastport to Now Orlecns. They have all they can ax, — and more tlian they deserve. They have iron, coal, slate, grind- stone, fircstone, gypsum, freestone, and a list as long an auc- tioneer's catalogue. But they arc either asleep, or stone blind to tliem. Their shores are crowded with fish, and their lands covered with wood. A government that lays as light on tliem as a down counterpin, and no taxes. Then look at their dykes. The Lord seems to have made tliem on purpose lor such kizy folks. If you were to tell tlie citizens of our country, that tlicse dykes had been cropped for a hundred years without manure, they'd say they guessed you had seen Ool. Crockett, the greatest hand at a Jlam in our country. — You have heerd tell of a man who couldn't see London for tlic houses ; I tell you if Ave had tliis country, yoii couldn't see tlie harbors for the shipping. There'd be a rush of folks to it, as there is in our inns, to the dinner table, when they sometimes get jammed together in the door way, and a man has to take a running leap over their heads, afore he can get in? A little nigger boy in New York, found a diamond wortli 2,000 dollars ; well, he sold it to a watchmaker for 50 cents — tlie little critter didn't know no better ; your people are just like tlie little nigger boy, they dont know t1i£ value of tkeir diamond, " Do you know tlie reason the monkeys are no good ? be- cause tlioy chatter all day long — so do the niggers — and so do tlie bluenoses of Nova Scotia — it's all talk and no work ; now, witli us it's all work and no talk in our shipyards, our factories, our mills, and even our vessels there's no talk — a man can't work and talk too. I guess if you were at the factories at Lowell we'd show you a wonder — five hundred galls at work together all in silence. I don't think our great country has such a real natural curiosity as that — I expect the world don't contain tlio beat of tliat; for a woman's tongue goes so slick of itself, without water power or steam, and iuoves so easy on its hinges, tli; it'^! no easy matter to put a spring stop on it, I tell you — it coincs as natural as drinking mint julip. " Now tlie folks of Halifax take it all out in talking— tliey SATIRES OF SAM SLICK. J47 )^ 1 alk of steamboats, whalers and railroads — but tliey wliorc tlioy begin, in talk. I don't think I'd be oul all end out of my latitude, if I was to say they beat the womeidcind at that — One teller says I talk of going to England — another says I talk of gohig'to the country — wliilc a third says — I talk of going t<:) sleep. IfAvo happen to speak of such things we say, I'm rig! it down East, or I'm away oft' down South, and away we go jist like a streak of lightning. •' When wc resumed our conversation the Clockmaker said, " I guess we are tiie greatest nation on tiie face of the airtli, and the most enlightened too." This was rather too arro- gant to pass umioticed, and I was about replying, that what- ♦iver doubts there might be on that subject, there could be none wliatever tiiat they were the most modest ; Avlien he continued " we go ahead " the Nova Scotians go " astern." Our ships go ahead of tlie ships of other people, our steani boats beat the British in speed, and so do our stage coaclies; and I reckon a real right down New York trotter might stump tiio universe for going " ahead." But since we intro- duced the Rail Roads if we don't go " aliead" its a pity. We never fairly knew what going the whole liog was till then: we actiily went ahead of ourselves, and that's no easy matter I tell you. •' If ihvy only had education here, they might learn to do BO too, but they didn't know nothing. You undervalue them said 1, they have their College and Academies, their Gram- mar Schools and Primary Institutions, and I believe there are few among them who cannot read and write. '• Do you see tliat arc flock of colts, said he (as we passed one of those beautiful prairies that render tlie vallies of Nova Scotia so verdant and so beautiful,) well I guess tliey keep too much of that are stock. 1 heerd an Indian one day ax a tavern kt-eper for some rum ; Avhy Joe Spawdeock said he, I guess you have too much already. Too much of anytliing, said Joe is not good, but t(X) much rum is jist enough. I piess tliese IJlueiioses think so bout their horses, they are fairly cat up by them, out of house and home, and they are no good neitiier. They beant good saddle horses, and they beant good draft horses — they are jist neitiier one thing nor tothor. They are like the drink of our Connecticut folks. At mowing time they use molasses and water, nasty stuff, only fit to catch flies, it spiles good M'atcr and malies bad I : 148 SATIRES OF SAM SLICK. 'I beer. No •wonder the folks ore poor. Looi: at tlicm arc frroat dykes well they all go to feed horses: ai l look attiicir grain lands on the uplands ; well tliey are all sowed ^vitii oats to feed horses, and tliey buy their bread from us : so we feed tlic asses and they feed the horses. If I had them critters on tliat are marsh on a location of mine, I'd jist tako my riflo and shoot every one of them ; the nasty yo-necked' cat-harnnied, heavy-headed, flat-eared, crook-shanked, long- legged, narrow-chested, good-for-nothin brutes ; they aint wortli tlicir keep in winter. If they'd keep less horses and more sheep, they'd have food, and clothing, too, instead of buying both, I vow I've larfed afore now till I've fairly wet myself a crying, to sec one of these folks catch a horse : may bo he has'nt to go two or three miles of an arrand. Weil race SUS" It has over ai)pearcd to nic, in perusing the vexed contro- versies wliich have agitated the literary and political world upon this question, that it has never been tried in an abstract and Catholic point of view. It has been blended with other considerations, which, if not opposed to, arc unfavourable to tlic progress of free enquiry and oi" truth. The friends of es- tablishments and of tlie (Ussentcrs — Whig and Tory — the Radical and ConKer^•ative — have treated tlie question and advocated a system, adai)ted in tlieir opinion, to strengthen their different creeds, or advance tlieir own political tenden- cied. Some again liave opposed a general system, from an apprehension that it might endanger some existing institution or endowment, to which their interests or tlieir prejudices were attached ; and 1 regard it as an advantage, that, being free of all ])arty or local influences — free from the dominion of any church or sect — and unpledged to any constituency,- - 1 can meet the question as it ought to be treated, with a due regard to tlie re al position in which these colonies are situa- ted, and with the lights of experience, drawn, not from tho iiistory of one, but of several nations. Far be it from me, IioAvever, to reflect witli acrimony on the zeal and piety of those who labour in tliis vineyard to advance the limits of tlieir own church or denomination. To fili of them I would say humbly, God speed your benevolent and Christian labours. But tliey will bear with me in re- collecting, that 1 propose to submit the outlines of a Provin- cial system, — to extend aid and encouragement to all sects ; and at the outset^ I contend, that the system to be perfect, must confer not only literary and physical, hut relifrious edu- cation upon all. In young countries like tliesc, tlie system ! « ■1 ^ }' 150 PRINCIPLE OF ASSESSMENT. \ \, \.l! . ought to hold the balance, ami adjust a compromise, betwcf^n conflicting sects and parties, avoid every possible extreme, soften every militant prejudice, and raise a broad and vi- gourous structure resting upon neutral ground. First — As to the mode by which this system is to be sup- ported, the voluntary or involuntary — by taxation or free contribution, — I advocate the opinion tliat no system can be introduced — to have a uniform operation and to be perma- nent — unless it be founded under the authority and sanction of the law. Some parents are neglectful and will not educate tlieir children. Tax them for the support of schools, and they have tlie most powerful inducements which operate on selfish men, to take care that they derive an advantage equal to tiie sum they contribute. The very imposition of the Tax gives tlic people an interest in the subject, — they enquire into its expenditure — they examine the schools — they discuss differ- ent systems of instruction — they are gradually inspired witli a love for letters — and tlius one of the most signal benefits of the plan has been gained : — while the selfish, who now op- pose education, become, when taxed, from tlio ordinary prin- ciples of human nature, the most careful guardians of the system. No question has been more warmly discussed than tlie one above referred to. It has been contended by some, that, in a free monarchy like ours, to exercise such a power is a violation of the natural and inherent rights of the subject, and of tlie Constitution itself. Some liave gone so far as to main- tain, that, if made compulsory in England, it would be an f i ] V i i PftlNCirLE OF ASSESSMENT. i5i act BO arbitrary and repulsive, that it would justify even phy- sical resistance. I unhesitatingly condemn this doctrine as unsound and un- constitutional. It is a question clearly witliin the province and legitimate influence of Parliament ; and so fur from con- sidering legislation upon tliis subject to be an excessive and unjustifiable exercise of power, — I regard it to be one of the responsible and imperative duties of the Legislative branches, to take the question under tlicir own care and to introduce a general and effective system. It 's a gratifying proof of tlie spread of intelligence among the people of these provinces thattlic prejudices against assessment, which formerly ex- isted, is now dissipating, if not yet entirely eradicated ; and tliat several members have come back in recent elections throughout the Lower Provinces, pledged by their constitu- encies to support it In turning to otlicr countries where education is most widely diffused, — where its effects have been most general and brilliant, — and the love of it admitted to be active artd universal, — it will be found that the system has never been consigned to the whims and caprices of tlic people, — to those unsteady attachments by which masses are ever but too apt to be led. In tliem they have been introduced aiiu support ; ed by the authority of the state. In Scotland, where the de- sire of educating children lies at the depth of every parent's heart, the Government might perhaps leave the system to the generous and settled convictions and affections, or rather the habits, of the people. In Chamber's Book of Scotland, p. 370, the depth and extent of tliis attachment is thus described, l'^5^~ i"ri A."»XIETl' FOR EDUCATION. \ \ uiid in reviewing this question, it is well to ponder upon the diiitinctions which urc tlierc illustrated: — "To tiiose who are not intimate with tlie ciiardCtcr of the Hcotlish people in their o\\n country, it would be ditricult t<» convey an adequate idea of that burnin;; desire which almost every parent Jias, to p<>c his children educated, superindu- ced as above Ktatcd by the protrusion of schools into tlieir vicinities. Tt is not coniined to persons in easy circumstan- ces, it descends i :» tlie nieantst ol' the pcasanti'y, and will l»e found min2;linn' with the every-day feolinn|'s of the poorest family in the land. To accomplish the object of such a pas- Hionate desire;, families will bLrip themselves of what tlicy may be ])leascd to suppose supererogatory luxuries ; but which others would reckon as tlie essentials of existence. WidoAvs in the humble ranks of society, " left '' witli a family of so and daughlors, and only her own hands to aid in the support of her oflspring, will find moans to devote a portion of her hard- won earnings, to give tliem the elements of a plain educa- tion, fitting 10 their prospects in life. She will toil in the smnmer, harvest and winter, for this laudatory purpose, ne- ver ceasing till she has accomplished what she has invaria- bly considered her duty as n christian mother." Tnthe states of New England and in tlie Cantons of Swit- zerlaud, the same attachment prevails, and similar resuito have followed — for whik' their subjects are distinguished as the most intelligent, they are equally celebrated for tlieir na- tional virtues and prosperity, but in none of tliese is the sys- tem voluntary. Tlie means of supporting it in all of them arc raised by tlic supreme authority of the State. Shortly oiler the union of Englciid and *Scotland, an act was passed in tlie reign of King William, ordaining tlie ap- pointment of a school in every parish in Scotland, and coni- *For an admirable view of the Scottish system of Education, see Mr. Wj'se's paper upon " Education in the United King- dom." First publication of the London Central Society for Education, p. 31 to 35. i ^\ AMONG PARENTS I> SCOTLAND. 153 pcllin J the salaries of tlie masters, and other exijcnccs, to bo liquidated by tlio Heritors. 1 II tlic Report of tlie Select Committee appointed by the Assembly of Nova Scotia in 183G, to enquire into tlie sta- tistics, and to sugjrest a new system of Common School edu- cation, and of which my late respected parent was Chairman, Uic triumphs of the principle of assessment, and the Scottisii system, is very fully and ably reviewed. From that Report contained in the Journals for 183(), appendix p. 87, 1 extract the two following paragraphs : — "The Committee have not been inattentive to tlie systems which other countries have established for diffusing the bles- sings of education ; and tiiey have met with exampl's wliicii fully justify, from their tried success, tlie principles of a^- Bessment. The Nortli American States have both tJieir Common and Grammar Schools supported by tliis method, and it is found in perfect accordance witli the feelings of that active and intelligent people. Tiie immense benefits extended to the whole community, of having permanent in- stitutions to train tlie rising generation in tlie elementary branches of writing, reading and aritliinetic, outweigh a hundred fold a petty inconvenience of a small portion of eve- ry man's means being taken and appropriated to so deserving a purpose ; and this plan is now so thoroughly wrought into the very frame of society, as to incur little risk of ever being abandoned. Scotland also is another memorable instance of a happy perseverance since tlie era of the reformation, in supporting schools, by legal and compulsory rates ; and the experience now of tliree Centuries has only tended to strengtli- en and fortify all tlie arguments which were at first urged at tlie founding of Parocliial Schools, by tlieir sanguine and zeal«us supporters ; and to tliis national Institution, resisted at the beginning with a plausible vehemence and energy, has been ascribed tlie rapid progress of the people, notwith- standing the natural poverty and barrenness of tlie countrj', in all tlie arts which minister to civilization. ##***#♦ "The plan of these schools is easily sketched and detail- ed, in every parish one of them must of necessity be found- I 1 ! i| / I IM TAROCniAL SCHOOLS IN SCOTLAND. iU li m w \ 'j-» PiJ ; Riifl bpsidcs tho house or npnrtmcnt for tonchinpr, a suit uhlo dwcllinuf, undrr tlu; snnio roof, or a distinct dMcllinjr, must 1*0 |)r()vidod for tho inastor, no part of his incomo is de- rived from thn ptd)lic funds, bnt the Freeholders in every Parish are bound to furnisli liiin u ith an annual snm called the salary, and to keep the scho(d and his dwellinn; house in ordinary repair ; tho salary varies considerably according to tiio sizn and wealtli of the Parish, hc'mtr in some as low as £20, and in others risinjT above this, by variou.-t {gradations accordinj^ as land holders are des'rous of attrantinrf men of the first talents to tho instruction of their youth; but, the 8(i1ary alone is tho sum which the law compels tho inhabit- ants to |)rovide, and tho other emoluments, }]frowinfr out of foes or wa£;es, are paid by tho parent>s who yend tlu'ir chil- dren thither for instruction. 'J'ho Parish then morely gives a partial contribution to the support of the Teacher to ena- ble him to accept a lower rate of wacres from all without dis- tinction ; and also to extend his rare gratis to such children and orphans as could not otherwise be educated. The Free- holders, many of whom n( v^er had families, or have families prown up and settled, are not burdened with the whole cost of maintaining these schools, bnt only with a certain portion of it, so as to lower the rate of tuition, and to make learning more accessible to the middle and poorer classes, and ac- cordingly whenever tpoir own sons and daughters are placed under tho superintend ncc of the Master, they have to pay him the customary fees exacted from tho rest of the Com- munity. Whenever a vacancy occurs in a Parochial School, Candidates, by public advertisements are invited to offer tliemsclves, and a day of public examination is fixed, when such as appear undergo a comparative scrutiny, touching tlieir qualifications and proficiency, and tlie Teacher best qualified is forthwitli installed into tlie situation, not liable to be dismissed afterwards, except for misconduct. For half a century past none have been allowed to enter into compe- tition : who were not ablo of teaching the higher branches ; and a thorough knowledge of tlie latter tongue, witli a mo- derate share of the Greek, is regarded as indispensable. — In Towns or Villages which rise witliin tho bounds of a Pa- risli, eitlier from the introduction of manufactures, or the natural growth of population, Schools of all kinds, and many of them taught by females, spring up, which all are left to their own fate, liaving no support, other than the fees of tuition : Mith these tlie law in no way interferes, but con- t |V.. \ \ DUTY or THE STATE. 185 (jncf itP rrquisitions to one Public School, with n Mnslor of Hiiitnblo altaimiiontH, in souk; ccntriil part of the I'arish." "hi Now ErifjluiKl," sayn ChunccUitr Kfiit, in \nn adiiiim- blo Coinniontaries, " it has boen a stonily and {,n'i) winy prin- ciple, troMi tlio very foundation of the Colonies, that it in iIm; rij,'ht and duty of the (jovornniontto provide hy mtdiis oJ'J'air and just tdintion, for the instruction of all the youth in tho olonicnts of loarninjr, niorals, and roli<,'ion. Kach of tho Now linjrli'.nd towns and parishes are oldi^fd hy law^ lo maintain an Enj^lish School a considerable j)ortion of the year, and the school is und(!r the superintence of the public authority, and tho [)oorcst children in the country, have access tt) these schools/' In Switzerland anfiin, " Education," says Clmmbor. n liia •U)th Number of Information for the People, "is ])artly sup- })orted and superintended by the various local governments, and in several Cantons there are public institutions for the trainintr of teachers. The Schools in the I'rotestant ('antons have \vufy been under the direction of a Ceiiaoral of Educa- tion' appoin id by the Govermnent.f Tlic following extract from an admirable essay on the pre- sent state of education in Prussia, contained in the tliird j)ublication of the London Central Society of education, and from tlie pen of tlio lion. Thos. Wyse, M. P., late Vice Pre- sident of the Board of Trade, gives a graphic sketch of tJje schools in Prussia, and of the penal consequences which fol- low if a parent neglects there tho education of his children. Prussia directed her attention very early, though somewhat irregularly, to education — especially elementary. As early as 1730 she had declared it to be a duty imposed upon the State. The " principia recrnlativa" of tlie ."BOth of June, of that year imposes the buildnig and niaintenanco of School Mouses on the patrons and cunmnmes, applies the in- comes of the Church to tiio pnymcnt of teachers, deter- "Simpson on National Education, p. 137. fFor a vif'w of the state of Education in tho different Can- tons in Switzerland, see pamphlet by llidgway, London, 1839, on tho " Recent measures for the promotion of Educa- tion in England' — p. 25 to 27. i lk; SCHOOLS IN rr.ussiA. r! tft' niiiiCH llicir diitios, ri^^Iits, or npj)oiiilinciil», wliothcr in Gor* jk'ii, Ilouijo, or Sahiry, t\sta.bli.-ii(M tlio relations of jKitroii, pastor, and (.f»nnminc, arui (ipi)ro|>rial(!S a Innd of ."iOjOOO rixtl/alcrs tor Uio »'.\traoruinniy .snj'pMr' of the Ki'liooh. — (Nt'igb-sect.| JJy nioro rocent onlinnn* vs tlicso provisioiH arc extondocl, especially by tlio (jcnoral JmiIiooI n'lrnlation tor (/'ountv ►Schools, and bv tlio roffnlation for thoCalliolic scIkmiI.s of Sili.'sia, of the Md Novei.ibrr, I7»!.'), tuo of the most bene- licial laws of Frederick the (Jroat.* It is cnrioiis to find m tJieso edicts a statement of tlu; very same evils of nbifh we eompl;un, and tliat the Schools and liducation j^-c^nenilly (»f the youth of the conntry had fulk'n into the most lament ible wUite of nejrlcct, owinj^ j)rincipully to the incompetenry of the trreat majority of the Parisii Clerks and tSchoolmnsters, tJiat i.ic Children in the VillatifeH had ^^rown nj) in ifrnoranco and barbarism ; and tliat it had become of imperative !;eces- rtity, for the well Lcinrf of the kinjj^doni, that a pood basis sJioiild be laid by means of sound intellectual instruction an well as chri- ian traininjr of youth, for the diifusien t i' the linic fear of (u)d, aiid the accjuisition of manual and other Jirts most nselid in social life. The obligation of attendin;:^ Schools w.'.-y tl)on for the first time formally imposed on all children lium five to fourteen years of age, in order that they might contimic there "nnt.. ihej had acquired not only the knowledge of the most nec.v^ury doctrines of Christianity, and could read and write with facility, but were also enabled to answer the (picstions proposed to tiiem from the class or text books, ordered and ajjproved by tlie consistory." The .same regulation lixes the school fee at gre-'cher or four kreut- •/ers per week, for wliich were to be taught reading, writing, ajid accounts, the poorer children not to be exempted from j)ayment. It was contributed from the property of tlio Church, the commune or some local charitable institution, in order "a.- tii. law states," that Teachers should not be de- prived of their means of support, and that thereby the poorer jis well n^ richer children might be taught w^ith equal fidel- ity and . itention," In aid o' these funds an annual "School sermon" was to be establishc !, and at the close of service, the Parish Minister was earnestly to recommend from the altar, donations, especially for tlie pm'posc of providing the * For a graphic and lively sketch of the Scliools established by Frederick tlio Great, see Adams' (late Preside ut of the United otatcs) Letters on Silesia, p. 3G1 — ' ini[)(-'(l«'il tJio iitti'ndancctd'tin'ir rliildron .r i»tipils nt School were punisihahlo hy fine, and Ktill liirtluT to insure dilijrcMico in tho pupil, and f'> niaiiitaiu in risjour th<» a-isidnity of the Tnachrr, it was ro(|iiircd that ii roinplcto list should bo niado out from the? Cnrisli llr'j;istry, and sent to tho proper authorities, of all children in the l'j\- nsh of an aj^e to att»3;id school, To the nnuic of each Child were ottaclied the names and residence of the pareiits, th^' date of his reception in the school, the hours ho hud atteniled, ami in another list ucro ])reserved tin testimonials of dili- pence, procrress, condi'c*^, final examination and |;eriod of de- (jiirture ; llieso lists or rolls properly nded for Ovcry day of the month, alYer a uniform appro' r>(l r,.'-mula, Avere inl. .-.doU to (rive a <4eneral view of tiie proco«'din};s of tho school. — Th y were open to the visitors and ordered to 1)C placed be- fore i he School Inspector at his yearly visitation. TJie In- spi^ctor, on his side, was re<|iiired to report them with re- marks from his own (»l)ser\'ntion to tJii; (government of tin; circle. I;, tho ofllco of tho government of the circle they were arranj^ed and compared, and tlie collectica of thc.-^n tables formed the basis of the Schoui titatistics of the nation, (jrcat attention v.as requir:,] to be pail hy this ordinance, not only to tho competency but still more to the conduct and character, to the morals and piety of tho Teachers. Previous to admission an waminatioii v as to be lield by the school iuEpecturs, and in some of the Provinces it was moreover recpiired, that no one should be appointed to tho place of schoolmaster who had not passed a certain period in the teachers' seminary of tiio Province. To tlie clerjrynien of tJie place was confided tiie immediate inspection of th^; bchools. It was by this hrw liis province and duty to visit the school twice a week, and to remind the Master or su2- fifost whatever improvements might be required. By a later regulation inspectors are not rrquir; ,1 to be superintendents bii^ they are still chosen, in many cases, from the bod; of the cierjjv. Such is the oldest of 1 he many edicts which collectively fonn the actual education code of tlie country. The "Ca tholic rcdiool regulation i'or the Province of Silesia," is in some mease.rc iUi cornplenjont, and presents a number of si- milar arrniii::eTrj'^rir.s i^r the Catholic Schools of that province, and by sub^^cq-jeiH extension of the whole Prussian monar- chy. A number of eminent Schools arc raised by this ordi- 1 ^1 I 7 r 358 PRUSSIAN SYSTEM. U. i jianro to the rank of teachers' seminaries. The scliool of the Cathedral of Breslau is placed at their head — in this in- fltitution Candidates arc to be educated. It is governed by a director, wlio suj)erintend8 its proj^ress and income, and re- ports on the capacity of the pnpils at tlic time of their de- parture. All clerirymcn arc obli00,000 or Gs. a head for each pupil. The entire cost of tlie educa- tional institutions of llie State is estimated at £1,200,000 or 12s. per head, of this sum the Government contributes £50,- 000, tlie rest is paid by tlie parents of tlie children, or by a rate, levied in tlic form of a property tax on the inhab'itant'? of every school district. The States* of Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connec- ticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Jenessee, and Ala- bama, have made tlie maintenance of public schools, an ar- ticle in tlieir Constitution. It was a fundamental article in tlie Ordinance of Congress of I'Jtli July ]7c?7, for tlie Go- vcnunent of the Territory of the United States west of the River Ohio, tliat schools and tlie means of education should forever be encouraged, and in all of tliese States ample funds are provided, eitlier from public lands set apart for the purpose, or by local taxation, to support a general and effec- tive system. *Kor further information on this subject, and especially as to the provision made for the support of Common Schools in the United States, and full details of the existing system ineacii State, reference may be made to the appendix to Mr. Crawford's Report on the Penilenti;iries of the United States, published in London in 1835, by order of the Government. — • Chancellor Kent pronounces this to be the best summary h© has seen, I <^ I I n Ui m ' ^T'-^-i -^. 1«J0 SCHOOLS IN NEW YORK. 1^ ^'' In tJic tliird publication of the CciiUiil Society of Educa^ cation, tJicrcis a paper full of statistics, and drawn up with great porsj)icuity and force, on the common schools in the States of New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, p. 2.'I5. To give some idea of the means and funds for, and 'Xtentof the state of education in the princely State of New York, I extract tlie following details. In 1837 it had 5 col- leges and S72 students — 70 public academies, and in 74 of these tliere were(]391 pupils. In 1830 a Report was made by tlie supcrintcndant to the Legislatiu'e, and from tJiis do- cmnont the following extracts are made ; — " In each School district there are annually chosen tliree Trustees, wiiose duty it is to call special meetings of the in- habitants whenever they deem it necessary to make out all tax lists, when taxes arc voted by the inhabitants of the dis- trict to build or ropr.ir the School House ; to provide fuel or to purcha^'o a lot for a School House ; to make out all rate bills (tuition bills) from the lists kept by the teachers ; tx) oxcmpt indigent persons from tlie payment of tlie 'rpro}K)rtion «)f such rate bills; to have the custody of the district, school house ; to contract with and employ v\\ Teachers, and to provide for the payment of their wages" — p. 37. This is dcme in the following manner, the sum of 100,000 dollars is Hmiually distributed to the school districts from the former srhool fund, and is appropriated to the compcr«sation of Teachei-s who have been inspected by the proper authority, and received a certificate of qualification. The Hoard of Supervisors in each County, are required to cause to bo le- vic !, by tax on each Town, a sum equal to that uliich such Town receives from the Common School Fund as its quoUi of the annual income. The sum thus levied is also appro- priated to tlio payniont of the wages of Teachers qualified according to law. The innabitants of each Town have also nutliority to vote at their annual Town Meeting, an addition- al sum, not exceeding tlie amount directed to be raised there- in by the Kupe.'visorri ; or in other words, not exceeding its quota of the income of trie Common School Fund. Thus «'ach Town is annually taxed to an amount equal to the sum It receives from the Common School Fund, and it may by its I i EDUCATION IN NEW YORK, j(;r nwn voluntary act, bo tnxod "twice tliat amount." The wlioln cxprnsn of purchasing a lot, buihling a School IIouso tind turnisiiing it "with a t'cw indisponsablo articlow, is pnid by tlio taxable projjcrty of each school district, accordin«r to a vote of the inhabitants ; and if a tax for fuel is not voted, it is furnished by those sending cliildren to school, in proportion to the number of days of attendance, p. '^(1, except in case of indigence, — the necessary School Books must be j)rovi(led by those who send the child to scho< )2 were levied by tax on the property of the inhabitants of the Towns and ('i- ties, and .^llV^-'i'^ were derived from tlie local funds of [wr- ticular Towns. The amount paid for Teachers' wages du- ring the year 183(1, in addition to the above mentioned sums of public money, was )?4.*J(vi4(), which exceeds by the sum of $10,7()"2 the amount so paid in the year IHIJ."), which (witJi tJic exception of about SU),00() expended ou School Houses, furniture, &.c., in the City of New York) was ,*7712,242, exceed- ing by the sum of .*j': J-'^'^^ I the lunount so j)aid in 1834.* p. U. The whole amount of the expenditure for tlic suppt^rt *This report is the production of tlio Hon. Jolin A. Du, now a incinbor of the S«>nat<', and tlicii Secretary of State, witli wlnicb ofHce that of Suporijitendnnt of Coiniium Scluioirt is conihined. While in Albaiiy in .July last, I had the plea- Bure of seeing Mr. l)ix, and of becoming acciuainted with the valuable services lie bad rendr-red, in advancing the Com- mon school oduciition of tiiat State. Hd would, at the next vacancy, bo elected Covernor. The Report for J 836 gives a thorcuf^ffi view of th<' state of education in New York — the funds — n- ganization and practical working of the system— and 1 iocon»- niond to the notice of the reader the 4tli head, entitled 'thii organization of Common Schools." Ho and his friends Heck, Hanlcy, Dean, Potter, have founded in Albany a cheap jUi- pular journal, published monthly, at the low price '■" $X ft year, devoted to free discussion, and to the diffusion i f I'sc- ful knowledge and miscellaneous lit(>rature. I have read Kome numbers of it — it is atalented, practice!, and, like Cham- bers' Journal in Scotland, mu.jt exercise! a beneficial influ- ence upon the intelligence? and moral tone <)f the country. It »s entitled "The Northern Light." /Il i im STSTEM IN NEW TORK. of the Common School system in New York, cannot fall short of $ J 4,000,000, or nearly Tiircc Millions Sterling— of this aniouiitthe Conmion Sciiool Fund pays one-fourteenth, taxable property and local funds pay about five-fourteenths, and the remainini;^ eight-fourteenths are contributed by those who send children to school : — as in the year 1830, tlic popu- lation of the State amounted to l,yi8,()00, and may now pro- bably be taken at 2,300,000, tliis will give an average pay- ment of $5 1)4 cents, or £1 4s. from each individual for tlic purjioscs of public education, — ^besides what is derived from the Common School Fund and from local funds. The extent to which the people avail themselves of tlip;'e fdcilities may be judged of from the fact, that in the year 1836, in the district from which reports were received, the number of cliildrcn instructed in the Common Schools was 5Ji4,188, while tlie wliole number of children between five and sixteen years of age, residing in the same district was 530,882.* (i '^I have no\.' before me the Annual Report of the supcrin teiidant of Coimiinn Schools, Mr Samuel S. Randall, iait before the \.ss!>iiibly fui' the past year, on the r»tli Jaiman 184:2. I give from this docurnentafew curious facts. In Ju ly 1841, tlie number of school districts was 10,H6(), — of chil- dren, between 5 a id IG, exclusive of the eity of New York, on :}Ist Deer. 18^0, the nuuiber was 5^::},347, — all excepting 8000 in attendance regular in the pablic and private schools ; $1,0.}:},0()0 was expenaoil in 1840 for teaciiers, J$r)GO,0(M) of Ibis public money, j$4];^,0(K) contributed by parents in rate bills; ^3 institutions for the training of teachers ; 10,000 stu- dents were in attendance at tlie Acadcmio^;, and GoO,!^') vo- lumes had been placed in the District Jiibraries, being an in- crease of 200,000 volumes, or about one-third, during the cours(^ of oiK^ year. The desire for education there is univer- sal. It is the business, not of the State only, but of every citi'/.en — for, ways Mr. Randall, and this is thi.-ro the sen- timent of all intelligent men, "If there be one subject, which X SCHOOLS II» NEW TORK. 16S lot fall rling— Iccnth, :oenth3, y those ic popu- ow pro- TG pay- for tlie ed froiii L>f tllPSC he year ved, the ools was cen five rict was super in - Icill, laid January In Jn- -of chil- w York, xccptinfT schools ; $r)r)i),()<)0 ts in rati.^ ,000 Etu- ),\2'> vo- ijr an in- ring the s univcr- of cvory the sen- ft, which I I have not apace here to give the details of llic system of common school education m the Htate of Massachusetts. It 13 tliere reduced to a tiiorough and almost perfect system. A Board of education has heen formed, under tlie sanction of tlie Legislature, and of this tlie Hon. Horace Mann, former ly Secretary of the State, is now tlie Secretary. He is a man of very high talents, and enthusiastic in tlie cause of popular education and literaturo. WJien lately-in Boston I obtained beyond all other? may be rejrardod as of vital interest to the welfare and perpetuity of a free irovernment, it is that of tlie Kbt'CATioN OK TUK pEoi'LK. U[>on the intelliirencc and mo- ral culture of the masses depends, under Providence, tiie ulli j mate and triumphant solution of the great problem of tl^e ag«' — the capacity of man for self government. «•'»♦- Important as are the agencies which our higher institutions of learning are enabled to fulfil, in the accomplishment of tliis Ijigh undertaking, it is to our Common Schools that wr. must chifjly look for the broad foundations of that civil and social superstructure which, as a people, we art engaged in erecting . It is hen? that those indclibk; impressions are stamped upon the youthful mind which determine the future cliaracter of the man and the citizen ; here tliat the earliest and most vivid conceptions of the objects, ends and aims of social and moral discipline are iml ibed ; here thai the habits and the disposi- tion are moulded ; and tlie intellect stored with those elemen- tary principles of knowledge which are to form the basis of all subsequ(!nt advancement in the great work of educolion. It is here, too, that thf. practical operation of our republican in- stitutions rrcf.iKCs its most attractioe and valuabl" illustration, in the mingling together, upon terms of |MM-feot ecpiality, of those to wliom the guardianship and administration of these institutions are soon to be committed. **'***, If we would accomr' di the noble destiny involved in the suc- cessful experimeiiv of self jrovornment, every citizen of our vast Republic must be tauglit to regard himself as a compo- nent and eflieient part of a system designed for the general welfare, and deriving its sr)le support from the prevalence and diffusion of eniigiitened knowledge and public and private virtue." In the aftpendi.x to the Report there is a curious me- morial on the stiit(> of ediicntion in the city of New York. I give from it only one sent'nce, p. 144. "In that city less ihvLXi onc-lcrdh {>{' i\\c population are receiving the benefit of ! ii 164 SYSTEM m MASSACHUSETTS. ,f : . V a set of the five Annual Reports, submitted by the Board and tlie Secretary, Mr. Mann, to the Legislature of the State, on the subject of Schools and Academies ; and to the latter I would refer for admirable and sound views upon the mo- dem principles of improved education. In tliis State there are Normal and Model Schools, and District Libraries — tlie volumes comprising the latter are said to be the best in the Union. In referring to tJie education of this State, it would be unjust not to offer an encomium to the valuable services of Mr. Mann, the Hon. Thomas Rantoul, Jr., and Mr. Thomas Webb, of Boston, Avho, in addition to their labours in the cause of popular education, are the authors of some exccl- leai. practical treatises. I have a valuable CLsay b^^ Mr, RanU ul, on tJie subject of a " School Libr.'..y,*' and a very rlaboiate paper entitled "Remarks on Education" from hia pen, .vill be found in the North American Review. Jt has becu since published in the form of a pamphlet TUc extent of Mr. Mann'd services to the state is fully treated in an ar- ticle in the Edinburgh Review, for July 1841, entitled " E- ducation in America," and I refer tlie reader to it for an ela- borate and lucid sketch of the condition of tlie Common Schools, and the Statistics of Education in New England. any instruction, while in the interior, more than one-fot ^h of the whole population are returned as being in the common schools. This document offers some curious and novel views upon the religious differences prevailing in the city, and the diHiculty of introducing there a system of religious instruction. Frederick Hill in his work on '■^National Education^ Lon- don, I.S3G," has a chapter i th 2nd volume, devoted to a description of the state of od upation in the i.'nited States. It contains an nhstraot of the vi ,',ts given by Mi. Crawford in his report upon renitentiaries,~-see p. 23, for a statement of the public provision made for Education in Mmerica. PRINCIPLE OP ASSESSMENT. IGS lard and s State, ic latter the mo- te there ies — tlie jt in the vould be •vices of Thomas s in the e excel- by Mr, d a very from his Jt has lie extent in an ar- tled "E- )r an ela- Common gland. •fot fh of common A'el viewa , and the istruction. ion, Lon- voted to a States. It ford in his leut of the In all tliesc systems it is considered as a principle that the Govcrnnioijf, have a rigiit to impose ta:i:es for tlic support of an effective system of general education — in Scotland, Switz- erland and Prussia, taxes arc imposed for tliis national ob- ject — in several of the United States a scliool fund is raised by taxation ; and, in all of tlie latter, before any quota can be obtained from tlic revenues of the State devoted to this service, it is made obligatory tliat tiic people in ei^ery scliool district should raise a similar or greater sum to be appropriated to tJie support of Schools. Among 't a shrewd people this may be regarded as taniamont to a compulsory tax ; but in tliese Colonies tlicre is not yet tlie same feeling in favour of, -nor the same necessity felt for, the spread of education. It is a general im])ression in New England that tlie intelligence of the people is tlie safety of the State, — that tlie purity, progress, and permanence of their institutions depend on it; and hence tliere are inducements there tending to tlie support of schools which do not extend to us. We must look tlierefore to other examples, where the desire of education is not blended witli tlie hope of political existence, and base our system on a permanent and compulsory law. The Colonial mind, and those active and saving habits which are ever aa- fiociated with general hitelligcnce, will never bear compa- rison h'sre with those of other states, until our Assembliee adopt tliis as a settled principle of legislation. \ : fl (1 A i I, I u\ Kational SyntemR of Kiliicatlon In 4lio Oltl and Ificxr 'World.— On the mcan^ and priuclplvs of 8upportlu||; IJkeua*— ( Concluded.) CONTENTS. Ruinous effoct of the voluntary system — Abstract of systems and Legislation, by Chancellor Kent — Systems adopted in Hesse Cassel — Germany, Norway, Sweden. — A 'Colonial System must bo based on assessment. — James' view of aw ** Intellectual Conscription " — Boards of education for thu three kingdoms — Statistics of education among different nations. — Defective state of Education in England — Lord Brougham's Speech to the House of Lords — Voluntary sys- tem dangerous — Dr. Chalmers' Lecture. 1 HE various quotations given in the last lecture, prove incontestably, that, even in those countries where the love of learning is most ardent and generally diffused, the oper- ation of the system is not left to the fluctuations of public opinion, or the brittle affections of the people, but is founded on the sanctions of the law ; and that the very existence of that settled attachment by which they are now supported in these different spheres, may be ascribed to the influences of an establishment, compelled upon the public, in the first in- stance, by the strong arm of authority.* *The Parish schools of Scotland have endured for two cen- turies past, because they do not depend on voluntary support. For the permanence of the establishments now supported by voluntary contributions, their best friends are full of fears. — U is well known they are occasionally dropping, like lighui LECTURE V. f' i 1(W lltCIE.NT STSTEMS. l<-^'* To str'^nnthon those positions, I proceed to illustrate tliC fcaturoi* of K train them u|) to some art or profession, Woveral of the states ot'anti(|uity were too solicitous to form their youth for the various duties of civil life, even to en- trnst their educntion solely to the parent. Public institu- tio ' weie formed in Persia, Crete, and Laredeinon — to re- jriilatr and promote the education of children in thinjjs calcu- lated to render them useful citizens, and to adaj)t their minda and nuumi-rs to the genius of the government. Distinguish- ed exertions jiuve been made in various parts of modern K\>~ rope, tor the iutroili t utad9 in 18* {.'J, has since become a leading treatise on ti .»ii;»ject of public instrnctinn. It has been translated by Mrs. Aunton, and has passed thro' several editions both in England and tliG United States. In France every conmiune is obliged to have a School, and it is stated tliat there are now a8,iy(} Communes which are provided with School Houses, and only 8,991 which have not. *Parents, however, are not com- pelled in France, as in Germany, to send their children to School ; and, it is said, the Inhahilants of the rural districts '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 W.r F ■ I 170 EDUCAT'iON IN DENMARK AND NORWAY. ' ). i( i. ■ what was formerly denominated the Confederation of tlio Rhine." In Wirtembcrg indeed, the inhabitants have been pretty well provided witli the means of instruction for nearly a cen- tury past, but during the last 30 years tlie system has been greatly extended and improved. At present not only in Wir- temberg", but in Baden, Hesse &.C., a public school is estab- lished in every Parish, and in some instances in every Ham- let The Master receives, as in Scotland, a fixed salary from the Parish, exclusive of a small fee from the pupils, varyirg according to their age and the subjects in which they are n- structed. The fees are fixed by Government, and are every wliere the same. In Bavaria every one is obliged to send his children from G to 14 years of age. The schools are re- gularly inspected and reports made upon tlieir condition by properly qualified ofl^icers appointed, for that purpose, by the Government There is a particular department in the Minis- try of the interior, for the supervision of the different kinds of Schools.* In Denmark a general code of regulations for Schools haa existed since 1817. There are there 4,G00 Schools educating 278,500 children, the population is 2 millions, and as 3,00,000 children are in attendance, it may be said, that the entire population of Denmark are receiving instruction. A parochial system of primary instruction is established in Norway, resembling that of Scotland, but partaking of the primitive character of the institutions of the country. The funds for the support of Schools are derived from endow- * Quarterly Journal of Education, vol. 1, p. 29 ; and Brough- «ra's Speeches, vol. 3, p. 249. LOCAL TAXATION FOR SCHOOLS. 171 ments, from local taxes, subscriptions, &lc. Manufacturers employing more than 30 workmen arc obliged by law to pro- vide schools for their children, and to pay the teachers. — Several training schools for teachers exist, and it is the in- tention of Government to extend and improve tliem. With these numerous and striking examples of tlie prac- tice of other nations, of the defects of the English system, and of the superiority of tliose maintained by Prussia and the Ger- manic states, the enquiry is now to be made — can the system of education be left in these Colonics to tlie free action and voluntary contributions of the people ? Are they sufficiently wise, and sufficiently willing to support a general system witli- out legislative coercion and aid ? — for tliose are to be an- swered before we can settle the important question — whe- tlier the compulsory system ought, or ought not, to be intro- duced here. James, in his excellent letters upon the modern " system of Education in Gennany," addressed to Lord Brougham and Lord Althorpe, while they were at the head of the Whig Cabinet in 1835, denounces tliis system of taxation in severe and unmeasured terms : — " God forbid," says he, " that I should advocate anything like a compulsory system of Education — which I look upon as a most unjustifiable infraction of the best and dearest rights committed to us by God himself, when lie wills us to be pa- rents. Nay, the very language in which Mon. Cousin re- commends it to the French, is the strongest condemnation to the ears of an Englislmian. He calls it an ^^intellectual conscription^^ and Heaven keep us from a conscription of any kind, in the only Land where civil liberty is rightly un- derstood." I refer to this opinion now, that, if this argument be attack- T I i \\ « .'> ^1 I' ■i 173 PRINCIPLE or ASSESSMENT. ed, it will be seen tliat tlie objections which have been already raised against it were fairly stated. These appeals, however eloquent tliey may be in them- selves, or ingeniously addressed to the prejudices of tlie mob, and however grateful to the ears of those selfish Fa- tliers, who would desire to liave their sons educated at the public cxpencc — are opposed to experience, and the cogent and irresistable force of truth. The perusal of Mr. James's book is the best refutation of his own argument. He des- cribes there, w^ith all the entliusiasm of an admirer, tlie dif- ferent systems of education introduced into the Germanic States — (their means of support being chiefly drawn/ro7/i local taxation) — the fostering and paternal care extended to them by tlio government, — and concludes by recommending that tlie British Parliament should form in London a " Board of Edu- cation " similar to the Board of Trade, over which a Cabinet Minister should preside, and the seats of tlie Boar«l preserved aa rewards to men of science and letters ; — and to secure it3 permanent and continued operation he recommends the Pre- sidency to be removed from those political changes to which the Govermnent is exposed. I admit the force of that pa- rental obligation so fully inculcated by Paley, and the most distinguished writers upon natural law. But if parents are apt to neglect it, and the want of education is a loss to tlio State, it becomes imperative upon the state to see the duty performed. "Among tlie things incredible in Christen- dom," to use the forcible expression of a Gennan writer, " ia the fact that England puisur no general system of elemen- tary education," Tlie wa^ . such a National Establish- i * - ^i i ' 1 (( t 19 I I BOARDS or EDUCATION. ITTJ ment is one of the defects of our national polity, which James deeply laments. *' A Board* of Education for Enfjland," saya Mr. Wysr,! "another for Scotland, and a third for Ireland, ail actinjr under tiic Minister of Public Instruction, with larjje powern over new and old endowments, and witli adequate fuiidK, composed fairlj^, and acting under constant Parliamentary and Government inspection ; but above all, under tlic uni- versal public eye ; a wise share of co-operation granted and required from tlic people, in parishes, towns, counties and provinces, through the public bodies most appropriate in each, this I commend to be tlie first preliminary to all real reform of a general nature in our national education ; the on- ly reform, indeed, which can give it a national character, or leave us the hope that our posterity will enjoy a sound, uni- versal, and permanent system." Mark the results of the past system! In 1818 tliere were in England 4,1(37 endowed schools, 14,282 unendowed * The following is an abstract of the Education Bill, intro- duced by Lord Brougham into the House of Lords, 2!(th June, 1838: — " An Education Dki'autmknt is to be catablislied by forming a Board, to consist of seven Commissioners, tiiree of them great Officers of State, (President of the Council, Privy Seal, and Chancellor of the Duchy,) the Speaker of the House of Commons, and three paid Commissioners for life, and not removable unless by an address of both Houses of Parliament. CThe above Ministers are selected as bavins little or no bu- einess in their own departments; andoneof them will become the head of this department, as the Minister of Public Instruc- tion is in other countries. The Speaker is chosen as being independent of the Crown, Tiie tliree irremovable Commis- Bioners are placed upon the footing of Judges, in order to pre- vent undue influence from tlie Government, and to preserve a uniformity of system in the administrationof the department.) This Board is to have the general superintendence of Edu- cation, as far as it is right or safe that there should bo any in- terference of the Public Authorities with the Instruction of the community. The duties of the Board will therefore re- late to three subjects : — I. The better applicatinn of Funds al- ready existing for Education. II. The application of addi tional Funds, general and local. III. The improvement of ihe system of Education." t Central Society for Education, lat Publication, p. 63. ': i I ' I 174 DEFECTS OF EDUCATION IN ENGLAND. 'I i r \ 'i •I i \ ' 1 i! Bchools, and 5,0G2 Sunday Schools, educating 044,000, or one-sixtccnthof the entire population, instead of one-sixtli* — which Prussia lias shewn to be tlie proper amount of flchool attendance. Thus England was shoM'n to enjoy lit- tle more than a third part of the proper amount of education, even supposing tlie amount of education slie did enjoy, to be good. Of tlic 1 1,000 parislics, 3,500 were in 1820 without a sciiool, so that nearly one and a half millions of the chil- dren capable of being educated were rising in ignorance of the siin})lcst elementary branches. Lord Brougham in his elaborate speech delivered before the House of Lords, 2!}lli June 1837, on the Education Bill, thus speaks of the deficiency and character of Education in England at tliat time : — " It cannot be doubted that some legislative effort must at lengtli be made to remove from this country the opprobrium of having done less for the Education of the people than any one of the more civilized nations of the world. 1 need hard- ly repeat the propositions which 1 demonstrated to you two years ago ; certainly I shall not go tiirough the proofs by ■which I establislied them, at great length certainly, but not at unnecessary length, considering the supreme importance of the subject — when I showed you from undisputed facts, from the returns beJbre Parliament, that great and praise- worthy as the voluntary exertions of individuals in Uie com- munity had been, numerous as were the Schools which they had established, and tlie pupils attending these Schools, yet *The following tabic is given from a pamphlet published in 1839, under the title " Recent measures for the promotion of education in England :" — Zurich, Switzerland, (18o2) 1 pu- pil in 5 inhabitants ; Wurtemburg, 1 in C ; Prusia, (18.38) I in 6; Baden, (1830) 1 inC; Drenthe, Province of, Holland, (1835) 1 in 6; Siixony, 1 in 6; Norway, (1834) 1 in 7; Den- mark, (1834) I in 7; Scotland, (1834) 1 in 10.4; Belgium, 1 in 11 •j ; Enirliind, 1 in 11.^); Franco, 1 in 17.6; Ireland, 1 in 18; Roman States, 1 in 50; Portugal, 1 in 88; Russia, 1 ia i567. — Ridgwmjy London, w •irt LORD ERODGIIAM^S SPEECH. 1/ J> facts, ,i cvon in its amount the Education of the country was still ex- ceedingly defective — the means of instruction atill altogether inadofjuute to tiio demands of the community ; while the kind of Education afforded was far more lamentably defective than its amount. There arc somewhere about 40,000 I)ay- Schools of all kinds, endowed and unendowed — Dame Schools, Infant Schools, and ordinary Schools — in England and ^Vales ; of these about 4,000 are endowed. The wliolo number of children taught, or supposed to be taught, exceeds 1,400,000, of which about 155,000 attend the endowed Schools ; but the population is about fourteen millions. — Look now to tlie means of instruction provided in other coun- tries. I will not resort to France for a comparison : the ex- ertions made of late years by that illustrious nation reflect immortal honour upon the Government and the people. But I prefer taking the example of countries whose Institutions are less free, countries upon which we are apt (o look down as less favoured than ourselves, and as far behind us* in the progress of improvement, Look to Prussia and Saxony. — With a population of somewhat above thirteen millions, Prussia has regularly established Schools, at which above 2,000,000 of children are actually educated, being between a sixth and a seventh of the population, or all children from seven to fourteen years of age. Saxony, witli a population of about l,,5(iO,000, has Schools for 280,000 or between ay//"/A and sixth of the population, that is all children from six ta fourteen. England, with a population of 14,000,000, lias Schools for 1,400,000, or a tenth wily of the population. — That we should have as ample means of education as the Saxons, we must have Schools for above a million more. — That is to say, if, after all we have already done, we increase our efforts in tlio proportion of nearly 5 to 3, we shall still be barely equal to Saxony ; and then only in tlio number of our schooL, without saying any thing of the kind of instruc- tion which tliey communicate to their pupils. " But the deficiency to which I have referred is by very much the least part of our want and of our inferiority. It would bo well indeed if we had 40,000 schools and 1,400,000 scholars that deserved the name. The education which tliese seminaries dispense, can only by a most false and flat- tering courtesy, be suflered to pass by that name. It is for tlie most part any thing rather than education. The schools are lamentably defective, both in discipline and acconuuo- h l-i 'i IM .•*ml4.iv^ 17G DANGER or THE I iH <-.' 1^'' K n Ijc , ': 'Jaliftn, and in sound and useful loarninf?. In a vast number of them there is litUo professed to be taUL'fht tliat is .vortb loarninnr, and that little i:-. ill taunfht, so as never to be tho- rou^'hly apprehended, and generally to be soon forgotten. — In very few indeed arc the elements of a useful education fully given ; in none, perhaps, or next to none, is the instruc- tion such as not to admit of great improvement It would be good if they taught reading, writing, and ac(;ounts, and taught tliese elementary branches well. Many thousands of tlieir pupils arc but scantily imbued with thoso simjjle arts. But if they were all made proficients in tlicm, how unspeakably defective would the system still be compared with what is wanting to form tlie man and the citizen of a polished '"om- jnunity ; nay, even compared with what is actually tauglit, and well taught, in the French and some of tlie German schools, how scanty ! There tlie children learn geography, liistory, several branches of natural science, drawing and music ; nor can there be tlie least reason why in tlie seven or eight years devoted to education, all children, of all class- es, should not be instructed in those articles of useful know- ledge, instead of being only taught to read, and merely made masters of tlie instruments by which knowledge may be ac- quired."* Before closing this review, which I have thus conducted to establish that no effective and permanent Colonial system can be founded, which does not rest upon local assessment — I would revert to one leading view of the question which ought not to be overlooked. The advocates of the voluntary sys- tem, both in education and rqligion, proceed upon the broad principle in political economy, tliat the demand will cre- * " As far as any approach to truth can be made on the sub- ject, r believe that England, at this moment, in point of ge- neral education, is far behind Germany, far behind Switzer- land, I am almost inclined to believe, (but of that I am less certain,) it is behind France ; tut especially and certainly it ia far behind Holland." — Speech of t/ic Marquis of Landsdo^cne in the House of Lords^ Uh July lb38, see Mirror of Parlia- mfint. For a view of the defects of the English system of edu- cation, see a curious article in the 117th No. of the Edinburgh ileview, upon National F4ducation— p. 7, 8. ' n VOLUNTARY SYSTEM. 177 ate the supply ; and that these, witliout any legislative in- terference, will naturally adjust themselves to each otlier. But it has been forcibly and happily stated by Dr. ChalrncrH, in his Lectures delivered in London in 1888, upon Church Establishments, that this grand and obviov^s principle is en- tirely overlooked, — that tlie masses who require tlie inllucnccs of religion and education, do not feel tiie want of tlicm, and that ignorance* and vice create an inaptitude and diwlike both to Christianity and learning. I give tlio author's forci- ble illustrations below ; " But instead of looking to the distant part of which the History is far from perfect, tlio same lesson might be drawn from tlie observation of present or modern times ; certain it is, that the introduction of Christianity into any new land, proceeds by a very different metliod from the introduction thereinto of any of the goods of ordinary merchandize. The commercial adventurers look for the remuneration of their expenses, to the price or equivalent given by the natives themselves. The missionary adventurers are upheld in tlieir expenses, not by a price but generally in whole, and alnioHt always in part, by a bounty — the bounty of those who em- ploy and send them forth in full equipment for their high en- terprise of charity. In this process, Uiat law of equal and re- ciprocal barter between them who bestow, and them who re- ceive, the benefit, which the advocates of a free trade contend for, is altogether unknown. Rather than Avant the teas of China, the families of Britain do, in effect, send for them along half the circumference of the globe, and dtfray the whole cost of the expensive and distant voyage :■ which they are brought to our shores. But who paid for \\ 2 outtit and all the other charges of that first missionary vessel, which first walled the Gospel to the remote Island of Ota- heite ? Not the natives themselves, who should have wanted the blessings of Christianity for ever, had we waited for their effective demand ; or not moved but in the expectation of a eafe and profitable return from their hands, for the cost of this great undertaking. The undertaking originated will) I , ^Simpaon OR Education, 2d ed., p. 180. I> f A ri 178 TAXATION INDISPENSABLE. t| I, •;H .;•' i' ■ 1^.: f. T US ; and Avas dnfrnypd to the last farthing, out ofa midsionary fund niisod iVoiii tlio bouovolent (w in the operations of eoinnierce, but- have recourse to a !)oinity, that dread nnd deprecation of nil the economists — without which, wlntev m' the effect min-ht he on the continu- ance ol"Cin"istianity in old countries, the vopaf^'ation of it at least in new countries, were altoi^rethor hopeless. Home may contend, that, on the princijjle.s of free trade, Christianity could be j)etpetuated wherever it is already planted ; but few will have the hardihood to afTirni, that on these principles, ita first settlement could have been cflectcd in any land." The demand is equally ap]dicable to the spread of Common Schools, the true object of cstiblishmcnts in relin;ion and for education is not to meet the demand — but to create the demand itself ; and therefore to leave society — the groat mass of mankind, — the labouring and lower classes, — whose time, and onergie?, and means, are required to sustain physical exis- tence, to support at their pleasure schools for their children, is to perpetuate irrcligioii, ignorance, and vice. To rcmovo these — to diffuse the divine blessings of the christian doc- trines, and the influence of popular education upon religioua faith, morals, and the inculcation of industrious arts and ha- bits, — require, in the first instance, the leaven ofa legislative system, and the imperative force of law. LECTURE VI. Colonial Kducatinii— Kdncation iu the Canadafl— School*, Acadcuiiti:!; aud (Jullr^^es. CONTENTS. Lowr.u Canada. — Juclo-r- C. MonJoU^t's sketch of education in Lower Cinadii — Collogca — Convents — Quebec Semina- ry — Ursuline Convent — Education, expense, funds iV.c., — McGill's Collem' at Montreal — lli'di School — Abstract of Act passed lor making provision for the Common Schools by tho United LeirisJaturo, 4 cV 5 Vict., c Id — Funds, re- gulations, books — History of Common School Education — Mr. Andrev,' Stuarta panij)lilet — Report of the Commiijsi- oners appointed by Ljrd Duriiam — Arthur Bullcr, Chief Commissioner — Appendi.x D. to Lord Durham's Report- Want of Education among the Pai/siins — Frencli women Uie best educated — Working of the New Act — Inspectoni tippointed for Canada East and West — Friends of popular Education in Canada. Upper Canada. — Common School Education in— defectsof— Commission of Enquiry appointed by Sir Georfro Arthur — Report of tho Rev. Dr. Caul, principal U. C. Cullego, and Mr. Secretary Harrison — Recomaiendalion as to Normal and Model Scliools — School Libraries — Defective etat" of Educatioii — One child in Id only in attendance on the Schools — 51,000 cliildren in Canada West growing up with- out Education — Education in Toronto— Academies or Dis- trict Schools — Collegiate Institutions in Canada West — King's College — Upper Canada College — funds, course.';, expense — Queen's College, at Queenslon, in connection with tho Kirk of Scotland, funds — Victoria College, at Co- 'burgh, in connection with the Methodist Conference — Rev. Mr. Rycriiou, I'resideat. W IIILE wo thu3 contemplate and mourn over tlie insuITi- cdcnt, and almost disgraceful state of education in England, U I I 180 COLONIAL EDUCATIOir, 1 fl and its inferiority to the systcinfl adopted by Continental powers, let us now turn to the j/a/w^iM of education in thcso Colonies, and see if we have reached any Iiijjfhcr iniLximuia in tiiis firat branch of internal polity and future improvement. I have given minute details of the Common Schools, and ex- tent of education in the New Enrrland States, that their con- dition, and our own, may stand in direct contrast ; and that Uie country may be able to judge, whetlier wc are able to compete with our republican neighbours, in the race of na- tional rivalry, so far as success depends upon the intelligenco and refinement of the public mind. Now that the Boundary question has been settled, and that the navigation of the Ri- ver St John has been secured to them — that they arc mado competitors in the timber trade, as well as in the fisheries — that the West India ports are opened to the admission of their fish and lumber, at a moderate protecting duty — that our domestic manufactures have a protection against theirs to the extent only of 7 per cent — we may rely npon it, that, unless the education of the colonies is raised to a standard equal to that of New England, the lines of demarkation, so strongly, and almost oficnsivcly, marked by Lord Durham will be deepened, and tlie satires of Sam Slick be more clearly vindicated by the truth. I open this Review with the following outline of the pre- sent state of Education in Canada, kindly furnished for the work by the Honble. Judge Charles Mondelet " A concise statement of the origin and progress of the leading Educational Institutions, will, it is thought, be con- ducive to the better understanding of the subject. Lower Canada is indebted for all its early scholastic endowment?, COLLKOCS Iff CA.fADA. 181 lo the liberality and zeal of the Catholic Church. The Je- miit3* estates, tlie benevolence of that distinguished order, the •amo feeling which prompted the Seniinaried of Quebec and Montreal, and of various Nunneries and tlieir missions, laid tlie foundation, and gradually seconded the impulses which had been given. Had not the Jesuits' estates been diverted from their original destination, and their proceeds nusapplied, tlie cause of education might have been much more advanc- ed in this country than it has unfortunately been. It wan a great mistake in 1801, to found and organize in tJio way \\ waa done, the " Royal Institution" by an Act of the Legis- lature " for the establishment of Free Schools, and the ad- vancement of learning in the Province," — had it been estab- lished on a liberal, instead of an exclusive, principle, tlie pro- gress of popular education, would not have been impeded. — From 1824 to 183G, various laws were passed by the Provin- cial Legislature, the enactments whereof, were modified yearly, until the Bill sent up by the Assembly in 183G, was lost in the Legislative Council. Each of tliose bodies aa- aertod, as a matter of course, that they had sufficient grounds, the one for sending up, and the other for rejecting the Bill aa framed. Lower Canada has, until the last Session of the. United Legislature, been left without any Legislative provision f-^r popular education. The Law now in force, a copy of w oh accompanies this statement, will shew wh-^" the pre- gent system is. " The following will suffice to give an apergu of tlie his- tory of the various educational institutions. The Jesuit College was founded at Quebec, aa early as tlie year 1G35, tlirough the exertions of a son of tlie Marquis de Ga- j^., jr "SBS^''^ §^ t I ' 182 URSULINE CO?»VENT AT QUEBEC. macho, who iiad joincJ that order. Until its suppressioii, the College v/aa ably and successfully condjicttd by that dis- tinguished Society. The Ursuline Convent, a Seminary for the instruction of young Ladies, in Quebec, was found- ed four years later, by Madame de la Peltire." From a gentleman intimately acquainted with the course of instruction and tiio lunds of that Institution, I obtained tliia summer the rollowing fact;^. "The establishment is un- der tlie direction of'Y) prolessed Sisters, wiio teach the Eng- lish and French Lan.o-uages, Reading, Writing, Arithmetic^ Composition, Geograpliy, the use of the Mapo and Globes, Sacred and Profane History, both Ancient and Modern, Chronology, Mythology, Rhetoric, the elements of Astro- nomy, the elements of Natural Philosophy, of Botany, of Chemistry, \\ it)i a vnriety of imuising experiments; music on the Harp, Piano- Forlo and Guitar, Vocal Music, Drawing, Painting in Oil and Water colotirs, Painting on Velvet, Sa- tin, elements of Concyology, Plain and Ornamental Nee- dle-Work, Tapistry, &c. The numbe>- of pupils who attend tlie above course, vary from 1 10 to 150, — one half are board- ers, the other jialf half-boarders. There are at present 25 Protestant boai Jcif. Premiums are awarded at the end of the year, when a public examination takes place, generally held for t^vo day^, and on whioh the pupils perform a moral Drama and Sucre 1 Tragedy, the one in English and tlic o- tlier in the Frencli language. " Terms. — Boarders, (hoard & tuition) £52 10s currency ; half-boarders, about JCIO ; the latter are admitted at 7 o'clock in the morning and are permitted to return home at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. E?:tra clwrges. — Music, )s. 3d. per lesson, 3 lessons per week ; Drawing, about £2 per annum ; Sta- tionary ; IJooks. No charges for the use of the Libraiy or Musical Instruments. "Besides the above Academy, the Ursuline Ladies have, in a separate pnrt of the EstablishiMcnt, a large Free School, which, at the last census in April, contained 306 pupils. In this section, Reading, Writing, Grannnar, Arithmetic, Plaiij Needle-work, and the Fngflish and French languajjes are tiught Terms. — Each pupil, ifnblc, pays 2s. Gd. per annum for fuel ; Books and Stationary are furnished gratia to the poorer pupils. " Besides the extensive Buildings, Chapel, &,c., belonging- , 1 5£MINAIRE DE QUEBEC. 183 ri to the Institution, it draws a fun;! of about £900 a year from the rents of Real Estate. It iia.-. two Soi^rnorios yielding- each about £75 in cas!i an! ()5U l)usiioIs o\' wh'"it, — tiie erec- tion lately of three houses on tlir; rrround of the Convent at Quebec have raised its annual incouie to the sum above Btated. Several of the Niui3 lu-e of tli' first funiii-vs in (Ca- nada, an:l are hiiWily instructed an'Trtccornpli-shed. By some of the Protestant inhabitants of Quobec the-eourao of educa- tion was admitted to be most excellent. "In 1()G3 the Sfaiin.virk dk Q,uebkc win founded by Bishop do Lival do Montnoreacy. Wiion tin Order of tlie Jesuits was suppressed by Clemr^nt XIV. this college assum- ed die education of youth Avith complete success. ltd pre- m sent condition is very flourishing.* * Of this Institution Mr. Bullcr in his report, p. 14, says "the Seminary of Quebec is an admirably conducted estab- lishment— the zeal of its mMubrrs uuremiltli!!^, and tiicir ar- rangements in every wuy most judicioui^." " I had an oppor- tunity last .summer of examiniriji- this Institution under very favourable auspici^s. Tlie building;^ are extensive and com- modious — the chambers airy and clean— tbod substantial and comfortable, — it lias a valuable library — an host of Professors and Masters ; ,'ino- gic, Moral and Natural riiilosopby, Algebra, Mathematicsi, Astronomy, C'.iemlstry, Music and the Art of Design. I spent eome hours in the experimental Lecture Room of the eminent Professor Mon. Casault, and think that I saw th*n*e the best and most extensive set of philosopiiical apparatus, which in yet to be found in the Colonies of R. N. America. It is in daily use, and in a high state of preservation. The terms arc moderate— tlie v/hol .iponce of a boarder not exceeding j£25 to £30 per annum. Protestants and Catliollcs are admitted indiscriminately ; and it is but duo to the Catholic body who manage it, to state that no attempts are made at Conversion. I was promised a statement of tlie statistics and funds of this Institution before leaving Quebec, but it has not yet come tp I \ I I b I u.^ tl ,A iV. .. .. IM ;. } i 184 COLLEGES irr CANADA. " The College of Montreal was in 1806, placed, and has ever since, remained under the exclusive direction of tlic Seminary of St. Sulpice. The number of boarders year- ly exceeds 100, and that of day scholars, is near 200. Tho CoLLBOE OF St. IIyacintre was commenced in 1811. The course is liberal and very successful, the number of students who board in the college, generally exceed 150. The Col- lege OF Chamblt, was opened in 182G, the Revd. Mr. Mignault is the founder. The course of studies is practical, and classical also. The College of L'x\ssomption, 24 miles north east of Montreal, is in a most flourishing condi- tioiL The system is peculiarly adapted to the proper man- agement of youths ; the Professors are men of distinguished talent, and the degree of sound liberty enjoyed by the stu- dents, has the desired effect. Mr. Labelle, the cure of L* Assomption, one of the founders, has directed his best ener- gies to the promotion of liberal and useful education. There are about 140 students. " .^t Ste TJieresttf about 21 miles west of Montreal, stands another College founded by the talented and active Parish Priest Mr. Ducharme. — It contains about 60 boarders and 80 day scholars. This excellent institution is rising every day, in public estimation. JVicoletj in the District of Three Ri- vers, is indebted for its College, to the late Revd. Mr. Bras- sard, its founder, and the patronage of the late Bishop Plessis. The Institution is highly respectable, the present building is hand, and I cim therefore unable to give a detail, as full and accurate as I should have wished. I have given this view of these two leading Institutions, that an idea may be formed of the education provided for the Catholics of Lower Canada. V, COLLEGES m CAfTADA. 185 on a very large scale, and the number of students always con- siderable. In the District of Quebec, in one of the most lovely situations on tlie banks of the St. Lawrence, rises the College of St, Anne^ founded in 1827, by the late lamented Revd. Mr. Cainehaud. In each of those Institutions, reli- gious, classical and useful education is obtained ; they are accessible to all, and offer guarantees which are seldom met with elsewhere. " Besides these Colleges for tlie male part of tlic population, tliere are regularly organised high schools for young ladies, in the Ursuline Nunnery at Quebec, founded in 1039 ; tliat of Tlu-ee Rivers, founded in 1697 ; and tlie Congregation Nun- nery at Montreal, founded in 1653. The latter has since established fourteen similar institutions in different places throughout the Province, in which not only tlie elements of a common school education are taught, but also the higher branches of science and literature. There are several otlier religious orders of Nuns, such as the Grey-Sisters of Mon- treal, the Hospitalieres of Quebec, and the Sisters of Chari- ty, who besides the care of Orphan Asylums and Hospitals, take charge also of general schools under their direction, for the gratuitous education of youth. The Brothers of tlie Christian Doctrine (Les Freres de la Doctrine Christienne,) have, in Montreal, under Uieir care, over 1000 boys, to whom they impart the blessings of tlie most useful education. — Their virtue, intelligence, and successful labours, are above all praise. " The means afforded to the English part of the communi- ty, fur classical and scientific education arc smaller, tliat iSj ) 'i !! » ll ' i! I 18a ENGLISH EDUCATION IN CANADA. they hive fjwcr inglitiitions, although they arc at liberty to Bcnd their cliildron to the Catholic ones." Upon t!iis siihJT.^t, Mr. B;illcr, in liis Report to Lord Dar- him, h3reiniftor rcforrcJ to, says: — " Wit'i roTirl to th-? mom) of hijjlior education, persons of Britisli orin^in hive )iir:lly any, while those of French ori- gin Invo th-\n in to) TyC t abim.lmce. It i.s impossible for an EnGflis'i jrcjatlonm to f,'ivn ]\\s son a fin'iHlnd education in the province. If Ii ; wi:>he3 him to be instructed intlio high- er branches of mitl; ""in ities, natural and moral philosophy, &c., he mu^t either send him to Europe or tlie United States, or avail hiiisilf of the more imperfect opportunities afforded in the Cxtholic establishments of the colony. Political and relijriou^ anim )sitics render thorn very averse to tlic latter altorn itive. Some feir what tliey consider the contamina- tion of republican principles in the States, and all shrink from the expenje and reparation attendinjjf education in Eu- rope. Under tljese circu nstmces, they cherish with great fondness the hope of seeinnr the establishment of a Colonial University, on a l>road and comprehensive scale. Tiie better class of trades uen, and tiie lower grade of niorcliants, aro also without tin opportunities of a good commercial educa- tion. It is true tint there aro some private establishmenta of tlie requisite dcsniption; but neither as regards number or quality are they adequ?.te to the necessity." " McGill's College, at Montreal, is now rising, and promises to become as distinguished as it is needed. Its beneficent founder, the late Hon. James McGill, has conferred on the community a boon, the benefits whereof will be daily more and more seen and fclt." The Report above quoted thus speaks of the state of this institution : — " The on1v ProtesVint endowment in this province [1838] is that of McC ill's College. The history of tliis institution, the original bequest, the protracted litigation, and, at length, the final decision, are matters as fiimiliar to persons in this coun- try acquiin!:ed with Canadian afl'airs as in Canada itself. — The college is not yet open ; indeed, the building not yet m'gill'si collkoe. 187 erected. It? annml innomo, derivable fror^ Iioiises in Mon- treal, and money at i^t,or(^5^^ is about £()41. It in obvious that this cMilowiiKMit alono, is iiisufllciont for the purposes of a Universify, to which rnnk it is the wisii of many to elevate this collofTp ; an;l it i.-? (louhtiul whether the trustees of the Royal In-tit.ulior, iinchn- w1io.:p direction it was placed by the will of the to.stitor, would acquiesce in the terms on which legisdativc assistance ought hereafter to be granted." It cannot thercn)rc be said that tliis Institution is yet in ef- fective operation. Moan^ hwo been taken to engraft upon it a medical department of stui'y, — conducted at present by seven mn lical men ofth^ city of Montreal, D . Bouncau, Hall, Ilohn^i?, McCuUocli, ('ampboll, Sowell, and Dick, who read lecture:^ on the several branches of the profession. I was assured at Montreal last summer, that a superior course of medical education could bo obt lined iierc, and that some of the Profe3Jo:-LS were able and diligent teaciiers. The Spe- cial Council have aided tliis department by an annual grant of £500 — ml Sir Chariot Bagot his promised at the present session of the Legislature, to recommend a permanent vote of £1000. In April last a project was published by some of the loading citizens of British origin and descent, for the establishment of an Academy to be called the "High School of Montreal." The follov/ing gentlemen were appointed to afford information, ani *"> receive subscriptions: — Alex. Bu- chanan, Esq., Advocate, B. Holmes, Esq., Dr. McCulloch, Wm. Lunn, E^q., J. G. McKcnzie, Esq., D. Fisher, Esq., Advocate, and James Ferricr, Esq. In tlie Prospectus it is said : "The great aim of the originators of the project for the es- tablishment of a Sominnry to be called " The High School of Montreal," is to provide a system of Education for our youth, who are destined for the liberal professions or the higher i' I i ■ \\ ' \ \i. :l 1 ij' r H I II 188 UIQU 3CU00L AT MOIfTREAlM walks of life and business, upon a more comprehensive scale, and with greater efficiency in the practical conduct and ad- ministration, than can possibly be attained in private Schools and Academies however respectable. With this view they have been induced, after mature and impartial consultation to give a decided preference to the general model of tlio best schools in Scotland, as being in their judgement, and witliout any disparagement to other Sclioois and systems, best adapted both in their plan and working to the present condition of society in Canada. " This will be readily admitted by all who are acquainted with the characteristic merits of tlic Scottish system of Edu- cation. " In the first place it is eminently practical, and fitted to qualify those who go through its complete discipline and training for all the offices and duties of active life. In the second place, it is comprehensive and complde in the range of the studies which it embraces. It gives no undue preference or disproportionate attention to Classical, over Mathematical and Scientific learning. It gives to each of the great branches of a liberal education its due place and just pro- portion of time and culture. Another consideration that had some weight in deciding this preference, is the greater faci- lity of obtaining eminent scholars, and able, faithful, and la- bourious teachers, upon terms more economical from Scot- land than from any other of the sister Kingdoms." Of the extent of education designed to be given at thia School the following extract will give some idea : — " It is respectfully suggested by the authors of this Prospec- tus that the institution shall be under the management of a limited number of gentlemen, to be chosen by and out of the body of those who are most liberal and steady in i^ts support, and that a certain amount of annual contribution or of dona- tion shall constitute eligibility to this important office. It is also suggested that the Rector or President of the institution shall be a scholar of reputation, eminently qualified, not only to fulfil tlie high trust of superintending and regulating the whole course of instruction, but also to shed a lustre over the institution by his talents and learning. His salary ought not to 1)0 less than £500 currency per annum. The other three masters should also be accomplished scholars and ex- perienced teachers, and their salaries ought not to be less ihai) £300 or £250 per annum." COMMON SCHOOL EDUCATIOIf. 18t) In Montreal and Quebec, there are many private school?! where a classical for young men, and a suitable educatioD for young ladies, arc obtained. Some of tliose schools aia very highly spoken of. The law passed last Session, by the United Legislature for the establishment and maintenance of Common Schoola throughout the Province," has opened a new era in Canada. This law may, and sliall have to be modified and improved, but it has laid the foundation of a solid, popular and prac- tical education. The Act above referred to 4 & 5 Victoria c. 18, SepL 18th, 1841, provides /uncfe from the following sources: — 1st, — It directs that all lands hereafter granted by the Le- gislature, or other competent authority, should be created into a permanent fund for the support of Common Schools, — the proceeds of sales, rents, &c., to be invested in profitable securities. 2nd, — A grant from the Legislature of £50,000 per annum to be apportioned among the municipal districttf in the ratio of the number of children from 5 to 16 years of age, — the district Councils are authorized to assess the in- habitants to the extent of £50 for a School House, and each scholar is required to pay Is 3d monthly as additional wages to the Teacher — equal to ISs per annum ; the Commission- ers having the power to exempt 10 poor children in each School District from the payment of this sum. By the 4th section of the Act the Governor is directed to appoint a su- perintendant of education for Canada, at a salary of £750 per annum, whose duty it is to apportion the funds, — to visit an- nually the Municipal Districts and examine the condition of the Common Schools, — to prepare suitable forma for reportSj, ft 'u; 1*90 HEW ACT IN CANADA k i ' i I &c., to addrc33 such suggcsUona oa may introduce uniformi- ty into th'j system, and to sabmit an aniiu:il report before tho 3l9t diy of December in every year, to tho Governor Gene- ral, of tho actual state and condition of tiio Common Schools, By the 5th section it is provided that the district Council of each district shall be a Board of Education therein, and the duties imposed on them are minutely detailed. They are directed to divide the diHercnt Townsliips and Pa- rishes into School Districts, to apportion the district yhare of the school funds among tliem, to assess for the buildinjj of a School IIous5c, to apportion to cacli Township or Parish a sum not exceeding £10 a year for the purchase of books, and to send an annual report to tiie superintondant. If any dis- trict Council refuse to comply with these requisitions, they are not entitled to receive any share of the public funds. In districts, entitled to elect one Councillor, 5, and in those en- titled to elect 2, 7 commissioners, called Connnon School Com- missioners, are elected for each Township and Parish, for tlie purpose of carrying on the local macliincry of the Act Tlieir duties are to select a site for the Common School House, estimate the expense of building, appoint one of their number to send a quarterly report to the superintend- ant, and to agree with and appoint from time to time teach- ers in the said Common Schools, and to remove such teach- ers when tlicy shall find just cause for so doing: provided always, that no person except he be one of tlie persons known as "Lc5 Frcres de la Doctrine Christicnne" shall be appoint- ed a teacher in any of tlie said schools, unless he be a sub- ject of Her Majesty by birtli or naturalization, of good moral '■ I FOR THE surronT of common schools. 191 dmractor, and wliall liavc been cxarninctl before the said commissioners, as to learning and ability. "Fourtlily : To rp;jrulnto for each school, respectively, tho course of .study to be lolJuwcd in such (r^chofd, and tho books to bo used tJK.'rein, and to cstabli.-h ^aiieral lulcs for tlio condtict of the schools, and to connnunicatc them in uriling to tlio rosj)Cctivc teachers. "Sixthly: To iippoint two or n.ore of their jnind)er to visit each Conmion School in the Town.-hip or Pari.^h, once at least in each niontli, and to report the slnto of each School, whether the rules and ren-ulations esliibli:died bv tJie Com- missioncrs are duly observed, the nundicr and piolicicncy of tlic Scholars, the character and ability of the 'J'eiichers, tiio conduct of thf nianairin^^ Cuinmi:?:5ioner, and nil other mat- ters connected nitli the munnnrenicnt and Avcll-being of such fcjchool. "Tenthly: To report all their proceediufrs, and all matters connected Avilh the several Common Schools in the Town- ship or Parish, to the District Council, annually, on or be- fore the third Monday of November, such report being in tlic form to be furnished by the snj)erintcndcnt of J:^ducation." The Commissioners arc elected annually, and vacancies by death are filled up by the other conmiissioners. The follow- ing clause is introduced in deference to the religious scruples of difierent sects : — "Provided that whenever the inhabitants of any townsiiip or parish, professing any religious faith, diflerent from tliat of tlie majority of the inhabitants, shall dissent from the r.v- gulations, arrangements, or proceedings of the Common JSchool commissioners, witli reference to any common school, it shall be lawful for the inhabitants so dissenting, to signify euch dissent in writing to the Clerk of the District Council, Avith the names of persons elected by them as Trustees, for the purposes of tlio act ;" upon the Clerk furnishing a copy to the district Treasurer, sucli dissenting inhabitants are al- lowed by such Trustees, who, for that purpose, hold and ex- ercise all the powers, and are subject to the liabilities im- posed upon Common School Commissioners, to establish and maintain Schools, subject to the visitation and rules j)rovided l)y the act with reference to other Common Schools, and to receive their due proportion of Uie moiues appropriated by n .. 'I ]{)2 PROVISION FOR RELICI05. in I \ 7 !•! law, and raised by asscssmont for tho support of Common Schools, in tlie Hchooi districts in wiiich tliey reside." Several restrictions and penal conditions are contained in the statute, in order to enforce compliance with its regula- tions. Cities and Towns corporate are invested witli the same powers, rights, and duties, as district councils with res- pect to Common Schools — but for tlieir management the fol- lowing provision is made : " That it shall be lawful for the Governor to appoint from time to time, in each of the cities or towns corporate, not Icsa than six nor more tlian fourteen persons (one half of whom fihall in all cases be Roman Catliolics, and the other half Protestants,) to be a board of examiners for each of them ; of which board tJie Mayor shall be Chairman, but shall have no vote other tlian a casting vote, and tlie said Board shall be divided into two departments, one of which shall consist of Roman Catliolics, and shall exercise the duties assigned to the Board of Examiners, over the Common Schools attend- ed by Roman Catholic children only, and shall in such case appoint their Chairman ; — and the other department shall con- sist of Protestants, and shall exercise their said duties in and over tlie Common Schools attended by Protestant children only, and shall in such case appoint their chairman, and in all cases in which tlie said Common Schools are attended by Roman Catholic children and Protestant children together, the said duties shall be exercised in and over the same by tlie whole Board of Examiners, and the duties of the said board and of the said department thereof, in the several ca- ses above mentioned, in and for the said Cities and Towns Corporate respectively, shall be to examine the persons re- commended as Teachers by the Corporation, and reject them if unqualified on the ground of character or ability, and to regulate for each school separately, the course of study to bo followed in such school, and the books to be used therein, and to establish general rules for the conduct of the schools." ♦* The above abstract is sufficient to give a general idea of tlie scope, purview and tolerant spirit of the Act It fails however in one important particular, it contains up provi- sion for the religious instruction of the scholars^ provir I THE LATE ANDREW STUART ESq, 1{>3 To give a history of (ho Coiumoti School education of Tiowcr Cnnruh, and tiio rejection of the Acta pfissijd hy th(f Asaembly in J8ii(), by the LpjLrinhitivo Council, wouhl recjuire a volume of itself, and touch political (iillerences ^vIuch have eitlier passed, or will soon pass, into oblivion. 1 refer in tlie note below to the *WorkH where the lejidinu features of tiiis history will be found, and leave the reader to peruse it in tliem. Among the other labourious tasks superintended by Uie lute Lord Durham and his attachis, while in Canada, was a Commission appointed by his Lordsliip to ciitiuirc into the state of education in the Lower Province. Arthur Bul- ler, Esq., was at the head of it. While lately in Quebec *Soo Ilc;>ort of the Special Coinniittrp of the House of Ah- pomhly of flower Canndn, appointed to iTKiuiro into tlu-aclwa! state of Education in tliat Province, — ordered to be printed 'Jd February, ^r^'^^\. And also a panipldet published in London, June loth, iy:{S, entitled "An account of the endowniente for education in Lower Canada, and of tlu? Leirislative and olher public Acts for tiie Jidvancenunt thereof, I'rom the ecbsion of the country in 17G3 to the present time," The latter is from the pen of the late Andrew Stuart, Esq., Solicitor rejection of the sys- tem proposed by the liower IJousc in Jh;{G. The talents, in- fluence, and high public character of Mr. Stuart are well known in Canada, and the impress of bis mind has been deep- ly written in the public policy and historv of tlie Lower Pro- vince. His powers were graphic and commanding. Thig work on Education, and a work published by him on the sound principles of a Colonial Government, entitled " A Re- view of the proceedings of the Legislature of Lower Canada in 18IM," indicate a classical and profound mind. He died amid the universal regret of his brother members of the bar and of his friends— his grave is yet uncovered, but it is still expected that his memory will be honoured and enshrined by some public monument. By rewards of this kind the patriot- ic dead impart an inspiring and useful influence to the livinjj. i I \f 1^1 ) jm AKTIIUR nULLEHB REPORT. 'I Li t ] ■ 'I ? i Goorgc Footvoyc, Esq., tlio Clerk of the City Council, and whoflo kii()\vl(?(liro and ricrvices in this branch of tlio public eervicc nrc adiiiittod lo be nio.st vuluablc, prisentcd mo with a dot of tlio tabular ciKiniri*;^ then issued to the Clergy, schoohnadterH, and local authorities in that, Province. They are minute, soarchin3(> for Common School Education, are given at length. CIVISIOrf 01' RACEH i:» CA.IADA. lO.'i self in From ley arc, , until Cana- l to be , work enient cinpt to Their irliolo life lias boon oi. " 'jf civil wjirt;in\ But, for those that are y«'t ni:!)oni, a iiioro aii.spii'iijiis tiituri' may bo pri-purod. "In Canada, tlio i-liiUl (»f r'rciH'h fxtraction i.s bnju;jjht up mit of tlu! Hiirht anil hcuuii^' of the » hild of Ihitish parcnti*. Tii(!y n(!vor inoel uiwlrr the Hii/ie rool"; tiicy are went to se- parate Hchools; and tn' y are told tliat tho reason of thid He- paration is, that the chihhr'i i>f the rivul school are heretics, or belong to another nation, 'i'hey lm\e no couuiion hopes or fearn, or pit-asiires or dantifcnj — iiono of ihuio kindly aw- aociations so easily born out of the fainiliaiitios of cornrade- BJiip, and so faithlul'y rett'inod throughout th;^ vicissiludea of life. In short, ui)oii cnti^rinii; into the >vorl(i, they fiial no tie to biml them toiriihcr, and alt thin;,M around theni invit- inj^ to hatred and iuMtiliiy. JJnt ht)\v dillV'nnt would be their feelin!;fs toward:^ each olh(!r, were tlu!y brijULfht up fit tlio same schools ; were they to play totreUier, mid receive tlio sanie punishment ! They would then form friendshij)8 which would softon, if not alto^n^ther subdue, tlie rivalries of alter life. A sciu'iuo by which the children of tht.'se antagonist races should be brouj^ht together, were it only ibr pur|)oseti of play, would be prefcrablo to one by which they received n o;ood education apart ; but one, by which both union and instruction were as.sured to them, woukl l)e tho tirst and most important step towards the retreneralion of Canada. Tho first difficulty in tlie way of such a scheme is, to divest ital- to I ''•I h 1 i > 1 li. W«" I ^ fl I I w I r I, i^ 200 SCHOOL ACTS IN CANADA WEST. Central Board and Inspector of Schools, with powers of ge- neral supervision. From tlie Report I take the following ab- stract : — "In the year 1819 the act for the establishment of Public Schools ajQrain engaged the attention of the Legislature. It was then deemed expedient to malro further provisions for the efficiency of these schools. It was directed that an an- nual examination should be held, at v.hich the teachers or a majority of them should assist ; that annur.l reports should bo rendered by the trustees ; that free education should be given in each sciiool to ten children of the poorer inhabitants, elect- ed by ballot; that teachers, hereafter, should not receive more than .£50 a year, unless the average number of scho- lars exceed ten. It was further directed that certificatea should bo given at a public meeting of tlie trustees, upon due notice given for tiiat purpose. " In the year 18'20 tlie clause of the act regarding com- mon schools granting £0000 for their establishment, was re- pealed, and it was enacted that the sum of £2500 be paid annually, dividing the grant equally amongst the ten Dis- tricts, and fixing the maximum allowance of the teacher at £12 10s per annum ; permission was also given to the Board of Education to appoint a clerk who might be paid £5 per annum. " The necessity of making some provision for books to bo used in the schools, produced an act of the Legislature in 1824. £150 per annum was granted, to be at the disposal of the General Board of Education, to be laid out in the pur- chase of books, tracts, &.C., which were to be distributed by the General Board amongst the several District Boards of Education, to be by them distributed at their discretion. It was also enacted that every teacher of a common school must be examined by the Board of Education in the district which he shall have taught, or obtain a certificate from at least one member of such Board, certifying his ability, be- fore receiving any public money. " In the year 1833 an act was passed increasing the grant for common schools and improving the distribution of it amongst tlie districts. £.5650 was now granted in addition to Cie sums before appropriated by law for tlie years 1833 and 1834. It was further enacted that each District should allow to the Clerks of their respective Boards the further I ^\ DEFECTIVE STATE OF COMMOW SCHOOLS, 201 be- sum of £5 annually, in addition to the sum they ojre already ttuthori'/od by law to receive. •'Since the passinj^ of this act no further improvement has been effected, akhoutrh there appears to have been a general perrfuasion (which your committee have reason to believe is at present very i^enerally entertained) of the inadequacy of the sijBlcni adopted J^ " As to llic state of education at that time, it was admit- ted to be most defective. Tliere was no general system. — The masters were inferior and ill paid. The schools wero not supported by Assessment ; and no prayers, and no reli- gious instruction were obligatory by law. Mr. Murray says — " I do not consider the present provision for Education in this Province, at all adequate to its wants. I consider it to be deficient in totoy There are several other letters to tho same effect, and one from Mr. Burwell, M P. P., accompany- ing a draft; of a Bill for Common Schools, full of instruction, and giving some excellent suggestions. Upon tlie statistics of Education, the Report thus speaks: — " Your Committee annex an analysis of some of the reports of the District and Common Schools for the year 1838, from which an estimate may be fonned of tlie present state of Education in the Province ; they regret that this branch of statistics is in so imperfect a state that they have not been able to obtain as exact information on the subject, as the importance of it would require. " From these reports, however, it appears that the numbrr of pupils in 13 District Schools is little more than three hundred; that the number of Common Schools may be as- sumed to be more than 800, and that the number of children receiving instruction in them may be estimated at about 24,- 000, 7. e. taking the population of Upper Canada to be 450,000, the average of Education by public funds is about 1 in 18." The statistics of a well educated country show, *as before stated, one-fifth or one-sixth of tlie whole population in at- •Vide Ante Note p. 174. VI r If 202 STATISTICS OF EDUCATIOH. l ,1 ^ I 'i ' i ■ i (■1 tendance at the Common Schools — the lower estimate of one-flixth gives 75,000 v/ho ought to have been in attendance — deducting from these the 24,000, who were said to be in attendance, it leaves tnn-thirds or 51,000 children who in this noble Province were then c^rowing up (1840) destitutB of tlie means of instruction. I have before me a number of the " Church " a religious newspaper published at Toronto, Aug. 7, 1841. Upon tlie ^extent of education it has the fol- lowing paragraph : — "Even in 1838, after the troubles of the preceding winter, there were no more than 2-1,000 children receiving education in schools, supported by the public funds. Since tliat time there has been a steady increase both in the number of schools and pupils — and we shall probably not be far wrong in estimating the nrosent number of the former at about 1000, and of the latter at more than 80,000. In proof of this wo would refer to the increase in our own District, exclusive of tlie city. In 1838 the number of schools was 92 — of scho- lars 2557 — in January 1841 the numbers were 123, and 3567 — and in the last six months there has been an addition of twelve schools and more than 650 scholars. Now it must be borne in mind, that we have hitherto taken into account only those schools which receive grants of public money. — The number of privato establishments for elementary instruc- tion is much greater than is generally supposed, and we aro not without both public and private institutions, which afford the advantages of a more extensive and liberal education." Of Education in the capital of Toronto tlie same paper gives the following sketch, and I quote it because it come* to me from very high authority : — " We have been favoured with the particulars of an enqui- •For full details as to the education of this Province, I refer to the report abo\e noticed ; to the " Papers " laid before the British Parliament, 3d April 1840, part I and II, being Cor- reipondence and Extracts from the Journals of the Lsr^'isla- tire Council and House of Assembly, relative to the ' ' Clergy EDUCATION IN TORONTa 503 ty, which has been recently made into tlie number receivinpf education witliin the limits of the city of Toronto, and wo feel no little pfratification in laying before the public the highly satisfactory result. It appears tliat in three establish- ments, supported by endowments or grants, (Upper Canada College, the Home District *Gramniar School, and the Cen- tral School,) there arc 581 pupils ; of tliese about 150 are in the College, enjoying the advantages of an education, which, wo would almost say, is unsurpassed by tliat alTorded in luiy Reserves." These documnnls contain a full history of the funds arising from tho munificent disposition of public grants for public purposes, and of the struggle made by the dif- ferent churches and sect;;, to share in them: — and to a Despatch from Sir George Arthur, K. C. B., to the Marquis of Nor- manby, dated htli June IfSlJl). 1 quote the following paragraphs from that despatcli, to give some idea of the amount of Funds in that Province available for the promotion of education. The despatch will be found in Part III of the Correspondence ro- lative to the aliairs of Canada, laid bel" . . ,'rliainent in 1840. p. 50 — 94. This paper gives in fact „ egislative historv of Education in Canada West, and is well entitled to a dili- gent perusal : — ♦' In compliance with the prayer of a joint address from the provincial legislature, presented in 171>7, the King was pleas- ed to direct that a p^>rtion of the waste lands of the Crown in Upper Canada should be set apart for the endowment of gram- mar schools, and, in process of time, also of a university; under which authority the local ijovernment assigned, for these purposes, in tho year following, 12 townships, compri- eing, afler tho necessary deductions for Crown and clergy re- serves, about 5'll),2I7 acres. *' From what has preceded, it will be seen that, of the ori- ginal grant of 54i),'2i7 acres, set apart for the advancement of education, there have been, — Resumed by the Crown, in lieu of scattered acres. reserves assigned to the unl ersity . . . 225,944 Resumed by the Crown, in lieu of assign- ment to Upper Canada College .... 66,000 Apparently left disposable for the purposes of schools 257,273 Total 549,217 " From the printed statement, it will be further seen, that of the lands constituting the university and the college en- Jowraents, there have been sold the respective quantitiei of I' ( j I t li 'I ': it. w it S04 MIGNIFICEPTT ENDOWMENTS FOR nimilar institution in Europe, and is certainly unequalled on this continent There ore 54 receiving tlie benefit of a sound liberal education at the District Grammar Schools, and 380 are instructed in the Central School in the branches of ele- mentary knowledge. In addition to these there are more than 40 private establishments, — the pupils of which, (boys and girls,) amount to about l^JOO. The greater number of tlieso are attended by the children of tiie humbler classes. — n3,737ij, and ]7,38S acres, leaving, in the one case, a residue of 132,*Ji)G i, and in the other, of 48,()JJi acres. *'I have no present means of judgmg how the school lands have been dealt with, beyond the evidence afforded by Sir John Colborne's correspondence with the Secretary of State, that about 17,273 acres of them were appropriated to survey- ors for surveying, (that is, in lieu of a money-payment for their labour and disbursements for provisions and wages of chain-bearers, &.c.) ; and about 12,000 acres sold by the Ge- neral Hoard of Education ; whicli airgrogate would reduce the actual quantity available, to 228,000 acres. »' There can be no doubt that the proceeds of the quantity Bold by the Board were applied to their legitimate object, but I have no particulars of the appropriation. "The printed abstract of accounts would show the state of the university endowment fund to be as follows ; — £ s. d. Aggregate amount of actual sales of lands 100,609 18 6 Gross amount received on account thereof 53,224 14 7 Amount remaining to be realized 47,585 3 II Amount of debt due by Upper Canada College 33,944 9 Value of debentures, stock, &C. . . . 15,237 10 Cash balance, 31st Dec. 1838 .... 8,368 2 4 Outstandinsf balance 57,550 1 4 47,585 3 11 Aggregate fund . £105,135 5 3 See also the Journals of the Legislative Assembly of Cana> da for 1841, under the head " Education and School*," and the Appendix K. K., for an account of the state of the School Lanos in Canada West EDUCATION IN CANADA WEST. 205 11 4 4 U 5 3 Cana« " and School Amonf;;st those of a superior character, arc some well-cor>- ductcd seminaries for young hulics." As I have given in a previous page, altliough incor ' ♦ent with tlie general order of the work, a view of the High Sciiools and Colleges of Lower Canada, I deem it better to complete here a sketch of the Collegiate education of tiio Upper Province. In addition to the provi^^ion made for the support of Common Schools, there were 13 District Sclioola in operation in 18-39, each receiving £100 per annum from the provincial funds — 310 boys were then in attendance, boi ing instructed in all of tliem in the higher branches of Eng- lish education, and in some in the Classics, Euclid, tlic C lobes and Natural Philgsophy. In tliis Province tlierc is one Unii versity including King's College and Upper Canada CollegiJ — tlie Rev. Archdeacon Strachanb eing the Principal of th( one, and the Rev. John McCaul, L. L. D., the princi])al of thq otlier. Both are situated at Toronto — but King's Collegi' is not yet in operation — tlie buildings being only in thi progress of erection. This University is magnificently en- dowed. On tlie 30th November 1^39, the total value of tlip assets belonging to it were £319,262— of this £240,845 bot longed to King's College, and £72,417 to that of Upper Ca* nada College — the estimate of the annual income of the U-t Diversity for 1839 was £8,550 — of this Upper Canada Col- lege enjoys £4277. Both arc under the controul of the Es^ tablished Church. The College of Upper Canada is an ad- mirable and effective institution. It is situate in the North suburbs of the city, the buildings are elegant and unique, and the grounds beautifully and tastefully laid out and kept in >he highest state of preservation. The Principal, Dr. McCaul^* i I t "-.^ ' i i , „ , , j ;gp II 20O OPI'ER CAWAT»A COLLEGE. 1 4. I. Ii i hart tlio reputition of being qualified, in a very eminent do- greo, for tlie duties of his situation. I have !*"fore me Uio CJolleije Register of 1840. Besides tiio Principal, who ex- crciaes a general superintendence and controul over all Uie classes, tiierc are four Professors for tlie Mathematics and Classics, and siix masters for the preparatory sciiool, for French and for Geometrical and Ornamental Drawing. Tho course of education is Urns detailed; — " (Jreek, Latin, French ; Mathematics, (Geometry, Algrv bra, Trigonometr}', Logaritlims, Conic jScctions, iHc.) Ele- ments of Natural Philosophy, Logic; History, Geography, Use of tlie Globes, Arithmetic, Mensuration, JJook-kceping, (jicometrical Drawing, Surveying, and Persj)0(;tive, in "'Idi- tion to the ordinary branch^:" of English ; with Con.i osition in Englisii and French, and in Greek and Latin prt.'.'-e and verse. " The Pupils are distributed into seven Forms, a Partial Class, and a Preparatory School. Pupils are examined, on admission, and placed according to their (pialilications. — Those in the College Forms, as they progressively advance, receive instructions in every department of tlio course ; tlioso who are admitted into tlie Partial Clast, ure exempted from Classical Studies." The dues for day pupils at the preparatory acliool are £6 per annum — at the College £9 per annum — boarders pay in all £30 per annum. Ornamental Drawing is an optional branch, and for which there is an extra charge of £1 per quarter. The system of education is founded on the Model of the English Universities, and is said to bo excellent and tlierough. I had tiie opportunity of attending tlie examina- tion of one clasa, upon tlie chronology of ancient literature and history, and was highly gratified at the accuracy and ex- tent of knowledge exhibited by tlie students. There are 160 pupils now in attendance — of Uiese 13G pay at tJie rate of ! n Ele- qUEEW'a COLLEGE AT KINOSTon. 207 £D, and tlic rcinainini^ 24 £0 per aniiuni. The ruled and re- gulations arc printc tinjT to Ititution Ilia kccious corpo- of tho dth tlio Aud it if fi oaiH" r»rr'^n«'\v«'(l snfi»^r!icti(>n nrul (•or!;,'r;iliiliition, t!if:t, at^M" li\»' y*:irs' oprnitiori n.s un A<'iul('iiiy, it liii.-i l)« en \tv- corporat^Ml us a (-ollfjjo, and liirinchilly ussi.'^l'il, by tli»^ muini'moiis vot-'S of both bniiK lie..! oCthc I'niviiicinl Lrnrisly- luro, — :-iiiicti()n('d to the House ki-it session — Mr. Ileade's observations liiereoji — ydiool-JJooks — llel:;^ious instnictiou— Report of the Committee of the Jiouie con- cerning* the Principle of Assessment. NK\vroi :;iji.a:.d. — Act passed in Jb;?() for the su])port of Con;- nioa Sc'hoc'lii — District boards of Education — i-'ye Laws ant* Regulations — Religious Warfare conducted tiiere — Contru- vcrsiy ndative to these bye-laws — Bible exeludcfi froiii some of liio Schools — Looks printed by the National Luard iw Ireland — Act 2»assed by the Assembly in icijd — Uooks used by the National Board in Ireland ordered to be imjforted — i-'rott;aUint Scliools— Nev,-foundland IJchool Society--Churcu Society — Charge of Arciideacou Spencer in favoui' of Edii- f;ation. PniMci; EiMVARo's L-:r.AM). — Ab-tract of tlie Acts — Defects of the system— Mr. McNeirs Report for ]W41_r.,U0O chil- dren uneducated — Public (Jrants for Education in ]"^4J. IN ijursuing the history of Colonial Education, I come- non^- to tlie systems introduced into the Lower Provinces, ar:d will sketch them here in the order of their importance. No- va Scotia is uneucstioiiably entitled to tlie lead, from the r. VL i J , fj ^i»i try.., I « II ] 1'^ I' is ^ '. if; I ; i 1^ I 212 STATISTICS OF EDUCATION date of her settlement, the extent of her educational itistitu- tLons, and the intelligence of her people. The following ta- ble presents a view of what has been done in the past, and of what remains to bo done in the fiitiiro. It will be a con- solatory reflection in after life, if this enquiry should lead to combined legislative action in tliia branch of the public service, and hasten the introduction of tiiosc modern princi- ples, which are among tlie brightest ornaments of its schoola and of tlie age. Yrs. STATE OF EDUCATION IN NOVA-SCOTIA. (Compiled from the Journals of the Assembly.) Funiis rais- cmI by the No. Pciii^s Combined & ('ommon. Scholirfl pd. for by Pfironfs. Gratis Totnl No. of fcbolars Peoplr, Paid from tlio Troasury. 1834 1 444 I 11,385 [ ]18ii | 12,573 j £!18()7 1 « | £44Gt) 3 4 11,385 Scholars: co?t £13,333 53—£l 3s 5(1 por head. ISa-il .530 I 15,292 | 1158 | 10,450 | 10,153 G 8 | 4lfi6 2 4 15,292 Scholars ; cost £17,910 9s=£l 3.wd ptr head. 18391 575 I 18,562 ( 1027 | 10,189 ir.495 114| 5464 1 18,562 Scholars; cost £18,859 lis 5d=£l Os 5d por head. COMMON SCHOOLS. 18401 587 I 39,485 | 1049 | 23,134 113,5310 4 | 4G10 11 10 520,485 Scholars; cost £18,191 19.9 2d— £0 17s Od per head. COMBINED GRAMMAR* AND COMMON SCHOOLS. 31 I 1,396 I 71 I 1,437 I 1,954 15 0| 954 118 1396 Scholars ; cost £2909 Cs 3d— .£2 Is 8d per hcadj COMMON SCHOOLS. 1841 I 620 I 17,904 | 18.50 | 20,910 | 17,105 9 | 6004 5 10 20,910 Scholars: cost £22,499 43 8 1 •?;!.= Average incomo of Teacher, .£36 lOs OJ. COMBINED COMMON AND GRAMMAR St II00L9. 33 I 1,716 I 109 I 1,83S [ 2,^99 12 1 1337 18 U 1888 Scholars, cost £31.-^7 10s lid— £2 la 2d for each Scholar. ; ^ Average income of Teacher, .£105 ."s 3d. *Iii 1840 the Lepislaturc contributed ono-hiilffif Uio wholo sum expand- ed in support oftJio Gratrmar Schools, and^'o^s tlian nnc-tbird of the mim raised by the people in aid of the Common ISclicol-i— tlijs is unquestionably supporting the rich at the expense of tbn |)oor, an'! prnvi< I 11 10 11 s 5 10 18 11 jTpnnd- lie sum ionably ies bo- COMMON SCHOOLS AM) COMBI.VEI) scnooos, FOR 1841 ^J2. o c o stnoi-.VHs. People. INCU.MK IKO.M Treasury Total. £ s. d. £ 8. d. 1 6 -fi Paid. 1 free. | Total (jrv.) \:G2:i 1 2(l--2r) 1 2:27!)d ] 1^564 I 7;!G--2 4 I>4 :iGiCG G 7i In 1840 the entire number of children attending scliool was in round numbers 22,000 — many of these too not attend- ing regiilarly ; but occasionally and for a short time, "wiien the season did not permit tlic continuance of out-door and field occupations. h\ Prussia one sixtli of tho entire ix)piila- tion — in some other and better educated countries one-fifth have been in attendance at School : — one-sixth of tlie popula- tion of Nova Scotia 200,000 is equal to 35,000 — shonnntr tluit aH)Oui 12,000 ; and ifone-Jl/lh ought to he educated 18,000 CVitV- dren in this Province are risine; wiihout any iducation ivhat- ever. In presenting this sketch of the state of Education in No- va Scotia, it will be uimecessary to give more tJian a brief abstract of tlie Acts passed for the rr^gulation of Common Schools, because they have been already very clearly digest- ed by Mr. Murdoch as Secretary of the Central Board of Education, and widely disseminated in pamphlet form. For the information of readers in tlie other Colonies it may be stated that tlie Common School Education of the Province is now placed under the controul and management of a Central Board constituted at Halifax, and composed of five members with the power of appointing a Clerk. The duties of this Board are thus defined : — " To establish forms of returns of schools, affidavits an*^ certificates, required ; to make Rules and Regulations for tlie ■ Jv r l!^' k *»»jBg'Hgi" |im i ''j.i iJii win 1^ : ■ ' ii :^:( 1 I SI4 ACTS FOU COMMOX SCHOOLS. .'^uid'incG and government of the several Coards of ComrniK- aioirjns in every county ; and to j^reparo and transmit to those iiO'ird'g, Instructions for the conduct of Teachers of School^:, r,() tint frreater uniformity in the system to be pursued by the re:^poctivo Boards may bo promoted, and the provisiojw of the act rendered more eli'ective." Tlie wliolo expenditure of the Board is limited to tiie sum £li)0 per annum. To ^ive the system centralization every Board of Conmiis- sioncrs are required to nialie and return to the Central Board, in pre.scribed form, before the 31st dayof Deccm])er, in every year, a copy of their proceedings and a statement of expend (Uturc duly certified by a quorum to bo correct ; tliat they Jiavo distributed the Provincial allov/ance impartially ; and these renorts digested in an abstract the Central Board arc directed to send annually to the Secretary of tlie Province for the use of His Excellency and the Lo,f:;i.slature. This feature of the system was introduced in April, 1811, and the first annual report of the Board v.as laid before the hv- rrislature at its last session. The facts contained in this document prove clearly the deplorable and inofficient state of the present system, and the ample field there is ferine provement. There are unquestionably many districts in the Province well and extensively educated — Scli#ols and Mas- ters who would be a credit to any country — Boards of Com- missioners and Trustees active, liberal, and intelligent — to these all praise is deservedly due ; but tliey form unlbrtu- nately tlie exception, not the rule. Of the general provisions of the Acts, and the machinery of the system it may be stated that by the Amending Act of 1811, the Legislature set apart the sum of £G00O annually 1^^' ' 1 tO^IMO-V SCnOOT. FlU'CATION. 215 su.i^ for the period of 4 years for tlic support of Common SrhrKjls — this sum being apportioned amonijf the different counties upon MS equitnblo a principle as the Assembly could be induced to adopt. The law provider for no relii,'ious in>'truction whit ».'ver, — not even tlie rcadinjr of the Bible. There is no re<*u- lation in existence as to the choice of vScliool Books, "for" .•^ay the Central Board in their Report " the next subject of importance Avhich pressed itself ui)on attention, wuf the de- plorable state of the Common ScIkkjIs as to the description of Books used in them, which wa:5 believed to be very del'cctive m jLjeneral, and as to the inadequate supply of sucii Books and the variety and imperfections of the c:ii'!0!i;-'. m use." — The fact I believe is avowed that many of the School BookH UocJ are printed in the United States, and that tbo political tendencies and principles tauiriit in tliem are not suited to the subjects of a monarchy. The Governor and Council arc authorb'.od to appoint five or more Commissioners of Schools for each County, who have tlio manngemcnt andcontroulof aHS^Iioolp, establislied 'mder this law, in their County or Districts. This Board are required to lay off the County into School Districts. By the 4th section of tlio School Act of 1832 it is provided — p. (>, "Whenever any number of individuals, in a ;-chool dis- trict in any county or district shnll make application in wri ting, to tiie Board of Commissioners f.)r such county or dis- trict, engaging to hire a teacher for one year, (or for any time not less than three calendar months. Sec. 9, 1811,) and to build, or provide a School House, and keep the saiue i:i repair, and tlicrein cause to bo tifught for the said period of (me year, (or for any time not less tijan three calendar months-, Sec. 9, 1841,) at least thirty scholars, in Rcadins; Writing, and ..Irithmdic, — or sha'l therein "n.frago to hire a tenclier, and to provide, or build and ]"':j) in repair a school lionsf^ and 1- ^1 fi 1 \ ) M '! I! I I! ■I J. \ " ' ■Mi^ i ji^^M Mmim MM 'I i \ f ' 1 ' > I ) 916 njVISION OF I'LBLIC MO.MES. C'utso to be tann;lit tlicrcin for tlio period above stated, al laisf fiflirn scholars, nnd shall apply to 'ho ]]oard for a })arti- c'ipation in the ])ublic ^raiit, the .said IJoard shall enter upon a list of schools, such school tor a participation in the public ninney, and shall appoint one, two or three trustees, as they shall detMu rotpiisito for such school, who shall have powci and authority to enter into uU necessary t'o/u'mdi* witli the persons a])plyin to lo scholarr" are taught in the higher branches, and £^5 por aimum to any one in v/hich 15 or more scholars are so instruolod ; but before this allowance is made the Commissioner?! arc t;> be satisfied, in Uie first case, tiiat tlie salary actually paid to tlic Master is £100 per annum, and in the otiier £150 p( r m annum. Instruction in the Classics may be dispensed witli, in cxie a teacher qualified in this respect cannot be obtain- ed, provided ho is competent to teach tlic other branches dot-died in the Act. In July 1841 the Board issued a formula of Rules andRc- ;[rulation3 for the guidance of the several Boards of Com- missioners. In these they were required to divide their Counties into Districts, and to have a Map prepared, havinf^ these districts defined, of which a copy is to be sent to ilio C'entral Board, — Instructions are given as to the granting of licences to teachers, — for the selection of trjstecs, — " and whose knowledge and learning are recounnendations of the liighest order," — the budding of School Houses with suitubl ^ seats, tables, and desks, and a proper supply of light, fuel, air, and warmtli, in winter, — tlie employment of a female teacher, — the appointment of Clerks, — and the frequent in- spection of the Schools both by the Trustees and Commis- sioners. Their attention is directed rdso, in close fotllo- mcnts, to the erection of a Dwelling House for the TcaclK-r, \ i;^ < i *M) Rl LKS \yii RKGLLA lf').N.-^. • I in onlor that ho iiny be; there punn!iii('iit,ly odtiblisliod, and acquire loctil attachment'^. Public ex'uninntions are recom- mended, find the distribution of lionorary tukens of aj){n"oba- lioiu '• Such reward.-), wlicther to laeritoriiju-i teachers, or to pupils of remarkable ability and yood belnviour, cannot fail tx) produce a bt^neficial effect." Foruis are also given for returns, and the Connnlssioners arc requested to transmit tliosG to the Central Board on or before the 20th December in every year. Upon tlie ))rinciplo of assessment our Lenrii-'iaturc has tried two experiments. Upon the Act of IS-M] the Rev. Mr. ( 'rawloy, in liis letters on Education, tlius ri-'fers to tlie first itC them : " A law was enacted ontitlin!^ an asscjisment to be raised wiierever it should be resolved on by two thirds of the rate- able inhabitants. I believe, liowever, this law has seMom, il' ever been found to operate advanta^reously. The reason of this failure I conceive is not diilicult to (h^tect A close attention to human nature Avill, I apprehend enable us to perceive that a regulation of this sort contains for the most j)art, in efiect, its own deat!i warrant. Most men have na- turally so stron<^ a dislike to imposing' burdens cjii themselves, oflpecially when they come in the form of lei^al coercion, tliat a vulunlanj assessment will rarely be successful. It mi^ht occasionally be carri':d into effect, but the principle is altogether too feeble to form the foundation of a general Conunon School system ; and even where a sutTicient amount of persons might be found willing to concur in such a mea- sure, so far as regards their own readiness to be taxed, still a kindly regard for the feelings and prejudices of their friends and neighbours to whom the system of taxation might be very odioiis, would often deter tJiemfroni acting on their own convictions." By the 19th section of the Act of 1841, the Trustees of any School District are autiiorised to call a public meeting ai the rateable inhabitaiilo — of which meeting at least '^ M I >av VOLUNTAUT AHSr.SSMENT. S31 dny^ notice in five or morn public places is to be f^ivf n. If ri majority of tiie inhabitiintH at such nKM'tino; a^Tce to niiw funds lor the snj)port of the Schools in tiu: district by assosw- mcnt, the Tnii'tces are to certify their proceodin^'.s at the next ensuiii;,' Sc:5sions of the Peace, anrl the sums so a I.OIII) FAI.U'I.ANn's Sl'.-.FCII I.V I6i1. thiiv. : — '• In' rocoinuK'iiflinu to yvi'iii r >r('ronco to it, to bo sati.'^factory in it^ opcrati)!!, iiiii;A i)o hasc/l on the prlni:iji!(: of fi^iniral nssessincnl : v.-liilo I ho;' to iiAsain you of my z'\iloiis cojicuitohco in any !itloin[)l, yon nviy iiiiiko to aniclionUo a state of tliinj,'.) .vlucli 1 sinoorcly tl?plore." I »k) uoL touch further upoM [}v.s priiioipl-.,' here, I>(?(:;i'IH(^ it has hiMMi iilroiuly fully discus.-jod ; and I luako thcso njfoiX'ii- oe.s merely to iliow tho jia-st \adion of our Lc2"i»latun.' r;- latin.^ to it. 'I'li.^ amount of |Pul)lic Money paid froni the Traa.'^ury of *.Ji)Ui-uiils of AiirfiMubly for liil, p. 1 1. i S'.'o Ante p. ir,:{. "'Tiip education ■.)fthi} City of Ifalifix lian already roach. -d « viry liig'i staudiiiiT, and (;ousldiT;d)Ic3 advancL's liavr bot'u juado in thi' adoi)tlf)U of tho niodcru principles. Tlicr'* arc rtcinols for till' tcachiiifj of t!io Classics— the Halifax (rrriin mar Sch.xdjConductcul upon tlic niud(d of tli'j Eii;;lish bchuol.s, undor Dr. Twinini'', — Lho new School about to be re-oponctl by the Rev. Mr. Rjinaua, to be re«julated on tlie jirinc/ipb-j of thv! liiirh Schools of Ghusirow and Kdinburnrh, and to (five a jiri'paratory trainini^ to the sluilents of Dalhousie Collf'jri', — and 111" clasiu.'s lauglit at St. Miiry's College — an institution i:i n very I'flective and creditable condition. In all of Ih'-se tin; (dements of an excidlcnt English and chusical Education u\iy ])e obtained. For ehunentary instructiojj, and for the poorer classe.-j, there \a the National School, founded in connectio!'. v.'ith the Ejjiscopal Churcli — the Royal Acadian School, con- ducted by Air. A. S. Held— the Normal School, under the ma- nagement of JMr. II. Ttlunro — the Catholic School for the leaching of tlu; elementary branches — and the African School fjr the education of colored j)eople. It is said that a!! of tliem are in a very elfectlve condition, and two of tliein, Mr. Rtdds and Mr. Munro's, both of these gentle- men having been trained in some of the best Normal Institu- tions in Scotland, are conducted on th(> Norma! system. Tiu-re are tv/o schools, an Infant and Dij ScIxojI, founded in Dutch r i. T| ^ '\1 SCHOOLS 1.1 HALIFAX. 'Si fiii-i Prnvime, in l-^ll, for Iv.Iucalioiul In-:t.ituliuny, wan: — ('(jiimion Sc!i<)(;l.s, £r>t;7'v) (» Oomlmip.l ('nmmoii iind (irMiiiiiiMr k^cli(Ktls . IMHT llrvJitUx ScIiddIx — Acinlitiii, Nation;;!, uiul iiLMnry'H, JClOOt'uch, Cli^i) M'"'tJu)(list. Sfliool, till' l{i'V. Mr. rniai-kc'.s School, iuul Mclioul I'or (Coloured ii('(>j)li\ .CICO.vicli, WO ln{;uit School, TiO i'oor Homso School, i.'")— <)7.'^ (' Acadci.iics, I -0 (» Il'ilitiw (iratnmur Schools, ]7)(i i) Pictoti Aciidcmy, 'ilK) Kinn's i\,\h«n', l-Jl St. Mary's (,'oIIpi.p, .•!()() () o Institution ill Jlorton, £;300, .special ^rrunt JC'^lliO r)(;0 (< Dal!iou.qo Collogo 'i()U •() (' i:iO,7r."> V Equal to Is'. Oid per head of tiie ciiLire population — and t.» r).s. 4^jd. i)or head, of the vne-fJVi capable of uciny in utUu- dancc on Uie SchooLs. Town, under the Sui)orint('ndancM' of'tl'.c Kcclor and ('hnrc)i Wiirdcn'.s of St. Gforjic'ri Cliurcdi, and nuich |iraii;c ia due to the Ri'V. Mr. UniacUt' lor his attention to tlicse two very si;- pLM'ior ostablishnicutsj. Tiiere are also several piivato scliools in iiood repute, and two lor the education of youiifr ladicn, of very fair ciiaraeter — so that the means of ediu.-ation in the city is in a forward and advancing state. Tlie course of edu- cation, the internal polity, funds and Btati.stics (d" t^iverr.l or' the public schools, are described in the ajipendlx to the last Report of the Central Board — but no general view (f our state of education has ever yet been prepared; audi trutt ii, will not be long before a Conuuittee is aj)pointed by tiie Com- mon Council to encjuire into the subject — to ascertain tlii- nuudx.T of ])oor children wdio are not in attendance on the :icho'.;ls, and if any, and what, measure:; can be adopted to suji- ply the existing deficiency. Tht-re are also 10 Sunday Schools in oi)eration, in conui'ction with tlie diflVrent ciuirche.s in lla- lil'ax — many of tlu'in in a higii slate of otl'ectiveiu'ss, but tiie details of these will be found in the Report abr.)ve referred to I \ i ■ * I ,' ij '11 ill .III J in * I V 8 1 1' < i ^4 {;h.vnt» for education in 1841-9. TIio jni])lic jifrants for the Educational Er^liblidhmonts of the Provhico, for 18-12, may be stated as folloivs: COLLKOKS. Kinrr'n, under a permanent i^rant, receiving an- niTally, \ £444 Dalhousio, Queen's, nnd St. .Mjirv's by 'v vote for tlirec years, are to draw annually oj'ch £M t, \'SV2 Dalhousie Collcfre liad a loan of £r),00() in 1&2-J, payable on demand, but without interest. ACADKMIF.S. Eacli of tlio 17 Counties is entitled to one. draw- ing? £ 100 a year, £ 1700. All the Counties how- ever have not yet availed theui.selve.-! of tliis priviloi^e, and the actual outlay will probably be . ■ ' MOO GRAMMAR SClIOOLfi. Efich County is entitled to three, drawintr £25 or £0.) each, accordinr; to its size. Tho.^eCoun- tie?! which do not require them are entitled to add the amount to their Common School fund. The whole outlay therefore is . ... 178.') COMMON SCHOOLS. The ffrant now in force is GOOO The Halifax Schools are allowed a.s above . 82.5 The Central Board is allowed 1.50 Otlier occasional grants may be stated at . . CA Making the entire cost . , . £12,000 Equal to Is 2d 2-5 each among the entire population of 200,000 souls. If onc-fflh or 40,000 arc capable of being instructed, the grants from the Treasurj' are equal to (Js i>er head Notwitlistanding tlieso liberal grant-?, tlioy are totally iim- dequatc to the wnnis of the country. Mr. Crawley, mi \n? letters on Education, lias cstimatod that the Common School education of thi;? Province would require an expenditure an ' ^it 11 '■It i I' 22(> EDUC^TIO?T IN NnW Era'N?WICK. \ I, I oiitward machinery, not the internal discipline of the school. The Justices in session arc empowered to aj)poiiit dnnually, three trustees for the several towns and parishes in their dif- ferent counties, who arc sworn to the duo and faithful per- formance of their duties. It is the province of the latter to divide tlicse parishes into such school districts as may he convenient or necessary, and when the inhuhitants of any such district have erected a Scliool House and agreed witli a School Master or Mistress, duly licensed under tlic Royal Iastruction3, to teach for six months or one year, tiicy be- come entitled to part of the Provincial allowance. The Trus- tees are required to visit the scliool once every three months, nnd to enquire into the order and morals, and direct tlio dis- cipline and regulation of such school ; — but as to such dis- cipline anil regulation tl.c Act leaves them entirely un- fettered. — They have tlie power to remove any teacher who refuses to comply with tiie regulations tiicy impose, or who is guilty of misconduct, inteiiipcranco or immo- rality, — being however controlled in so far in the exorcise of tliis discretion tha.t they arc required to report such remo- val, and the cause of tiieir proceeding to the Eoard of Edu- cation of the County or District, composed of three or moro persons appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, by and v.itJi tliG advice of Her Majesty's Council. It is the duty of tliia Board to enquire into the character and qualifications, by personal examination, of persons applying for school licenses, and the trustees arc authorised to admit into each school es- tablished in their respective parishes not more than five freo scholars, being the children of indigent persons. They vm furtiier rociuired to certify to tlic- Sessions, every school found- li' BTSTKiM IN NKW UnUNSWICK. 097 liool. jally, r (lif- l por- ter to lay bo )f tmy with a Royal ley bc- j Trus- noutli3, Jic dis- ich dis- ely un- teacher impose, iinmo- :xerciso remo- f i:du- or moro lul witii of tliia ions, by icciisc3, hool C's- llve frco hey nro ol found- cd and kept for the space of six niontli.-^ or one yoar to tiie ittidfaction of such trustoe.s, and for wliich the inliabilanlii Uavc sulv^cribcd and paid towards its support JCJU ibr every half year during which llio same has been kept, or f^hall have furnished the Teacher with boardiiir^, washiii;:;' and lodj^anir for the same period of time. The Sessions are tlien required to return a sciicdule of i-uch certificates every year to the ^crotiry of the Province, upon wliichsciiediilc there is paid from tile Treasury the sum of £"20 to e'.-cry Scliool IMaster or Scliool Mi-tress included therein, wlio shall have kept a school ior a year, or £10 if keptfor sixmontli.i — of these Fe- mile Scliools every Parish is confined to three. And lastly, each Teacher is required to furni:i[i semi-annual returns, of the number of male and female scholars, taught by tlieni ro f.pfM ively. :: y after the arrival of Sir William Coh.-brookc, tho prGSGut Lieutenant GovcTrnor of t'lat Province, tlic su!)jcctof Common School Education, and the introduction of the mo- dern principles, seems to have engas^ed lii.-; Kxcollency'o cirnost attention. A series of circular letters A>as addressed to tlie diir^rent Clerks of tlie Peace and Boards of Education in the Counties. By tiie 1st of these, Juno 18-10, the Clerks of the Peace were directed to call upon the Trustees to send in a general return of tlic number of scliolars — of l!i'' eliicicn- cy, character and qualifications of tlic Teachers, arid the sys- tem and extent of instruction, religious and general, v.hich was afforded. In the second, dated V.)t}i Augn.vt, the Boards were directed in all future Petitions for licences to teach a Parish School, tliat the Minister of t'le Congregation, to which tlic Teacher had belonged for tlie laijt 12 icontba, \ :■ ) :'u tl., i : I 228 an w. coleurookl's circulars. Bhould give a certificate oi'hiii religious and moral character^ and that the applicants should enumerate tlieir acquiremcntJi — and also that tiio Board would state whether biblen wcr» provided for the schools, and also what other books were used for tlie instruction Oi'* children, and whether they were sub- jected to any, and -• hat, examinations. The third dated tba lltli Sept last, I gi vc entire : " Secrdarif,'} Office, Fredericlon, Uth Sept., 184L " GKNTLF.r.iEN, — Ilis Excclloncy tlie Lieutenant Governor having it in contemplation to promote the formation of a Training and Model School at Frcdericton, whore Tcachcra of Parioii Schools may be trained on an improved system, tlieir qualilications tested and ascertained, and a material im- provement be thus etTccted in the Parochial Scho(jls through- out the Province, has directed me to call the attention of the Board of EiuCvition to the subject, with a view to ascertain if they can recommend any bettor mode of local remuneration to the Teachers tlian the existing one of board, lodging and washing. "If a habitation for the Master and a few acres of Land could be attached to the School House, it would afford tlie means of introducing the system of tlie Agricultural Schools of England, in wliich the Boys are instructed in improved Husbandry for a certain part of the day, and the ground ia made to contribute to tlio maintenance of the Teacher of tlie School. The details of tliis plan can be furnished in case tlie Land to the amount of about ten acres can be obtained, and a part of it cleared and well cultivated. Upon tlieae points also I have to request that the Board will favor me witli such information and suggestions as may be in their power, to bo submitted for His Excellency's consideration. I have tlie honor, «Sic. (Signed) WM. F. ODEI4L. To tlie Board of Education for tlio County of ." A fourth circular was issued, dated 5th Oct, in which the Boards, after being referred to the practice lately adopted in the Country Parishes of England, of employing females in tlie charge of Schools Avhcre botli sexes arc instructed, are J ; 1 *< M A NOttMATi AND TPAINIMO flCIIOOl,. 229 i ion. jhthe Ited in Ilea in Id, ar<^ required to inf(-»rm his Excolloncy if respectable women, mar- ried or unmarrio;], between the ujjos of -J.") and -10, could bo found, tlr.it would undertake the clnr(:^o of P;iri:rih o'choola. The various replies to these cnquirit-'s were subniilted to tJie Legislature at its last Session, and have been printed and circulated in paujphlct form, for the iufonnation of th» Province. Afcer tlie various returns were made, hi.s E.xcelloncy di- rected the Provincial Secretary, Mr. Odell, to prepare a i^o ncral circular, dated t'le J 1th Nov. lust, and as a proof of the carnedl zeal with which his Excellency has applied hiraself to this important feature of Colonial ad\-ancenM:nt, I give the followinn- extracts from this document: " llin Excellency is deojdy impres.sed Avith the necessity of early nKjasuro.-i bcitiir introdncod I'or the amelioraLioii of the present defective system, and he is decidedly of ("jiuion tliat the Public iiKMiey cannot be better expcndc(l than in the for- niation and sup-port of Ji'ood Schools, nor be more completely thrown av.iiy than in the upholdnii]^ of those wliicl.' arc con- ducted ou a bad system, or established on imjn'oper principley. " A well diirested and uniform system of teachin!T, and a, jTi'opor sot of School Books, omonfi; which Jiihles and Tcsla- wxnls are indispensaljle, a})pear to His Excellency to be the great desiderata; and Avhen the larjre sum expended by thu Legislature under the present Parish School liaw is taken into consideration, the introduction of a systc:'.i by v.'hich a much greater amount of good must result, appears to be loud- ly called for. " The difnculty of introducing any uniform or efTicicnt sys- tem of teachin'v in common or Parochial Schools, has been so fully experienced elsewhere, that it has necessarily led to tlie introduction of the Nonnal or Training School for Teach- ers. 'JMiis .system is in full operation in iaigland, and has been most successfully introduced in the West Indies, v/hero such Schools have been established Avith the mc-t beneficial lesults, nor is it to be doubted the same c(.mse([uen(;es Avould fuUov. ia tliis Province, if the establishment Averc fostered by '■' \ ■ I ; t > IT JTJO TnAFMNO TEACnERS. II SI _ 1 I f'l tho Ijonrislaturo, witti tlio same liberality it Jias Iiitheito hIiGwo for all Soiiiinarios for Education. "With this vhw l]\< E\'','i^llcT)-y Ins propo'^jf^J tho osfab- I'«l)rnont ot'a Central Trr/minfj Scliool, by i]f('ttini^ vroll train- nj To:i.c!iors iron En;rl'in;l, — a man an'i his wifo, — and fonn- in.c' such a Sciiool at Frcdoricton ; iind tho only oxpon:?o do- volvinfT on the Candidates wonld bo their bonrd tor tho s/iort period while in\dor trainin'JT, which inijrht easily bo defrayed for tlu'.n. Tills School beiii;r once cstablisliof] and in full operation, an nrrnn clement niifrht then be made by which the whole of the Provincial Schools wonld in a comparatively pliort space oi'timo be put on a nnifonn and efficient f )otin(y. This wonld bo mainly cifectesd by requirinn- tlic Training School Master to make circuits tlirou[>'ii the Province in tJic^ rxercise of his callin:r, and providing- a defined set of Scliool Books, and a manual drawn np for the g-enoral ji'nidancc and use of tho Teachers. His Excellency is awaro that thero firo many Schools now in operation Avhich arc creditably conducted, notwithstandinof all tho defects of tho present system, and would wish it to be understood that the chaiipfe wonld bo ffradual, and such as Avonid prove favourable to those which at pre.vont meet with approbation. One important bo- nellt rJiat would How from the introduction of tho monitorial mode of teachinii; for the older children, and of the Infant. Hcliool system tor tho yonnffor, is that a i^reater number of ciiildren mi'.rlitbe instructed by one person. "With respect to the Teachers, Tlis Excellency is of opi- nion that Schools for children of both sexes of from two to nine years of a rre, admittinir older j;virls, would bo most be- neficially conducted by unmarried or married Females, pro- perly trained, and it is hoped a sufncient number of respect- able candidates wonld offer. I'or Schools in which boys above nine or ten years of age arc instructed, Male Teach- ers appear to be tho best adapted ; and Avhen tho advantage of bavin!]: a Grainmar School in eacli County for instruction in the hi'gher branches is taken into consideratioii, it appears to Hid Excellency that the means of acquiring a good ouii- cation would be as much witliin tho reach of all classes of the people, as the resources of the Province would admit or prudence dictate. " The difficulty of finding competent persons to conduct A^rricultural Schools has been experienced in England, and hence the system has not been irenorally introduced, but His Excellency is of opinion tluit by estabiishing a CeatraJ AOniCULTURAT, SCHOOLS, 231 mduct and 1, but entrai School on this priiiciplo, others niifrlit p-radtinlly l)o introdiic- «d wlicic pnicticMlilc, and a sopurut*? school for boys in each county nii-;,'ht bo formed, in connection witii t!ie ajjricuUu- ral pnciotioH. "Moan.vhilo Ili^ Excellency remarks, that ho considers the siinft_roslion that L'uul shouhl be attached to tlic I'ariHh Schools and cidtivated by the Parishioners for tlio use of the TeacherH, an iniproveiaent on the present system, althou<;h the j)ayment of a rerridnr rUipend and tiio additional accom- modation of an apartnunit for tiie Teacher, adjoininfc'^ etent and respectable teaeliers. It is not imj)rol):i hi.i 'irihlc Candidate. • ...dd offer, wlio liavo residences in me nei 5 1 i n ifr i. SJH NECnSSITY or UKMGIOUS I.NaTIUJCTIO:;. tontioii oftlio Bfnnis of Ediicntion iinrl the Trustcca is rn- pociiiUy culled, in oiio of tlu^se (,'iir.til.ir;;, that I oaniiot fool drttisficd in altu;,^OLli(!r passin^^ovor, iind nliiidi caiiin't fail to strike every Olio perusiiiLf the iib.itracts, viz: the absence of all rvUiftnus imlrndion in mnivj of the srh'j'ns. Tiiis has ber;n V.iv. coi;so(iiioiice of tho diiloronco of tli" rfli'vioiis be- lief of the I'oivnt-! of Ih'.' Scholars, whicli lias made it a rmit- lor of extnMiuj diiriculty, if not of impossibility, for tiio Teachers to introduce any ro:,ndar ndiiriou.s in. 1 ruction. " A serious and startliniij (picstion i.s here presented to us, viz : On:>;Iit we to suffer the minds of (diildren, nt a period "wlien most easily impress^jd, to V I • »l I • tfj rccommcml its adoption. Uj)on tlio Noniiai .honl they ■ay: " Anotlicr point coiifidorod I)y ih is, p.m to tho norr^ssity of pf.Tnblisliiii'r !i I'roviiu-iiil NoriiKil Sclio;)! i'or tlio cilucationof Toach(>rs, M:ile mid Fcrnulo. Wo would torbn:ir at ])ro;sont Oxprc.'5.sin- priatod for tlio following purposes — fortlio Schools estiibliwli- cd by tho Nowfoundiand and BrilisJi North Anirrican School Society, ill^OO— Orphan Asylum School at St. Juhrfn, £100 — St, I'atrickVi Free School at Harbour Grace £100 — and tlie remainder to be appli.^d and expended under tho super- intondenoe of Boards of Education to Vj appointed in tha several Electoral District?, in sums of jCQOO, £125, and £100 each. The Act then directed the Governor to appoint a Board of Education for eacii District, consistin^r of i;> pcF- son.-?, and in them tJic senior or superior Clerg'yman of each of tho several Rclis^ious denominations actually rrijideut witliin tlie District, was to be included. It further gav« tliese Boards the power of makin;j bye-laws, rules, and nv gulations, for tlie establishment and management of tho schools, — directed annual meetin(,rs to be held, and reports to be transmitted to tho Governor for tlie information of Hit* Leorislature. After tiie Act was passed tlie Boards of Edi>- cation were assembled — but in the framinir of the bve-law», Uie religious warfare, which unhappily exists in that inland, broke out, and by the contest added new fuel to tlie existing flames, I have before mc the retura-3 of tlic different board», f 'f U J 'i ) i L"" r\ • t pj^ !I ri' era laws KRvjiKn nr their hyo-laws, and tho Corrcspoii'li.'nco whicli on9iiod b«- tWGon them and tlu; Excculivo. Tlio folluuinij are sonio iuov(m1 froiii tiie Seliool Rooni. "Thiit v.honr'V(!r a Protestant Scliool-mnster is appointed, no JJooks shall be made usij of in School of a Sectarian ten- dency ; tint no prelbrence shall be shown to any Scholar ou account of his beloriifiniT- to any jvirticul'ir clas-! of j)rofi'ss- iiyj; Christians; and tlrat no ndiiiio'is instruction sliall bo ^ven, exce]>iin;x ^vdiat is contained in the Holy Scriptures without note or comment. "That ProtestiJiit School Masters shall be employed nt ovnry j)lace where the munber of l*rotestraits shall exceed tliat of the Iloiinn Catholics, and vice versa ; and that no in- vidious disliiK'tion shall be made b'^tween Churclunon, and what are generally called Dissenters. "That as reL'ards Protestants, there is notliincf Sectarian in introducincr tho authorized version of the Holy Scriptures fts elem.^ntary Boolcs — all our Protestants constantly a])peal- in<]f to them as tho standard of their Faith, and tho rule of their conduct ; and that as renfards Roman Catholics, to keep those sacred deposits of truth and knov/le Irrc out of flijifht in twelve Schools, because a fev/ lloman Catholic Ciiil- dren may attend them, is surely too }]^re;it a concession for Old Board to m:)ke. — Such a concession, to say the least of it, would bo a sicrifu;o of principle — a sacrilico which no I'rotestant v/ould require a Roman Catholic to make under a cJiauLje of circumstances; an.ii which, tl'.erefore, no Protest- xnt is bound to concede to a Romtm Catholic. "That nothing of a Sectarian tendency shall be taught in \\ THF. BOARDS OF KnuCATIOJf. 207 1 nt cood lo in- nud irian uros )i;al- c of , to uL of Chil- )n for LSt of no dor a Jlust- rht in the Schools, nor any rilij.Mi)Us inntruction jjivcn in School hours. "That, nn Rnf)lre CL^jx-cially asiri?ill Uu) Sclioals ill lli(! IJay tlio Scriptures have alwuys been used B^ a Scliool hook ; and no ohjcdioM Ins ho.'n ujaJc hy Jto- inau (>:ithoii('S f^eneniliy, to send tlieir rliildren to s^uch 8ohools — tliPV, oil tlie conlrarv, havini' alwav.s readily and thankl'illy (Mnhtaced the opporauiity oi' cducalioa aliorded hy tnu'h Schools. '•That this Board would not insist on the Bible hein^^ put Into thc! hands of the llo:nau ('ath to jrive llio statistics of education, provided by the Ca- tholics of Newfoundland — but althonsrh j)roiniKed it from two quarters, they have not yt t conic to hand, and 1 will be oblir ged to give lliem in an appendix. 343 EDUCATION IN P. E. ISLAND. 1 I Wis. under the Ruperintondnnco of a Board of five Comniissioncra and a Secretary, — the Board arc paid £4 each, and the salary of tlic Secretary is £15. It is their duty to examine tlie qua- lifications of Schoohnasters and to grant certificates. The whole of tlie district schools are under the charge of a Visi^, tor, who is compelled by law to visit them three times a year, to return a report annually to the Legislature, and to publish it in the newspapers. Each master receives from, tlic Treasury a bonus of £10. The funds are entirely volr.ntory, except in so far that the Trustees of a District can assess for a School House, and for repairs, &,c., and if two-thirds of the inhabitants of a district send 20 scholars to a School, the Trustees have the power to assess the otlier third for tlieir share or proportion. In tlie last report, Jan. 1842, tlie Visitor, Mr. McNeil, who is a very able and faitliful guar- dian of tlie public interests, and writes witli vigour and practical good sense, tlie following account is given of tho effect of tlie voluntary system, and the state of education in Prince Edward's Island. In is far more deficient tlian our own: — "The total number of children of both sexes, then, receiv- ing daily school instruction is 435(), giving an increase over the preceding year of 781. Notwithstanding this progres- sidft, about one half of the youth of the Island may still be considered as being left without education. The number of youth under tlie age of Sixteen on the Island is 22,7(J(3; de- ducting from this amount those under Six and over Fourteen years of age, the proportion of which to the whole number may be fairly estimated at near a half, we shall have in round numbers 10,000 children within the juvenile educational age fit for attending schools. Cutting off from tliis last sum, the number of children receiving private instruction, and who cannot exceed 500, there loill still remain 9,500 children to mpply ivith instniction, of whom more than one half, as ia oh- f^^ 5ir>LBER OF CnilJlREN UN'EDUCATKD. 243 viouafrom the prcccUns^ summation, mil appear to he, }cfl in a ronJition of complete isi;norance. It is however lair to rciiioiu- bcr tliat iiiiiny of those within iJic educational age, although not at present iu actual r^-mdance, have been at school sonio pirt of tlieir lives. 'In a pieat many instance, parents can affjrd only to send their children to sciiool alternate years or quarters. A degree of instruction, howe'?r, so limited, so meagre, is nearly ctjuivalent to none wiiatever. The num- ber of children who frequent Sunday-schools too is not taken into account iu the above computation; for these schools, eminently useful as they are in imparting religious know- ledge, cannot be ranked in the list of educational establish- ments, taking this plirase in its proper meaning ; and it would be more incorrect still to comprise tlieir pupils in the total number of children receiving instruction on the Island, see- ing tiiat the majority of these pupils arc also attendants irj daily achools, and would tlius be twice enumerated in tlio sTtmc table." £n 1841 the funds granted by tlie Legislature for tlio sup- port of education in Prince Edward's Island were : District Schools, £1,040 Central Academy, 300 St Andrew's College, 75 Visitor of Schools, 100 National School, 35 Sundries, 40 £1,580 • ' i i ill 'li LECTURE VIII. I"* 4>n the ctcments of a perfect system of Colonial E^ilnca- tfoii.— Iitfajkt Sclioolii,— Troiiilng of Morals aud ilablti>» Pictures* CONTENTS. Elenionts of a pprfopt system of Colonial Education — Infant and Common Schools — Acadcmios, Institutes, Libraries, Collcfjcs, &c. — Modern principles — T.'u; Ancients no jruidea except in ph3-sical trainin i ! m i t| I ill 21G A GENERAL COLONIAL SYSTEM. I'll before suggesting a general systcnn for these Colonics, I will proceed to enquire into the system of education which ouglit to he adopted ; — the branches, objects, and training it should embrace ; — and the extent of religious instruction it ought to confer. A perfect and modern system of education arr, — 1st, In- fant Scliools for tliG irahiirig of Children ; 2d, — Normal Schools for the education of Teaciicrs; .Ird, — Common Schools' ; 4th, — Academics ; 5th, — Institutes or Usefi'.l Know- lego Institutions; Gth, — Itinerating Libraries; and 7th, — Colleges for the higlier branches of Loi..iiing and Science. No general system should now bo framed witliout citlier tlie limnediate introduction of eacii of tiiose, or if all cannot now bo introduced, such an initiatory scheme of encouragement OS will lead to their introduction, as soon as tlio circumstac'^;cs of each County and District require them. To give this sys- tem permanence, uniformity and energy of action, the whole ghoul d be placed under the superintcndance oi' some Central Board or Committee in eacli Colony, clotlied with all neces- sary powers and authority, to give its measures action and weight, and tho Committee itself rendered responsible, for tlic faitiiful and diligent performance of its duties, to the Ex- ecutive and Legislature. The recent improvements in tlic conduct and principles of modern education, render it infinitely superior to the systems of any former age. So far as regards the developement of the mind little instruction can be derived from classic Au- tliors. The ])eople then were untaught. No books, no let- ters open to the mass — no Schools — except for feats of physi- cal exercise and prowess, fitted to give the soldier more ath- •V I^^ EDUCATION IN ANCIENT TIMES. d47 y ' ea of stems Dnt of All- let- hysi- ath- Ictic and vio-nrous powers, and to train and prepare iiiin tor daring and reckless action in the field. But in lookincr at education as a system, from tlie time the art of printing was discovered up to a very recent period, the features of change and advancement arc marked and visible. Educa- tion now is no longer regarded as the mere teaching of let- tcra and words. It has a higher aim. With the w6rds them- selves tlieir meaning is conveyed. The yoimg mind ia tauglit to look at the analogies and associations to which they lead. Tliey are made to convey to liim, — ho is made to comprehend the tirst and easy hjssons of religion, mo- rality, history, and science, and in addition to tlie mere in- struction of wliat virtue and morality is, the Model School is conducted so as to compel tne scholars to practice the golden rules of mora] ity in the little world, and amid tlic social relations, by which he is surrounded. He is taught to know, to respect, and to observe tlie truth ; to practise forbearance ; to forgive an injury ; to love order ; to obscrs'O cleanliness ; and if tlie rules are violated, lie is punished, not by Uie strong arm, by the whip or ferule, and tJie infliction of bni- tal and bodily pain, — but by disgrace, an exclusion from his ordinary pleasures, or by losing that sunshine of the mas- ter's eye which quickens so efTcctually the young and sensitive mind, whose conscience and notions of self-respect have been awakened by a moral, sound, and religious training. In tlio Common School too the habits are now instructed and formed ; and the Industrial Scliool, the Agricultural Col- lege, tlie *Real »'lnistaldt, the system of the benevolent Fel- 'Jamcs'a Letters, p. 92. lU 1 ■ f ! .li ai8 MODi;ilN TRINCIPLES OF H li c r ^ ' Icuburfj at Ilov.yll, liavc bton mlroiluccd to tench tho prac-- ticc of the practical arts to tho t-chool hoy ; and to send into tlio world, before youth li;i i reached nmiihoed, iriasaes of trained Artists, whoric h!ii)ita and principles, already formed ajid ti'icd, fit them to be n.sofiil citizens and virtuous men. To illustrate those viewH I fjivo two e.xtracts — tlic fir>st from Stow, and the last from Coor^'re Comlie : — " As a precursor to the exorcise of trainin;^, dcvolopemont must bo thrcc-fuhl — ( V)r])ore:il, Intellectual, !ii:il Aloral. Un- der iin^fj'st head, we liavo tho iiiodos of siitin*,'", standini?, walkinii', .-I'ld ruimiii'^ — the holdini: of a book or slato — diri- tinct articulation — the moduluticn of tlio voice in readinij op Kpoakin;^'', &c. Under tho ,?rco;j.'/ head we h;vve the dove- lopiunenl of ii'ie mental powern, of Avlntever kind — calcula- tion — ronsoniri;''— illustration— inia"i tuition— i)articuliir modes of thinicino-. All must bo developed, ere tlie n)ind can be cultivai'd or directed; in other words, ere it can be tniined. Under tho third head, or moral aficctions, it has been wisely remarked, that: children should be taujrht most carefully, tliose thing.s that will bo lonD r.WMPI.F. 2ff) de- this [c in If its lum- bors of tho panio, or nhotit t!io snrno nirc ; rxiiriiplo nnc] sym- tijy tli'iH b(!(;(»ijn? conjoined. Tli" PX!nM|)lf' of a ptirnit or hu- pcrinr is poucrlul ; luit ^\ll .i to ('Xiun|>l" is itddrd tlie f.yiii- pMlJiy (»f ('>iiij)iiii()iisliip, such a union is foiii:;! jfroutly nioro inlliUMJliil. Tlio buoyancy of youth Hy:!:na^!:isf:.s not with the sliiidnossof a;^-<', houfvcr j)o\verfulIy t':'.' ox;uni)lc of tho lattor ni'iy opcrati; upcn fh" tonn'T. Vet uothinir is nioio iin- portiint, ill moral triiinip'/, thin lor r. paroat or supfrintcjid- unt of a school establi.-hnicnt, to make* liinisolf on such tcriua with iiis children or pupils, as that they can uifhout fear niakn him their Ciiididau^ — unburden their minds, and tell him any litilo story or mi.ichicvous occurrence. If parents, toachers, or ollior elderly persons, Avisji to 'I'iiithoconfidenco of tho yo'uiL', tiioy nui-t themselves, j:.s it uere, Ixn-omo children — they mu.-V, ber.il and f'nviil;()ut such condescension neither parent nor teacher can a(!e,!'.irc a thorouirh kno\\le(|o-o of tho real character und disiiositions of those under tlieir charge. From tlie I'lreiroiui; observations \ve perceive that the syin- /athy of the children of several families united under an rn- liirhtened superiuteiulence, developes a j^rearer variety of dispositions, and allbrds a better and njorc fav(au'able op- portunity of trainin<^' to \irtuoU8 habits than possibly can bo accomplished sinifly and alone. Examj)le and symi)!tlhy tiicrefore oi)erate pov.orftdly in ])rodiJcin;>* evil or jr >od — e\il if children jue permuted to take their own Avny -without any Controul — p'ood, irreit i^ood, under suitable manarroment and Ruperintondonce ; " Evil comrmniications corruijt ^"-ood man- ners," says St. Paul, and we bcdieve half a do/.en Boys or Girls were met on tho street at their u.sual sj)ort.s, v ithoul avample and si/>np(t!lnj oiwviiUu^r as acontaminatmsr inl'ucncc on one or more of their number, nay, pr rh;ips on all in ono point or other, eillier as reirards nund or maniKns. Tiiis forms a ))uwerful ar^jfument for infant and Juvenile sclio(da for moral training". Pcrluips tho most powerful means, in the system of moral training- between master and pupil, I'or a cojdial sympathy is not always attainnble, Init tho mastcrH keepini^ up a certain spirit, and establishinjr ce;t::iu moral habits among his scholars, thus wiicn a child is added to tlicir number, he instantly finds himself in a nev,- region, and free from Jus old temptations — ho catches the moral atmos- phere of tho place — and by the intliiencc of sympathy, j^i'a^ dually, and imperceptibly to himself, imit:i.tes their exnmplc. People of every stage in life arc inlluenced more or less by IV i t»» I I a.'io FuncE OF HAnrr. i * I p,vinpatliy and oxnrnplo ; and llio younrrfr tl:r T,;.',?-ft of wirly luid moral training': and tliis (;auii<)t ho accompli. ;<'i under any systcMii ot'i^diication, williniU a spacious inclnscfl iilaif' frnnind, [f thcn'rori; wo di.'sirt' a systi'iii (jf moral trainin>f WKi must liavo an (irlunl dcvilopnunt oi' all tlio tUcullies and pruKnplo.s of linnian nature. '* Without fraininij, tlio child is not fittod for tlin dntios of nmro advanced lif;'. Wo must accpiiri' hahits of ohodiiMicG and (l(jcility — liihitH of Justico, truth and kindn''s^^ — Inbiti) of alicMition, porbovoraticp, and Hulf conlroul. His scllishnpsa, pride, or obstinacy, must bo chockod and ovorcome. Jhibita uro of slow u"ro\vtli, but when lormod otlcn impos.siblo to .shako off or •'•<^t rid of, especially il" formed in early life flow imi)ortant thoreforo, that mind and i)o(ly bo early Kub- jcctod to a moral trainini,' ! Moral omU must bo broujrht a- uout by moral moans, and while wo hesitiito not to recom- mend every means of traininif which can improve the intel- lect and outward habits, yet unless means art* also taken tx) alVoct the heart, by virtue of thorouiifh IJible education — un- less its biossinfj I'lom above, no exercise of tlic mind on hunrui knowleufo aluno can produce a moral ])oo- ple. — Slow\s Tntiniiii^ Si/skin^ p. 2J. " I conchule this subject by romarkinsx that there is a vast ilitferrncc between instruction and t'aininLS and that educa- tion should embrace both. Instruction means communicat- ing^ knowlodii^o : while Traininjjf implies the repetition of ccrtam modes of action in t'lo miiidand body until they havo become habits. It is a Law of our Constitution that any or- ^n, when accustomed to repeat frequently its action, ivc- (juircs additional stronirth and facility in doinfT" so, and tho tbrce and advantajios of habit arise from this law. If wo merely tell a pupil how to jwint his toes, and j)lace his feet, and what scries of movements to execute, tliis is instrnctinjf him in dancinij; but it is not traininnr jiim to tho practice of the art To accom])lish tho latter object, avo must teach hiili actively to dance, iind the more frequently we cause him tD repeat certain movements short of occasionini>- iiim fatii^ues tho more expert will he become in performin(»- thorn. In likju manner mere information concerninjT natural objects, their agencies and rchtiona is instruction; wliilc accustoming 'if IIISTOUY OK INFANT SCHOOLS. U5i chihlron to obsorvo, to discriininntp, to nrrnii<,'o, to opntatis ftiul to rc'Jisi;!! lor tlHMii:;('lv('s, is trainiiiir their iiixlorstiiiulinjra Tciicliiii;; a ('hild to r('|)(.'ut tlio |)nx'('[)ts iiiul doctriiics of the Now Ti.'stJMiioiit is iiiKtriK'tiiij; liiin in ri'litjion and iiionility; but lio is iKjt triiin.'d to rclitrion and morality until Ik; sliall have been iiccuslonied to j)ra(:ti(:c tlio>o |)rei'<'[)ts in liis diiily conduct. Tlic Scripture says Intin up a child in the way ni wliich he should r — th* Lady of Geo. R. Porter, Esq., of the Board of Trade, London —has furnished a valualde ]iapcr, (she is a Lady distiiv guished for her sound practical sense and active benevolence,) Bhowing their utility to the children of the wcailhicr clus&c*. ' ' , » '» ■'i I i*U 252 MR. ROHERT OWEN AT LANARK- Ujo infinafrnmont, of Mr. Robert Owon. It was found that when the inarriod women employed in tliiscstablislmieniliad youncf children, their attendance was very irreo-uUir, and that consequently mnch annoyance, and even loss was cx- perioi'.ced, After every other clfort to remedy the inconve- nience had failed, Mr. Ov.en projected ft plan for concen- txatin;^ the labonr of attendirj^ to nil the infmts of a certain ajre, by brino:in;r them durinij: ^-'ork lir)iir.s into one apartment, where a sino-le woman watched them at play, while the rest pursued their daily avocations. In a little ti;r.o it was found necessary to furnislt some jrenoral means of arnusement to this juvetiilo conj>Tei>'ation, and pictures were hunir upon tho walls, toys distributed, and eventually a (iddle brought into play for the purpose of settin<^ the children dancin"-. Still iiirtlier, to till up the time, the superintendant began to teach tlie alj)habet, when it was discovered there was '^uu-li less dilTerence of a|/1itude in learniu'T' the letters, in cliildren of ditferfMit afr(\'*, tiuui had been jireviously supjjosed,. A little, iind yet a little more, was taught Avith t!ie like success, till it was thought worth v. Iiile to put the whole under the ch«trgO of a male teacher, assisted by the original nurse. I\It. Bu- chanan, an individual combining many excellent qiifilifica- tions for the purpose, received this appointment, and accord- ingly was the first to practice a profession whicli seems des- tined to confer the greatest benetits upon majikind. Under his care tlie system rapidly advanced, uuicli real as well an verbal knowledge was im])arted ; exercise, both within and without doors, was duly attended to; and the chiMren seemed at once to increase in mental as well as bodily health. For moral training little was yet systematically done; kindness, truth, and honesty, in the intercourse of tiie young people, were inculcated, and as far as practicable, enforced; but the moral system, a\ liicli has since been brought into a practical form, was then but imperfectly realised." Tho Marquis of Landsdowno and Lord Brougham, and otJicrs, paid a visit to Lanark in ]81(). They inspected thero the Infant School, and struck with tho novelty of the eys- tam, became impressed with the idea that its usef ilness could bo extended to a Avider sphere. Shortly after their return to England a Society was founded for the promotion of Infant education, and a model school establislied in ToUiill-fieldF, if sys- m\d nto fant lid?. if I IinPUTATION OF WILDERSPIX. 25,3 London. Mr. Bnclianan was induced to a.ssumc its manago- mcnt. Mr. Wiklerspin, a name distinguished in the history of tlicso institutions, was persuaded by iiim to engage in tho enterprise ; and thus tlic system gained footing, and lias ex- tended, year by year, imtil it has reached its present import- anco and magnificence. Mr. Wiklerspin liimscif aided in founding 300 of these institutions in tlio United Kingdom, and saw them grow up — the fruits of liis own enthusiasm — in Continental Europe, America, and tlic Colonies of tho British Empire. In 1834, while in Scotland, I paid a visit to New Lanark for the treble purpose of seeing tlic Falls of the Clyde, tho Picture Gallery at Hamilton place, and tJie Infant School at tlio Factory. I saw at the latter, for the first time, the models, pictures, and play-ground, for Uio training of the Infant mind : and I am free to confess, that, of tlie three celebrated curi- osities I went there to inspect, none afforded me such ex- quisite enjoyment at the time, or left such deep and vivid impressions for the future, as the Infant School, where I spent three hours one forenoon, to see tlie children, taught by the rolls of pictures, of animals, plants, and otlier natural objects unfolded before them ; dance in graceful measure to tlic music of tlie fiddle ; and tlicn sport in the play-ground under tlie eye of the Mistress, who was tliere to praise the kind, check the rude, or incite the modest and retiring — and all the while coming down to their tone, and taking part in their youthful merriment. In these Colonies we have no masses of this kind, and ex- cept in the agricultural districts, our women do not need to labour. In tlie towns and villages tlicy arc confined almost 11 I i f. M t54 INFANT SCHOOLS IN THE COLONIES. Fi' il If oxcliisivrly to the pcrfonnanco of domestic duties, and can thuri exercise that nece.ssar}' earn and vigilance over their CiiJldren, wliich Infant Schools were first introduced to sup- ply. Still they ought to forui part of our system, and the principles on which they are conducted, form admirahle Ics- Boi\3 and auxiliaries to that t'uatiion at honw, which Mrs. Barbauld, and all other writers on Infant Education, estimate as being of such transcendant value, because it is tlie first nnd tliereforc the best. '* It is astonishing," says Combo, how soon a child begins to o dueervcdly distinguished. i4i 11 K>owLEnGE ACQCiRF.n IN' ciirmiioon. 255 cliap- ■aded iritruc- L' id so puffluo llio splnidid caroor of Ncv.Mon or JjnPlnco. Tho knowk'dji'o wliicli tim intniit stores up — llio ideas wliicli tiro gonrjraled in liis iniiid — an; so importanf, thai if wo could Bupposo tliciii to bo at^'.-iwards oblitr-ratod, all tho Irarninir of a senior wrani^lcr at ('anibridjTC, or a first-ciass man at Ox- ford, would be as nothiuL'" to it, and Avould literally not ena- ble its victim to proionfr his existence for n A\eok. This bo- in^- altoijether undeniable how is it tliat so much is learnt tit iliis tender ape? Not certainly by teac!linL^ nor any ])ains t:>ki'n to help tlu.^ newly arrived iruest of this world. Jt is almost all acconr^iiiflKMl by his own exertions — by the irre- pressible ciu'iosity — the thirst for knowledjje only to be ap- peased by learninti* — or by the lassitude aiul the sleep which it superinduces. It is all elVi.vted by the instructive spirit of CTKpiiry Mhich brinji's his mind into a jierpetual c(jurse of in- duction — eno-ai>intr him in a series of experiments, which be- pins wiien he aAvakens in the morninjr, and only ends Avhen ho falls asleep. All that he learns durino- those years, ho Iciirns not only without i)ain, but with an intense delip-ht — ii relish keener than any a])petite known at our jaded and list- less afje — iind learns in one-tenth of the time which in alVer life would be rcfpiired for its acquisition."' To bofvin the compulsory instruction too soon — to bind tlie Inftuit mind too early to books — to seduce fine talents to brilliant precocity, is forcin(|; the powers of nature, rearing the hot-house plant, and leads, but too often, to an early grave — to bodily decrepitude or to mental insanity. T\id work of Dr. Bridg-man " On the inllucnce ol Mental Culti- vation and Excitement on Health," w here this :-:'!i';ect is treat- ed witli masterly rkill, and the principles iUur rated by facta and examples drawn from melancholy cxpcr-cnco, ought to he read by every parent who is sensiblo ;„u tho respoiiSj^bili- tic» which God and nature have imposed upon him. Upon tliis subject he gives the following mass of facts, — they arc impressive and alarming : "M. Ratier in an essay on the physical education of Chil- droii, which was crowix'ii by tlie Uoyal Society of Bordeaux, J ' t 1 ^l w 2oG DANGER OF PRECOCITT. in J8^1, llins spnnks of early mcntiil instruction: — "The la- bour ut'tlu; mind to wliicli .^oiiic });irents siibjr^ct tiieir ciiil- dr(Mi, not only too soon, but in a wro!i(( diroction, is often the cause oi'tiipir bad lieallh, and causes nearly all those who arc distuiiruislicd by precofity of the intellectual faculties to perish j)reiuatiirely ; so that wo seldoin see u pcrfcd man f that is, one who exhibits an eriuilibriuui of the physical, men- tal and moral faculties." M. Julien, late editoi of the llevue Encyclo])edi(iue, in his largre and valuable work on Physical, Moral and Intellectual Education, remarks — "All the pai:fC3 of this Work repel the double rf^proach of wishiujr to hasten llic pronrross of the intellect, and obtriin ])reiHature success, or retard to the physical developement of children, by nefrlect- in}jf the means necessary to i)reser\e tlicir healtii. VV^e have constantly followed the principles of Tissot, Avho wished tlu't Infancy mi<;ht be consecrated to those exercises which fortify tlie i)oily rather than to mental a])j)Jication — wliicii enfeebles and destroys it." Aijain he observes, "The course to bo udojjted with (.'liildreji for the first ten yean oi'life is neither to press nor *orment them, but by plays, exercise of the bo- dy, entire liberty wisely rcfrulated, and ji^ood nourishment to cilect the salutary and proj^ressive developement of the phy- fiical, moral and iutoilecUial faculties, and by continual amusc- mcutand freedom from cha<,^rin (which injures the temper of cliildren) they will arrive at the tentli year without snspect- iii<3f that they have been made to learn auythin;i^: they havo not distiujniished between study and recreation; all they know they have learned freely, vohmtarily and always in play. The advantages obtained by this course are, ^ootl health, grace, ajj^ility, [raiety and hapjiiness, a character frank and jrenerous, a memory properly exercised, a sound judge- ment and a cultivated mind. " In a late work which holds a deservedly hifjh rank in France, entitled Medical Gynniastics, by Charles Sorido, si- milar views ore inculcated, and the true ]jhysiological rca- fions assigned; — that tlic moral and intellectual man depend upon certain organs, and the exercise of those organs deve- lopes them in accordance to a gen.'ral law, — that the more an organ is exercised, the more it is developed, and is able to execute its fimctions with more facility. Thus habit, cdu(>ation, and other like causes do not change the moral and intellectual character, -without acting on the ])l!ysical man; by cha)icfinf]r the action of organs, repulsing some and increas- ing others." VI EFFECT OF EARLY STUDT. 'ir* nl{ in , si- rca- )end eve- iiioro able labit, A and man ; ;rcas- Profcssor Iirous?ai.«, a man of jrroat l(';:rnino" and ^oniii'«, and onn of t!io ni()>t di-slhif^uishcd jihysioian-s of Uk; nrcscut acT(>, thus alkulcs) to lliis subjoct, " Intollectual l::I)()urH i^iva rise in oarly life to ciTvcts corresponding ^\\\h tlio actual stnte of tlio individual coastiluLion. Thub liu! brain, ihv 'th of wliicli i.s not complete, acquires by the exorcise of tlidU'jrht an extraordinary cncijry and volume. The mora] faculties become truly prodigi on?!; but tliis advantai^e is sully coun- terbalanced by central inllanunation;^ which give ri.'(^ to hy- drocephalu.-;, ajid by a lanquor in the rest of the boiy, tiie tlt^ velopement of which remains imperfect." "It is easy to conceive what a number of evils rne.'-t result from a kind oi' fil'.' ^:(» liule in hanivjuy witii tii.; wants of youth, houce we rarely see all tho.so prodigies of p-'imuture intellectual education prosperinir. If encej*hatiles does Jiot carry them oiT, t!u'y infalliMy j)eri.-li Avilh gaslulcs or scro- fula ; mo;5t gen-iTaly all ih'?M} cviLs oppress Lhem at once, and if they do not sink under them in infancy they cany along wiLh them in i.iituro age an irritability whi<-h (hjos not allow of their resi-ling \.ho. mortific inlluences — in tJie Tfiiitst of wiiicli man i.s nrce.warily forced to live; tlnsy are peon U) decay and die in thf; prime; of Itfe, if they are not desti-(>yed, in spite of all till.' ellitris of the arts by th-^ lirst vio'enl ii»- Ham')i;ition tli'U. attacirs them, ^yimil.ir opinions have been incnlcat.ed in i'>,gl ind by some of the mo;-t dii'tinguislied medical men of tiiat country, and particidarly by tiic cele- brated Dr. Jamc.i .Tohnson in several of his valuable nnfl in- teresting v.-orics. I ought however \) remark that the Tre;<- tis9 of Locke on Education has had in fhigl^ifd great intln- cncc, :iid undoubtedly has done much injury by teaching the impoitance of "reasoning wilh children at a very early age."' The practice lias no doubt been carried much beyond what ho intended: and its injurious eflects arc of late oilen allud- ed to. Writers on mental alienation state that early and frequent attempts to rmsoji witii children, increase if they do not c/eate a predisposition to insanity, and their inability \\?.)^ been satisfuctoriiy and abundantly shewn by several writers, I 3 il, * Treatise on Vliyi^lology applied to Pathofogjr J ; » H 958 EDUCATION FROM TOYB AND PICTURES. i I 1 t 1 ■.■; ? - I ji !l ■ i ■ \ and particularly by Rous3oau, in his Emile or Treatise on U'^ucalion, a work cxccc(liiios from tliistles, or figs from tliorns, as to devclopo moral purity aud siiMi)licity of charac- ter in tliem. It is in vain to argue thut because the infant intellect is feeble, it cannot detect the inconsistency which we practise." Exhibit to the child then no jjraclicc wJiich is not favour- able to morality and upright conduct JSubduc every cnaLt passion; exercise the kindly aflt'Ction.-' ; be firm, but just, be- fore and too them ; expose the::i to no scene of vice or of vio- lence ; let no oath or vicious sentiment strike tiicir oar; and tlie best basis will be laid for building up the future christian and the man, to virtue, integrity, and intellectual resoluti- on. The danger again of allowing nursery tales to be told conveying images of terror ; and of enkindling tlie Irars, aud agitating the nervous system of tlic child, "by ghostly tales and spectres grim," — by prints of battles and mmders — hu'i been argued against since tiie days of the Spectator. One stri- king example of its dangerous consequences luis been lately unfolded to the world. T.',.^l;ite Sir S. Romilly — a great and good man, — -.vho reached t 'le lilgliest honors if the Bar and of the Senate—whose public life and exertions were rer ulatnd by tlie purest pRnciples of philaiitliiopy — i/ho hcis built himself a II ■'■f i '( 200 EFFECTS OF NURTEB^ TALES. monument of fame by his improvement of the code of Knf»'liKh Criminal Law — who was kind, amiable, and honurablo, in all tlio relations of social life — was a perfect martyr to fuiperstiti- oiis terrors, and had often hia happiness destroyed by nervous irritability. IJis friend.), and he himself, attributed tiiis totho frif^litful tales, with wliich his nurse was Avont to amuse his infant liouns. They otlen haunted liim in after life. He lost his wife when forty-nine years of agn, and v.hilo in the full blush of his fame — committed suicide, and ru.-hcd before tho face of an oflondcd Maker. Let Mothers pause upon, and bo warned by, this instructive example, and guide tho nurse in tlio conversation to be held with their children. Tho follov.'in^ extract is from r.h auto-biooraphy contain- ed in his life lately publisiied and edited by hia sons : — "In my earliest infancy, my ima«Tination was alarmed, and my fears awakonod by ttorics of devils, witchea and apjiari- tions, and they had a much ijreater effect on mo Ihan is even usual with (J^liildrcn ; at Ica.st 1 judf;e fo from their effect bo- injx of more than usual duration. The imane;} of terror with which those talcs abound infested my iitioninntion lonjr alter I had lost all boliof in tlie tales tliemsolvcs, and in the no- lions in w'licli tlioy are built; and even now ! (in his Ibrtieth year) altho' I have boon acf-nstomed for many years to pass my cvenin,fTs and nl;i-hts in solitude and without even a ser- vant slcepinfj in my chiuabcr, I nmst with some shame, con- less tJiat Ihov are soir.ctimrs verv unwelcome intruders uoon my tliouo-hti;;'— Vol. 1, p. 10, IL' A^in: - " A dreadful impression was made on mo by relations of mtirders and acts of cruelty. The prinls wiiich I ibund in tlie lives of the Martyrs and the Newji^ate Callendar havo co3t me many sleepless nights. My dreams too were dis- turbed by the hideous images which haunted my imagination by day. I thouglit myself present at exoculions, murders and scenes of blood ; and I have oilen laid in bed agitated by my terrors Equally alraid of rc'Tiuinin^ av/alie in the darli, If! I '^ TEACniNO BT PICTCRKS. 2G1 unci of r.illinrr ;i?]opp to encounter the lion*ors of iny droama. Otk'ii liivi? i ill my c\oniii, with thn lit iiosl t'crvu'.ir, to imiU'it jiic t()j);iad tlie i;i;^l.t in:dib- tufbod l)y horrid drciuiiri. — I'ajn; 1'2." Need iiuythiu;,' more be added to prove not t!io inexpedi- ency, but the jiositivc critninalily, of siilurin<]f stich tiilc:; to bo repeated, :ind such pictures V> be cxijorfcd lo the infant ear and eye. A nice and sensitive doscriniination is rey (ico. 1j03i«v," It illus- trates these views with jiTeat force aid fi'licity, and will af- ford practical instruction to cvry parcut wiio di-diri'S to cdu- cato their chiKinn wliile infants — and while the eye is the main source of knowledge — upon principles of sound and Christian philanthropy. y ll'» ) 991 INF\NT BCIIOOr, HOOKS. '4 i '■ fl longer lesson in tho Biblo — ihis ay.;tom is now happily cx- ploilc;!, and it i^ ndinittcrl, l)y Mni\r«rsal consent, that no- thin;' couM bo so adroitly coiUrlvcd to create a di -taste for instruction, or for thn siihlinio and ho.mtiiul truth.-} ol* cdijrion. The system of Infant Triiinin;; littod for these C 'Ionics can yet bo derived only from books — it is unknown to lb; o classes tortile bonofit of whose ofisprin^ it has been mainly introduced. I do not hesitate to recommend tiiat in the principal Citicp, and in every Viliag'c wiili a i)opnlation suffirioi tly numeroua conc^re^Tatpd in one spot, nn Inf uit School, conducted on the mo-it improved principl'"!s', — witii its pictun^, models, play- ;:rround and Irainlno; of nior ilily and virtue — should be placed, in order that tlio Children of the Poor .should bo taught, and the home cdui ation in the ricli man's house be carnod, to iu* higho.jt point of practical perfection. To go into the details further w.uld require a volume; and I content myself tliero- foro by refjrrin » to the work? ccnlained in tlie Note* bo- noath, as g-uido-i to the introdiicliun of a general system. ''List rf Hooks on tb'^ Tnfint. Sv:;tr'm of Kdiiontion — Wlldnr- ppin's '' Infant, Hysttiu" — \V''ldi'rs;)iu'.s " E.irly T)iscn)lini'" — i5'fOjh-(ri' k'.-;u)ns f!l — fViIlinor's " Inf'i?it iSoho!il Asssislant" — Stow's '• Infint Tniinin'r" — " T'lf Cliild's .Ma's Ii>tant. School Rliyin^s— Tlii^ TJook orTradivs— The Klde Fhilosophrr — Footstep '. to Natnral History — Moth(>r'i; Assistant, or Ques- tions in Arilliuietic — Daily Ilicord of l')uties, Organic, Moral, Reiig-ious and Ind'Hectnal — Dr. Mayo's Lesi-sons on Obj»'cta — Abbott's "Teacher" — Orvil Taylor's "Distriet School" (New York) — Simpson's "Necessity of Popular Education as a National Object" — Report of tiio Pariiajnentary Comiuittee Oil Drunknnoiss, piiatcd in a cheap furiu. LECTURE IX. bo- on the Pfi1>llc Sprnklnjc; of Ancient nn»1 Bfoilf m TMine«— Th«-ii- (llHtiui-tiv<' tliai-actt'rlHdc* uii«l iisc«— Labour anti KtuUy rsHuutial to cxccllriice iii Oratfiry. I of, on the ProgTCBs f»f ul iiiitids Ihf f^lory «»f • a;r(>s — SlmkoKpcaro, iJinicl Wchstfr'a d«!- PoWPr of Iian?»Mn.70, uses of, ami' Mind ;iiiil Social [iiiprovciiu'iit their era, and an inheritance to fii Bacon, Stott — lihxincnoc ddmi Hcription (if it — Reciprocal influence httwecn the speaker and the andiencc — DitFerent styles of Kloquence reqiiirec* at (iitrerent times, and on tlitlirent oceasioiid — Etfert of s^k cial syin|):itliy — Finest specimens of Kloruienee prodnc«'d in Btirrinir times — History of Kloquence — Specimens of, ainon(|[ North American Indians— Ancient I'-hxiiience — Age of Dc- rnostheiies — Clnractcr of the Atlu-nians — Lf»rd HroufjIiain'M IJissertitioa — Kl.ihoriite Preparations made by Ancient Ora- tors — Cause of their excellence — Aijfe of Cicero — CharacU'r of the Romans— Tiic Ciovemments of (Jreecr and Rotni' favourable i'.i those aj^es to im|»rove the talents and bkill of the Orator— Tlie hiL'iiest honors and influenco of the State attained by him — Public speaking then the only mode of obtaining inti Uectual distinction— No Press, ReviewB, nor Newspapers— Study of oral communication in the Eaat — liuckinghani's Lectures — Hints fur Improvi-nient — Inaugu- ral address to the students of (ilasgow Cojlejn' — Kloquenct' of the Bible— Testimony in favour of, by CharlcB Butler and C/ainbraj' on Eloquene.c. lillS subject has been sclcclccl with a due apprwiatioii fit" tlic responsibility it entails. U is one of peril and difficulty to any Lecturer — for in referring to Uic golden ages of the mind, and to the noblest and polished passages of tlie great masters of eloquence in ancient and modem times, hie lati- I r 1 M IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) /. 1.0 :siM iiM I.I 1.25 •^ i^ 12.2 Se, I^ I 40 2.0 iiiiiM JA 111.6 ^^ V ^3 '># > W <^fe ^'V ^#^'V Photographic Sciences Corporation JV ^ #^ ^<^ V \ :\ C^ >> 23 WbST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 % V 'ib^ ? &:»/ r/i a;4 rOVrER AND USE OF LANGUAGE. i t \\ I apia^'o anu force of illustration must siiffcM* from contrasL — "Tho brilliant li'^hts in tlio hoiiiisijhcro above will reflect on the dark world below." I'ut personal considenitions oftliia kind on.i-'it not to weiijix with us here. We brinrr our offer- ini^'.s to a ble.-.^cd altar. Tt is om* duty, however moderate or even inadccjunte our powers may bo to the tasli, to cornmu- iji<*.ate iinowled'^G upon those subjects, whether of science, or philoHojjhy, or letters, upon which we have spent the vigils of u pa-st lif(i — over v/hich wo can shod the " li..';iits" of ob- servation and experience, — or to v.hicli we cim brinjjf tho fniits of a lon«r, if not successful, study. Tlii.s enquiry is one w]i;cli has long been familiar to me ; and in brin^in;^ boforo you the conclusions to v/liich I and olhcrs have come, and the cvidcuco upon wiiich they arc founded, I trust I rtJiall be able to correct some general and crronoouj impres- sions, and prove the importance, in a novel and important lirdit, of the discussion of such subjects. In this utilitarian i\gQ we all subscribe to the princi})lo that theory and specu- lation are entitled to little respect, unless tlicy have a prac- tical and useful end. The powers of language — of transferring ideas by the moans of abstract sounds — (iiow mysterious this re-action of mind upon matter!) — of making the music of tiie voice con- vejy abroad and to those around us — tho world of tlioughta wiiicii crowd upon the human mind, — is that peculiar and ivod-like gifl Avhich distinguishes man above tho lower aiii- nrala. Tiie latter, it is true, have their own symbols of ut- to.rancc for their appetites and passions. The lion has its rwar, tiie horse its neigh, tlie dog its bark, and tlio bird its aoug ; tliey can communicate tliua to each otiicr their wants ^^^«1^1 mym. MIND nLEMJED WITH BIATTEU. 265 and aympathios ; but to this limit tlioir iriLcrcouisc is confined the cxporience and knowledge acquired by one, which at best is little superior to tlicir range of instinct, is conljned to, and dwii with, the individual ; wiiilo man, gifted wilii higher powerrf, and lii'Lcd nearer to that " Divine E;risencc,'' of which the mind is an emanation, can instruct, please, and animato Ilia kindred ; transmit hU experience and acquirementa to Kflcrages by the slender and fading thread of tradition; and now, by the invention of letters and the press, Aviiich give a visible form and perpetuity to language, the diacoveries of cfvory great intellect — the ideas it creator, and the languagt) in which they arc clotlied — become Uie property, the eigoy- ment, and tiio inheritance of mankind. The producljg of mind, so blended with matter, is made conmiunicative. Sci- ence adds to science, knov/ ledge to knoAv ledge ; man is ever progressiyc, pressing forn'ard to some higher and imagined excellence ; elevating here, in short, his own divine nature ; and preparing hiniselt better for that immortality, and Uiat ■wider and nobler range of contemplation, which, in an after etato of existence, is expected to burst upon him. Wc speak of the pleasures of society, and of the exquisite enjoyments which are derived fromtlie exercii;e of the social ttSections. What is tlie chami whicii gathcri: us here ? Wo come voluntarily, we are a multitude — and yet wo are bound together by a kinder and mutual tie. Hand may bo pressed to hand — eye may turn to eye — glances may be exchanged ff liich animate and tlirill — the deaf and tlic dumb even may be sensible to these impressions and respond to tliem ; bul how little do these compare with the thousand other exqiit- tito Bousations, which can be conveyed by the tonguo jjiv- U i 1 ' i, i *' i i ' S66 A CHEAT MIND LEADS THE MILLIO?f. ir I % ing audible, and if I can use the expression, tangible, but certainly intelligent existence and form, — social creation and communicative force — to the knowledge, the imaginings and judgments of a single mind. The researches and produc- tions of one come thus — in an instant and as if by miracle— to be extended and transferred to a thousand ; the speaker, in fact, for a time lives within each of you ; and thus the so- ber and solitary labours of the student, the facts gleaned in exhausting study, the ideas nursed in cold and cheerless ab- straction, and the thoughts collated and refined by the curi- ous chemistry of the mind, come to vivify, improve, and fas- cinate, not a circle,* but a world. Homer awakened song in Greece, and has taught every subsequent age to admiro the chastened majesty of the epic — Demosthenes, in arous- ing Athens, has left his specimens of oratory as examples for future times, — Galileo gave to the range of the telescope or.- der and extension, and has opened a pathway which has iince led to a tliousand brilliant discoveries, — Bacon, Shaks- peare, and Scott, were each the wonder of their age ; and in *Siuco v.-riting this passage, I found the same idea thus beautirrily expandod : — " A superior and commanding human intellect, a truly great man, where heaven vouchsafes so rare a gift, is not a temporary flame, bright for a time and then expiring, giving place to retiring darkness. It is rather a spark of fervent lieat, as well as radiant light, with power to enkindle the common mass of human mind ; so that when it glimmers, in its own decay, and finally goes out in dcath^ we might follow— but it leaves the world all light, all on fire, from the potent contact of its own spirit. Bacon died ; but the liuman understan'l'ng roused by the touch of his miracu- lous wand, to a )• ;rcep ion of the true philosophy, and the just mode of ac.juiring r has kept on its course success- fully and gloriously. N n died ; yet the courses of the •pheres are still known, and they yet move on in the orbits which he saw and discovered for them in the infinity pt space." — IVebster's Speech Sy vol. 1, p. 72. ■ S I EFFECT OF THE PllESS. «5t their difFerent spheres have left invaluable inheritances to li- terature. None of tlin30 have lived only for themselves or for their country. Their knowledge and productions have been left to adorn and vivify tlie ^rcat and catliolic histo- ry of letters, — and hence it may bo said that a gifted mind in literature, lii^e a lustrous star, renders brilliant to itself not only the narrow orbit in which it moves, but freed from the laws of the pliysical world — can move, as it were, out of its own body, traverse illimitable space, sur\'ey the univcrso witli its systems of worlds, — people each of them with mil- lions — pierce, with presumptuous gaze, the throne and sanc- tuary of tlie Most High ; — and then come back totJic fireside, the forum, or the Institute, reveal in words its own bright course and revelations to others, or by tlie use of the pen and the press, record them upon a physical, tangi])lc, and endu- ring tablet. Arc not those mighty achievements ? Is not the improvement cf a ppir.'t such as this worthy of us all ? — Have you, as tho momlcrs cf one general system, no power over tho destinies of the Colonial mind ? It will bo my ob- ject, in following out tills inquiry, to show you the influence you possess, and ought to exercise, in advancing the gene- ral intelligence. Passing from these observations, for what purpose it may he first enquired, was tliis power of utterance and of lan- guage conferred upon man ; and second, in what docs elo- quence consist ? Let me answer tliese enquiries succintly. To the Jirst — Language was no doubt intended to be the vehicle of thought ; and to be the means of binding tlic great human family into one social connexion. To tlie 56C07ia— There may bo eloquence at the domestic ^ «, «w 2C8 WHAT ELOQUErrCE IS. [; f ' i hearth, as well as in the Senate — in tli:i sinij)Ic lessons of piety and virtue dclivorctl by the parent to his childrnn, as in (Jjo elaborate and finished spooch of the Advocate — in tha eonnoni of the C'lristian p'lstor to his flocic, a.-5 well as in the orations of the Statesman, wlio f^peak.s to an as:?einblcd nation.* In every phase of our intercourse with each oUier, doijiKmco rnay be employed. Its olfi :e is to transfer thou<:fht by vivid pictures, — to teach well, — to persuade cficctually, — to animate to action. SomO po.-?.so.'?.3 one of iti attributes — not all. There are men who are powerful to convoy f ict3 and jTcneral principles — to transfer their own i!nj)rc33ions to others, — this is the oloqucnco of the school men and pro- fessors. Another class aro eloquent to convince, — they are the Lonricians. They think clearly ; and can deliver their tliought.^ in loirical order, and in appropri-sto and luminous lan^ruiijro. They speak only to th 3 undcrsCanding — to tliis tlieir dominion is confined — they have not reached the heart or touched the feelin,'^s. Neither of tJiese however exhibit m-atory or eloquence, in its highest and subliinest sense.f — The perfect orator is he who can icach and can ptrsuadey and unites to tlieso the rare and mighty power of exciting — ani- mating and leading on! lie addresses hinisclf to the judg"- •Ho who spoaks or writes in snob a m-annor as to adapt all hia words most oti'octually to the e!\d ho has in view, is the moat oloquout man. Whatever tiicn the suliject be, there Is room for cloquonce ; hi history, and even in pbilosophy, aa woll as in orations. — Blair's Lectures on lllu'toric, vol. 1, p. 4G0. tBLiir in his Lectures on Rhetoric and I3o]los3 Lettres di- vides eloqaiMico into thvoo kim' ^ or doo^roes. See vol. 1, p. 4(52. Sol; tho dii-tinotion between tlie groat or sublime, tiio common or the simple, and tlie mediate or ornate, in Dell's edition of Rollins' Arts and Sciences, page 364. WEESTEU's DESCRIPTIOJ* OF ELOQUKNCE. as y, M 1, p. ?s di- 1, p. , tbo mont anJ to tho lioart — lio enforces conviction and thon en- kindled tiio pii-usion-j, and tluu contruul^ and impels tlie mind of hia aiidionce by a magical and mysterious inlluoncc. — Every sound ia luushcd — breath even secm:^ suspended, and Dotliinnf i,j hcnrd save the varied nndtcUin:^ intonations of his voice. ]]xtraneou5J thoughts are suspended by the rush, tiie {jrandcur, and moral force of his own, as ha niarslials them forth and illustrates them ; and for a time he occupioj the pioud Bituation of being the " cc^ntre point," of niiich t!ie general in- telligence acknowledges the supremacy, and to tlic power tif which it i:3 .subservient. The finest description of cifxpienctt 1 have ever read is to be found in tiic eulogy written by'Mr. Webster, on the death of the late Preaidcnt Adarns. It is a master-piece of Englit-h composition: " Tho eloquence of Mr. Adam;? resembled hii gcnrral rh".- racter, and formed, indeed, a part of it. it was bold, mniily, and energetic ; ami suf^h the crisis required. When public bodio3 are to be addressed on momentous occasions, when great interests are at stake, and strong passions excited, no- thing is valuable in speech, further th:in it is connected witli high intellectual and moral endo^^-mont^. (''le;iru'\-'s, forcG and earnestness are tho qualities v/iiich produce conviction. True eloquence, indeed, does not consist in speech. It can- not be brought from afar. Labour and learning may toil for it, but they will toil in vain. Words and phrases m:iy he marsiialU'd m every w:iy, but they ca!m')t compass it. It must exist in the man, in the subject Dud in tho occasion. — Aflected pa;:-3ion, intense expression, the pomp of declama- tion, all mny asjiire after after it — they cnnnot reach it It comes, if it comes at all, like the outbreaking of a Ibuntain from tlio eartli, or the bur.'ting fortli ^f volcanic lire, with sp; th.o schools, the costlv oi )ntanooiis, original, nntivo force. The gr:icps tauglit in the studied contrivances of speech, shock and dijgus naments, men. when their own lives, and the fate of their wives, and children, and their country, Inng on the declrion of tlu; hour. Then words hnve lost their power, rhetoric is vain, and all elaborate oratory ccnteinpt- „^ ', I 270 GREAT EVENTS DEVELOPE ) iblc. Even {renins itsolf then fiiols rcbnkcd, ond subdued, rs in the prosonco of hijjiier (jualilies. Then patriotism in eloquent; tlion self-devotion is eloquent. The clear con- ception, out-runninjr the deductions of Logic, the high pur- pose, tlio tinn resolve, the diiuntless sjiirit, speaking on tho tongue, beaming from the eye, informing every feature, and urging the whole man onward, right onward to his object — this, this is eloquence, or, ratiier, it is something greater and higher tluin all eloquence — it is action, noble, sublime, god-like action." It is notwitliin the scope of this lecture to describe, with the precision of an elocutionist, tho diflerent styles of public speaking, and the characteristics which distinguish them* — These may form an appropriate suLjact for some subsequent occasion; but in drawing those broad lines of distinction which are known by students to exist between the ancient and modern schools of Oratory, it is of importance to settle this principle — that both the audience and the subject — tlio occasion and tlie prize — the crisis and the mighty events it embraces — arc admitted to exercise a wonderful, and eknost mysterious influence upon human powers. This is founded unquestionably upon the strength and action of the social relations — upon the amlntion which is wisely implanted in the human heart, of earning the admiration or seeking tho love of our species, — of playing a prominent part on the ac- tive theatre of life, — of exercising a useful influence upon the freedom or destinies, not of our own circle only, but of a nation ; and hence it will be found tliat the reputation of all ^roat orators has been won in those stirring times when iBomo great public emergency had occurred, and the mind, witli that boundless elasticity which seems inlierent to its nature, rises as if inspired, shakes off the langour which before had restrained it, casts away the coil of every-day life, and CHEAT INTELLECTUAL POWERS. 271 exhibits a force and genius often till then unknown even to its possessor. Providence, it is said, tempers tlio wind to tlic shorn lamb ; " as the day, so shall their sti-ength be ;" and in tlic mysteries of its decrees, the mind, when called upon — when involved in the battle of desperate and cK^shing events — may be endowed with fresher gifts, and acquire fitter adaptations, to work out tlic mighty work for which it has been designed. The battle for civil and religious rights has often deve- loped, and even fortified a mind, which in calmer times tvould have perished in obscurity, and left no reliqucs of it« power. Mr. Edward Everett, whose fame, as before stated, ha a classic and an author, stands so deservedly high, thus speaks of the influence of great events in hastening the development of high powers : " Our country, (America) is practical ; but tliis is the elc ment for intellectual action, No strongly marked and high- toned literature, poetry, eloquenxe, or ethics, ever appear- ed but in the pressure, the din, the crowd of great interests, great enterprises, and perilous risks, and rewards. States- men and warriors, and poets, and Orators, and Artists, stand up under one and the sumo excitement They are all branches of the same stock. They form, and cheer, and etimulate ; and Avhat is worth all the rest, understand each otlior ; and it is as truly the sentiment of the stuuont in tlio recesses of his cell, as of the soldier in tlie r -'.'.a, which breathes in the exclamation ; *' To all the sons of sense proclaim, One glorious hour of crotcded life Is worth an age without a name." But apart from all speculation of a doubtful character, I refer to the experience of every man who is in the habit of addressing an audience, and of that audience who heart i l'' ^\ m 272 DIFFERENT STYLES OF SPFAKINa bim, thnt thoro aro limos and eoasons and subjects in and on which tho a.uno individual can speak with jfrealcr porsj»icuit,y, foroo and aniinalinn, llian at othcn^. Kvrry man, skilled in tJi« art, will practice it best v/lif), n:rgcttin;^ himself, the wnrtJibsa and iflfnoblo vanity of di.qjlay — casts his thour^lits into tJio hearts and upon Ihc fcclirg^ of liia auditn;y, — and cndeavoii to ni'il:o every word, arii^uniont, and niclophor, tell upon tlicin. lie looks to the end, and goes onward ! A dij,aiitary of Uig church, when addrcssin;^' the Ecnch of Eishops, Avuuld purwuc a very difl'orcnt order of speaking Uian when he spoke oidy to a vestry. A politician would ossuuio a rougiicr and bolder Btylo of eloquence at tlio Ilublings, than if lie trembled under tJie austere and poliiihcd ju(lorfoct niodel.s of the arts, and with a form of Cio- vornmnnt which rendered them curious and recondite in \>u\i- lie affairs. All the circumstances hy which tliey were t:ur- roiindcd were lavourahlc to sagacitv and even rcfniemont of iiiiiid. Their .statues, their temples, tlieir olymjuads, their public assemblies, subjected tliem daily to an education of an intellectual and refining kind. But there were other cuu- 80S which operated upon the speakers of that ago. " The orator of old way the rurliamentury * debater, the ■ Those extracts are drawn from Lord Uroughain's " Dis. sertalion on the elociui'iice of tlic Ancients," — a work in wii.cii ihi' whole suhject is elaborately reviewed. Lc)rd IJroufrluuna speeches, vol. 4, p. liTI) For the general characti'rislies ol l.he Greek orators, see Bell':; edition of Ilolliu's Artsnnd yd- «'nces, p. '.\{j'2. Hume's Essays, vol. 1, p. 100. JJlair's Lec- tures on Grecian Elocpienoe, vol. 1, p. 4.V,>, from which liie Ibllowing pass!'.ge is drawn; — " Of those Grecian repuldics, the most noted, by far, for eloquence, and indeed for arts of every kind, was that of Atliens; the Atiienians were an insre- jiiou;^, quick, sprightly people ; practised in businorf^, and sliarpened by frequent and sudden revolution.*, which iuip- pened in their Governments. The ^renins of their Goveru- ment was altogether democratical ; llieir legislature consisted of llie whole l)ody of the people. They had, indeed, a Senate of rive hundred, but in the general convention of the citizens was placed the last resort; and alfairs were conducted there, tMitirely, by reasoning, speakincr, and a skilful application to h'? passions and interests of a popular assembly. There lawt • dre made, peace and war decreed, and thence the magis- trates were chosen. For the highest honors of the State were alike open to all ; nor was the meanest tradesman excluded from a seat in their supreme courts. In euch a state elo- quence, it is obvious, would be much studied, as the surest mpana of rising to influence and power, and what sort of elo- (juence ? not that which was brilliant merely and sliowy, but tiiat which was found upon trial, to be mo.?t etfectual forcou- i I 1 4 >. 4.1 1 J » I '> 1 i 1 ) 1 i y i\ r it tt III Vii TKAI.MNO FOR ORATORS. speaker ot public mcetinfrg, the preacher, tlic nov,-.?popcr, the publislied sermon, the piunphlct, the volume, all in one, WIk.'u lie was to speak, Greece flocked to Athens, and hi3 address was the object of anxious expectation for months b(2- Hjie, and the subjoct of warm connncnt for months alter the display of his powers." * « * * * ^• '• Nor is it cnoufjii to say that the rostnmi of old monopo- lized in itself all the functions of the press, the senate, the school, and the pulpit also in our days. It was a rival to the .stao-e also. The people, fond as tliey were of theatrical ex- hibitions, from having no other intellectual entcrtainmcTit, wore really as nuich interested in oratorical disphiys as sources of recreation, Tliey regarded them not merely witli the interest of citizens hearing State affairs discussjcc!, in which they took a deep concern, and on Avhich tJicy wcro called to give an opinion; but as auditors and spectators at a dramatic performance, by which they were to be moved and pleased, and on which they were to exercise their criti- cal faculties, ripened by experience, and sharpened by the frequent contemplation of the purest models." Tliat the orators of Greece felt the sharpness of the ordeal through which they were to pass, and prepared for a public oration with all tlio study and care necessary to produce *dra- vincing, interesting, and persuading the hearers. For there, jmblic speaking was not a mere competition for empty af>- jilause, but a serious contention for that public leading, which was the great object both of the men of ambition, and the men of virtue." *In forming our estimate of some specimens of ancient elo- quence, the following distinction is to be attended to : — In the cause of Milo, Cicero spoke to 51 Judiccs selcctl, and so had the advantage of addressing his whole pleading not to one or a few learned judges of the law, as is the case with us, but to an assembly of Roman citizens. Hence all those arts of po- pular eloquence, which we find the Roman orator so frequent- ly employing, and probably with much success. Hence tears and commiseration are so often made use of, as the instru- ments of gaining a cause. Hence certain practices which would be thought theatrical among us, were common at the Roman bar ; such as introducing not only the accused person dressed in deep mourning, but presenting to the judge his fa- .'uily and his young children, endeavouring to move him by their cries and tears." 't : 1 I 1 1 il lere, fa- PKEPARATION FOR ORATORS. •j7: matic cuect, cannot bo doubted from the evidence which has como down to us. They had schools in the first place sole- ly for the training of public orators. Action and intonation were each practised as an art. The patience Avith which Dcmosthoiics* himself lal)oured, to cure his natural defoct^s — the ])ebble.s ho placed in his mouth while he addressed t!io waves in the TEffean Gulf, and the sword hun':' over liis siioulder, are recorded as proofs of his zeal to in^prove, rind his determination to excel. The principal actors of Greece tiupflit their art to others — for SocratC:', laeseus, and T)oi;, ts- tliones iiimself acted as teachei-s to those who wiahed to <'ui- tivate forensic talent. "In the |)reparai.ion of their orations they expended a de- gree of labour, not equalled by the public sp;ea!:f\-«5 of liv;- fiorn time.:. To improve his ytylo, Deino:;thencs, it is saul, copied with his own iionds the liistory of Tluicyiiides no less tlian eii^ht times. Cicero transcribed with 0(|uai care the bc-it authors wlio had preceded hiiu. indepr'ndout oi'tho trainin:"!- to which ho had subjected hnnself while a ycunr *'Soo Blair's Lccturo?, vol. 1, p. 476. Tho following is flii^ passage rofcrrcd to : — •' 1 shall not spend anytime r.pon t;;o circuiiU^tanccs of Deniosthenrrs't; lif(" ; ihoy are well known The strouo- ambition which lie discovered to excel in iiie nrf of sponkint;; — the unsuccessfulness of his first attetnpt.s — liis unw'e;i,ried persevcirancc in surmounting- all the disadv;!nt;i;;(>« tliat arose fi"jin his per;-on and address — Ins shuttiiu;" liimsfd.'" up in a cave that ho ml;rl)t etudy witli h^ss distraction — hi.-; decliiiiniii'j; by tlie .sea shore, that ho minfht accustom himsell' to the noise of a tumultuous assi^nddy, and with pebbles in ius mouth that ho miirht correct a defect in his speech — his prac- tising at home with a naked sword hung over liis siioulder, that lie rnio-ht clieck an ungraceful motion, to which he was Bubject — all thosv ' "cumstances which wo learn from Tiu- tarch are verj'' encoura^/mg to such as study eloquence, as they shew how far art and application may avail, for acquir- ing an excellence whieii nature seemed unwilling to grant us." See also BrouglKun's Dissertation on the eloquence of the Ancients, vol.4, p. A'Jl. ■ • I f'i It- J t . RPPB^i 278 WHY ORATORY WAS CULTIVATED man, ho went at an advanced ago to the school of Moio, a Grock orator, who liad visited Rome: lie visited (ircoco it- self expressly to study its divine masters ; and while in full practice at tlio bar, he continu(*d in the habit of de'-lainiinj^ upon supposed questions, and it is known he studied deli- livery under Roscius and iEsopus — two actors, tlie former in comedy, the latter in tragedy." Again, nothing can surpass the exquisite stylo and the po- lish of these orations. "Tho structure of the sentences, the balanced period, tlio apt and perfect antithesis, the neat and cpigramatic turn, tlie finished collocation, all indicate," says a modern author, " an extreme elaboration, Avhich could iiardlv have been the suggestion of the moment." Some of these orations are known to have cost montlis of previous preparation. Passages have been rc-writtcn, so as to re- construct, polish, and improve. Their metaphors, style, and even single expression^', were reformed ; and speeclies, botli oftlie Grecian and Roman orators, have descended to us ready to be delivered, but Avhich were never spoken — v.ith allusions to the scone and audience, — proving, beyond all doubt, that they were in the habit of arranging their thoughts, and oven clothing them in language, before they subjected thorn to that critical audience by whom tlieir merits were to bo scanned and decided upon. If wo add to this diligence of preparation their lofdness of motive — the state of Greece when Demosthenes occupiofi the rostrum, — Philip threatening to destroy the liberties of these ancient Republics ; and the events which agitated the Roman empire when Cicero spoke to the senate and to the peo- ple* — Cataline's conspiracy, Coesar and Pompey struggling *For tho character of the Roman people, and a graphic sketch of the comparative merits of these two extraordinary III 1 IN GREECE AND ROME. ■27; > for power ; — the grandeur of tho sw1)jocts wliicli inspired them, and the rich prizes which followed success — a reputation raid influence founded upon national esteem, and won by th.o triumphs oi the intellect — it is less subject of wonder that oratory sliould tlien have reached her loftiest (ligiit : and conferred upon two of her dis^ciples an eloquence \vliich is saifl to have equalled tliat cf the Gods — for these causes were well fitted to produce magnificent effects! In investigating the causes which led, in ancient times, to this excellency in public speaking, it must ever bo pre- eminently kept in viov/, that it was the only mode, and t.ho only gifl, which could then confer popular distinction upon literary men — there was no press, no newspaper, no maga- zine, to send abroad the products of the mind — to let them work tiieir own silent influence — and bring back the golden and inestimable fruits of public esteem and personal influ- ence. The poem, however beautifully woven, — the treatise mok j)iace, but this patriotic deed, instead of gaining for lum tiio esteom and admiration of the jiopuiacc, who had so lar^re- \y bonctitted by his labours, excited tlieir envy and tjicir lil- will, so that he a second time left his native land, and tlicn visited Greece. It was Uierc at tlio great festival of the Olympic Gamc3, about oOO years beibre tljo Christian crd. bciuo- then in tho fortieth year of his aijc, that lie stood up ai'aonL,f tlic assembled myriads of the most, intelL i tual audi- tors of the anrient world, to narrate, in oral disco irsof?, drawn frtMu the recollection of his personal travels, the subject-mat- ter of iiis interestinsf history, and description of the coufitnes of t.liO East ; and sucii was its ciTect upon tlic f^encrous hearts and brilliant intellects of his accomplished hearers, tliai. wiiilc tJie celebrated Thucydides, tlien among them as <•;. boy, shed tears at tlic recital of the events of the Pcrsjan War, and his young bosom was perliaps tiion first fired v/itli tiio ambition which made him afterwards one of diemosi" ao romplishcd historians of Greece, the people received ller';- dotus v/ith such universal aj)plause, tiiat as an lionour of t!ie highest kind, the names of the nine muses were conferred ximn his nine books or subdivisions of Ills interesting narra- tive, which they continue to bear to tlio present hour, in eve- ry lanjruage into which they have been translated. "Pytliagoras, of Lomas, is anotlier striking instance of a similar career; disgusted with tlie tvranny of Polvcrates, he retired from his native island, and having previously travel- led extensively in Chaldea and Egypt, and probably India, he also appeared at tiie Olympic Games of Greece, and tra- velled through Italy and Magna Grccia, delivering in the several towns that he visited, oral discourses on the history, relifjion, manners, and philosophy of the countries of the East ; and their general cliect was not less happy than that ])roduced by the narrations of Herodotus, for it is said tiiat '• these animated iiarangues were attended witli ripid suc- cess, and a reformation soon took place in the life and mo- rals of the people." " In expatiating upon the splendour and beauty of tlie an- i '^S2 LORD brougham's ADVICE. h I cicnt orations, and the absoliuo necessity of siiilful prepara- tion to produce a tinislicd example, Lord Broiij^hain gives the following instructive lessons, in his inaugural discourse t) the students of Glasgow Collofrc, when installed as Lord Hector : •' I ani now requiring not merely great preparation while th(3 Speaker is learning his art, but after he has accomplish- ed his education. The most splendid efforts of tlie most ma- ture orator will bo always finer for being previously elabo- rated with much care. There is, no doubt, a chann in cxtcm- j)oranoous elocution, — derived from the appearance of artless impromoditated effusion, called forth by the occasion, and so adapting itself to its exigencies, which may compensate the manifold defects incident to this kind of composition ; that which is inspired by the unforeseen circumstances in the choice of topics, and pitched in the tone of the feelings upon which it is to operate. These are great virtues : it is anc- tiioi- to avoid tlio besetting vice of modern oratory — the over- doing everytliing — the exhaustive method whijji an off-hand sj)oaker has no time to fall into, ar.d he accordingly will take only the grand and effective views ; nevertheless, in oratorical inerit.3, such effusions must needs be very inferior; much of tlio pleasure they produce depends upon the hearers surprise that in such circumstances anything can be delivered at al], rather than upon his deliberate judgment, that he has heard anyt'iing excellent in itself. JVe may rest assured that the his^hcst reaches of the arty and toWioid any necessa^ samfict of natural effect, can only he attained by him who icell consi- ders, and maturely prepares, and oftentimes sedulously cor- rects awl refines his oration. Such preparation is quite con- Bistcnt with the introduction of passages prompted by the oc- casion ; nor will the transition from the one to the other bo perceptible in the execution of a practised master. I have linown attentive and skilful hearers completely deceived in this matter, and " taken for extemporaneous passages, those which previously existed in manuscript, and were pronounced witliout the variation of a particle or pause." The liberty of Greece passed away, and Rome lost her virtue-— her arts and her greatness. These fine and intellec- tual regions of the south were invaded by the northern () ti h •\\ a w Sf n \ \ her lllec- lliern \ LUXlVF.yCE OF Tin: BIRLE. 2^^.'? iiordGS v.'lio trampled drised at tlie pl'uanesd of tlic Scripture styles, for in them you will tind al- most- the sainc kind of customs, the same artless variation?, the same images of (^rcat things, and the same movcinents ; tu(} dillorence betwixt tliem, upon comparison, is much to the honour of tiie Scripture, it surpassed them vastly in uutiv( simplicity, liveliness, and grandeur. Homer iiimseif never reucuud tlie sublimity of Moses's song ; especially the last, wliich all the [sraelitish children were to learn by iieart ; ne- ver (lid any ode, either Greek or Latin, come up to the lot- tiucss of the Psalms, particularly that whicii begins Ouw — '* Tiie Almighty God, even the Lord, hath sjioken." It turj);!s.<- Qs llic Utmost stretch of human invention. Neither Homer nor any otlier poet ever equalled Isaiali describing tlie Majesty of God, in whose sight tiic nations of tiie earlii are as tljo small dust ; yea, less than nothing and vanity ; .seeing it is lie that stretcheth out the Heavens like a curtain, and spread- etii them out like a tent to dwell in, — sometimes this prophet iiiia all tiie sweetness of an eclogue, in the smiling images he gives us of peace; and aoinetiu.es he soars so higli as to leave everything below iiim. What is there in antiquity whicii cm be compnretl to the lamentation of Jeremioh, ^vjlen he tenderly deplores the miseries of hi;? country ? or to the pro- phecy of Naiiui'.i when lie foresees in spirit tlie proud Nme- vaii fall under the rage of an invincible army. We fancy tiial we see the army, and hear tJic noiso of arms and cha- riot;.-! ; every thing is painted in such a lively maimer as strikes ti>o imagination, the prophet far out-does Homer; read like- v/ise Daniel denouncing lo Belshazi^ar the divine veniieance ri'ady to overv/holm him, and try if you can fnid anv thing in the most sublime originals of antiquity that ciu ho compared to tliose passarros of s:icrcd v/rit; as for tlu^; rest of scripture every portion oi'it is uniform and consistent, ovory part bears tlio peculiar character that becomes it ; the Ii :;t,ory, the pe- culiar details of kiws, the descriptions, tli'^ ohemeut and patlictic ciiaracters, the mysteries and pro[il.t )s, and moral tiisconrses — in all thcio tli re appears ana"'' a!i;lbeautifr.l variety; in sho.t, tho.e 1.^ -s great a difier-,. ,ice betwixt the heathen pof;ts arid the piopliv^ts, as there i-j betwixt a false enthusi i.^m and the true; the sacred 'witcrs, being du- ly inspired, do in a sensible manner exproi^a son^ething di- I AS DESCRIBED HY FENKJ.O.V. :^..^ ■ 1110, ivJjilo the otijcn-^, stnvinrr to .soar ni.ove tlionisclvtvs al- ways show hinuan weakness in their loffirst MJ.rJit^— thf v.. rond book ot Macril.co-, the h,K,k ..f wis,|on>, T.spocinllv' at tlioond: ami Lcole.iasticuH, in the boirnwnnjr, .hscov.V t/.r jT'iurly, snvolhi cr ,,y]o f],nf the deacnerafo CJreoks had s-r.-ul overtne ea.t, .vhero their lanrrtmao was e.tahli.-iiPd.vth ttieir dr.nunion, but. it v.ouM bo in vain to cniarLn' upon all JnSh office of a Speaker now is mainly to ])er8uade — Opinions of Broui^haiii, a:id I>loore in his liie of Slioridan, in Dublin Review, and of Grant in tiie Bench and Bar, of modern eloquence. — Decline of— Elo- (pience of the Pulpit — Quarterly Review on tlie British Pulpit — Elements or attributes of Elocpienco — Cambray and Bishop Burnet on the eloquence of the Pulpit — Blair s Lec- tures, J. HIS eclipse above referred to wore away. Literature and the Arts* and Sciences first returned to Europe in tSie younir Republics of Italy, where the spirit of commerce, with the generous protection she ever extends to human improvement, first founded and fostered the institutions of social liberty. — ""For a sketch of the Literature of the middle ages, sec Hal- lam's State of Europe, vol. ii, Paris ed., p. 300. MIDDLF. AGES. 'J< and h tlio inent, i Hal- Tlie fine arts tound a0 COKE, RALEIGH, &.C. •^ ad literary men, have left no splendid orations as ornaments to our literature. That tlioso men spoke well — that they could argue and persuade — tiiat some of tiiem were gifted with powers of public speaking of a peculiar and even lofty kind, cannot be questioned ; but of fine orations, tliey have left none extant ; and it remained for the elder Pitt, gifted witli tlie noblest talents, inspired by his sympathies for tlio freedom and destinies of the New World — by his just in- dignation at the employment of tlie Indians, against tliose who were struggling for tlie great battle of human rights — to give to the world specimens of oratory, equal to the produc- tions of ancient times, and which opened that splendid age of parliamentary eloquence, with which St. Stephen's has since been adorned. Let it not be supposed tliat in speaking tlius lightly of Uie oratory which is known from the age of Henry VIII. up to the reign of George III., I intend to say tliat public speaking of a high order did not exist. The eloquence of the Puritans in England — of the Covenanters in Scotland — of several speakers in Parliament, are spoken of as impassioned, and even dramatic by tlie historians of tlieir own time. In draw- ing these distinctions, I wish it to be understood tliat tliey refer only to perfect and exquisite efforts. We cannot speak of the intrinsic merits of all the orations of that period — for the press has not handed them down to us for study. Before the age of Chatham, it cannot be doubted tliat the Protestant and Catholic fathers of the French Church had ex- sketch is given of the eloquence of Walpole, Pulteny, and Henry St. John, — the three leading men iu the events of their ago. , and their FATIIKKS OF THE FKENCIl CllUnciI. SiU ]iibit.}d a force of eloquence of tlic very purest school, ^'lie sermons of Sauriu, IJourdalue, f^enelon, Bousset"; and ]\I:iS- seloii, produced those electric and moving eft'ects upon their audience, which can be inspired only by the lollic^t powers of tlie iiuman mind. Blair in his lectures upon the pulpit, has described these with great felicityf ; and such in- stances prove beyond doubt, that, even in tliese later tini(.':i, the i^itU of oratory have been exquisitely prized, and that the hearts of the people are ever ready to yield to the tiirilhnir .sympathies which the orator, and he only, can produce. There can be doubt that tlie partition of Poland in the Old World, and the revolt of tlie American Colonics in the New, wave rise to that war of opinions and principles wit.h which tJie intelliuti(!r, 3d vol., p. 0, for soiwr ipocimeus of the pulpit oratory of this eminent diviuc. tBlair's Lectures, 2d vol , p. GO. In an articlt? contained in the Edinburgh Review, 35th vol., p IGO, entitled "com- parative state of literature in England and France,' there is a reference to the style of these fathers. h I Vv' i m I, 292 AMERICAN AND FRENCH REVOLUTIONS. destroy the older dynasties, — built upon the prejudices of a former age, and which had crushed freedom of action and tlio generous expnnsion of the mind— was then begun, and induced Great Britain to employ her influence to uphold the balance of power. Tiien came the impeachment of Warren Hastings — tlic Union with Ireland — the question of Parliamentary reform. This continued succession of great events gave that impulse to the public mind, and created that broad national flympatliy, wiiich rendered the English Parliament, for the jjist fifty years, a scene of masterly and splendid eloquence. In this period there were the elder and younger Chatham, Fox, BurlvC, Sheridan, Grattan, Canning, Curran, Erskine — all statesmen or lawyers, who were the master spirits of tJieir time, and have left reputations for eloquence inferior only to the ancient masters, because they lived in, and spoke to a- nother ago, and to an audience of a far different character, from the subtle and ingenious Athenians, or the Roman Se- nate or Comitia. In the .Tuly number of the Quarterly Review, (1840) in the article " on tlie life of Chatham" the following curious description is given of his power as an orator. "That the most /^oj^^er/w^ orator that ever illustrated and ruled tiio Senate of the Empire — that for nearly half a cen- tury, ho was not merely the arbiter of the destinies of hisoAvn country, but the foremost man in all the world, — that he had an ua})aralened grandeur and affluence of intellectual pow- ers, 8()ftened nnd brightened by all tlie minor accomplish- ments — that his ambition was noble — his views instinctively elevated — his patriotism all but excessive — that in all the do- mestic relations of life he was exemplary and amiable — a tine scholar, a linished gentleman, a sincere Christian — one whom his private friends and servants loved as a good rnan, and all the world as a great onr — these n-rc praises which his i. LOUD CHATHAM! 093 \i\ and cen- ? own |iG had pow- ipjish- ftivcly Jie do- )le — a —one man, 'h his <*.otcmporaric3 awarded, and whicli jwstority has, vitli httlo diminution, confirmed. ****** " Tlio sum of all seems to us to he, that the qualities of tiic orator were more transcendant than tJiose of the statesman, and tliat his public character, Allien cahnly considered, excites rather admiration than aj)i)lanse. The a'enerality of his Hcntiments did not always ticuide ins practice ; and the ma- jestic stream of his declamations for the rights and liberties of mankind, was always accouipiinied by eddies and under currents of personal interest. He was too fine a Junius for tJie lower, and too selfish a politician for tlie higher duties of a minister. "Graced as he was with all the ])ower of words — his ta- lents were neitljer for conducting an otfice nor managing a party — he was neither the sim to rule the day, nor the moon to riUe the m'gkt — but a meteor which astonished and Iilarmcd maidcind by its supernatural splendour, but left the world, ■when it expired, hi deeper darkness than before." To give the different styles of these speakers — to quote tlieir finer passages and reflect upon them — is a labour which, if any of us here are competent to such a task, would be su- pererogatory. That they nearly approached to a classic standard, and copied closely the finest examples of an- cient times — in the use of metaphor — in freedom and ampli- tude of illustration — in an embellishment, amounting almost to ornate poetic figure — in an appeal to the passions and tlie finer feelings of the heart, — cannot be questioned. Let any student study tlic best speeches of tlie last Pitt, Fox, *Slie- *In the last volume of Charles Butler's Reminiscent, from p. \iii) to 193, there will be found a series of l)eautiful anc' in- teresting sketches of the Pulpit and Parliamentary spoakera of tlie last age, including most of the great names who then figured in the Courts and in the House of Ijords and Commons. The character, merits, and even the best sj)eci- mens of the best speakers are there collected and set olF with that felicitous power of graphic and lively description, fi)r which Butler is so deservedly, and so pre-eminently distinguished. I know of no chapters in literature where the student or man of letters will acquire more solid and entertaining information « I IP"' ' '1*1 V R 1 If 1 ij 1 t . 2 208 SPEAKING OF THIS AGE. - ,1 ¥ « . I Ki\ rate theories, or seek to terrify by bold and brilliant figures : and these causes combined, cfive to the public spcakini^ of tlic present day a practical scope and character widely difTorcnt from the eloquence of the ancient^, and force the speaker to (iraAv upon tlio memory and the jndffmcnt,* rather than up- on the imafj'ination and passions : — he has to pursue logical and close deduction, ratlicr than to throw ofT those figures which arc the indications of not only a refined, but hnUiant, gonuis. Let it not be supposed that 1 am here resting' upon a dis- tinction entirely of my own. It has been adverted to and illustrated by several autliors of high reputation, and it is well to pause here and read the record of their opinions. — Lord BrouirJiam tluis draws the distinction between ancient and modern orators, in his speeches, vol. 4, p. 428 : "It is impossible to deny that ancient orators flill nearly •*iiutne in his Essay upon Eloipienco, (vol. 1, p. lOIl) thus oxprcssps liimsolf: — " Now, to judge by tho rule, anniont elo- quonoo, that is, tho sublime and passionate, is of a uuich grea- ter tasie than the modern, or the arrjumentative and rational ; and if[)roper!y executed will always have more command and uutliority over mankind. We are satisfied with our mcdioerl- ty, l)ep:ia.-:o we have had no experience of any thing better; hnt, tlie ancients had experience of both, and, upon compa- rison, gave the preference to that kind of wiiich they have ]()i't ui! such applauded models. For, if I mistake not, our mo- dern eloquence is of the same style or species with that which ancient critics denominated attic eloquence, that is, calm, ele- gant, and subtle, which instructed the reason more than af- fected the passions, and never raised its tone above argument or common discourse." Tliis opinion has been assailed, and in justice to the historian, it may be said, that if he had lived to the present day, he would probably have been found to entertain views in .some respects modified. These remarks of Hume are attacked and reviewed by Butler, in the 1st volume of the Reminisc;ent, in his Chapter 13, p, 106, entitled " Miscella- neous refloctions on Debates in the Engliijh Parliament," .'i A.NCIFNT AND MODERN ORATORS. 2<»U as far short of the modern, in liie Htibstanco, as tlioy surpasy them in their composition. Not only were they fur h^ss cii- larjfcd, which was the necessary conscciuence of tiie ir nu^e conrtned knowlcdare, but they «;ave mucli less infon 'ion to the audience in point of facts!, and they api)Hed tin.-. ..selves less strenuously to ar.'rument. Tlic asavmhlns of inoilcr.i liitici arc tmintntly pUiccs of business ; the hearers are met li» i'onsider of certain practical questions, and not to have their fancy charmed witJi choice ti^rures, or tJieir t;isto j^ratificd with exquisite diction, or their car tickled with liarmoniouK numbers. Thriy must therefore bo convinced; their reaaon must be addressed by st'itements which shall prove tliat tiio Tfiinnr propounded is just or expedient, or that it is in!(iuitous and iuipolitic. No far-fetched illusions, or vaj^'ue talk, or !»retty conceits, will siij)ply ihe place of the one thinjj; ne^ni- f;il, — arj^Minient and information. Whatever is beside tiie ([iiestion, how fifraccfully soever it may be said, will only weary the hearer and i)rovoke his imi)aticnce ; nay if it be very fmo and very fur-fetched, will excite his merriment and cover the speaker with ridicule. Ornament of every kind, all maimer of embellishment will be kept within subordinate bounds, and made subservient merely to the main business. It is certain that no perfection of execution, no beauty of workuianship, can make up for the cardinal defects of the material hoinr»' out of its place, that is, indirierent to the ques- tion ; and one of the most ex(iuisitoly composed of Cicero's orations, tlie one for Archias, could clearly never have been (lelivered in any Enr^-lish Court of .Justice. * * * * * * * In fact, not above one-sixth of the speech has any bcarinty v/hatever upon the subject, which was the coiiatruc.- tion of a particular law." The same distinction is brought clearly out in Moore's Life of Sheridan, and I quote the passage entire ; " In politics, too, he (Sheridan) had the advantage of en- tering on his career at a time, tvhcn habits ofhusiness, ami a knowltdge of details were less looked Jor in miblic men thin thcij arc at present ; and when the House oi Commons wa^, for various reasons, a more open play-ground for eloquence and wit. The great increase of public business since then has necessarily made a considerable change in this respect. Not only hfis the time of the Legislature become too precious to be waste'd upon the mere gymnastics of rhetoric, but even those graces, v/itli whicii true oratory surrounds !icr state- ^ I ! I iJ '' I I J 300 OUATORT OK THE AGE. ,\' mont.^, aro but iinputifMitly boriK?, whore tho statement itself in tlio primary niul j)ro.ssint( object of tho hearer, liiirkc, we know, was even too unw.h tiddieted to what a Falconer would call rft/'j»ic, '^r ^l.V'n.i? ^^'i- propriate situations — of that keenness of perception which detects the Aveakost points in an adversary's statements, and either puts old arguments in a new light, or discovers yet an unexhausted fund — of that fertile imagination, which can, at ■1 >, ,11 I 302 OUATOIllf AT THE KNOLISli HAR. I,i tlio sfimn tiiiio, win tlm attontion, inovo tlio passions, and en- list tlio Kym|);illiy ol'tlio li(!;iror. — hut nlmvv ally of tin: ij-lnn- nVf, thr roplout, the lurvoiuty the innjcsltc oraloi\ Ihirc- erisl.i ■t thvpresmt daij butj'vw vmmpUs.^^ liiiinotlior ujodcrn piihliciition entitled llio Bcncli and liar, Ir. James (Jrant, the author of tin; (iroat Metropolis, lt\na the following sketch of the present .state of eloquenco at tiio Bar and in tlio Senate. Trui; it is ho does not attempt to account for the cause of an absence at the present time of t!in elements and spirit of excited and genuine elocpienco — ho draws the contrast only between the past and Uic pre- sent, and laments the deficiency of tlic day : — " I cannot conclude those volumes without advertinjr to tJio fact, that true cKxpience has, of late years, mostjirievous- ly declined at the Enf,Mish Bar. I am not sure whether tliere be not now a gfroatcr number of sound lawyers in VVestmin- minster I lall, than at any former period ; but surely, no on(! who knows any thing of the subject will pretend that, in j)oint of genuine eloquence, the Bar of the present day can admit of a moment's comparison with tliat of a former period. At ])rcsent I know of no master spirit in Westminster Hall. We look in vain for an Erskinc or a Brougham, we look in vain in our Courts of Law even for such men as lately conferred a lustre on Scotland and Ireland, by the brilliancy of their tbrcnsic displays in either coiuitry. We cannot boast cither of a Jeffory or of an O'Connell. Whence is this ? What is the cause of this decline in the true eloquenco of the J^^n- glish Bar ? I have heard various reasons assigned for it, but I cannot concur in any one which has yet been men- tioned to mo. The most common Jiypothesis is, that there is now a greater number of cases before our Courts, and that consequently those barristei-s who possess the greatest abilities are retained in so many cases, that they are, to a certain ex- tent, obliged to make their forensic exhibitions a matter of mere business, which, it is said, precludes that attention to their matter and style which is indispcnsible to tlio loftiest order of eloquence. ■ * * * " It is wortliy of observation, that there is at tlic present time, and has been for a number of years, tlie same dearth of genuine eloquence or oratory — for in tliis case I PULPIT F.l.OQl E.NCE. :m , niul 011- hc vxtun- vrc (urisl.f and nar, otropolis, iloqiiciK'o t uttciupt it til no uf ;lo(HU'n('o . UiG pn;- crtin;,^ to irriovous!- tlicr tliore ^''ostnun- y, no on(! it, in point tan admit riod. At lall. Wo »k in vain conferred of tlicir ist cither What id r the En- id for it, !en men- lat there and that abilities rtain ex- latter of bition to loftiest Is at the he same case I rnpf.ird iho lomia as synonimoiis — in the LouriMlature an at the ll'ir. We have no Fox amoiifj the present members of lh«' llo^l.^e of Comnions — none that cim lor a moment be comj);i- rt'd with the iJnrkes, or Wheridans, or I'itts, or ('tinniii jeautiful e : mcy tlial a {Treat til at the :)tessiou- rinciplos with the and the produce lot, after lent tune no doubt consola- leverthe- ervationa J, at Uie en or spa- te to in- me time, 10 of for- orbed in nay sub- should locted to n in the that no- nspiring :e, apart emotion is quite ult from nd. We trikinfj this ir- C]it cur- notliin^T prompt- ,0 efibrt je done is also tiio truest nature ; but nature as opposed to whatever i?? in- consis'tent with the idea, that the mim is under tlie domi- nion of genuine feelinp-, and bent upon taking the directest paths to the accomplishment of his object True eloquence is not like some painted window, which not only transmits the light of day variegated and tinged with a thousand iiufs, but calls away the attention from its proper use to the pomp and splendour of the artist's doings. It is a perfect transpa- rent medium ; transmitting without suggesting a thought about the medium itself. Adaptation to one single object is every thing." To the student of pulpit oratory tlierc arc several works of acknowledged excellence, — Fenelon's " Dialogue upon eloquence," Bishop Burnet's "Discourse on tiie Paste rj I care," and Blair's Lecture upon the eloquence of the Pulpit. I will not attempt here to digest the rules ; but will refer to the works upon that debated question-T^whether sermons read or sermons delivered, the measured and more polished scntenc^fj of closet preparation, or the bolder figures and more excit- ing, l^iough rougher, language of him who speaks as nature and the occasion prompt, are the best. Fenelon thus ar- gues the case : •• (a) The most lively and moving way of preaching is there- fore the best '• (b) True, what do you conclude from that ? "(a) Which of two orators will have the most powortul and affecting manner, he who learns his discourse by heart, or he who speaks without reciting word for word what iio has studied ? "(b) He, I think, who has got his discourse by lieart " (a) Have patience, and let us state the question ritriit ; on the one hand I suppose a man who prepares his discourse ex- rxtly, and learns it by heart to the least syllable ; on the other hand, I suppose another person who tills his mind with the pubject he is to talk of; who speaks with great enso (for you would not have any body attempt to speak in public wlio'has not a proper talent for it,) in short a man who hns attentive- ly considered all the principles and parts of the subjrrt he j> -, ( i 111 J t -i '■'\ \ m ]\- • I i > v.. 'f- 3 W KISHOP BURNET.S RULES. is to handle, and lias a comprehensive view of them in all their extent, who has reduced hia thoughts into a proper me- thod, and prepared tlie strongest expressions to explain and enforce tiiem in a sensible manner, who ranges all his argu- ments, and has a sufficient number of affecting figures — such a man certainly knows every tiling that he ought to say ; and the order in M^hich the wiiole should be placed : to succeed therefore in his delivery he wants nothing, but those common expressions that must make tlie bulk of hi.s discourse, but do you believe now tiiat such a person would JKive any difficulty in finding easy similar expressions. "(b) lie could not find such just and handsome ones as ho might have hit on, if he had sought tliem leisurely in his closet. I own that, but according to you he would lose only a few ornaments, and you know how to rate that loss accor- ding to the principles we laid down before ; on the other side, what advantage must he not have in the freedom and force of his action ; which is the main thing, supposing that he has employed liimself much to composing (as Cicero requires of an orator ;) that he has read all the best models ; and has a natural or acquired easiness of style and speech, that he has abundance of solid knowledge and learning; that he under- stands iiis subject perfectly well, and has ranged all the ])arts and j>roofs of it in his head, in such a case wo nmsc conclude that he will speak with force, and order, and rea- diness, his periods perhaps will not sooth tiie ear so much as tiic others ; and for that reason he must be the better orator." And Bishop Burnet thus lays down the rules for preparation m order to attain the habil : '• Ho then thst would prepare himself to bo a preacher in this method, must accustom himself to talk freely to himself, to let his thoughts flow from him, especially when he feels an edge and heat upon his mind, for then happy expressions will come in his mouth — he must also be writing essays up- on all sorts of subjects, for in writinsr he will bring himself to a correctness both in thinking and in speaking, and thu:? by a hard practice for two or three years, a man may render himself such a master in his way, that he can never be sur- prised, nor will new thoughts ever dry up upon him ; he must tilk over to himself the whole body of divinity, and accu.^- tom himself to explain and prove, to clear objections ; and ft apply every part of it to some practical use — and if in THK niUTll^Ii VLLVVr. ;3i • r. in all aru[U- itho.sG his meditation.-;. hu])j)y tliongiit^, and noble lender rx- pres-iions, do tit any Line otlbr tliemHrivf.';-;, he must not lo.sc tiiom, but write them down — by n very tew yeans i)ractico (jI* two or three solik)fiiiies a day — chieHy in tiie morning-, when tlio head is cleure.st, and the spirits are liveliest, a man may contract a great easiness both in thinking and spealang." Ami even Blair inclines to the opinion, that to write and to commit to memory, is Uie better mode. There can bo lit- tle question that roligion would gain if its morals and ho{)os were oftenur taught in the unrestrained, fervid, and exciting eloquence of a well digested discourse, suggested and in- spired by the inspiration of the hour, ratlier than by tiic cold and abstract disquisition, and the calm and chastened stylo produced by previous solitary and even elaborate preparation. In the article in the Edinburgh Review for October 1S40, before alluded to, on " The British Pulpit," there if? a very able and beautiful sketch of the best Pulpit orators, who havo di^jniticd and adorned tlie cause of Christianitv — Latimer, South, Baxter and Whitfield ; and tlieir excellences are refer- red to in order to illustrate the defects apparent in tlie style of preaching of tJie pre.-ent day — tlie absence now of all previous thought and elaboration — and Uie species of discipline to which a minister ought to be subjected in order to make him an eloquent and powerful public instructor. In answering ilie objections made to the rules of art, which arc brought to assist nature, the argument is concluded with the follov,-- iug aignificant paragraph. It ably supports the chief motive which I have had in the preparation of this leciure — totcacii the student that effective and imnressive public snoakina' is tlie result of solitary and roaoluto labour, and that he who v.-isli- es to speak well must hy tlio fjundation of his eminoiicc in fe< < 9 1 I ,1 ill I ii ']- i 808 PREPARATIO.V. i ( Uie earnest improvement of his own style — and in the care- ful study of the great masters of the art who Jiave preceded him. " Lastly, it is urged that such instructions are ol" very lit- tle bcnetit, because, do what we will, we cannot make great jBpcakcrs ; that nature haa the exclusive patent for the manu- facture ; and like the true poet, tlie true orator is born, not made — facts which we fully admit, but deny to be relevant. The argument contains a twofold fallacy. First, it is not true that even tiiosc to whom nature has imparted this hea- ven-born genius, can do themselves justice without assidu- ous cultivation ; or afford to dispense with early instruction. Ortain it is, tliat none of tliem have ever tliouglit it wise to venture on such a display of independence. Secomlh/, if it were ever so true that such men could do without instruc- tion, tlic cases are so few, that tliey would in nowise affect the general question. The highest oratorical genius is of the very rarest occurrence — it is as rare as the dramatic or epic, if not more so — there being but two or tliree tolerably perfect specimens to be found in tlie whole cabinet of his- tory. The great question is, how to improve to the utmost the talents of those who must be public speakers, but who yet have no pretension to the inspiration of genius ; on whom in truth no one ever suspects tliat tlie mantle either of De- mosthenes or of Cicero has descended. Nor should it ever be forgotten (for it powerfully confirms the correctness of the views now insisted upon) tliat tliough tlie constitution of mind which is necessary for the highest eloquence, is very seldom to be met with, there is no faculty whatever which admits of such indefinite growth and development, or in which pains taking and diligence will do so much, as that of public speaking." I or in tliat of LECTURE XL On the Public Speakinji; of Ancient and Slodcrn Tlnirg— Aloderu IiIloquence.—( Cun^tnucc/.} CONTENTS. Pyhlic Spoaking of this Ajie of a very high order — Why dif- fprout from ancient eloquence — Judge Story's description of the Eloquence of the Bar — The speaker has to deal with facts and reason more closely — No deficiency of talent — If eloquence has declined it is the effect of circumstances — K- loqupnce does not bring the same reward — No question now decided by the oratorical display of a single master mind — Effect of the Press and of Education on Public Speakers — O'Connell's opinion on the taste of the English for Meta- phor and biilliaut passages — No one can prepare too sedu- lously, even to speak to a popular Assembly — Three scenes from the displays of popular eloquence — House of Commons, Chamber of Deputies, and House of Representatives, — Styl ■ of speaking different in each — Defects of the first — Speak- ing in Congress — Many harangues intended for a Constitu- ency — Critiques of Travellers in the United States — Effect and character of the Northern and Southern mind — Press and Literature of the United States — American authors equal to British. — British House of Commons — Modi^ of conducting Debates — Checks on the Speaker. — Orators in England — In Parliament, Pulpit, and at the Bar — Scene in the House of Commons — Debates — Mr. O'Connell, Jame.s, Lords Sandon and Stanley — Daniel Whytall Harvey — Lord Brougham and Lord Glenelg. It 13 not to be inferred from the extracts before given, that public speaking at the present time does not possess some of its best attributes. These writers draw the contrast between tiie present style of eloquence, compared witli its palmy times ; 11 •I I'' ^'1 ■i i ,1^ li i i n \ :lli w. ;iio S?KAKF.r,S OF Tins AGK. Til Athens and Romp, luid in the ago of Cliatliain, Fox, an;I Rnrkc. Tlioy do not deny to tlio npcakcn-s of the present day excellencies, even of l refined and extiiiisitc order. It would bo indefensible to say that oloqticnce has lost all her power.-? of inspiration, while Lynuhursl, Brouifhain, Stanley, and Harvey are nieinbers of tiio "Eriti.^h Senate — wiiile RenHori, Melville, f and < hahncnj cliii.nn their audiciK'es with the sublime illu.strations of t!io Cliristian doctrine — vv'iiilo Follct.t ^V'ildc, Taifourd, and Phillips are the leaders Tiie CoiiM^rvntivos ;i'^?(>rt tliat tlio RLTonu Bill, by (i;>s- frfn/iiiir the Borfiajrh sv.stciii, lins "ivcn a fit.'il d«'atli-l)l()w to tliii progrcsH of Niitirmal Eloquoiico. The opinion thoy vx- pross is wnrtiiy of beioir rc'Cordi.'d, that we may lof)k back t:) l^ at some distruit timo. I (.-xtract the ffllov/injT note from iho JiOndon Quarterly R(r/ie\v of July last, wiiich appcari'd in th*"' nrticli? on tiic Life of Cliatliajii. — American, edition^ p. \yY.\. '■'' If cr.trii tree be. haoinn hi/ his fr7/ils, it would kimmii thnt thr Rfibnu Bill has 'hewn do\vn and cast into tho firo ' tlii* iM-orks tliat have j)roduf,od tho most illustrious menihors of t!io J-i;rit;.s!i Souate. Th." Wal poles— the Pitts— tlic? Foxes— tlic; Yorkerf — th;> (Iran villes- -tlio Scotts ; Murriiy — Pnltcney— IVihain — Burke — Bj^rro — Thurlow— Dunuinij— Erskine— SJie- rulau — Cauuiu'i" — to say notIiin When ley must ifincd to :ie judg- d reflect lie words altliouffh gilt suc- etoric — to pass ons and ic. ? Is it cannot id liter- are in- no cor- teles- to the vspaper Rbrta of intclli- finnament, and no microscope to trace tiic innumorablo but invisible creations which exist and move around us. Geolo- gy was an unsealed volume, and the eternal hills had no records of God's niiraci'"' and works to tliem. Of Chemistry, electricity, and magnetism, they knew absolutely no- tliing. In general physics and in logic, or the science of the mind, tlieir knowledge consisted in Uioories, which it hu^i been the pursuit of subsequent times to investigate and re- ject. In the two fine arts of architecture and statuary they rcaciicd a sublime and peculiar pre-eminence ; but even this may be ascribed to peculiar causes, to tlieir climate^ mytlio- logy, and to the power of tlieir rulers in commanding, for one vast monument or temple, tiie energies and labours of a peoj)le. But in all the other fields of intellectual action — science, philosoph}', poetry, history, the belles-lettres, trage- dy, and novel-writing — the last being a species of liten-.turc to the ancients unknown — we can produce names who far surpass any rivals to be found in ancient times. Eloquence tlien, it may be fairly argued, has not reached the same perfection — if perfection* it be — which it did in * " In the first place, then, we find it impossible implicitly to agree with Mr. Hume or Dr. Blair that eloquence has dc- clined in modern compared with ancient times. The elo- quence of the two periods is certainly different: but its difter- cnce consists entirely in the means now and formerly employ- ed, by orators, to win the consent of their auditory. These means must, at all times, be suggested by the condition of so- ciety ; which is itself dependent upon the state of the iiitcllecf. and its development in the men or nations who are to be per- suaded or convinced. Now certainly the nations of antiquity were more governed by their sensations and passions, more by their feelings and less by their reason, than those which have risen to greatness and civilization in modern Europe. — The entire difference in tiie state of present and pa^jt oratory :hi ■ii ti;^ i ' Hi ii 'I ill i • JI I MODERN EI.OQIF.NCE. Atiicns or Romo, because the public man addresses himself to a difTcrcut audience — is not animated by the same excite- ments, — and cannot expect the same rewards. Let such men a.s Broufjham, O'Connell, Lvndhurst and Staiilev, bo sub- joctod to tlic same c.rchutive and ehiborate training-, and ful- tivalc one sinjjlc oration for a period of months — give to thcin sucli a thronpf as gathered round Dcmostlienes or Ci- cero, when thoy ppoi 'i A;j;nn, no qup^tion can now bo settled by the single ora- lorKial display of one mii.stcr mind. The mass now read and think. London, Pari.s, Now-Vork, liavG no sinLfle rostrum to wiiinU the T.ation crowds from the remote parts of tlu-* nitiuniil territory. Each (Jounty, District, and State, in En- ^rUnd, France, and America, has its public men and it.^ hus- tini,'s. (lovornmeiits are no lonrjer metroi)olit«.n. There an; I'ilections, Debating Societies and Institutes planted in eve- ry little circle. Tlie vohnne, tlie review, tlie pamphlet, tlie n<}wspapor, scatter abroad the seeds of enquiry and intelli- gcMice — transfuse through the mass the essence of genius—im- plant the comprehensive tlioughts and tlie speculations of tho statcsinnn, however far tliey may reach into futurity, into tlio broad tield of the national mind, — they are reflected upon, reproduced and republished ; and while knowledge is tliuj more i^onerally diffused, tliere is less labour to be achieved, and less honour to be acquired, by any one mind, however higlily gifted or cultivated. Are not these causes s-ifficient to account for tlie differ- ence between ancient and modern eloquence, and to vindi- cate tho theory I have endeavoured to reason out, that if De- mosthenes or Cicero had lived in tliis age, tlieir fame as tlirilling and impassioned orators Avould not have been so brilliant and transcendar.t ? Be it remarked, however, witli becoming humility, that upon tliis subject we can only spe- culate. It is a pure question of metaphysics, which we are imible to reduce to certainty. Nature may have created only one Demosthenes — one Cicero — one Newton — a Shakespeare and a Scott; upon these she may have conferred the high- er attributes of divinity — tliere is a curtain beyond which wo IlK tf il M - i^^M ammt iin^rlc ora- vv read and le rostrum arts of tlio itc, in En- rul iLs hus- Tliore ar'i od in cve- iplilot, tilt; lul intelli- eniu.-i--iiii- ions of tho y, into tlio ted upon, e is tlm.s achieved, however le differ- to vindi- at if De- fame aa jeen so er, witli >nly spe- we are ted only espeare e high- iicli wo ' PIBLIC SPEAKINO I?f FRANCE. :)ir cnnnot pierce, and before it we riiiist bovr, — for, with all or.r knowledge, we know little of tlie lamp .vhicli burns within. It thinks, feels, brii,'hten.s — it moves the body and soars tlirough space, and yet, though conscious of, and subservient t/), its influence, the thought that we know not what it is— that around our living principle tiiere is a dark and mysteri- ous shade which wc cannot penetrate, mocks the presmuption of human vanity, and himiblcs and eradicates human pride. This view would still be incomplete if some peculiar tt\a- tures of this age were not more fully ilhistrated, and a skot/h given of the *three scenes wliich now exist for displays of popular eloquence — the House of Commons at St. StephenV, the Chamber of Deputies in Paris, and tlic House of Repre- sentatives at Washington. Of these, it is, I believe, gene- rally admitted, that the two last bear no comparison wiUi the first, in tho dcvolopement of superior powers. The style, the mode, and the spirit of debate are v, iticly different in each — but tlie House of Commons is that which is unquestionably the most fitted to form, sustain, and improve the orator. In an article in tlie Quarterly Review, upon the comparative state of Literature in England and France, in contrasting tiie •Whether a Cicero can or docs exist at tlie present day is a questiou of difficult solution. But the age 1b not destitute of a theatre where Roman oratory is still practised, and tho lan- guage is heard, in all tho rolling niagnificonce and sonorous force, which it had in the pahny times of tho Senate and Uo- mitia. Dr. Walsh, in his travels to Constantinople, re- lates, that on his return to Europe, he crossed tho Balkan, and arrived in Hungary when the Diet was assembled, and then? heard the debates conducted in the pure and classic lan:;ruage of a former age. I have enquired axiously for the work to give the scene entire — but I have not been able to find it here. I iM :.5ib SPEAKING IN C0NGRE3S. i' character of Eloquence, before and since tlie French Revolu- tion, tiie author says : — '• Under Robespiere and Buonaparte silence was safety, and rcuumstraiice deatli. After a hipse of twenty-five year.-<, and since it has been deemed that to speak is no loiijror dangerous, there has been no renewal of anything like oru- tnry. It would indeed be difficult to devise a mode of do- baling, if 80 it can be called, more directly in opposition to clo!}uence of any kind than that which tlic French Chamber.^ have adopted — the alternate reading of Essays for and ci- gainst each question, from a pulpit; yet considering their past experience, we are convinced that they liave shewn their visdoin in that precautionary regulation. The warmth and violence which are often exhibited there by different speak- ers, endeavouring to obtain possession of the rostrum, arc at variance witli our notions of personal dignity, and Avitli tiiat favourable pre-audience which the orator ought to obtain." * # # * # ■,■: * # * In Congress, again, a system is adopted, which, except on very rare occasions, puts all eager, effective, and anima- ted debate at defiance. I speak not now of the uncourteous language — the tone of angry recrimination — and the person- al and offensive epithets so often applied there by one speak- er to another, and which disgrace so august and imposing a scene — my allusion is to the style and mctliod of debate — to the three-day oration or volume delivered there upon some party or local question, full of truisms, amplifying the first principles of political economy or science, and bettor fitted for the intellect of a county election, tliau for the choice and educated minds of a great State ; and therefore avowedly made, not to influence tlic House — fortlic Speaker often rea- sons to empty benchers — but to be publisiied in the National Intelligencer or pamphlet, and thus to be circulated among his constituents. There is nothing more common tlian for an orator to de- II 1 ' , I SPEAKI.NG I.\ CO.NGRESS. 311) I Revolu- .3 safety, ve yoar.-j, louiTor like oru- of do- )sition t«) r and a- 11 (f their 5VV11 their inth and t speak- n, arc at vitli tli.'U btain." , except 1 aniina- )iirteou.^ persc>n- D speak- >osmg" a late — to >n somo he first itted for ice and owedly ;en rea- ational anion? to de- claua there day after day, — to keep tiie floor pertinaciously against manifest indications that the House deem him an in- truder or a nuisance. The arrangement of the House is un- favourable to oratory — each member has a writing desk be- fore his seat — he is permitted to do business there. Ho writes his letters, and reads the newspapers even in the midst of a debate; and a speaker has tlierefore to go on without bein^ aware that he has secured the undivided attention of his liearers. The impetus or inspiration, which comes from sympathy, is thus wanting; and hence, it has been said, that the Hall of Representatives, although brilliant and beautiful displays are occasionally heard in it, is no school, and no then- tre, comparable to the British House of Commons for eflcctive and modern eloquence. But it is not required to dilate fur- ther upon the distinction recognised between Uiese two great assemblies of Freemen — because Capt. Hall in his travels in America, and Capt Hamilton in his " Men and Manners,' have drawn livin"^ pictures of Congress, which, though they seem to us strange and almost incredible, every unbiassed witnr^ss recognizes as true to the life. For further illu?- tration I refer the reader to them. In a late number of the London Quarterly Review the practice of the House of Representatives is thus referred to • '• [t is an ordinary occurrence in Congress for a mensber to speak two or three days, and his fellow members make il a point to listen or at least suffer with decency. (Query?) Capt. Hall recommended the introduction of coughing, but was told that tlie state of manners did not admit of such a cure. Some Kentucky Representative might adopt the l-ite Mr. Richard Martin's example, and propose a bullet "as tho bes- pill for the honourable gentleman's compliment,'' or a dozon bowie iinivcs might start from their sheaths to re- 1* n-^0 RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT. vcnq;G a catarrli that threatened liiin witli insult. Besides, a-s wc formerly observed, tlie evil is inherent in tlie very na- ture of a strictly representative system, and is becfinning to be felt in the En';/ent frailties or in the evil passions of mankind — tlie fact cannot be disputed ; but whether the press of the United State.s has yet reached that point which endangers the existence of the Republic is a problem yet to be settled by events, whiclj many good men now think are coming, " because they cast their shadows before." It is, I believe, universally ad- mitted that the power of the press there is unfavourable to a high tone of political morality, and to a pure and refined order of oratory in the Hail of Representatives at Washing- ton. There is a distinction which in sketching the oratory of this great Republic cannot be overlooked. Congress is composed •"Marryatt's Diary, p. 131. U I r, Y f !l I'll \ ■ \i c ';, ! il, i-4 I I i ii 1 t' i r , r 3ii'2 IMCLLECT IN AMERICA. of tlic assembled representatives of a people scattered over a >vidc diversity of climate and position, and descended from ra- ces of a mixed and heterogeneous character. They have both tJiG southern and northern mind ; and Uie intellectual distinc- t;ons wliich divide the descendants of tlie Anglo-Saxons and the varioa'3 races of the Continent Nothing can be more striking or opposite tiian tlie intellectual tendencies of tliese different races. The oratory of tlie soutli is vehement, bril- liant, imaginative, abounding in metaphor,* and overloaded witli classical allusions. It wants sympathy and direct- nem. In refined and skilful hands specimens of tliis style will often be given, not wanting in beauty and effect — but still tliey are e\'er deficient in logical acumen, and in the judgment of tlie critic " fairly ornate with ornament." When indulged in by men of capacious intellects but coarse taste — witli brilliant powers of imagination, but un- trained and fiery passions, — like Randolph, it leads to gross personal invective, and to a disregard of all the decencies and courtesies of public life. Contrast for example some of the late scenes in Congress — the attack upon the venerable Adams — tlie duel between Mr. Wyse and I\Ir. Stanley — and t!i3 tlireatening language addressed to President Tyler — with the exhibitions in England at the late change of the Mi- nistry — tlie courteous tone in which Su* Robert Peel and o- thers addressed Lord John Russell — tlie eulogy pronounced upon his private and even public character, at the very time ^Indeed the florid and imaginative style of public speaking is exploded in England, and has scarcely been attempted at the Ear for the last half century, except by Charles Phillips, and will not likel}' bo resumed as long as the castigation he recei- ved from Lord Brougham, and which it is said forced him ia- to retirement for three years, is reiiKunbered. If I > I rLR30>ALITIE3 I.N CO.NGRES.S. 32iJ ! * ;d over a I from ra- ave both L distinc- xons and be Diore of tliese jnt, bril- •erloaded d direct- liis style iect — but and in nament," ecta but but un- to gross ecencies some of enerable ey — and -witli the Mi- and o- lounced ry time peaking d at the ps, and e recei- him in- hc was expelled from place,— and tlic generous speecli undo I>y Lord Morpeth at Yorkshire, in favour of his opponent Mr. {^. Wortley, when smarting under tlie loss of family and political influence, and the disappointment of an unexpected defeat ; and it will not be subject of surprise tliat tlie eloquence of St. Ste{)hcu's, should be iiitinitc.'y superior to that of the Con- gress at Wasiungtoa. Having spoken thu>-., lioAvever, of tlio intcUocl of the Soutli, it is but just to offer due homage to the Anglo-Saxon minds of tiic Nortli. It v/ill not be denie/1 for example that tliO native literature and intellect of xVmerica stands upon very high ground, when it can muster tlio works of such men as Irving, Channing, Kent, Storj', Paulding, Everett, Wirt, Webster, Dwight, Silliman, Walsh, Bancroft, Stephens, and Prescott ; and tJiat these men, in tlie departments of literature to wiiich they have devoted tlieinselvcs, are entitled to claim a perfect equality v/itli any writers of the age. Indeed, some of tliese men have Uirown oiV passages, which, in force and chastity of style, may be compar- ed to tlie choicest specimens of English Literature. Channing, Kent, Story, and Webster are perfect masters of Englisli composition, and have ever at iiand tiie choice and ri})c ex- pressions of our classic and ancient autliors, Tlie verve and beauty — tlie combined melody and powers of Spencer, Shoks- peaxe, Milton and Dryden, arc ever ready to add a now gracv* and polish to tlieir periods, Irving surpas^jos Addison if) sweetness and pathos — Paulding's humour is exciuisite — Ste- phens' travels ai-e the very beau ideal of life and descTi])tioii —but as to tlie speeches of some of tliese men, Wirt, Adams, and Webster, have left records wliicii. the age cannot sur • jpa*?. Place- these? ineu iu a Bi'itisJ) Court,- or in tiic Hou.*t> t 1 ! I ) ill • 1 ■ '' 1/ '.j 324 HOUSE OF COMMONS. i" !| of Commons, tlicy would at once take tlic first rank as ora- tors, and enjoy tlic influence which belongs to j^eat minds. It has been said of Wirt that he is the only southerner who ever exhibited the characteristics of a northern mind — the otliers honor the climate of whicii they are natives. In a scries of beautiful papers which appeared in one of the London Magazines, some years ago, under the title of St. Stephens, and in Mr. Grant's work of " Random Recol- kdions of the House of Commons" graphic sketches are given of the stern justice and the rapid and resistless judgment of the House. When a question is there, the House — go to bu- siness ! A speaker has one trial, and if he bo found want- ing the House will not again be easily induced to grant him pre-audience. On some questions men will be heard for hours, because it is known they have given to it years of study and preparation, — but if these men were to rise on o- ther questions they would be instantly coughed down. The moment a speaker wanders from tlie question, he is recalled to it, not by the autliority of " the chair," but by the restless and impassioned spirit of the benches. The " question " is constantly sounded and re-echoed. The speaker must be obedient to this call. When argument is exhausted, and the best speakers are heard on both sides, it is vain for an infe- rior man to rise and endeavour to obtain the ear of the House. The hum, tlie cry, or tlie "loud beat of angry heels," awe and force him down. The style of speaking tliere is thus far more condensed and racy than that which prevails in the Chamber of Deputies or in Congress. No man will be heard, if ho does not present new arguments and fresh facts. An illustration of known principles would at once be sneered CHECKS ON THE SPEAKERS. 35ir> down-— intolli^ront minds are addressing an intellectual and highly cultivated auditory, and they will not suffer theni- selvea to be insulted by more than a brief reference to tluit knowledge, which every general scholar and statesman is now presumed to possess. The debates therefore are con- ducted to inform and convince, not tJie House only, but tlie country, — tiie Speech delivered at night is published in li- Uris ])efore tlic morning. The speaker is thus inspired, i)ut yet checked, 'ly ' mighty masters, — t)'' ^-^ar'ess judgment of tlio Comuions, u.... the matchless mujosty of the press, coraltiniug t!ic power and essence of intelligent public opi- nion — both as ready to give praise, as to award censure — to visit with an anathema, as to cheer and animate with the note of triumph. It is tiiis system, at once unique and curi- ous, which has rendered tlie House of Commons tiie noblest theatre for eloquence which modern times has ever seen ; and gives to its debates such an extensive and commanding influence throughout the world. I have passed hours and nigiits iu and beneath the irallerv, have seen scenes tlicro which will ever live fresh in the memory, have conversed of- ten with members on tlie system, and write therefore on this subject not only with the instruction drawn from books, but from personal observation, and tlie testimony of leaders and their friends. During the two visits I paid to the Old World iu 1^;-U and 1837, 1 made it a point of i)rofessioual duty to attend the Courts of Westminster, Parliament, and public meetings, to hoar the loading orators of the age : and in looking back tt) the very extensive notes I made then for after reference, 1 find the description of some of their linest displays. I had 1 n L. I ,1 326 ORATOns I\ ENGLA.Nn. 1 }• ii the f^ood fortnno, on several occasions, to lioar tiiC first ora- tors of the clay in Parliament, at the Bar, nnd in tiio Pulpit ; and so far as an humble and unpretondinjr judgment on these matters can fjaiido mn, 1 would place the •• illustrious living" in the follo'.vin7 order of procodnnco. O'Conncll, I thinJc, i-1 the first orator of the arre — for his rare concentration of in- tellectual gifts. IIvD is logical, profound, sarcastic, bitter, humourous, ])layful, — and has a masterly command of all the earnest and touching passions. I have heard him at least fifty times, and in every variety of question, and every new dis- ])]ay gave me a higher opinion of Iiis varied, a^rtonidiing, and exquisite powere. In the Commons, next to him, I would rank Lord Stanley, then Sir Robert Peel, and tliird, Whytal ilarvey — they arc masters of debate, and from the two first I have heard passages of eloquence, thrilling in effect, and masterly of their kind. In the Session of 1831 the collision between Lord Stanley and Mr. O'Connell upon Irish ques- tions, and tlic Coercion Bill, led to several rencontres, which, if sketched at the time, would live forever on the records of eloquence. In the debate upon tlio C;inada Bill in 1838, Sir Robert Peel, in a brilliant speech of two hours, enchanted the House with his Statesman-like views, and the grace and vigour of his diction. The peroration of that speech, in which he traced tlie relationship between the mother country and her dependencies — tiie protection to be given by the one, and the love of old England which existed in the other — was as fine a burst of eloquence as I ever heard from human lips. — In the Lords there are no speakers compared to Lords Lynd- hurst and Brougham — but I would give the palm to the lat- ter. I heard him address the house for four hours on the 'Jl first ora- ' Pulpit ; on tlicse living" I thinJf, ^n of in- I, bitter, if all the ?ast fifty leAV (Us- ing, and I would Whytal :wo first bet, and collision sh ques- ?, which, cords of 838, Sir chanted race and in which itry and one, and -was as n lips. — Is Lynd- the lat- i on the ORATORS IN BniTAlX. rw Canada Bill. His display far cxccodcd any estimate T cruM have previously formed, of what the human mind could ac- complish ; the terseness of his satire — command of antitlicj-is —classical reference and powerful illustration, struck me with astonishment, and the wonder has never since coas'^(!. At the Bar Sir William Follctt and Sir Scrffoant Wilde arc far superior to any rival, in addressing, witli powerful proci- eion, a legalargum ent to the Court ; while at Ni?i Prius T gave tlie superiority to Sir James Scarlett, now Lord Abinger, Sergeant Spankie and Thesiger. In the Pulpit I hoard Bon- son, Melville, Boone, Blunt, Baptist Noel, and the BisliDp of London, Dr. Chalmers, and Dr. Gordon — but of the En glish Church Melville is superior lo them all, and is in my mind tlie beau ideal of a Christian orator. Benson is next, and Baptist Noel beautiful in his own style — Dr. Chalrnere is the most eloquent, but ^^ Gordon, tiie most profound Thcologiran, — his reason is logic ; to hear either of tiiem vv-us an exquisite enjoyment, for tlieir graphic and luminous illus- txation of tlie Christian doctrines would induce a disbeliever to say, like Felix to Paul " almost thou persuadest mc to be a christian." One of tlie first of these sketches to be found in my ymr- oal 13 the record of a first visit to tlio House of Commons. — I went there to hear a debate upon tlie Bill for the Emanci- pation of tlie Slaves in the British West Indies, and Lord How- ick was on tlie floor. I entered — and Lord Altliorpe — then the leader of the House succeeded — the high position of the latter arose entirely from the respect felt for his character and unstained integrity, for he is gentlemanly and plain — but not an engaging nor powerful orator. As he retired to h s n 1 I; U I I !r. / i I. :iis O'C0.\.VE/.L 0> THE EMANCII. "ION BILL. dl iV \ i f M I' Njjit, O'Counell rose on tlic opposite .side oi ' iblo, and a Iniiz u'a.s imiucdiatcly heard botii in the Uo< ac and in the ffallery. There was silence below, and tlic audience above bent forward. lie had not uttered three sentences betore I t'oh tliat I was under tlie inriuenoe of an extraordinary man. He broke at one into the full Hood of debate. He reviewed the Government measure with caustic and bitter irony. " First it was to be a loan of tiftcen millions, and the ques- tion, tiie only (juestion then for ari,''unicnt was whether it ■was to be jjaid by the planters or by the labour of the slaves ; btit now it has been chummed into an absolute jjrant of twen- ty million?. At tirst tiie apprenticeship was to last twelve years, but now it has Seen cut down to seven. What arc tlie dilTorenco of these moditications to the Enjrlish people.^ —just the entlir. sum of Twenty Millions I Twenty nuilions — where is tiiere such another piece of bountiful lejrislation r Twenty millions — what a price to be paid for tiie eternal and unalienable riiriits of mankind ! But n^jtwithstanding tiie magnitude of liie ^ift, with what ungracious reluctnnce had it been receiv^^d. Every hound in the pack had bayeii against it. Tlie Deputies from Dominica and Jamaica warmly op- posed it — tlic Deputy from the Windward I^:!ands, Mr." a sfentieman, it is said, of high talent, denounces it; and t!ie West India interests in tlie House, so far from being propitiated, submit and tell you so with an unwilling and thankless acquiescence. If such op])osition was concentra- ted here, in detiance of ministers and their majority — what semnty have the British people that the local Legislatures will accede ? Where their promises — where their pledge — where tlie obligations which would bind them in law and ho- nour ? Oh! but the cry was, confide — confide — (Irish!) — contide (sarcastically) in their honour and good faith. Their honour in the question of Slavevi/. What, Sir, in the chival- ry of the Legislature of Jamaica, who refused almost to the verge of rebellion, the remonstrance of this House to take the whip from the back of the female slave. Trust them not — they are unworthy of confidence. The whole scheme might yet be dissipated in air. Much argument had been heard in support of the sacred rights of humanity, as if they had binding oidio-ations upon them. I see no humanity in their acts, and nothing of the sontmient even, except indeed it exisis in |rav ! w ' \ 1 1 DEBATE O.N THE SLAVERV QUESTION. :ai» tjial uiuseeii and rnoasurelcdH portion uliicli miirlit 1)0 shroud- 0(1 u|) in the liunmn breusU This was a question too impor- tant in itself, and had co^t the country too much to ho lcl> open and undelincd. It (\u\ not achuit of tririinjj. Could any onn who iiud rctlected upon tlie intoloraljje evils — the cruel mid torluriiiir oppression ul'sla\'ory, a fellow-heinircroucliini: und'jr tiio lasji. hecaiise bodily exhaustion rendered iiiui in- capahlo of bodily toil, iicsuato uj)on its coininandinijf iinpor- L'lnce. iNo, »Sir, have your contracts reduced to tcrnis, con- linnod by sonio pledire — have value for value before you pay from your treasury tiiis money — tliis mairiiiliccnt (hjiiaiion."' It was a speecii unique in its tone and .-'pirit. His action wa.s hic^hly characteristic — he advanced an roLrcatod fronitiie t'lblo — bent over it occasionally as he shot in full front the darts of his eloquence to tlie Treasury Benches — struck his iiand upon the desk witli peculiar cniphasis — tlirew his arrr< acro-ss his breast, and even occasionally condesccndeil to n^ve belimd u twite li with both hands to his wiir, which seemed to hold its perilous situation '^y no secure tenure. — In a former part of this debate he had alluded, it seems, to an assertion made by Mr. James, a West India Proprietor, that some of his slaves had amassed by tlieir own earnings a small fortume of some £'200. This the member for Dublin had not rightly comprehended, and as ho sat down up rose Mr. James from the Ministerial Benches, and abandoning all the tactics of the orator, addressed Uic house in a tone broken and husky with excitement: •' I am aware. Sir, that I have little ciiancc in waging a war of words with gentlemen of the long robe. I ha ve not been bred a Lawyer, and caimot stand on equal ground witii professional men', nor bring to n-'y aid that talent and inge- nuity which distinguish them, and, perhaps, above all others m this house, the learned member for Dublin wiio has jusi p i |li! ■1^ *This and the subsequent speeches were all roporlod by the Author i- I h i 1 J' m OXO.N.NELL AND MR. JAMTS. addrcssod yon." This sentence wns delivered witii pcruliar bitterno.ss. " I am, Sir, but a pin in man, and musi t-peak in plain lanr^tin ■rUK COMMO.VS. r t '• \ ' \ can iiave even loss hope llian he can, or if he could, would, Hoi; any consistency in an advocate on my side of tlie ques- tion ; but sir, however devious rnuy liave been the course of my political life, and to the noble lord's judg'nient I am not di.-5posod to submit, I at least have never been the unblush- ing protector of bribery and corruption. (Cries of Oh, Oh !) Ves, of a system of bribery and corruption sucii as 1 venture to say has never before disjjraced the annals of an election, <>r polluted the records of parliament. Had the noble lord been successful (louder cries of oil ! oh I) that base and in- famous system exposed by tiie investiijation before the Li- verpool Committee, would never have been brought to liglit." (Hero tlie cries became deafening'.) Tiie orator paused, and turnnig his face to tlie benches be- liind, while he drew up his figure aud tlirew iiis arms across his breast, said spiritedly : '' Why are honourable gentlemen so sensitive 7iow — why tJiis wann regard for the feelings of the noble lord r There came no sucii gracious manifestations when he attacked the honorable member for Dublin. While the noble lord indeed reviewed tiie entire course (broad Irish) of his political life, no voice of mercv, no sound disturbed the House : and vet liow many are moved with amiable coni])assion at a passing reference to one brief chapter of his parliamentary career. 1 say again, T have never been the advocate of such a sys- tem of barefaced bribery and corruption." Lord Sandon rose to order — but the flood of O'Coimell's oratory was at the licight and was not then to be stayed. He adroitly changed the subject. "But then to think that the hoiKairable mem- ber for Carlisle (Mr James) should treat me with such inten- tional severity. From him, a radical member like myself, I did not expect it. The honorable gentleman has mistaken me." He then entered upon a full explanation. '" I did not Hav all — I said rnanv. The honourable member admits tliere Avere som<' — well, some is a innod deal anijuai/. (broad Irish.) But sir, to hear the peasantry of Ireland compared to the ne- j^roes of the West Indies fills iiie witii feelings of mingled as- tonishment and indignation — what ! compared with that abject and mi-era ble wretch — that less than man who crouclies be- neath the form of his master tyrant — cjr writhes and siirinks under the lash ordered by his contemptible attorney. He knows little of the spirit of tiiat people thus to misnidge < ) L i LORD STANLEY. •m arccr. [ti sys- andon ntrho landed mem- inten- elt; I taken ,d not tiicre rish.) 10 ne- d as- bject s be- rinks lie udge thorn — for tnorc is not a peasant in IrcU.nd, tho)i[rii f-iink in the most abject poverty, wliu would exchanffc the pnvilcfre of lookinij anv man in the face, however hiirli hi^^ rank or si- tuation, who dares to lift his hand apfainst him, fir tlie pal- try sum of £'200, or to be one of the blessed number f)f slaves (broad Irish) belonginn^ to the honourable member f >r Car- lisle — liberal and radical tliough he be (loud laug'hter.) Such ari^mnents fill mo with burning indifrnation and J scorn and repudiate them^^ — ho paused, and sinkinjT the thrillini.'" tones of his voice to a whisper, which fell, however, distinctly up- on my car — "with the utmost respect for tlie honourable member — but" raisinj^ nfj;ain iiis voice "with the fullest luoasuro of contempt for tiic absurdities of theoretic coinpu- »> rison. The sentence was finely and emphatically said, and did evident execution upon tlie House, A general burst of ap- plause followed it. " But I have not yet done with the noble lord,'' and he broke out a^ain vehemently upon him. lie produced so de- cided a sensation in the House, that it charmed up Mr. Stan- Icy, the dien rising star in tlie political hemisphere of Eng- land, and for whom the people predicted tlic same brilliant circer of oratory as had been to Pitt and Canning. He is un- questionably a beautiful speaker. I was not in a position to see his action. He hfis fine intonation of voice, rising or fjiHinj as suits the discussion, to sooth or thrill the ear. I soon discovered he had the graphic power, so seldom attain- ed by public men, but so essential for effective oratory, of relieving the del)ate from the extraneous matter with Avhich it had been mystified — showed that the same question had been already considered, that the House had agreed to pay the twenty millions free of all condition, that it had been communicated to tlic West India Interests and Colonial l^e- gislatures, tliat the Government were therefore pledged to it ■ i i«' ; h .334 DANIEL WHTTALL IIARVEV. ,, I 4, i ,1 the raeisure, and that tiiey could not alter it nor retract tiien, witJiout a violation of good faith. He conckided a very able speech with a peroration finely conceived and graceful- ly delivered. The impression it left is still fresh, but I did jiot note die words at tiie time, for tlie sketch was meant to delineate O'Connell. Lord Stanley's sarcasm and calibrt as fi debater may be judged of by one fact — he is the only orator in tiie House before whom O'Connell ever trembled. They never sjparred — wlien tliey came into collision they grap])lcd with each other to tlie deatii-grasp. Wliether tliesc coiiiiicts since have been equally rancorous I am unable to say. I write of tlic period when Ireland was wrung and the ])eo{)le maddened by tlie coercion bill. Of Mr. Daniel Whytal Harvey's power as a debater, I wrLs ]>resent and witnessed a very marked and signal exam- ple. It was on one of tlie debates on the Canada Bill in IrylS, preparatory to tlic mission of Lord Durhciru The first Bill introduced by the Ministry had been modified rtnd altered, in consequence, it was said at tlie time, of recent news from Canada, so tliat on being submitted a second time, it had in a ,stion, and the habit of repaying its bounty by words, that confuses us and indisposes us to justice. It is because the spoils of time are freely and irrevocalily ours — b, cause the forms of anti