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the schoolmaster of his neighborhood, after the labors of the day, with himself and those who are to be his scholars, are over. And to all this may be added the interesting fact, that when either a youth or an adult acquires the qualification of reading, it is the frequent practice of his less fortunate neighbors (grandfathers and grandmothers, parents and children, mixing in the same group) to listen to what otherwise they could not have heard but from their ministers, whose visits are necessarily "few and far between,"—the glad tidings of salvation read to them from the book of God.

2. In reference to increasing the means of religious instruction by employing additional catechists, the committee have to state, that there are also powerful inducements to attempt this measure.

The inhabitants of the Highlands and Islands have a profound respect for religious institutions, and an ardent thirst for religious knowledge. Amidst difficulties totally unknown in the Lowlands, and next to insuperable in themselves, they repair in crowds to the accessible places of worship on the ordinary sabbaths; and it is common for them, on occasion of the sacrament of the Lord's supper being dispensed in their own or in an adjoining parish church, to go from great distances, sometimes by sea and sometimes by land, in large groups, and carrying with them all the necessary means of lodging and subsistence during the period of their stay. On the Monday after the sacrament, in one particular. parish, there may be seen the beautiful and touching spectacle of from 40 to 50 boats setting sail at once, to bear homewards the pious multitudes, who from the remotest boundaries of its vast extent (50 miles by 38) have been devoutly in attendance on the service of the communion.

While, however, the committee state the sad privations as to the means of education, and of religious instruction, existing in these sequestered districts, and the inducements, from the dispositions and habits of the people, that encourage attempts to alleviate the evils to which they are exposed, they feel it their duty to state also, that the committee on the royal bounty, the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge, and various private institutions, have rendered most impor tant service in this good cause. But still the funds of these respectable bodies, though managed with the utmost judgement and economy, and their labors, though most faithful and zealous, are utterly inadequate to meet the exigencies of the case. An immense field of beneficence yet remains to be cultivated by the general assembly, and, through them, by the christian public.-Glas Herald.

GLASGOW MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.

On the 9th August last, Mr. John Deuchar, M. W. S., formerly President of the Royal Physical Society, &c. &c., was unanimously elected Lecturer on chemistry and mechanics in the Glasgow Mechanics' Institution.-Glas. Herald.

WESLEYAN ACADEMY, WILBRAHAM, MASS.

While this institution provides for the prosperity of the church, by retaining in the field of labor her most useful ministers, it affords means for their children to obtain a religious and literary education, on principles adapted to useful life. The following is the system of education, recommended by the Board of Trustees :-1. There shall be taught reading, writing, grammar, arithmetic, geography, composition, book-keeping, mathematics, logic, natural and moral philosophy, and astronomy. The languages usually taught in academical institutions. Females will be taught the most important branches of domestic economy, plain and ornamental needle-work, painting, drawing, &c.

2. There shall be an instructer to direct the studies of pious young men, who, from a sense of duty, are expecting to enter into the gospel ministry.

3. All the scholars, except those who are town residents, are to board in the institution, and the superintendent is to have the care of them as members of his own family, when not engaged in their studies,

4. The instructers shall take suitable times, when out of school hours, to exercise the scholars in the practical application of those branches of mathematical science which they have studied in school, such as measuring solids and superfices, guaging and weighing-taking heights and distances, &c. They shall also take opportunities for exercising those who have studied composition, rhetoric, and logic, in declamation and forensic disputation. The teachers shall also give lectures on chemistry, with practical experiments and illustrations, and illustrate the principles of natural and moral philosophy in general.

5. It is proposed, in connection with the Institution, to cultivate an extensive garden and farm, under the superintendence of an experienced and scientific agriculturalist, in which those scholars who wish to acquire a theoretical and practical knowledge of agriculture may be taught; and others who may desire to do something towards their own maintenance, may have the privilege of laboring when out of school, and they shall be allowed a suitable compensation for their labors.

6. Work-shops are also to be provided, and furnished with suitable tools, where the scholars, under the direction of an experienced mechanic, shall be taught the use of tools in various kinds of mechanical labor.

The Legislature of Massachusetts has granted an act of incorporation to the Wesleyan Academy; and the New England Conference have resolved to patronise the Institution, and to use their influence to raise subscriptions to aid its funds. -Zion's Herald.

COLLEGE AT GENEVA, NEW YORK.

The Rev. ALONZO POTTER, Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in Union College Schenectady, has been elected President of the Episcopal College lately organised at Geneva in the State of New York.

PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS ON EDUCATION.
Common Schools.

On motion of Mr. Strong of N. Y. the Committee on Public Lands was instructed to inquire into the expediency of appropriating a portion of the net annual proceeds of the sales and entries of the public lands, exclusively for the support of common schools—and of apportioning the same among the several States in proportion to the representation of each in the House of Representatives.

Education of the Children of Seamen.

On motion of Mr. Holcombe, of N J. the Committee on Naval Affairs was instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a school or schools for the education of children in destitute circumstances, (the sons of American seamen to be preferred,) to be articled to serve when required, on board of the public ships of the United States, until twenty-one years of age; the object of the institution being to furnish the Navy, from year to year, with a number of competent and well educated petty officers.

United States Naval School.

Mr. Storrs, from the Naval Committee, reported a bill for the establishment of a Naval School.

This bill authorises the President to establish a school for the improvement and instruction of the Midshipmen, and other officers of the Navy. That the said school may be located on any land now held by the United States, for Naval or Military purposes, and shall be subject to regulations to be prescribed by the President--that it shall be under the command of a captain of the navy, to be selected by the President-that one Professor of Natural and Experimental Phi

losophy and Astronomy-one Professor of Mathematics and Navigation-one teacher of Geography and History-one Teacher of the French and Spanish Languages, and one Fencing Master, shall be appointed by the President.-And the Secretary of the Navy is authorised to provide the necessary books, implements, and apparatus for the School.

MERCANTILE LIBRARIES IN THE UNITED STATES.

Philadelphia Mercantile Library.

A Mercantile Library Company has been formed five years in Philadelphia, and has met with encouraging success. The number of volumes is 1500, the annual subscription two dollars, and it is patronised by the most respectable Merchants.

New-York Mercantile Library.

In five years, the young men who compose the New-York Mercantile Library Association, by the most commendable perseverance and exertions, have collected a library of twenty-two hundred volumes of well selected books.

Boston Mercantile Library.

At a meeting of Merchants and their Clerks, held at the Commercial Coffee House in the spring of 1820, was first projected the establishment of a Library and Reading Room, for the benefit of young men engaged in Mercantile pursuits. The plan met with general approbation. An association having been formed, with suitable rules and regulations for its government, by the munificence of individuals and the active zeal of the young men, it was speedily carried into operation, and a room centrally situated (over Merchants' Hall) fitted up for the purpose at considerable expense. The subscription list increased rapidly, and the object of the association was successful beyond the expectations of its most sanguine friends.

At the formation of the Library many of the most respectable and influential merchants of Boston, entered zealously into the cause, made liberal donations in money, and furnished many valuable books. The young men having so laudable an example before them, generally came forward and connected themselves with the association.

The Library room is open every evening, (Sundays excepted,) from the 1st September to the 1st of May, and three evenings in a week during the remainder of the year. Books may be taken from the room and returned in exchange for others as often as the proprietors may wish, or they remain there and peruse them, where perfect silence and decorum at all times prevail. There are now arranged on the shelves nearly eleven hundred volumes, including many interesting and useful works; but there exists an almost universal desire for the occasional new publications; and here the directors would observe, that the reduced state of their funds has prevented them from making any addition for some time past, and to this they attribute in a great degree the withdrawing of many of the old subscribers, and the difficulty experienced in procuring new ones.

PRIZES AWARDED TO WORKS ON EDUCATION.

At the late annual sitting of the French Academy, the prizes for publications conducive to morals and virtue, were awarded to the Baron de Gerando, for a work on Moral Improvement, or Self Education,' and to the work of the late Madame Campan, “on Education."-Ch. Obs. Nov. 1825.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN BALTIMORE.

A bill has passed the Maryland House of Delegates, granting power to the Mayor and city Council of Baltimore, to establish public schools within that city, and to lay taxes for the support of such schools.

NOTICES.

WORKS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Catalogue of the Officers and Cadets, together with the prospectus and internal Regulations of the American Literary, Scientific, and Military Academy, at Middletown, Connecticut. Middletown, 1826. pp. 42.

12mo.

That Capt. Partridge's Academy meets with a large share of public approbation and patronage, is apparent from the fact that the present number of students is two hundred and eighty nine--of professors and other instructers, eighteen.

The principal of this flourishing seminary is distinguished not only as an instructer thoroughly versed in military science, but as an enlightened and successful advocate of practical education.

An agricultural seminary, we confess, is more to our taste than a military one. Capt. Partridge's system, however, presents so many excellent features, that we shall not restrict ourselves to this brief notice, but, at our earliest opportunity, shall take up the subject at greater length.

Monitorial Schools. The Origin, Progress, and Advantages of the Monitorial System of Tuition, set forth in an Address delivered on the occasion of the opening of the Elizabeth-Town Public School, December 14th, 1825. By John C. Rudd, D. D., Rector of St. John's Church. Elizabeth-Town, 1826. 12mo.

pp. 18.

The rapid increase of the number of monitorial schools, is a pleasing fact in the progress of education. The impression seems to be everywhere gaining ground, that these schools afford a more direct and efficient method of instruction than is furnished in others.

The monitorial system possesses, indeed, many advantages over the common method. It devolves upon the pupil's own exertions a larger share of his own advancement; and produces therefore greater force and activity of mind. The whole routine of school occupation is so much enlivened by this system, that the school hours become the most pleasant of the day. But our present limits forbid our entering farther into these topics. We can barely afford room to mention the decided superiority of the monitorial plan, in the admirable school of preparation which it forms for such pupils as are in after life to become teachers.

In the first part of his address, Dr. Rudd takes great pains to show that a due share of the honor of originating the system of mutual instruction, is not accorded to Dr. Bell. The second part of the address presents a brief and cursory view of the intellectual, moral, and physical advantages of monitorial instruction. The limits to which the author has confined himself, render his pamphlet less interesting than the fuller treatises on the same subject, to which we have already called the attention of our readers. But the true test of the merits of this tract, is its success in accomplishing its local purposes, which we have no doubt it has fully done.

Young Ladies' Astromony. A concise System of physical, practical and descriptive Astronomy: designed particularly for the assis

tance of Young Ladies, in that interesting and sublime study; though well adapted to the use of Common Schools. By M. R. Bartlett. Utica, 1825. 4to. pp. 195.

This is a simple, familiar, and practical work, excellen ly adapted to its purpose. A popular treatise on astronomy, constructed so as to dispense with the more difficult mathematical illustrations, has, we think, been much wanted for the use of females, as well as for that of youth of the other sex, who enter early on business, and who cannot bring to the study of this subject a mind disciplined by mathematical instruction. Mr. Bartlett's work will, we hope, be extensively adopted in academies and schools.

In a second edition, the author will, it is to be hoped, abandon the catechetical arrangement, and thus leave more scope for the mind of the young learner to exercise itself in furnishing appropriate answers to the questions.

Epitome Historiæ Græcæ cum Appendice de cis. Accedit Dictionarium Latino Anglicum. cana, Novi-Portus. 18mo. Epitome, pp. 100: tionary, 110. 1822.

Diis et Heroibus poeti-
Editio Prima Ameri-
Appendix, 148: Dic-

We take notice of this meritorious little work, not merely from its intrinsic character, but its connection with the advances of improvement in teaching. This is one of that useful class of publications for which we stand indebted to the French classical schools, and which has, within a few years, been furnished to fill up the enormous gap previously existing between Cordery and Virgil!

After several years' use of this interesting book, in the instruction of different classes, we can cheerfully recommend it to such teachers as may not yet have adopted it. There are but few boys so dull or so regardless as to be able to resist the fascination of this little history.

A Standard Spelling book, or the Scholar's Guide to an accurate Pronunciation of the English Language; accompanied with easy, familiar, and progressive Reading Lessons. Designed as an Introduction to the use of Walker's Critical Pronouncing Dictionary of the English Language. Compiled for the Use of Schools. By James H. Sears. Revised Edition. New Haven, 1825.

In many schools in which Walker's dictionary is used by scholars of the middle class, it has unaccountably been customary to make use, in the youngest class, of a spelling-book entirely at war with Walker's principles. This oversight is the cause of much trouble, and much waste of time, in building up, and pulling down, and rebuilding,-where the first effort might erect a perfect fabric at once. The spelling-book before us, is intended to accomplish this object. Of its success we have no doubt. The utmost care has been bestowed on its arrangement. In several other particulars which our limits will not permit us to mention, it possesses equal merit.—The internal character of the book corresponds, in all respects, to the neatness and care of its execution.

A Catechism of English Grammar, with Practical Exercises, prepared for the use of the School of Mutual Instruction in Boston. By the Instructer. Boston, 1823. 12mo. pp. 68.

Murray's Grammar is universally esteemed a very systematic work. There is not, however, the same unanimity about the merits of his system when considered with reference to the genius of the English language.-We have no room here for discussion. We can only avow our opinion as coinciding with that of those writers who assert that, in Mr. Murray's exposition of English grammar,

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