last; they see what a birthright they may lose by sluggishness, what a future they insure by timely action to preserve what we have and punish and extinguish treason. They will not be untrue to their trust. When they resolve at all hazards that every creature who bears the image of God is empowered to have and to hold for himself and heirs that image forever, with all the rights the Creator meant it to carry with it, they will insure us one country, one Constitution, one destiny.

We have above but feebly indicated the trend of the great thoughts with which the lecture abounded. It was frequently interrupted by applause, and when it ended, a volunteer quartette, under the lead of Mr. Elliott, sang a patriotic song or two, and then the evening's entertainment was over.

THIRD DAY.

WEDNESDAY, May 6th.

The President called the Institute to order at nine o'clock, A. M. The Rev. A. Higbie, of Napa, offered prayer.

The President read the following communication:

ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES,

San Francisco, May 5th, 1863.

To Hon. John Swett, Superintendent Public Instruction :

At a meeting of the California Academy of Natural Sciences, held May fourth, it was resolved that the rooms of the Academy be opened to the members of the Teacher's Institute every afternoon during the present week, from four o'clock to five o'clock and thirty minutes. The rooms are at 622 Clay street, near Montgomery, third story.

LEANDER RANSOM, President.

In explanation, the President stated that at the rooms of the Academy of Natural Sciences was to be found the largest collection of mineral and other specimens in the State. It was an extremely valuable and interesting collection, and he certainly recommended those who had never visited it to avail themselves of the invitation. The rooms were situated at No. 622 Clay street, near Montgomery.

Mr. Ellis H. Holmes was called to the Chair.

TEXT BOOKS.

The report of the Committee on Text Books was called for as next in order.

The Secretary read the following report:

The Committee on Text Books respectfully recommend that the following be adopted for use in the Schools of the State:

Readers.-Marcius Willson's series.

Geographhy.-Fordyce A. Allen's Primary; S. S. Cornell's Primary; D. M. War

ren's Intermediate; and D. M. Warren's Physical Geography. Pelton's Outline Maps. Arithmetic.-James S. Eaton's Primary; Warren Colburn's Intellectual; and Horatio N. Robinson's Practical Arithmetic.

Grammars.-Quackenbos' English Grammar; and Greene's Oral Instruction, (for Teachers only.)

Your Committee would also recommend that one hour each day be devoted to the discussion of text books; that the Secretary be provided with a blank book, in which he shall keep a list of the different text books suggested by members, and that at any time during the sessions or recesses of the Convention, the County Superintendents, Trustees, and Teachers of the Public Schools, are requested to place a mark against the book which they prefer. It is thought that in this way the sense of the Convention can be obtained most easily, quietly, and satisfactorily. The result to be made known near the close of the Convention.

GEORGE W. MINNS, Chairman.

Professor Minns said the Committee had not reviewed the different books, but they simply presented the names of those which they recommended. There had been reports submitted to two Conventions, and published, with reference to all those books except Quackenbos' English Grammar, and the subject had been considered at length, particularly by the last State Convention at Sacramento. It seemed to him that they were in possession of all the information requisite, and what they wanted now was to come to a vote. They wished to have the matter decided if possible. Every one knew it was very difficult for Teachers to agree upon text books. One reason why lawyers were not allowed to sit upon a jury was, because twelve of them never could agree upon anything, and he supposed Teachers were in the same category with reference to text books. [Laughter.] It appeared to the committee that the time for discussion on this subject had gone by, and they were afraid if they got into it again it would never terminate.

Mr. Higbie moved the adoption of the report. Carried. Mr. John Bagnall, of Colusa, made a telling little speech on the subject of talking out loud enough to be heard. He enjoyed very much what he had heard so far, but would be obliged to refrain from giving any opinion to his Colusa fellow Teachers as to what he had not heard.

Mr. J. C. Pelton moved, in order to bring the question of text books further before the Convention, that they approve of Quackenbos' History of the United States, which was put, and lost.

Mr. Pelton said he made the motion simply for discussion. He had heard that book very highly spoken of as combining all the practical qualities of a good small primary history. It had

a very pleasant detail, and was calculated to introduce favorably the more elaborate works which followed.

Mr. J. L. Wilbur, of Yolo, said he felt like congratulating the Institute that this subject was in able hands, and expressed the utmost confidence in the impartiality of the committee, and the intelligence and patriotism of the State Board. He had no desire to hear any great amount of discussion on text books in the four primary studies, and was willing to rest it with that noble body. He knew little about Quackenbos' History, but so far as he had examined it, it was quack without the boss. He admired Willson's clearness and fairness, and regarded him, as an author and writer, far superior to Quackenbos.

Mr. Harris, of Sacramento, said if the motion had been made to include all histories it would not have been voted down. He moved to take up for discussion Histories of the United States, which was carried. He proceeded to advocate Willson for his scholarship, system, conciseness, patriotism, and correct propor tion in the treatment of small and great events.

Mr. Higbie concurred, but said there was another work which he thought better still-Lossing; because it contained all the elements of Willson, together with references to other parts, like a polyglott bible.

Dr. Henry Gibbons, of San Francisco, thought it would be well to advise that no text book be used which had not been published within three months, and that no advice be considered as operative for more than three or four months; one text book, however old, would be much better than constant changes. Every three months the Teacher wanted a new set; before scholars could get the hang of the new text book they would have to get the hang of the new Schoolmaster. [Laughter.] It was a serious tax on parents, and ought not to be suffered. There was more in the oldest of text books than many of the Teachers in California knew. [Applause.]

Mr. J. C. Pelton also felt the evils of the confusion arising from the infliction of a multiplicity of text books. He had obtained a little insight into how it was done. Teachers should be living text books, and children need not then be crammed with senseless formulas. He had often thought of a remark he once heard made by the present Superintendent of Public Instruction, while Principal of the Rincon School: "After all, bear in mind that blackboards are not the heavens, and chalk marks are not the stars." [Applause.]

Mr. Thomas Ewing spoke highly of Weld & Quackenbos' New Grammar. He did not believe that any text book would do in our Schools-Smith's, for instance. The main feature of Weld & Quackenbos' Grammar was, that it commenced with plain, simple principles of analysis, and after that gave concise definitions, leaving out the rest of the matter found in ordinary text books, which should be given orally by the Teacher.

The President said he would like to embrace this opportunity to notice "The Only Sure Guide to the English Tongue." It was an old book, and he did not know that it could be obtained in any of the book stores, but it possessed the advantage of being illustrated. It was published a century ago, and he had placed it on the table for examination.

Mr. Harris, of Sacramento, regarded text books as made for the convenience of the Teacher. The question to ask was, which was the most convenient, or which would make the work most easy for the Teacher? not, which would make it easier for the scholar to learn independently of the Teacher? After deciding what it was to make the Teacher's work easy, it would not be difficult to determine whether Robinson, Thompson, Quackenbos, Bullion, Wells, or Clark, was best. In that view, he advocated Willson, Bullion's Grammar, Thompson's Practical Arithmetic, and Davies' series in mathematics.

The President resumed the Chair, and announced that the time for this discussion had expired. He gave notice that the Board of Examination was under the necessity of holding a session at eleven o'clock this morning, at which candidates for State certificates should be present.

Mr. D. C. Stone, Principal of the Grammar School at Marysville, was introduced to the Institute, and proceeded to deliver a lecture on "Grammar."

OPTICS.

Miss Clark's Model School class recited a lesson in Optics, first introducing themselves with a song, accompanied by Mr. Mitchell on the piano. Miss Clark said they had been charged with calling familiar things by terrific names; certainly they had not uttered them in terrific voices. It had been intimated, too, that one of the papers read yesterday gently ridiculed the very method of teaching grammar on which they prided themselves. She feared that those who were terrified yesterday

would be horrified to-day-but they would try at least to be heard, and she hoped no unpleasant consequences would result. The examination having concluded, at twelve o'clock, M., a recess was taken.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Mr. E. H. Holmes in the Chair.

From one o'clock to one o'clock and thirty minutes, Miss Sullivan's class, from the Model School, was engaged in an Object Lesson. The exercise seemed to command the closest attention of the Institute.

Mr. Burgess concluded his lecture on Linear Drawing, (from yesterday afternoon) and illustrated the more difficult parts of perspective.

The Rev. Samuel H. Willey, President of the College of California, next delivered an address on "The Place and Relations of the College in our System of Education;" at the close of which a brief discussion was held on the "Defects of the Course of Study in Common Schools," and at four o'clock the Institute adjourned.

EVENING SESSION.

At eight o'clock the President introduced, to a well filled house, Professor J. F. Whitney, the State Geologist, who proceeded to deliver a lecture on "Alexander Humboldt."

Adjourned.