winter, and also for one or two looms, as means of employing their hours of leisure. Their common bed, for the time, was a large space filled with straw, and covered with an immense sheet, on which they reposed side by side. Their food consisted almost exclusively of potatoes, with the milk of their cow, and bread sent from Hofwyl. Their dining room was furnished with slates and books, which indicated that it served also as their school room. Two or three hours in a day were devoted to instruction. A pupil of Vehrli watched continually over their moral conduct, and an improved system of agriculture, which they are required to bring into operation upon uncultivated land, served as a course of practical education. It was delightful to see, in the midst of this solitude and comparative privation, the cheerfulness and activity which pervaded the whole mass of the pupils, as well as the spirit of fraternal kindness which seemed to reign toward each other, and toward their leader.

At a second visit in 1829, I found their house completed, with a convenient kitchen, cellar, dairy and weaving room, in the basement story; and their bed room furnished with separate beds. (See the cut on the adjoining page.)

During the year preceding, they had, with the aid of a workman, pierced a passage through a soft sand rock, 5 feet in height, and 280 feet in length, into the mountain, to procure water. They had raised a terrace, fifteen feet wide, to serve as a road, and prevent the ground from washing; and another, twenty feet square, and six feet high at the extremity, as a garden spot, in front of the house. In addition to this, a spot of several acres, covered with wood four years before, was now perfectly cleared, even from stumps, and under fine cultivation, chiefly in potatoes. The tillage of this ground, with their washing, cooking, sewing and weaving, occupied their labouring hours; and four hours daily on the average, were devoted to instruction. They attended public worship, in a village at the foot of the mountain, and occasionally at Hofwyl.

Their stock consisted of a hive of bees, two cows, one of which was presented by Capo D'Istrias, now President of Greece, two goats, and two swine, which arrived at midnight without any message, but were supposed to be a present from the philanthropic naturalist, Bonafoux, who had just before

visited them.

a, Stable-b, Dormitory-c, School and Dining Room-
d, Piazza-e, Banks of Earth.

Their food consisted of potatoes, carrots, clotted or curdled milk, and soup made with butter or pork. They had a supply of potatoes, milk, and butter, from their own stores. They had not yet sufficient grass for their cow; and were also dependent on Hofwyl for bread, and oil for lights. In return, they had sent thither during the year, a calf, a kid, three pieces of linen of twenty or thirty yards each, and a quantity of wood.

In order to establish this school, Fellenberg had expended about seven hundred dollars in addition to the purchase money of the land. The latter has been paid in part by wood cut from it; and the value of the spot, in its actual state, far exceeds the expenses incurred.

It is well worthy of consideration, whether such an establish

ment would not serve best as a moral hospital for those unhappy youths, who are often sent in despair on board ships, or into military establishments, as the only means of subduing their habits of vice. The isolated situation-the necessary absence of external temptation- combined with a mild, but strict discipline-would exert an influence far more favorable to reformation, than the corrupting atmosphere of a ship or a camp. I could wish, however, to see it under the direction of parents, that the softening influence of the family state might be added to the subduing power of other means.

In regard to this establishment, Fellenberg, in a communication addressed to the friends of education, of which the editor recently received a copy, remarks as follows.

It is particularly in the labours of the field, that Divine Providence appears to have assigned the resources necessary for the education of poor children. But the objects of real philanthropy will be fully attained only in proportion as we can give our pupils the satisfaction of feeling that they are contributing to the good of others, while they are labouring for themselves. This object is especially secured in the Colony of Meykirch. In forming for themselves an asylum under the divine protection, the pupils also provide, in proportion to the success of their efforts, for the welfare of their companions in poverty and ignorance, by making room for the reception of others, and especially by establishing the practicability, and leading to the formation, of similar institutions. Their success and their enjoyment, would of course be increased by the addition of assistants thus obtained.

'I ought not to suppress the fact here, that my young colonists pray, morning and evening, that God will encourage others at some future day, by the example of their Colony, to lead the vast number of children, neglected and corrupted to temporal and eternal salvation, by the same course which they are pursuing. When we told them of the danger to which the children of the Greeks were exposed, of dying in famine and nakedness, or of being plunged into slavery, apostacy, and every species of debasement, they were anxious to send them, at once, all they had to dispose of; and prayed that God would grant these unfortunate children the same privileges which they enjoyed.'

'This school is one which may be imitated wherever there is land well exposed and well cultivated, under the direction of

a beneficent proprietor, whose philanthrophy is so far enlightened that he is not satisfied to repose in the illusions of inactive good will, nor yet to do good imperfectly. The most essential point is to procure instructers whose character is thoroughly proved. Any others, might abuse the power entrusted to them.'

In one respect such an establishment has peculiar advantages. The pupils of a school like Hofwyl, do not distinguish the results of their own efforts, amidst the mass of labours which is produced in common with others. The Colony of Meykirch is essentially different in this respect. All that appears is the result of the labours of the pupil- unassisted except by the divine blessing. In seeing these, industry and the love of labour find increasing encouragement from day to day. The irregular, unconnected character of thought and feeling, which belongs to childhood, assumes more consistence and maturity. Those who have been pupils in Hofwyl itself, are strengthened in their confidence in the blessing of Providence upon their efforts and become more obedient to the guides assigned them.'

In reference to the apparent hardship of such an institution, he observes: Let us not deceive ourselves concerning the wants of infancy, and the most important objects of education. It is not in reducing too much the difficulties of life, that we can secure the success and happiness of our youth. It is in teaching them to overcome these difficulties with cheerfulness, that we shall best succeed in rendering them happy. They must, above all things, be taught to govern their propensities to subdue their passions. Nothing is better calculated for this object than to leave them to struggle with nature in its uncultivated state, provided it be done under the direction of a guide sufficiently enlightened and benevolent to direct them properly, and to moderate their efforts when they become excessive; a point not less important than that of overcoming the propensities to indolence and disorder. I cannot discover any means, generally applicable to the neglected and ignorant, so efficacious in leading to that great evangelical reformation, which should be the object of all our most anxious wishes, and strenuous efforts.'

THIRD SERIES.- VOL. I. NO. V.

25

ART. II.-EDUCATION IN GREECE.

Observations upon the Peloponnesus and Greek Islands; made in 1829. By RUFUS ANDERSON, one of the Secretaries of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Boston. 1830. 12mo. pp. 334.

THE various benevolent Associations, both of America and Europe, which have for the last half century been engaged in the enterprise of extending the reign of civilization and Christianity throughout the world, have looked for some time with peculiar interest to the Levant. The many circumstances which combine to render that region a most important centre of influence and action occur at once to the reader. These circumstances have always operated to crowd the shores of the Mediterranean with a busy and most interesting population, and to make them the scene of nearly all those events which have had an influence upon the destiny of mankind. By mankind, however, we mean in this case, that great division of the human family which has, for the last 3000 years, found its home in Europe and in Western Asia; for the Oriental world has been so remote, and so separated from us in her history, and so different in her religion, her manners and customs, and her laws, that its population may almost be considered another race. The Mediterranean has, however, been, at all times, the great centre and highway of the Occidental world. On her bosom Persia and Greece and Rome fought their battles-Egypt and Carthage, and Palestine looked out upon her; and for a thousand years the commerce of the world passed across her waters.

This is indeed now changed. The merchandize of Europe and Asia find on board an East India ship, a safer and easier conveyance than upon a caravan of camels; but still a vivid interest, and an important influence is concentrated upon the Eastern Mediterranean. The benevolent societies have endeavored to avail themselves of some of the channels of influence thus open, to spread the light of knowledge and of Christianity over those now unhappy shores. They have established their Printing Presses, those moral batteries,-upon the Island of Malta ; and from this artillery, there has been, and there is now a continual discharge, which it is hoped is rapidly opening a way for light and knowledge and happiness. Such a metaphor, however, is perhaps somewhat too military in its character to express ap