AMERICAN SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION.

Cotemporaneous Account-1806.

PARAGRAPHS FROM HISTORICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT OF THE UNITED STATES. BY NOAH WEBSTER, JR.

In the year 1805, the territory of the United States was divided, for purposes of local government, into seventeen States, and into districts subject to the direct legislation of Congress. Of the condition of education in these States at that period, we have a comprehensive survey by Noah Webster, in his Account of the United States, prepared by him for the use of schools, and printed at Hartford, in 1806. We extract under each State, the paragraphs devoted to the State of Learning, following the same order of the author.

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Of the State of Learning.-An old law of the colony (1719), directed every town, containing one hundred families, to provide a grammar school; in which also was to be taught reading, writing and arithmetic. This law was not well executed. Since the revolution, a law of the state has directed the maintenance of schools in the several towns under certain penalties. There are also social libraries in some towns; and newspapers circulate in almost all parts of the state.

Of the Academies.-At Exeter an academy, founded by John Phillips, Esq., and called after his name, was incorporated in 1781. At Atkinson, an academy founded by Nathaniel Peabody, Esq., was incorporated in 1790. Academies are also founded at Amherst, Charlestown and Concord.

Of Dartmouth College.-At Hanover, in Grafton county, is a college founded by Dr. Wheelock in 1769, with a special view to the instruction of young Indians. Although this object has in a great measure failed, the institution is prosperous and highly useful. The number of students is seldom less than one hundred and fifty; its funds, consisting of new lands, are increasing in value; its library and apparatus are tolerably complete; its situation is pleasant and advantageous. It takes its name from a principal benefactor, the Earl of Dartmouth.

VERMONT.

Of the State of Learning.-Learning receives from the people of Vermont all the encouragement that can be expected from an agricultural people in a new settlement. Schools for common educa

tion are planted in every part of the state; and two colleges are established, one at Middlebury, the other at Burlington, in which are taught classical learning, and the higher branches of mathematics, philosophy, and other sciences.

MAINE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

Of the State of Learning and Religion. The laws of Massachusetts direct that a school shall be kept in each town, and lands are retained, as public lots, for the support of schools and the gospel ministry. These beneficial institutions are enjoyed in the old settlements; but a great part of the district, being lately settled, is not well supplied with schools.

MASSACHUSETTS.

Of the State of Learning.-In Massachusetts the principal institutions for science are the University of Cambridge, and the college at Williamstown. The university of Cambridge was founded in 1638-it is well endowed-is furnished with professors of the several sciences-a large library and apparatus and contains usually from one hundred and forty to two hundred students. Williams college, in Williamstown, founded in 1793, is in a thriving state. Academies are established in various parts of the state, in which are taught the liberal sciences, as well as the languages. The laws of the state require a school to be kept in every town, having fifty householders, and a grammar school in every town having two hundred families. And although the laws are not rigidly obeyed, still most of the children in the state have access to a school.

RHODE ISLAND.

Of the State of Learning.-There is a college at Providence, founded by the Baptists, containing forty-eight rooms for students, and eight rooms for public uses. It has a library of near three thousand volumes-and an apparatus for experiments in philosophy. It is furnished with a president and suitable instructors for the students who are usually about fifty in number. In the large towns, and in some others, there are private schools for teaching the common branches of learning.

CONNECTICUT.

Of the State of Learning.-Soon after the settlement of Connecticut, the General Court passed laws directing schools to be kept in every village, and providing funds to encourage them. Every town or village containing a certain number of families, was directed to maintain a school, and empowered to draw from the treasury of the state, a sum equal to one five-hundredth part of the amount of the property of the town, as assessed in the grand list. By means of this provision, common schools have been kept in all parts of the state, and every person is taught to read, write, and keep accounts. By the sale of the western reserve in 1795, still more liberal and permanent funds were provided for the support of

schools. In winters the larger children are instructed by men; in summer, sinall children attend the schools, and are taught by women; in general the instructors are selected from persons of good families and reputation.

Of Yale College.-Yale College, so called, from a principal benefactor, was founded in the year 1700 at Killingworth, but fixed at New Haven in 1716. It consists of three colleges, each containing thirty-two rooms, a chapel and museum-has a library of about two thousand volumes, and a philosophical apparatus. Its funds are ample, and from thirty to fifty students are annually graduated at the public commencement in September. It is under the direction of trustees, consisting of eleven clergymen and eight laymen. The vacancies among the clerical members are supplied by the board of trustees. The lay members are the governor, lieutenantgovernor, and six senior members of the council of the state, or upper house.

Of Academies and Grammar Schools. By law, a school grammar may be established in any town in the state, by a vote of the inhabitants in legal meeting; and many academies are established and maintained by private funds. In these are taught not only the primary branches of learning, but geography, grammar, the languages, and higher branches of mathematics. There are also academies for young ladies, in which are taught the additional branches of needle-work, drawing, and embroidery. Among the academies of the first reputation are, one in Plainfield, and the Bacon academy in Colchester, whose funds amount to about thirty-five thousand dollars. The most distinguished schools for young ladies are, Union school in New Haven, and one in Litchfield.

NEW YORK.

Of the State of Learning.-A college was founded in the city of New York in 1754, and incorporated by charter from the king. After the revolution, the legislature instituted a university consisting of a number of regents, whose powers extend to the superintendence of colleges, academies and schools, throughout the state. They are authorized to found colleges and academies, confer degrees, visit all seminaries of learning, and make regulations for their government.

Of Columbia and Union Colleges.-By the act of the Legislature in 1787, founding the university of the state, the college in New York received the name of Columbia, and all the privileges and powers, derived from its charter, were confirmed. It is under the government of twenty-four trustees, and has considerable funds. Its instructors are a president and professors of the principal sciences. The building is of stone, three stories high, and containing forty-eight apartments. The college is furnished with a chapel, a library, museum, and philosophical apparatus. Union college was founded at Schenectady in 1795, and is in a prosperous condition.

Of Academies and Schools.-Several respectable academies are established in different parts of the state, in which are taught the

learned languages, geography, grammar, and mathematics. Until since the revolution, common schools received no encouragement from the public treasury, or the laws. But in 1795, a law of the state appropriated a large sum of money for erecting school-houses, and paying teachers, the beneficial effects of which are visible. Hitherto, however, the instruction of the laboring people in the first rudiments of learning, has not been general.

NEW JERSEY.

Of the State of Learning.-The education of youth in New Jersey depends on the voluntary contributions of individuals, and therefore is neglected by some classes of the people. In the more populous towns and villages are academies and schools of high reputation. The college at Princeton, called Nassau Hall, is a seminary of distinguished reputation, and from thirty to forty students are annually graduated at the public commencement.

PENNSYLVANIA.

Of the State of Learning.-In Pennsylvania is one university, the seat of which is Philadelphia; a college at Carlisle, and another at Lancaster. There are numerous academies and schools in Philadelphia and other large towns. The legislature have reserved sixty thousand acres of land as a fund for supporting public schools. The Moravian academies at Bethlehem and Nazareth, are noted for strict discipline and morals.

DELAWARE.

Of the Schools.-There are private schools in this state, and especially in Wilmington. In 1796, the legislature passed an act for creating a fund for the support of public schools. There is no college in the state, but an academy at Newark, a few miles from Wilmington.

MARYLAND.

Of the Literary Institutions.-The principal institutions for the education of youth are, Washington academy, in Somerset county, instituted in 1779, Washington college at Chester, founded in 1782, St. Johns college at Annapolis, founded in 1784, a college at Georgetown, instituted by the Catholics, and Cokesbury college in Harford County, instituted by the methodists in 1785. There are private schools in many places; and private tutors in families; and many young men are sent for their education either to Europe, or one of the colleges in the northern states.

VIRGINIA.

Seminaries of Learning.-The college in Williamsburg was founded during the reign of William and Mary, and called by their names. It was endowed by them with twenty thousand acres of land, and the proceeds of a duty of one penny on the pound of tobacco exported-with a duty on skins and furs exported, and liquors imported. It is under the government of twenty visitors,

a president and professors in the most important branches of science. There is also a college in the county of Prince Edward, and academies in the principal towns, as well as numerous schools in other parts of the state.

NORTH CAROLINA.

Of the State of Learning.-In 1789 the legislature passed an act incorporating a number of persons as trustees of a university to be established, and funds were supplied for the purpose of erecting buildings. There is an academy of Warrenton, and a few others in the state; but the education of all classes of people is not general. In 1803, however, the legislature passed an act for the establishment of public schools.

SOUTH CAROLINA.

Of the Seminaries of Learning.-Gentlemen of property have been accustomed to send their sons and daughters to England for an education. Some of them send their sons to one of the colleges in the northern states. There are several institutions in the States called colleges and academies-a college in Charleston, one at Winnsborough, in Camden district, one at Cambridge, and one at Beaufort, with considerable funds. There are several academies and schools in Charleston, Beaufort, and other parts of the state. The South Carolina College was incorporated in 1801, with an appropriation of fifty thousand dollars for erecting buildings in Columbia, and six thousand dollars yearly to maintain instructors.

GEORGIA.

Of the Literary Institutions.-The legislature of Georgia have founded and endowed a college at Louisville. There are also some schools in the state. A law of the state has incorporated a number of literary gentlemen, for the purpose of establishing and superintending seminaries of learning-fifty thousand acres of land are appropriated for funds, for this university-and a sum of money in each county for maintaining an academy. The funds destined by Mr. Whitfield to maintain an orphan house, and by him bequeathed to the countess of Huntingdon, in trust, are vested in commissioners to support a college called by her name.

KENTUCKY.

Of the State of Learning.-Provision has been made by law for founding and maintaining a college, and schools are established in different parts of the state.

TENNESSEE.

Of Learning.-Several schools are established in this state, and by law, provision is made for three colleges. There is also a society for promoting useful knowledge.

[No mention is made of the state of learning in Ohio, and the Territories of Mississippi, Indiana, Michigan, and Louisiana.]