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uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Marshall, who resided in a solitary house near Stirling. There, as Miss Benger significantly informs us," it will be easily imagined that Elizabeth was indifferent to her doll." At eight years of age she was sent to school, where she was taught the same kind of things as other children are taught, in the safe manner and routine; we do not, therefore, think it necessary to follow Miss Benger's enumeration, which is very like a Boarding-school card, with "French, dancing, music, and drawing, one guinea per quarter each." Her Saturdays and Sundays were spent at home, where religion, it seems," assumed a most engaging aspect." Mr. Marshall attended an Episcopalian Chapel, and his wife conformed to the Kirk, and, we are in formed, that "no sooner was the morning meal despatched than the whole family prepared to attend public worship. After morning service they procured some slight refeshment, and, thus recruited, returned to the kirk or chapel for a second

sermon."

We are really at a loss in what manner to continue our remarks upon these volumes. Nothing can be more repugnant to our feelings and intentions, than to express or imply any thing that should seem disrespectful to a person of Mrs. Hamilton's worth; and yet the pomp with which her most trifling every-day nothings are recorded, cannot fail, now and then, to force us into a smile. Thus by reading aloud to her uncle's family circle, we are told that she was led to make the profound remark," that the best prose style was always that which could be longest read without exhausting the breath;" and then to avoid detection in a study, which prejudice and ignorance might pronounce unfeminine, she "once hid a volume of Lord Kaimes's Elements of Criticism under the cushion of a chair." And throughout the work we are overwhelmed with dashes and initials of persons, in whose unsubstantial being it is impossible to take any interest who "come like shadows" and "so depart," and pass over the

scene, doing nothing, and leaving no record of their existence.

The death of her brother, a distinguished officer, and a very learned Orientalist, between whom and herself a most unbroken attachment had subsisted from their infancy, was a severe calamity. The extracts from their correspondence are pleasing, from the spirit of affection which breathes through them; but the intimate confidence of domestic letters has something in them too holy to be desecrated by publication. Her first avowed literary effort was the Hindoo Rajah; it appeared in 1796, and was deservedly successful: it is pleasing and elegant. In 1800 appeared the Memoirs of Modern Philosophers, the work upon which, as we have before observed, we think her claim to public regard must principally be founded. Her Letter on Education followed shortly after; then the Memoirs of Agrippina, of which we think Miss Benger's judgment perfectly correct, that it is "one of the best school classics in a young lady's library.” In the spring of 1806, after she had resigned the charge of educating Lord- -'s children, she published her Letters to the Daughter of a Nobleman; and on her return to Edinburgh, The Cottagers of Glenburnie. 1812 gave birth to the Popu lar Essays on the Elementary Frinciples of the Human Mind, which in reality was a supplement to the Letters on Education; and her last work was produced in 1815, under the title of Hints to the Patrons and Directors of Public Schools, recommending a partial adoption of Pestalozzi's well known plan. After a tedious and painful illness, she died on the 23d of July, 1816, in the 60th year of her age.

The posthumous works now collected are selections from her private journal, in wich we find a great deal very good, but for the most part very obvious: a spirited Essay (No. 46) of The Lounger, and half a dozen by no means equal to it, under the title of the Breakfast Table: extracts from her correspondence, and, if we had known Mrs. Hamilton, we should

have rejoiced much in such a correspondent: her epistolary style is easy, good humoured, and playful, and as unfit for the press as all letters worth any thing to private friends ever are and ought to be; to which we must add, a "Commentary on the Book of Revelations," which may be very safely consigned to the repose of many of its predecessors in the same line.

The following lines are a short but pleasing specimen of Mrs. Hamilton's poetical powers, and our readers, we think, will find no small attraction in a longer piece beginning

"Is that Auld Age that's tirling at the pin ?”

"Still where rosy pleasure leads,

See a kindred grief pursue!
Behind the steps at misery treads,
Approaching comfort view!

"The hues of bliss now brightly glow,
Chastised by sable tints of woe,
And blended form, in artful strife,
The strength and harmony of life.”

We willingly conclude with the following character of Mrs. Hamilton, sketched by the pen of a contem porary female writer, whose approbation in itself is a sufficient pledge of merit. It appeared in an Irish paper soon after her death, and we have every reason to think it appropriate and correct.

"Mrs Elizabeth Hamliton is well known to be not only a moral but a pious writer; and in all her writings, as in all

her conversation, religion appears in the most engaging point of view, Her religion was sincere, cheerful, and tolerant, Joining in the happiest manner, Faith, Hope, and Charity. All who had the happiness to know this amiable woman will, with one accord, bear testimony to the truth of that feeling of affection which her benevolence, kindness, and cheerful ness of temper inspired. She thought so little of herself, so much of others, that it was impossible she could, superior as she was, excite envy: she put every body at ease, in her company, in good humour and good spirit with themselves. So far from being a restraint on the young and Lively, she encouraged, by her sympathy, their openness and gaiety. She never Aattered; but she always formed the most favourable opinion that truth and good sense would permit, of every individual who came near her. Instead, therefore, of fearing and shunning her penetra. tion, all loved and courted her society."

British National Education Society.

The following exhibits an interesting view of the very extended operations of

this valuable institution. The instruction in the schools under its patronage is conducted according to the Madras system, as improved by Dr. Bell, which differs in many respects from the Lancastrian sys. tem. In all these schools there is religi ous instruction according to the princi ples of the Church of England.

CITY NATIONAL SCHOOL EXAMINATION.

ON Wednesday, April 29th, the children of the city of London National Schools underwent a public examination, in the Egyptian Hall, at the Mansion House, in the presence of the Queen, who was attended by various members of the Royal Family, and the principal officers of the household. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of London and Gloucester, and several other Prelates, were present, with the Lord Mayor, and many persons of distinction.

A square space being left in the middle of the hall for the children, upward of 700 boys, and between 200 and 800 girls, were placed in order. After singing a hymn, and repeating part of the Church service, the greater part of them retired; each class being afterward successively intro duced for examination. They went through their usual exercises of spelling, reading, and arithmetic. Ques tions were asked them on the meaning of different words and passages, as they read the Scriptures; which were answered, in general, very satisfactorily. The girls carried round the room specimens of their needlework, which her Majesty and the Princesses examined with much attention. The children performed their exercises, in the manner of the system, by signal from the Monitors; the lifting of the hand, the opening of the Bible, the use of the slate, the dropping on the knee for prayer, were all executed with military precision.

GENERAL MEETING,

On Friday, the 1st of May, a meet

ing was convened at Free-masons' Hall, in support of the National Society; his Royal Highness the Duke of York in the chair.

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, with many other peers, spiritual and temporal, were pre

sent.

After some introductory remarks by the Duke of York, the Archbishop of Canterbury entered into a view of the progress and present state of the society,

Resolutions were moved and seconded, respectively, by the Earl of Harrowby, and Mr. Wilberforce; by Lord Brownlow, and George Gipps, M. P. by Sir T. D. Ackland, Bart. M. P. and William Manning, Esq. M. P. by Sir Robert Peel, Bart. M. P. and Beeston Long, Esq. and by Sir Charles Flower, Bart. and Mr. Alderman Atkins, M. P.

We subjoin these resolutions; as they will show, in few words, on being compared with the statement of the sixth report, the progress of the society since the anniversary of 1817.

1. That it appears to this meeting, that since the institution of the National Society, in 1811, various bene factions and subscriptions have been contributed, amourting, in the whole, to 88,2081. 1s. 7d.

2. That, by the judicious employment of these means, the following important results have been obtained, in less than seven years, viz.-That, besides maintaining the Central School in London, establishing the system in every diocess of England and Wales, and extending its influence abroad, 276 places have been directly assisted by money grants, in the erection and enlargement of permanent buildings, for the education of the poor, in various parts, of the kingdom; 1144 schools have been united, in which not less than 165,000 children are at this time receiving education on the national system; 507 schools have been supplied with permanent and temporary masters and mistresses from the Society's Central School alone, and 705 masters and mistresses have been trained up in the practice

of the national system in the Central School of the society.

3. That the National Society, as appears from the preceding statements, has most successfully contributed to the diffusion of the blessings of education on the national system.

4. That the maintenance of the National Society is of the highest importance to the support of national education in the principles of the esta blished Church: and that local exertions for individual schools do not supersede the necessity of apholding the parent society.

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5. That, therefore, a subscription be immediately opened to renovate the exhausted funds of the society, and to enable it to prosecute the important objects for which it was instituted.

Nearly 90001. has been subscribed. Her Majesty gave 500l. which was a second benefaction: the Prince Regent, 500l. his Royal Highness's third benefaction: the Duke of York, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the University of Cambridge, the Bishop of Durham, and others, 1051. each, being third benefactions: Lord Kenyon, 2001. a fifth benefaction : and the Bishop of London, 1057. & fourth benefaction.

The following notice is subjoined to the resolutions by the committee:

The committee think it necessary only to add, that it is on these grounds, and in the firm and growing conviction that the cause in which they are engaged is the cause of God and of their country, that the society with confidence look forward to such a renewal of public bounty, as may enable their committee to pursue its beneficial labours with unremitted activity; and they are willing to indulge the pleasing expectation, that, with the continuance of support from the public, the blessings of this institution may be universally offered to the children of the poor throughout England and Wales.

Sixth Report of the Society. The following is an abstract of the Sixth Report.

It is introduced by a summary view of the success of the Institution:"The general committee of the National Society, in making the Sixth Anual Report of their proceedings, have to congratulate the members of the Society on the continued and uninterrupted success which has attended their exertions. They have the satisfaction of announcing, that the National System of Education has been gradually spreading itself through the United Kingdom, and taking deeper root in every part; that, in proportion as it has been more widely extended, a more general and full conviction of the important benefits which are derived from it has obtained; and that the result of this conviction has been increased activity and zeal on the part of the public, in their endeavours to promote it."

INCORPORATION OF THE SOCIETY.

After stating the steps which had been taken in obtaining a Charter of Incorporation from the Prince Regent, it is remarked

Thus has the National Society obtained, under royal favour, a place among the great incorporated charitable institutions of the country. The fixed and permanent character which it has now assumed, will, it is confidently anticipated, prove to it the source of essential strength, and materially enlarge its means of carrying into effect its important objects; while the pleasing hope is indulged, that its continuance is now ensured, to confirm and to perpetuate to future generations those invaluable blessings, with the successful diffusion of which, to the present generation, it has so auspiciously begun.

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ed zeal and ability. The Rev. Dr. Bell has given his personal superintendence, whenever practicable. The children have, according to custom, been twice publicly examined, before the Archbishop of Canterbury, and numerous visitors of the first rank and respectability. Of these examinations, it is said

The high state of discipline to which the children are brought, the decorum which marks their whole demeanour, the clear articulate manner in which they read, the readi ness and correctness with which they answer questions connected with what" they read, and the actual degree of improvement which they have made in useful elementary knowledge, especially in the knowledge of the truths and doctrines of religion, have on these, as on former occasions, excited general admiration.

The demand for the admission of .children is greater than can be comhowplied with: the committee have, ever, by a new arrangement, been enabled to receive a larger number than before.

the whole of this last year has been The average number of boys for 579;

the number actually on the list at the present period, 634; being an increase of 71 on the number reported last year. The average number of girls for this last year has been 273; school at the present time, 340; bethe number actually attending the ing an increase of 98 on the number reported last year.

The visitors to the school during the year, whose signatures appear in the Register Book, amount to 4224; being 302 more than in the year pre

ceding.

Training of Masters and Mistresses.

The number of masters admitted during the year, and either retained in the service of the Society, or instructed in the system on special application of clergymen and others, has been 113; of mistresses, 56. Boys and girls from the Central School have organized 39 schools in different parts of the country.

On the whole, not less than 209

schools have, during the last year, received the National System by direct communication from the Central School; and among the places which have thus been benefitted, are to be numbered many large populous towns; as Leeds, Leicester, Gloucester, Lancaster, Carlisle, Bath, and Colchester.

↑ PROGRESS OF THE SYSTEM AT HOME.

The progress of the system is accelerated, the rate of it increasing from year to year. At the last anniversary, the union of 192 new schools was reported: during the present year, 253 have been added; carrying the total number to 1009, in which about 155,000 scholars are receiving education. If to these be added the children in schools conducted on the principles of the Society, though not united to it, it will be found that hearly 200,000 poor children in this kingdom are at this time imbibing the elements of useful instruction on the National System."

PROGRESS OF THE SYSTEM ABROAD.

Bahamas, Nova Scotia, and the Cape. The system is extending itself to the British dependencies in the most distant parts of the world. Mr. William Cooper, formerly one of the Society's training masters, is successfully exerting himself in the Bahamas, in the organization of schools for the children of both white and black parents. Mr. William West, a train, ing master, has been sent to Halifax, in Nova-Scotia, and is vigorously in troducing the system, under the patronage of the local authorities, into that province. The school at the Cape of Good Hope, formed by Mr. Van Wageninge, from the Central School, proceeds with great success, under the superintendence of the Se. nior Chaplain, Dr. Jones, notwithstanding the lamentable death of Mr. Van Wageninge.

India.

To the East-Indies, where Dr. Bell first proved and cultivated this system, the fairest prospect is now opening, that it will be transported back from this country, to become the instrament of the most valuable bless

ings. The Biskop of Calcutta, in a
letter received in May last, made a
request to the committee, that two
persons, properly instructed in the Na-
tional System, might be sent out to
Calcutta. The committee, accord-
ingly, have lost no time in providing
two competent persons, who have gone
through a regular course of instruc-
tion at the Central School, and have
now embarked for Calcutta. At Bom-

bay, a similar prospect is opening.
By a letter received from the Rev.
Archdeacon Barnes, at that Presiden-
cy, it
been opened on the National System,
that a school has there.
appears
and most liberally supported by volun
tary subscriptions. He expresses the
hope, that a master, trained in the
Central School, may, ere long, be ob
tained to give full effect to the plan.

But it is not to Europeans only in India that there is a prospect of imparting the blessings of this system of education. At Chinsurah, in the province of Bengal, and in the surrounding villages, schools have recently been established on a plan which corresponds, in its leading features, with that pursued by Dr. Bell, for convey. ing elementary instruction to the children of the poor natives. The government of India have approved the measure, and sanctioned it with their support, with the view of extending the plan to other parts of those vast territories, on the success of the ex periment being further confirmed. Thus, by opening the minds, and improving the general character of the natives of India, the period may be approaching, when, in the words of Mr. Forbes, the commissioner of that province," they shall derive, from their intercourse with us, benefits, which the vicissitudes of the world, and the revolution of empires, shall not be able to efface."

Russia.

Nor is the diffusion of this system from the National Society confined even to the British dependencies; it is about to be introduced into the vast empire of Russia, under the express authority of the Emperor. In April last, his Excellency Count Lieven,

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