dom has bequeathed, and modern science has added; yet is there one uniform pervading spirit, a spirit transmitted from age to age, whose continuous identity from the days of our Alfreds and Edwards down to the present, can be traced by every honest and reflecting mind, a spirit too, of which (to use his own admirable expression) "the letter is but the trustee, and too often the dishonest one." If, I say, there be such a man, that man is Baron Smith.

But besides the claims to public respect which such high powers constitute there other points in his character sufficient (one would have thought) to screen him from mob violence. The first is, that in his political sentiments he has been always a decided liberal, a warm advocate of what will go down to posterity as the most felicitous instance of Hibernian catachresis, viz. the HEALING measure. The next is, that if there be a defect in his judicial character, it is what some consider a reprehensible lenity in criminal cases. And indeed I believe it must be admitted that there is some truth in the charge, that perhaps the "quality of mercy" has been sometimes "strained" in his character, and that (to borrow the rhetorical and classical allusion of Parr) if a Boos Eλso stood in the vestibule of the Judgment Hall as in that of the Areopagus; he certainly need not wince as he approached the hallowed spot. Now, one would have thought that amongst the members of a church which draws so wide a distinction between mortal and venial sins, and which also allows of such a comfortable set-off of merits against offences, that the Baron's previous political sentiments and lenity of character might have pleaded in extenuation of any little slip by which he had offended the majesty of the Brehon law, and roused the anger of its Druidical dispensers, Again, it might have been supposed that amongst "a nation of people, than whom under the sun there is none that doth love equal and indifferent justice

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better," such a man as I have described might have been allowed to deliver his opinion upon the correctness of a practical principle which had been boldly put forward as the law of the land, and as boldly acted on. principle was the far-famed one of passive resistance," one which (tho' announced with all the pomp of an original discovery) appeared to vulgar eyes to be nothing more nor less than a revival in a compendious form of the moral maxim set forth in Rob Roy's song "Those may take that have the power, and those may keep who can." The great propounder of this principle however, had in his evidence before parliament, stated it as a just and logical deduction from admitted premises. He certainly admitted that it required some "metaphysical aid" to apprehend its full force, but that its truth was as undoubted as any proposition ever put forward by "the irrefragable Doctor," or "the Master of Sentences." Now this was a subject exactly for Baron Smith. The happy antithetical condensation of the expression seemed to strike his fancy. It was probably (if not a version) a brilliant flash suggested to some Maynooth Classic by Horace's "strenua inertia." The Baron however could not fail to discover, that in all such figures of speech (which are I believe, called by rhetoricians, oxymorons,) there is generally some equilibrium observed between the two parts which make up the compound and upon the nice counterpoise of which the beauty and felicity of the expression depend. But he saw that in the present instance the resistance part quite ran away with the passive; and that whilst every person concerned in enforcing the law was robbed or murdered, all those who were concerned in the passive part actually suffered nothing. He accordingly took the first opportunity when he went on circuit, of exposing the wickedness and absurdity of this principle; and, if there was a feeling excited in court by his masterly expo

sure, except that of mingled abhorrence and contempt for its author, it was a regret that such a man should be called from the higher duties of his solemn office, to brand such insolent and elaborate dishonesty ; that he whose opening charge was generally the finest Lay Sermon," that he who should have been employed in instructing all descriptions of persons, from the Grand Juror down to the humblest peasant in their respective duties; in setting before them the wholesome provisions of our admirable laws for the suppression of crime-in showing them (in the words of old Hooker) "that of law it must be acknowledged that her seat is the bosom of God; and her voice the harmony of the world;" that he, I say, should be employed in removing such rubbish from the avenues of justice, or in exposing certain moral positions, which, though they might have done very well in a dialogue between such pleasant fellows as Mat o' the Mint and Bob Booty, never could have been seriously entertained for one moment by any person of common honesty or Christian principle.

A rejoinder of course appeared from the same grave and learned authority by whom the principle had been first advanced; and what was the consequence ?-we will not say effect; as philosophers are yet undecided as to the true nature of the connexion between cause and effect. It may be worth attending to, particularly by some of our neighbours at the other side of the channel, who shudder at the introduction of any measures into Ireland, inconsistent with the free spirit of the British constitution. It may be worth the attention also of the Right Reverend Divine himself, by whom this discovery in Ethics was made. It may prove to him the truth of a position which indeed, I wonder how any luminary of the Romish Church (as he undoubtedly is) can be ignorant of, viz., that too much knowledge is not always to be imparted to the laity; that though a principle may be true and even useful in the schools where there are none but the educated and the "metaphysical" to receive it, yet, as the meteoric iron is not found to answer in the smith's forge, so that same principle may be totally useless, if not dangerous in the hands of the vulgar. It was a maxim of Fontenelle's "that a wise

man, even when his hand was full of truths, would often content himself with opening his little finger," and after what we have seen, we most humbly implore his Right Reverence, if he has many such truths in his possession, to keep his fist as tightly closed as possible. But to return to the " passive resistance" lads-they were all indignation upon hearing of this controversy between the judge and the bishop that the favourite article of their creed should be so attacked-that any man (be his rank or station what it might) should be indifferent to the force and the beauty of the prayer so fervently breathed over them; viz., "that their hatred of paying their just debts might be as lasting as their love of justice" appeared to them to be an offence that blood alone could expiate. Accordingly, in the midst of a county boasting, in proportion to its extent, of as large a portion of resident gentry as any in Ireland; an armed band of ruffians, without any disguise upon them (except what whiskey might have produced) breaks into the judge's demesne. Fortunately he was not at home; as, though a man of high spirit, his fraine was not exactly of that gigantic mould that could outlive the rude concussion of a Whiteboy. They tear up his plantations, assail his house,--smash doors, windows, &c., and commit every species of atrocious outrage, and finish by giving him regular notice to quit. That interesting personage whose merits and sufferings have been held up to such sympathy and admiration by a popular poet, leaves word for him, "that they had no business with him and his law," and that he and his friends were determined to revive the proud boast of their ancestors, viz., “that law never came to the west of the Barrow"

Through Ulster, Leinster, and through
Munster
Rock's the boy to make the fun stir

Of all modern countries there is perhaps, none, that with regard to either classical literature and science, or to general diffusion of knowledge, is more entitled to universal attention than Germany.-Without wishing to detract anything from the merits of the eminent scholars of Great Britain and Ireland, it must be admitted, that they cannot sustain a comparison with the Germans, neither with regard to number, nor with respect to the collective mass of solid and valuable productions. The different Latin and Greek Grammars, translated from the German, and the numerous German editions of Roman and Greek Classics, daily used in these countries, would, even without any reference to scientific works, furnish ample proofs for our assertion. The reason of this literary activity may be found not only in the great assiduity and perseverance which form part of the German character, but more particularly in the great number of learned institutions which that country pos

sesses.

In the year 1348, the Emperor Charles IV. founded at Prague, the first German University, after the model of that of Paris. This example was soon imitated by different German Princes, and even before the end of the fourteenth century, similar'establishments arose at Vienna, (1361), Heidelberg, (1386), Cologne, (1386); and Erfurt, (1392); and shortly after also at Würzburg, Leipzig, Ingolstadt and Rostock. The division into many small states had always been injurious to the political strength of Germany, but with regard to science,

the case is different. This was a field where the pettiest prince could successfully enter the lists even with the mightiest, and such an honourable emulation, could not but produce the most favourable results. Thus we see at present no less than twenty-two rival Universities in the different kingdoms and principalities of that country, and Prussia alone can boast of sir. The plan upon which those establishments are founded, differs entirely from that usually pursued in Great Britain and Ireland. Classics and Science are completely separated in Germany; the former are studied in Schools or Colleg

es,

the latter form the exclusive province of the Universities into which no student is admitted, unless he have previously completed his education in the "humaniora," as they are termed. The comparatively few classical Lectures at the Universities are intended merely for the more profound critics, and frequented only by those students who wish to devote themselves more especially to philology, in order to obtain afterwards a professorship in some College, or a chair in one of the Universities.

To enable our readers the better to form a correct view of the merits or demerits of all the different establishments, we shall begin with the Schools.

These may, according to their functions, be divided into two classes, Elementary or Grammar Schools, and Latin Schools, † as they are termed. The former, usually finish the education of boys intended for business, and at the same time serve as preparatory estab

lishments for the latter, of which every town of any note possesses, at least, one. In the latin Schools the student is finally prepared for the Universities, and closes his course of "humaniora."

The whole of these institutions, with a few solitary exceptions, ‡ are public establishments, under the immediate superintendance and controul of the respective governments. The professors and masters receive a salary adequate to their station, which, generally, renders them independent of their pupils. On this account particular care is bestowed upon their selection. Even in the grammar Schools, the greater part of the teachers must have received a University education, and be known as men of moral character. The same is required of the junior masters in the Latin Schools, but a professorship therein cannot be obtained without distinguished talent and learning. In fact, nearly all the most eminent classical scholars, are, or were at least for a considerable time, professors in some of these Latin Schools. When, for instance, we were at Misnia, Dr. Koenig, (the editor and commentator of Claudianus and Persius) was rector, and the three senior professorships were occupied by Kreyssig, (the editor and commentator of Livy), Bornemann, (editor and commentator of Xenophon's works), and Lindemann, known by his edition of Plautus, his Thesaurus linguæ, Latinæ prosodiacus, and a small publication. "de Accentibus Linguae Latinae." The rector of the "Kreuzschule," at Dresden, is Baumgarten-Crusius, who edited Eutropius, the Odyssey, Livy, Suetonius, Ovid, Agesilaus, and Xenophon's Encomium Agesilai. At Altenburg is Matthiae, celebrated for his Greek grammar, and for his editions of Alcaus, Aratus, Dionysius, Eratosthenes, Euripides, Herodotus, Homer's Batramyomachia, and Cicero's orations and letters, &c.

Thus we might go all over Germany, and would hardly find a single town of any consequence, that cannot boast of some distinguished scholars, whose names are well known to the literary world, and may be seen in every catalogue of classics and philological writings.

Each establishment has a head master,

called Rector, Director, Schulrath, &c. who, either individually, or with the concurrence of the senior professors, directs the course of study, and all other affairs connected with the institution. The number of masters is different in the various establishments, and, on an average, amounts to five or six professors, and an equal, or greater number of teachers, besides the masters of foreign languages, drawing, &c. The whole of these are appointed by government, and receive, out of the public funds, fixed salaries, proportioned to the rank and extent of the establishment, and to the services required of them. The head masters have from 800 to 1200 dollars. The professors from 300 to 1000, and the junior masters from 150 to 300, which is sometimes paid partly in money, partly in kind. Besides their salaries, they also receive, in some places, a share of the school-money which the pupils have to pay for their tuition, but this is the case only where those fixed revenues are very low.

There are, comparatively, but few schools, where the pupils reside at the establishment, but they, generally, live either with their parents and relations or board and lodge with the professors, or some other respectable private families, who are in the habit of receiving young students as inmates, and treat them as members of the family. In some places, however, a certain number of the pupils are either partly or altogether maintained and instructed at public expence, and in that case, they always reside at the school. Such establishments there are for instance at Berlin, Halle, Misnia, Schulpforta, Grimma, Leipzig, &c. &c. In many of these' latter, the numbers are limited, on an average, from 150 to 250; but, where the pupils are expected to live in private families, there are no restrictions of this nature; and the increase or decrease of the frequenters depends on the literary celebrity of the rector and the masters, and the more or less favourable situation of the town. In some institutions, the number of young students amounts only to two hundred, whilst, in others, we find as many as 500, or 600, for example at the "Graue Kloster of Berlin." The classes