find no place, or occasion, or disposition, to stop in their course. From the first pebble that meets their eye, they proceed to the elements and structure of our whole globe. From those to the upheavings of mountains, and the outbreakings and outpourings of volcanoes; they are thence led to examine the great monsters and little monsters once teeming with life and action upon our earth, but now forming a great part of the rocky, mountain masses composing the earth. From the elements, the structure, divisions, motions, changes and productions of the earth, their attention is naturally and necessarily carried to the heavens-from geography and geology to astronomy. From the speck of time allotted to us here, the attention and desires reach to eternity; from things physical, to things spiritual; from earth to heaven. ning of the 20th of November, it appeared that the whole line of coast had been raised above its level. An old wreck of a ship which could not previously be approached, was now accessible from the land; and beds of scallops brought to light, which were not before known to exist. When I went to examine the coast, says Mr. Graham, although it was high water, I found the ancient bed of the river laid bare and dry, with muscles and other shells adhering to the rocks on which they grew, the fishes being all dead, and exhaling the most offensive effluvia. It appeared to me that there was every reason to believe the coast had been raised by earthquakes at former periods in a similar manner; for there were several lines of beach, consisting of shingle (sea pebbles,) mixed with shells, extending in parallel lines to the shore to the height of fifty feet above the level of the sea. Part of the coast thus elevated, consists of granite; and whole of the country was raised, from the foot of the Andes to far out at sea. The supposed area over which the elevatory movements extended, being about 100,000 square miles." Mantell adds, "that examples of such changes occur in almost every part of the world; and there is perhaps, no considerable extent of country which does not afford some proof that similar physical mutations have taken place in modern times." Excepting an outer crust of comparatively small thickness, it is supposed by many that the earth is one mass of melted matter. The inter-subsequent observations have proved that the nal heat thus dissolving the earth, sometimes by gradual expansions, at others by sudden and terrible explosions, uplifts continents, and upheaves mountains. These gradual and sudden changes upon our earth's surface, both produced by the heat beneath, explain many of the "wonders of geology." They show a probable cause of the regular, irregular and contorted strata of rocks, witnessed most strikingly in many" deep cuts," for railroads, canals, and other public works, made in our country within a few years past; Professor Hitchcock of Amherst College, and as in the channels of rivers, the sides of moun- State Geologist of Massachusetts, remarks in tains, ledges, &c. To the same cause may be his excellent treatise on "Elementary Geology," attributed shells, and other organized bodies on that "By the application of these principles, it mountains, several thousand feet above the pre-is found that the mountains of Europe have been sent level of the sea. From the greatly extended visits and examinations of Charles Lyell, the geologist, he is of the opinion that in the north of Europe, there is a gradual rising, and in the south a gradual falling of the whole surface of country; producing a comparative falling of the North and Baltic seas, and a similar rising of the Mediterranean. Says Dr. Mantell, in hisWonders of Geology," "One of the most remarkable modern instances of an elevation of an extensive tract of country, is thus recorded by Mrs. Maria Graham, as having been produced by the memorable earthquake which visited Chili in 1822, and continued at short intervals, till the end of 1823. The shocks were felt through a space of 1200 miles from north to south. At Valparaiso, on the mor. elevated at no less than twelve different epochs. So far as this subject has been examined in this country, it appears that five or six epochs of elevation can be traced in our mountains; though since the deposition of our secondary rocks, scarcely any movement has taken place; and though Elie de Beaumont suggests that the elevation of the Andes was so recent that it may have produced the historical (Mosaic) deluge, yet the eastern portion of our continent is of an older date than the most of Europe. The con. vulsive movements by which systems of strata were elevated, appear to have been in most instances short, compared with the intervening pe. riods of repose, during which successive forma. tions were deposited." MEGATHERIUM Among the wonders of Geology are the re- like those of the sloth, its legs and feet exhibit mains of animals deposited in the earth, fre- the character of an Armadillo and the Anteater. quently forming the principal mass of moun. Its body was 12 feet long, and 8 feet high. Its tains. More than nine thousand species of such Jore feet were a yard in length, and more than remains have been discovered, the greater part 12 inches wide, terminated by gigantic claws. extinct races, and some of a larger size than any Across its haunches it measured five feet; and now living upon the earth, and evidently fitted its thigh bone was nearly three times as thick as by their structure and consequent habits, to dif- that of the Elephant. Its spinal marrow must ferent modes of existence from any presented by have been a foot in diameter, and its tail, at the the earth in its present condition. part nearest the body, twice as large, or six feet Megatherium is from Mega-great-and The-in circumference. Its tusks were admirably ad. rion-wild beast. The latter, now extinct, was apted for cutting vegetable substances, and its once abundant on the plains of the river Saladil- general structure and strength, seem to intended lo in South America. From a skeleton nearly to fit it for digging in the ground for roots, on perfect, now in the Museum, at Madrid, it was which it principally fed.-Buckland's Bridgelarger than the Rhinoceros, and its proportions water Treatise. were perfectly colossal. With a head and neck VALUABLE SCHOOL-BOOKS, PUBLISHED BY HUNTINGTON & SAVAGE. 216 PEARL STREET, NEW-YORK. THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE HEAVENS & CLASSBook of Astronomy, 1 vol. 18 mo., accompanied by a Celestial Atlas, imperial Quarto, neatly colored. By E. H. Burritt, A. M., with an introduction by Thos. Dick, L L. D., author of the Christian Philosopher, Celestial Scenery, &c. ASTRONOMY For Beginners, with a map and 27 engravings; by Francis Fellowes, A. M. FAMILIAR LECTURES ON BOTANY; by Mrs. Almira H. Lincoln. BOTANY FOR BEGINNERS; by Mrs. Phelps. FAMILIAR LECTURES ON NATURAL PHILOSOPHY; by Mrs. Phelps. NATURAL PHILOSOPHY FOR BEGINNERS; by Mrs. Phelps. FAMILIAR LECTURES ON CHEMSTRY, for the use of schools and academies; by Mrs. Phelps. CHEMISTRY FOR BEGINNERS; by Mrs. Phelps. A DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGU AGE, abridged from the American dictionary, for the use of primary schools and counting-hous es; by Noah Webster, L L. D. A DICTIONARY FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS by Noah Webster, L L. D., 1 vol., 16 mo. A POCKET DICTIONARY, abridged from Webster, in course of publication. THECHILD'S PICTURE DEFINING AND READING BOOK; by Rev. Thomas H. Gallaudet. A PRACTICAL GRAMMAR OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, or an Introduction to Composition; in which the constructions of the language are classified into predications and phrases; by Edward Hazen, A. M., author of the "Speller and Definer," "Popular Technology," &c., &c. gravings; revised, enlarged, and greatly impro ved. A COMPREHENSIVE GEOGRAPHY for schools, with forty maps and one hundred engravings. accompanied by a globe map on a new plan; by Samuel G. Goodrich-author of Peter Parley's Tales-in course of publication. THE ECCEESIASTICAL CLASS-Book, or History of the Church from the birth of Christ to the present time; adapted to the use of academies and schools; by Charles H. Goodrich ; in 1 vol. 18 mo. PETER PARLEY'S HISTORY OF THE WORLD, with 75 engravings. ELEMENTS OF CRITICISM; by Henry Horne, Lord Kaimes, Judge of the Circuit Court in Scotland, &c., &c., with analyses and translations of the illustrations. LIVES OF THE SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, in 1 vol., imperial 12 mo. ; designed for school libraries. TOWNDROW'S STENOGRAPHY: prepared expressly for schools and private instruction. THE READER'S GUIDE: for high schools and academies; by John Hall, A. M., late Principal of Ellington, (Conn.) high school. THE READER'S MANUAL: for common schools; by John Hall, A. M. THE PRIMARY READER; for the younger clas ses in common schools; by John Hall, A. M. AN IMPROVED ARITHMETIC: for the use of schools and academies; by J. Olney, A. M. H. & S., in addition to their own publications, keep a full assortment of school, miscellaneous, and classical books and stationery, which will PARLEY'S NEW GEOGRAPHY for beginners be sold on the most favorble terms to country with eighteen maps,and one hundred and fitty en-dealers, school committees and teachers. DISTRICT SCHOOL JOURNAL, OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK. VOL. VI. ALBANY, JUNE, 1845. No. 3. TERMS The session of the Onondaga County TeachFor one copy, in all cases, (per annum,).... 50 cts. ers' Institute, and the opportunity thus afforded one hundred copies, each, NOTICE. A county convention of town superintendents, teachers and friends of edacation, will be held at Catskill, on the 18th day of June next. TOMPKINS COUNTY INSTITUTES. An error was made in stating the number of pupils at the last meeting of the Tompkins Teachers Institute, as fifty; it should have been one hundred and fifty. This correction is due to a county that has done as much, we think we may say more, to make these Institutes useful, under the able direction of J. S. Denman, Esq., the former, and S. Robertson, the present Superintendent, than any other in the state. We devote our paper of this month exclusively to the proceedings of the late State Convention of County Superintendents, at Syracuse: and we are confident our readers will require no apology at our hands. Our only cause of regret is that we are compelled to lay over the reports of the several committees on the various topics committed to their charge, until our next number. to the members of the Convention, and to distinguished strangers, to test the practical workings of our system, added much to the value of the proceedings: In short, every thing which could give pleasure and zest to such an intellectual reunion, was supplied by the hospitable citizens of Syracuse. We are under very great obligations to Messrs. CRANDALL, of the Onondaga Standard, and A. MANN, Esq., of Rochester, for the full reports which we are enabled to present of these proceedings; and we cordially tender them our thanks and those of the friends of education generally, for the enlightened interest manifested by them, in the proceedings throughout, and for the able and satisfactory manner in which they discharged the arduous duties of reporters. We had intended to have said much more, in reference to the proceedings of the Convention; but must defer it to another opportunity. STATE CONVENTION OF COUNTY AND The Convention was called to order by H. E. ROCHESTER, Esq., President of the last Convention, and opened by prayer by the Rev. Mr. CASTLETON, of Syracuse. There were several circumstances attending the Convention, which rendered it unusually inThe State Convention of County Superinten. teresting to the friends of education. The pre- dents of Common Schools for the State of Newsence of the State Superintendent-his active par-York, convened in Syracuse, pursuant to adjourn. ticipation in the proceedings-the full and frankment, at the Congregational Church, on Tuesmanifestation, on his part, of a deep and cordial day, the 221 of April, at 9 o'clock, A. M. interest in the great objects for which the Convention had assembled-and the expression of his determination to give full effect, so far as his administration of the Department was concerned, to the existing system of Common Schools-a system to the formation of which he was an early and efficient contributor-the presence, also, and eloquent addresses of Messrs. EMERSON, of Massachusetts, BARNARD, of Connecticut, and other distinguished gentlemen from abroad, and of Messrs. POTTER, MAY, TOWN, ROCHESTER, HOLBROOK, and others, of our own State-all con. tributed to give to this session an importance and an interest not hitherto experienced. absent, EDWARD S. SHUMWAY, Esq., of Essex, The Secretaries of the last Convention being was chosen Secretary, pro tem. The roll of Superintendents was then called, and the following answered to their names during the Convention Hon. N. S. BENTON, State Superintendent. Albany-Francis Dwight. Allegany-Ralph H. Spencer, J. J. Rocka fellow. Broome-J. T. Brodt. Chenango-David R. Randall. Columbia-David G. Woodin. Delaware-S. T. Ferguson. Monroe (country)-Alexander Mann. Montgomery-F. P. Moulton. New-York-D. M. Reese. Oneida-W. S. Wetmore. RULES AND ORDERS. 1. The session of each day shall be opened by prayer. 2. Committees shall be appointed by the President, unless otherwise specially ordered by the convention. 3. Immediately after the organization of the convention, the President shall call over the counties in alphabetical order, for the purpose of affording the county superintendents of each an opportunity to submit such observations, state such facts and offer such resolutions on the subject of education generally, or on such other topic as he may desire to bring before the convention for its action, as they may deem expedient. Onondaga-Orson Barnes, Alanson Edwards. Such resolutions shall be filed by the Secretary, Ontario-A. T. Hopkins. Orleans-J. O. Willsea. Oswego-O. W. Randall. Otsego-L. R. Palmer. Saratoga-Seabury Allen. Schenectady-Alexander Fonda. Seneca-Charles Sentell. Tioga-Elijah Powell. Warren-Lemon Thompson. Washington-Albert Wright, Wm. Wright. Curtis, TOWN SUPERINTENDENTS PRESENT. Cortland-D. C. Squires. Chemung-J. C. Ross. Erie-A. G. Sweet. Herkimer-S. F. Merry, N. Snell. JeffersonEllmer. Madison: Delamater. Monroe -Ira Bellows. Onondaga-S. S. French, Lester M. Pratt, J. Wheeler, Martin W. Lyon, D. C. Greenfield, E. W. Curtis, B. J. Cole, E. V. P. French, A. H. Wells, Chester Moses, Mason P. Kinne, Hicks Worden. Ontario-William Gallup, A. Beebee. Oswego-Frederick Brooks, C. A. Tanner, A. H. Dunham, R. K. Sanford, A. M. Gaylord. Wyoming-N. A. Calkins. On motion of Mr. DWIGHT, of Albany, the Convention balloted informally for President, and JAMES HENRY, Jr., of Herkimer, ha ving received the largest number of votes, was. on motion of A. WRIGHT, of Washington, unanimously chosen as President of the Convention. On motion of A. FONDA, of Schenectady, a committee of one from each senate district was appointed to recommend the remaining officers of the Convention; whereupon the chair named the following gentlemen, viz: Messrs. Johnson, of Kings, Ingraham, of Dutchess, Fonda, of Schenectady, Allen, of Saratoga, Barnes, of Onondaga, Powell, of Tioga, Lindsley, of Yates, and Nay, of Genesee. During the recess of the above committee, Mr. WOODIN, of Columbia, moved that a committee of three be appointed by the chair, for the pur. pose of reporting rules, &c. for the convention : he following were appointed-Messrs. Woodin, of Columbia, Dwight, of Albany, and Curtis, of Chemung. Mr. WOODIN, from said committee, reported he following rules, which were adopted on mo. ion of Mr. Johnson, of Kings: in the order in which they are presented; but no discussion or question shall be had on them, until the calendar of counties has been completed. The roll of Town Superintendents shall then be called in the same manner and for the same purpose. 4. When such calendar shall have been completed, such resolutions shall be taken up in their order, discussed and decided. 5. Reports from committees shall be called for and received immediately after the coming together of the convention at its morning and af ternoon session; and where such reports conclude with any resolutions requiring the action or expression of opinion of the convention, such resolutions shall be added to the calendar and taken up in their order. 6. The convention shall hold three sessions daily; commencing at 8, 2 and 7 o'clock; and the hours of recess shall be half past 12, half past 5, and half past 9, P. M. 7. The evening session shall, unless otherwise ordered by the convention, be specially set apart for the delivery of lectures, and the hearing of such authors of text books, school apparatus, &c. as may desire it, in the order of their appli cation. and orders of this convention. The committee on nominations reported the following gentlemen as officers of the convention : E. S. ELY, of Erie, 1st Vice President. DAVID G. WOODIN, of Columbia, 2d Vice President. Wright, Palmer, Wilsea. 2d. On Organization of School DistrictsMessrs. Barnes, D. R. Randall, Storkes. 3d. On Modes of Teaching-Messrs. Storkes, Powell, Spencer. 4th. On Character and Deportment of Teachers Messrs. Albert Wright, Tidd, Moulton. Messrs Sprague, 5th. On Vocal Music Spencer, Brodt. 6th. On Text Books-Messrs.C. Randall, In. Allen. J. T. BRODT, of Broome, and C. O. TANNER, Town Sup't. of New Haven, Oswego co. Secre-graham, taries. The officers of the convention having been completed, and taken their seats, the President addressed the members as follows: Gentlemen-I beg leave to return my sincere thanks for the great and gratifying honor the convention has done me, by calling me to preside over its deliberations. It is my deep conviction, gentlemen, that we are met for an object of the very highest importance; and, that he who is permitted, though it may be in a very small degree, to aid the furtherance of the great cause of education, performs a high and noble service to the community, and to his fellow men. I need hardly say, gentlemen, that I accept the station to which you have called me, with profound diffidence of my own abilities; but I derive hope, and some degree of confidence, from the recollection, that throughout the different state conventions of superintendents I have been permitted to attend, I have uniformly observed, that the the kindness and good order of members, rendered the duties of the presiding officer easy and pleasant. It has been well and truly remarked, that heretofore, our conventions have been distinguished by a generous forgetfulness of self on the part of the members, and an earnest devotion to the great cause committed in part to their keeping. That such will be in future, as it has been in past time, an honorable characteristic of our conventions, there is no room to doubt; nor that all our efforts shall be marked by harmony, and a sincere devotion to the great cause which we have assembled to promote. Without taxing your patience further, I proceed, gentlemen, to the discharge of the duties you have assigned me. On motion of Mr. Johnson, of Kings, it was Resolved, That the friends of Education present be invited to take seats as honorary mem. bers of the Convention. The counties being called upon in order, pursuant to the rules, to present business for the Convention, Messrs. Dwight, Brodt, Woodin, Mann, Moulton, Wm. Wright, A. Wright, Squires, Tanner, Ely and Shumway, presented various resolutions, &c., which were afterwards referred to the proper committees. 7th. On Normal Schools and Teachers' Institutes-Messrs. Dwight, Sprague, Mann. 8th. On School Celebrations Palmer, Ely, Thompson. 9th. On Teachers' Conventions Allen, Hobbes, Squires. -- Messrs. Messrs. 10th. On Moral Instruction-Messrs. D. R. Randall, Ingraham, Shumway. 11th. On Government and DisciplineMessrs. Johnson, Powell, Henry. 11th. On Duties and Powers of Town Super. intendents-Messrs Fonda, Hopkins, Edwards. Messrs. In13th. On Union Schools graham, Wilsea. Moulton. 14th. On Free Schools-Messrs. Nay, Allen, Thompson. 15th. On School Apparatus-Messrs. Wm. Wright, Brodt, Snell. 16th. On Condition of School Houses, Sites, &c., Messrs. Barnes, Tidd, Woodin. 17th. On Duties and Responsibilities of Inhabitants-Messrs. Mann, Fonda, Palmer. 18h. On Legislative Memorials-Messrs. Powell, Rockafellow, Woodin. 19th. On Maps, &c.-Messrs. Lyon, Henry, Sweet. 20th. On Resolutions Nay, Fonda. Messrs. Storkes, 21st. On Agriculture-Messrs. Lindsley, McKenzie, Dunham. 22d. On County and Town AssociationsMessrs. Sylvester, Curtis, Bellows. On motion of Mr. EDWARDS, of Onondaga, Resolved, That Miss Bloss, of Rochester, be invited to examine her class on Ancient History in presence of this Convention, at 8 A. M. tomorrow. The Rev. Mr. MAY, of Syracuse, formerly of Boston, then stated, that he was requested by the Hon. HORACE MANN, of Boston, to express to the Convention his profound regret, that his present engagements in that city were such as not to permit his attendance on the present interesting occasion; and witnessing in this Hall the progress of that great and good cause to which he is devoting his powers. Mr. May then presented to members of the Convention, Mr. Mann's Reply to the attack of the "Thirty one Boston Teachers" upon his Annual Report |