held, and the emolument which ought to be attached; and, in relation to the last inquiry, whether it would be expedient to attach the same stipend to all the scholarships, or to classify them into one or more grades. 6. The expediency of establishing Fellowships; the most eligible mode of election to the office; the tenure on which it should be held, and the stipend which ought to be annexed. 7. Whether the present constitution of the existing faculties, viewed comparatively, is, in your estimate, proper. 3. Whether any re-arrangement of the existing chairs in the faculty of arts, would be expedient, and calculated to place that faculty on a footing satisfactory to the public; or whether on ad litional number of professors therein be necessary. 9. What regulations would be expedient for the parpose of securing the attendance of undergraduates and students upon public worship in their respective churches, and other places of worship, and for securing to them the benefit of religious instruction from their respective ministers, and according to their respective forms of faith. The commissioners will be thankful to receive your suggestions, either orally or in writing, as may be most agreeable to you, at your earliest convenience. Free Schools in the City of Toronto, 1851.-From an elaborate report on free schools, recently presented to the Board of Common School Trustees of this city by the committee on free schools, we select the following paragraph, which was adopted, after much discussion, by a majority of 7 to 4. No objection was made to the first section of the paragraph: "It is admitted by all that the civil government may claim from the people the means of national defence, of regulating commerce, and of punishing crime: and that, above all things, it is imperatively required to endeavour to prevent crime by establishing those moral safe-guards of society which a wise and wholesome system of public instruction pre-eminently affords. But, while it may claim jurisdiction over such interests, it has no moral right to claim jurisdiction over matters of religion or of conscience: It may impose a tax for general education, but it has no right to impose a tax to support any form of religious faith or worship. The civil ruler should doubtless be governed by moral and religious principles in all his civil duties; but reli. gion, whether as to its support or regulation, comes not within the scope of his prerogative. Civil governments may enact laws in accordance with natural right and the will of the people, but they have no right to impose a tax to be applied in whole or in part for the inculcation of sectarian dogmas whether in public schools or in religious congregations. The great landmarks of duty are traced out in the authoritative command--"Render unto Cæsar the things which are Caesar's, but unto God the things that are God's." BRITISH AND FOREIGN, Items.-The Queen, knowing that property has its duties as well as its rights, has provided schools and school-houses on her estate at Balmoral, with suitable teachers, at her own expense.-The Queen's College, Birmingham, has just received a fresh instance of the Rev. Dr. Warneford's beneficence, by his placing in the hands of the trustees of his former foundations, the sum of £1,400, in addition to £2,000 formerly given by him, to establishing a chair of pastoral theology. Within the last few years the following munificent donations have been made by Dr. W. towards the endowment fund for the institution officials-the warden, £1,000; college chaplain, £1,000; hospital chaplain, £1,000; medical student's divinity lecturer, £1,000; medical tutor, £1,000; pastoral theology professor, £3,400; medical prizes, £1,000; medical scholarships, £1,000.-The most Rev. R. C. Primate Cullen has published another letter against the Queen's Colleges in Ireland, while the Cork Southern Reporter has it from "authority" that the Propaganda will not confirm the decrees of the synod of Thurles against the Colleges. Meantime, these institutions are establishing themselves in public favour very effectively. Already the Dublin university has felt their influence in diminishing the number of students; and the medical, law, and engineering schools-as well as the general collegiate course-seem likely, in a while, to set at nought all hostility. The Magee College for the Presbyterians, is still before the chancellor, awaiting his decision as to its site and constitution, pursuant to the will of the testatrix, its founder; and the Catholic University is making progress in public favor. The Royal Dublin Society is arranging with different towns to send its professors, to deliver courses of lectures, that with increasing intelligence there may be, in the provinces, the same facilities for a knowledge of natural philosophy, chemistry in its application to the arts and agriculture, geology, &c., &c., as in the capital. The establishment of an Antiquarian Society in Kilkenny, whose first volume of "Transactions" shows that the people are taking heart and cherishing hopes of better times. -The correspondent of a London paper, in reference to Caffraria, says that, in Graham's-town, Albany District: "Besides the erection of many edifices for religious purposes, considerable attention has been paid to edu cation, and knowledge is as widely diffused as in the most favoured rural districts of the Mother Country."- -The Prussian Minister of public instruction has issued a circular requesting surgeons, in giving evidence before courts of law, to describe injuries and diseases in plain German words, and not in technical terms derived from Latin and Greek. Extension of University Education in England.-On the thirtieth page of last month's number, we intimated that we would give a synopsis of a plan of self-reform, which had originated in the university of Oxford. The scheme is founded upon this fact, with its natural sequence: "It being impossible to bring the masses to the university, is it not pos sible to bring the university to them?" In submitting the plan, Dr. Sewell states, that "the university possesses a large amount of available resources and machinery, with which the present extent of education conferred by it is by no means commensurate. These resources, consisting partly of pecuniary means and partly and principally of men of high talents and attainments, at present without adequate opportunities of employment, may be made instrumental in planting the seeds of academical institutions throughout the country, by establishing professorships, lectures, and examinations leading to academical honours, in the most important places in the kingdom. For instance, at first, and by way of experiment, professorships and lectures might be founded, say at Manchester and Birmingham, the great centres of the manufacturing districts, and in the midst of the densest population. The institution of these professorship and lectures would be strictly analogous to the original foundation of the universities themselves. They would require little cost beyond the necessary stipends of the professors engaged. Students, after due attendance on such lectures, would undergo examinations before a body of examiners sent from the university; such examinations to be of precisely the same character and governed by the same rules as those required in the university. After such attendance on lectures and examinations, students, having obtained proper certificates of proficiency and general conduct, might be entitled to receive from the university of Oxford academical degrees, with only such a limitation of privileges as would be strictly equitable and necessary. The admission to such lectures, and non-resident degrees, might, it is thought. be safely opened as widely as possible, without requiring any theological test except in the case of theological degrees. The nucleus of an university being thus formed in each place, the same laws which have developed by degrees the institutions of Oxford, might be expected, in some proportion at least to create a collegiate and tutorial system subordinate to it. A plan of this kind would immediately open a wide field of occupation for fellows of colleges. It would extend the benefits of university instruction to the utmost possible limit. It would reduce the expense to the lowest point. The cycle of instruction itself would embrace the various subjects comprehended in the university examinations. Probably five or six professors would be necessary at first for each locality. The opportunity of holding such professorships would be an inducement to men of talent to devote themselves to particular branches of literature at the universities, instead of wasting their lives, as is frequenty the case at the present day, in the fruitless pursuit of barren professions. And lastly by originating such a comprehensive scheme, the universities would become as they ought to be, the great centres and springs of education throughout the country, and would command the sympathy and affection of the nation at large, without sacrificing or compromising any principle which they are bound to maintain. UNITED STATES. Items.-The number of common schools in Indiana is set down at 4,410. In sixty-six counties there are 2,641 organized school districts, and the same number of school-houses. There are 50,000 adult persons in the State who cannot read or write. The present semi-free school law will better the Schools, by securing better teachers. A project is on foot at Albany, for establishing a university in that city.The committee on Education, in the New Jersey House of Assembly, have reported a school bill, increasing the annual appropriation from $30,000 to $40,000, and to be distributed in proportion to the number of inhabitants by the last census. The townships are authorized to raise money not exceeding $4 per scholar for free schools.At a meeting of the regents of the university, New York, held on the 28th of February, the distribution of $40,000 of the income of the literature fund for the last year was made among the several academies entitled to participate therein.Professor E. T. Channing has resigned his post of Boylston professor of rhetoric and oratory in Harvard College. Prof. Channing, brother of the celebrated Dr. Channing, is the oldest professor connected with the undergraduate department of the college, having held his office for over thirty years. The duties of Professor Bowen's office will be performed during the term just commenced by Mr. John M. Marsters, tutor, in history and political economy. -Dr. E. N. Horsford, formerly of New York city, has been appointed Professor of chemistry in the Massachusetts Medical College, in the place of Professor J. W. Webster.- -A meeting of the friends of common schools is to be held in Maryland shortly for the purpose of appointing delegates to a state convention, to be held at Annapolis. The object of the state convention is to agree upon some system of common school education to recommend to the consideration of the reform convention, in order to have an uniform system throughout the State. Common Schools in the State of New York.-The Superintendent of common schools in this State has just published his annual report. It relates mainly to the state of the schools in 1849. The N. Y. Commercial Advertiser publishes full abstracts of this report, from which we derive the following interesting particulars : No. of Schools.-The whole number of school districts in the State on the 1st of July, 1850, was 11,397, being an increase of 206, as compared with the preceding year. The average period during which the schools were taught in 1849, was eight months. The whole number of children, between the ages of five and sixteen years, residing in the several districts of the state, on the 31st day of December, 1849, was 735,188; and the numher of children taught during the preceding year was 794,500, being an excess of 59,312 over the number between the ages of five and sixteen, and 16,191 over the whole number taught in 1348. Of the number thus taught, 9,079 had been under instruction during the entire year; 16,455 for ten months, and less than twelve; 59,315 for eight months, and less than ten ; 106,100 for six months, and less than eight; 167,732 for four months and less than six; 193,022 for two months and less than four, and 200,128 for a period not less than two months. Teachers Salaries.-The amount paid for teachers' wages in the districts which reported was $1,322,696 24, of which $767,389 20 was public money, $508,724 56 raised on rate bills from those sending to school, $31,834 27 by district tax to supply deficiencies, and $14,748 21 to defray the rate bills of indigent persons. The number of children placed on the list of indigent exempts was 18,086. Libraries.-The Library money expended during the year was $92,456 78, in addition to $2,628 73 raised in the several districts, making a total of 95,085 51. The whole amount raised by the inhabitants of the several districts during the year was $906,332 £6, which added to the public money received $859,845 98, makes the total expenditure for school purposes in 1849, $1,766,668 24. The number of volumes reported in the several school district libraries in the state is 1,449,950, being an increase of 40,796 volumes on the previous year. Erecting Schools.-During the year $23,490 60 have been invested in the purchase of sites for school houses, and $154,932 06 in the erection of buildings. Coloured Schools.-There are fifty-two schools for coloured chil dren in the state, of which fifteen are in the city of New York and three in the county of Kings. In these schools 4971 coloured children were taught. The capital of the common school fund has been increased during the year by the sum of $17,109 87; and the balance of revenue now in the treasury, applicable to common school purposes, in addition to the revenue accruing from the United States deposit fund, is $137,524 07. The amount of revenue annually contributed to this object from the avails of the deposit fund is $160,000, which, added to the amount above stated, accruing from the common school fund, gives an aggregate of $302,524 07, as the present revenue of the combined funds. The number of private unincorporated and select schools is reported at 1697, with an aggregate of 70,606 pupils. The Normal School is rapidly and steadily increasing in usefulness and public favour. An interesting feature in the institution during the past year has been the experiment of educating a number of Indian youth of both sexes, with the view of pre; aring them for teachers among their own people. [We have to thank the department at Albany for a copy of their report, containing the foregoing items.-ED. J. OF ED.] From the Annual Address of Governor HUNT, of the same State, we extract the following paragraphs : Free School Law.-The operations of the act of 1849, establishing free schools, have not produced all the beneficial effects, nor imparted the general satisfaction anticipated by the friends of the measure. It has been the policy of our state, from an early period, to promote the cause of popular education by liberal and enlightened legislation. A munificent fund created by a series of measures, all aiming at the same great result, has been dedicated by the constitution to the support of common schools, and the annual dividend from this source will gradually increase. The duty of the state to provide such means and facilities as will extend to all its children the blessings of education, and especially to confer upon the poor and unfortunate a participation in the benefits of our common schools, is a principle which has been fully recognized and long acted upon by the legislature and the people. The vote of 1849, in favour of the free school law, and the more recent vote by a reduced majority against its repeal, ought to be regarded as a re-affirmation of this important principle, but not of the provisions of the bill; leaving it incumbent upon the legislature in the exercise of a sound discretion, to make such enactments as will accomplish the general design, without injustice to any of our citizens. An essential change was made by the law under consideration, in imposing the entire burthen of the schools, upon property. The provisions of the act for carry ing this plan into effect, have produced oppressive inequalities and loud complaints. [In Upper Canada the new assessment law has removed the inequalities justly complained of in the state of New York in the operation of the free school law there. No such objection can therefore be urged against free schools in Upper Canada.-ED. J. OF ED.] It cannot be doubted that all property estates, whether large or small, will derive important advantages from the universal education of the people. A well considered system which shall ensure to the children of all, the blessings of moral and intellectual culture, will plant foundations, broad and deep, for public and private virtue; and its effects will be seen in the dinnnution of vice and crime, the more general practice of industry, sobriety and integrity, conservative and enlightened legislation, and universal obedience to the laws. In such a community the rights of property are stable, and the contributions imposed upon it for the support of government are essentially lightened. But I entertain a firm conviction that an entire change in the mode of assessment is indispensible. Literature Fund.—The capital of the literature fund on the 30th of September last was $272,880 12; the income during the fiscal year was $39,112 40. The capital of the United States deposit fund is $4,014,520 71, is in a highly productive state, and yields an income of $260,228 04. The reve nues of this fund, during this income, will be sufficient to justify the usual appropriations in support of the colleges. The higher institutions of learning, form an essential part of our system of education, and they present strong claims to patronage and encouragement. The true design and legitimate effect of every endowment conferred upon colleges is to cheapen the charges for tuition, and thus enable many who have not been favoured by the advantages of fortune to attain the honours of scholarship. Temporary Normal Schools.-The allowance of $250 to each of the county academies, authorized by the act of 1849, for the education of common school teachers, has produced beneficial results, and I would recommend the renewal of the appropriation. Normal School.-The Normal School has been administered with ability and success, contributing large to the progress of popular education. It is of the highest importance that this institution should continue to receive an ample support. Agricultural College and School of Art.-My immediate predecessor, in each of his annual messages, recommended to the legislature, the creation of an institution for the advancement of agricultural science, and of knowledge in the mechanic arts. There can be no object more worthy of public favour than the encouragement of agriculture, and the intellectual improvement of the husbandman. The cultivation of the soil, the primitive pursuit of man in a state of civilized society, and the foundation of all public prosperity, presents the highest claim to the fostering care of government. As the Agricultural is more numerous than all other classes combined, all other interests depend upon its healthful progress and condition. In connection with the subject under consideration, I would respectfully invite your attention to an able report made to the last legislature by the Commissioners appointed to mature and report a plan for an agricultural college and experimental farm. It cannot be doubted that an institution of the character proposed would promote the dissemination of agricultural knowledge and elevate the condition of the people. In its formation I would recommend an additional department for instruction in the Mechanic Arts. Identified an interest, each imparting strength and vigour to the other, the agricultural and mechanical classes combined may be said to constitute the substantial power and greatness of the commonwealth. The spirit of our institutions and the incentives to effort in which this country abounds, are peculiarly favourable in the development of intentive genius and rapid advancement in the useful arts. From the nature of their pursuits and the necessity which subjects them to a life et toil, too many of our youthful mechanics are deprived of those means of intellectual improvement which the state has provided for other professions. The beneficial effects of an agricultural and mechanical school will not be limited to the individuals who may participate directly in its privileges. The students graduating from such an institution, elevated in character by moral and intellectual training, and endued with that knowledge of the natural laws and practical sciences which unites manual lat our with the highest exercise of the reasoning faculties, will become teachers in their turns imparting to those around them the light of their own intelligence, and conferring dignity upon the common pursuits of industry by an example of honourable usefulness, in their varied occupations. The elevation of the labouring classes is an object worthy of the highest ambition of the statesman and the patriot. Under our system of government the political power of the state must always reside among the men of industry and toil, whose virtuous energy is their best patrimony. The intelligence which qualities them for the duties of self-government, affords the only sure guarantee of the perpetuity of our institutions. Literary and Scientific Intelligence. Items. A new medical journal is about to be published at Toronto, by Messrs. A. H. Armour & Co., and will be under the editorship of several medical gentlemen. The first number is to appear on the 15th of April. -Lord John Russell, in a letter to the President of the Royal Society, announces the intention of Government to place £1,000 at the disposal of the society this year for scientific purposes. Professor Mosley has recently presented to the Admiralty an excellent paper on the rolling motion of ships, which the Admiralty have sent to all their departments for their information.-Three hundred model life-boats have been forwarded to the Admiralty from all parts of Great Britain, in competition for the prize of one hundred guineas, offered by the Duke of Northumberland.— Mr. Maxwell, the well-known author of "Wild Sports of the West" and "The Story of my Life," and largely a contributor to the periodical literature of his day, died at Musselburg, near Edinburgh, on the 29th of last month. The celebrated Spontini, the author of "La Vestale" and "Fernand Cortez," has lately died at Jesi, his native place, in the Roman States, where he had gone to pass the winter in the hope of re-establishing his health. Goodrich-the Peter Parley of literature-has been appointed American Consul at Paris, in the place of Mr. Walsh, resigned.The Professors Silliman, of Yale College, are visiting Europe for the purpose chiefly of making a geological exploration of the central and southern portions of that continent. They will proceed to the continent, and after visiting the volcanic regions of central France, will make the tour of Italy, visiting Vesuvius and Etna, and will return to England in time to attend the meeting of the British Academy of Sciences, which takes place at Ipswich, in July. They will subsequently visit Switzerland and the Alps, and return to this country in the autumn.- -Professor Agassiz has just returned, with his assistant, from Cape Florida. He, it is said, has made many interesting discoveries relative to the origin and formation of the Florida Reefs and Keys. Some seventeen different species of the coral insect have been detec.ed, each one of which, under his powerful microscope, is magnified to the size of a hickory nut. For the last few days he has been making examinations in the Everglades, which contain about three millions of acres of land covered with water. -The fine arts are receiving some impulse from the numerous visitors to Rome. The talented Prussian sculptor, Wolff, who is well known in England from having executed, beside many classic groups, some busts of the Royal family, and a statue of Prince Albert as a Greek warrior, has just completed an exquisite figure of Paris. His four statutes, personifying the seasons, have been purchased by an English amateur. Mr. Gibson is commencing the models of two very important works, Queen Victoria on her throne between two allegorical figures, representing Justice and Clemency, for the House of Lords, and the colossal statue of Sir Robert Peel.--Her Majesty has been pleased to grant a pension of £50 per annum to the widow of the late Mr. Sturgeon, of Manchester, the well-known writer and lecturer on electricity. A pension of £100 per annum on the Queen's Civil List has been conferred on Mrs. Liston, the widow of the late Robert Liston, Esq., the eminent surgeon, whose sudden demise was so generally lamented.— Lieutenant's Waghorn's widow has been additionally pensioned by the liberality of Sir Jamset-jee Jujubhoy, the wealthy native merchant of Bombay; the Parsee Knight has bestowed £20 per annum upon her.-The Times states that besides paper and advertisement duty, amounting to £35,000, this journal annually pays £60,000 for stamps alone.——On dit, that the Daily News has lately changed hands, having been purchased by the London Water Companies, for the purpose of advocating their interests, --A prefatorial notice in the new edition of Major General Napier's History of War in the Peninsula, states that the gallant author is indebted to lady Napier, his wife, not only for the arrangement and translation of an enormous pile of official correspondence written in three languages, but for that which is far more extraordinary, the elucidation of the secret cypher of Jerome Bonaparte and others, by her own untiring perseverance and labour. The value which this discovery has been to the history, speaks for itself.--Sir David Brewster, the eminent Scotch savan, has given in his adhesion to what is called Electro-biology.--Gesner's Kerosene Gas, a recently discovered illuminator, appears to be winning its way to public favour. We observe by an article in the Scientific American, that a patent has been taken out at Washington for a further improvement in illuminating gas, recently made by Dr. Gesner, of Nova Scotia, which the scientific editor pronounced to be "one of the most valuable discoveries, ever made in the manufacture of oil, resin, or asphaltum gases."-Prof. Charles G. Page, of Washington, has been engaged for the last five months in applying electro-magnetic power to a locomotive engine.—A new kind of steam engine has been invented by Mr. John Dodd, of West Flamboro', who has devoted much time to the study of mechanics. It differs entirely from the common steam engine, both in principle and construction. The We entire engine may be put into a small box, and is perfect in itself. -The understand that the inventor intends to have his engine patented here, -The affairs of the London or set with abundance of precious stones. industrial exhibition are prosperous. We mentioned on a former occasion that some of the Rajahs in the East Indies designed to send costly shawls and other expensive articles. These include a pearl robe, valued at $7,000, and a gold mounted saddle, set with precious stones, valued at £6,000. -Queenston Suspension Bridge was opened on the 18th instant with great eclat. Several Americans and Canadians of distinction were present. TRUE GREATNESS consists in being in advance of the age in which one lives. It is founded upon that quality ascribed to Brutus by Cæsar, viz: Quid vult, id valde vult, keenness of purpose, perseverance in carrying out resolutions. This quality was possessed by Lord Chatham.—Brougham's Sketches, vol. 1, pp. 25. The only true greatness is Humility.-H. More. Editorial and Official Notices, &c. W. J. Fox, Esq., M. P., has given notice of the following motion which he intends to make in the House of Commons: "That this house resolve into a committee to consider the state of education in England and Wales, and the expediency of extending and improving it by means of free schools, open to all classes, supported by local taxation, and conducted under local management." We understand that in the village of Preston the free school system has been in force for some time, and gives satisfaction. The people of Amherstburgh have resolved to have free schools for the use of all children in their town for the present year. UNION SCHOOL SECTION REPORTS.-In reply to an inquiry frequently MAY be obtained from Mr. HODGINS, Education Office, Toronto, made at the Education Office, we would remark, that the annual school report of the trustees of a Union section should be made to the local superintendent of the township in which the school house of the section is situated, and by him incorporated in his annual report to the Chief Superintendent. See 6th proviso, 4th clause of the 18th section of the school Act. at the following remarkably low prices : Superior Brass Mounted Orrery, (3 feet in diameter).............. £2 10 0 Superior Brass Mounted Tellurian (for explaining change of Season, Tides, Eclipses, &c.) Terrestrial Globe and Stand, 5 inches in diameter, see wood cut above, (Singly 6s. 3d) 20 Geometrical Forms and Solids, including block to Beautiful 24 inch Hemisphere Globe, hinged (Singly 68. 3d.) Box, varnished, with lock and key to contain the above.... ..... Any of the articles may be obtained separately; also Page's Theory and Practice of Teaching or the Motives and Methods of good School Keeping, an admirable Teacher and Superintendent's Manual, pp. 349. See Journal of Education, Vol. III. page 176, ...... Morse's Geography, with Maps and Wood Cuts,. Parker's Compendium of Nataural Philosophy, 100 0 5 D 063 0 5 0 050 0 5 0 G ........ 039 8 Mayhew's Popular Education, 5 063 ................ .... 0 1 6 Set of Mechanical Powers (8 sheets) beautifully coloured,. Map of Canaan, with route of the Children of Israel, plan of encampment, &c., &c., (22 by 30 inches) Wickham's Chart of Punctuation, on board (24 by 40 in.). 0 1 10 Reading Tablet Lessons 1s. 4d-Arithmetic, do. 28. 4d-Natural History and other Object Lessons at various prices-National Maps and Books, at the prices fixed above-Johnston's Agricultural Chemistry Is. 3dHind's Lectures on ditto, 1s. 3d--School Registers, ruled, 1s 3d-School Act, Forms, Circulars, &c., 1s. 3d-Barnard's School Architecture 7s. 6d., &c. &c. &c. TORONTO: Printed and Published by THOMAS HUGH BENTLEY. TERMS: For a single copy, 5s. per annum; not less than 8 copies, 4s. 44d. each, or $7 for the 8; not less than 12 copies, 4s. 2d. each, or $10 for the 12; 20 copies and upwards, 3s, 9d. each. Back Vols. neatly stitched supplied on the same terms. subscriptions to commence with the January number, and payment in advance must in all cases accompany the order. Single numbers, 74d. each. All communications to be addressed to Mr. J. GEORGE HODGINS, Education Office, Toronto. All PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE SECTION SCHOOL HOUSE ERECTED AT BARRINGTON, RHODE ISLAND. 2 (For plans of interior arrangements, &c., with explanation, see page 52.) No. 4. 49 I. Modern Systerius of Education and their Founders-No. I. Oberlin, II. 1. Sketch of a German Common School. 2. The Art of Teaching, ...... 51 III. SCHOOL ARCHITECTURE-Five illustrations, IV. MISCELLANEOUS.-1. The Three Homes. 2. Historical Sketch of Normal Schools. 3. Education. 4. Queenston Suspension Bridge. 5. A Word Fitly Spoken. 6. Music of Nature in Norway. 7. The Queen. 8. Mountains and Valleys of Intellect. 9. History. 10. Animalcules. 11. Insanity and Genius. 12. Dedication of School Houses. 13. Channing. 14. Arabia and Greece. 15. Southey. 16. Enthusiasts, 52 53 57 59 ...... V. EDITORIAL.-1. Spirit of the present Educational Movement in Upper CaCanada. 2. Boards of School Trustees and Town Councils. 3. Educational Progress in Canada. 4. Extracts fro:n Local Superintendent's Reports, -VI. New Act Establishing Free Schools in the State of New York, 60 We have prepared a series of biographical sketches of the princi-. pal promoters, or founders of modern systems of popular education, which we hope will prove interesting and valuable. Our series, arranged chronologically, will include sketches of the life and labours of Oberlin, Pestalozzi, DeFellenberg, Lancaster, Bell, Jacatot, and other distinguished educators. John Frederic Oberlin was the Pastor of Walbach, an obscure village in the north-eastern part of France, situated in the Ban de la Roche, or Steintahl, which signifies the Valley of Stones. From his childhood to the day of his death, he was remarkable for his disinterestedness. He lived only to do good. He refused more eligible situations, for the sake of leading an humble and laborious life in the Ban de la Roche, simply because the people were very poor and very ignorant, and he could nowhere else be so useful. The Ban de la Roche has been singularly fortunate in having had the work of general education carried forward with zeal and discretion by the religious instructors of its population, from the year 1750 to the death of Oberlin in 1827. The predecessor of Oberlin was M. Stouber, a man of a less ardent temperament, but who, like himself, had the remarkable merit of perceiving the necessity of instructing the great body of the people, undeterred by those vain fears, and uninfluenced by those obstinate prejudices, which, in nations calling themselves enlightened, have so long opposed the progress of knowledge, upon the principle that popular ignorance and state security are inseparable. M. Stouber began his pastoral office by reforming the village schools. The principal establishment for the elementary instruction of the district was a miserable cottage, where a number of children were crowded together, wild and noisy, and without occupation. He set about procuring new schoolmasters; but the trade was considered so disreputable, that none of the more respectable inhabitants of the canton would undertake the office. Stouber, like a wise man, changed the title of the vocation; and though he could not obtain schoolmasters, he had no difficulty in finding superintendents for his schools under the dignified name of 'Messieurs les Régents.' These worthy men were soon in full activity. Stouber printed spelling-books and reading-lessons for the use of his pupils, and built a log-hut for a school-house. The progress made by the children induced their parents to wish to read, and a system of adult instruction, during part of the Sunday, and in the long winter evenings, was established throughout the canton., Stouber persevered in his admirable labours for fourteen years, when, his wife dying, his situation lost a principal charm, and he accepted the station of pastor to St. Thomas's Church, at Strasbourg. He found a succes |