Journal of education, 1 octobre 1859, Octobre

gyp* MtSiSi JOURNAL OF EDUCATION.Volume III.Montreal, (Lower-Canada) October, 1859- No.10.SUMMARY.—Canadian History.—The Brock monument by II.G.M.Speech of Sir Allan McNabat the inauguration.—Description of the monument.—Education : School days of Eminent Men in Great Britain, by J.F.Timbs.(continued from our last).—Suggestive hints towards improved secular instruction, by the Rev.Richard Dawes.A M., 6th.Arithmetic (continued).7th.Mensuration.—Summary' of hints to teachers, by John Bruce, Esq., Inspector of Schools.—Official Notices.— Notice to Secretaries of Boards of Examiners.—Diplomas granted by the Boards of Examiners.—Situations as teachers wanted.—Editorial : Report on the state of Public Instruction in Lower Canada for the year 1868.—Notices of Books.—Mon-teiths’ French without a master.—French Genders.—Provancher, Traité de Botanique.—Monthly Summary : Miscellaneous intelligence.—Scientific intelligence.CANADIAN HISTORY.The Brock Monument.Monuments are a nation’s landmarks.Nations have disappeared without leaving to posterity a written history to keep alive the memory of their sons and the glory of their actions ; their existence would now be unknown, and the traveller would pass unconsciously over the tombs of the Asiatic conquerors or Egyptian Kings did not the lofty column or massive pyramid, palace of the dead, tell of actions there performed or ot potentates and conquerors buried beneath.In the deserts of the East where moving sands now cover once fertile regions and where a few crumbling walls mark the sites of once flourishing cities, whose names are not inscribed on papyrus or on leaden tablets, the head of some sphynx or curiously engraved funeral urn, throw light on the events of a kingdom shrouded in the night of antiquity.Were there not such monuments as the obelisk and the needle, we of the time of the steam engine and magic wire could form no idea of the progress of the arts in the dominions of the Pharaohs and the skill of man at that remote epoch ; we should perhaps look with disdain upon the peoples of the past, be inclined to think that we had reached a state of civilisation befoie unknown, unheard, unthought of, did not the surprising works exciting every day the admiration of the explorers of antiquities, moderate our pride in making us despair of ever equalling the mighty works of the unaided hand of man, which have survived the ruin of empires, the convulsions of nature, the effacing fingers of destructive time, and that have transmitted and will transmit to distant ages the memories of statesmen, warriors and kings.A monument is the symbol of the lofty aspirations of the immortal spirit, which tends beyond its habitation of to day, and wishes to outlive the span of its mortal career ; it is the testimony of a people’s gratitude, and the only meet tribute it can pay to those who have sacrificed their lives on the altar of their country’s love ; it is the only worthy gift they durst offer to those elevated minds, who overcoming the weakness of nature, have suffered hardships and given their lives to preserve their existence.The patriot or the warrior obtains for his citizens prosperous days, or drives from them the invading foe and preserves them as a people ; to that patriot or to that warrior is erected a monument, which shall long keep alive his memory and transmit his fame to coming ages.There is a simple sublimity in a monument : a few piled stones the emblem of immortality ! A country always thinks with fond regret of the children who died in her defence or deiended her cause ; she wishes that they should ever live in her midst, but unable to give them perpetual life she confers on them undying fame and ever enduring immortality ; she engraves their name on a stone, which points to the spot where took place an action, which her children may admire and learn to emulate.It is related of the elder Cato, who gave his leisure moments to the education of his children, that to inspire them with the patriotic fires ofthe Roman, to impart to them a knowledge of the heroes whose achievements were the admiration of the ancients and excite wonder at the present day, he drew pictures representing the dauntless bravery of Codes, and superhuman fortitude of Scævola ; he led them round the environs of Rome and shewed the places rendered memorable by battle or steady retreat.He, considered by the great intellects of the Augustan era, as the model of a citizen, thought no better instruction could be given youth than in teaching it the history of Rome, and exciting admiration for its defenders.There is no greater incentive to glory, nothing more fecund in great thoughts, than the scene afforded by the actions of great men, and the grateful remembrance of their country.Then, my readers, ye men of pedagogic lore, resolute handlers of the birch, and lights of the young children who come to learn from your mouths the first lessons of "knowledge, and sip from the cup you have prepared for them, their first draught from the refreshing well of science inspire them with the love of Canada, our native soiF make them acquainted with all the historic associations time has twined around this land ; ye need not lead them to distant climes to shew them sublime spectacles and beautiful landscapes, open but the page of our history and on it you will find grand and delightful scenes and stirring events to excite their active curiosity.a We write for the teacher, and our ambition is that our writings may please, interest and instruct him, and smooth the rouMi path his avocations lead him into.We shall then relate in few and simple words an episode not without importance in the history of Canada, and which occurred during the war of 1812, so prolific in good results for the Lower Province.It was at the opening of this war that the French Canadians showed their generosity in forgiving the injuries they had suffered under the administration of the tyrannic Craig, by becoming the staunch defenders of Britain and displaying under the English flag the bravery, which in former times, they had shewn when marching to battle with the infantry of France.Many places obtained at tliat time a local celebrity for deeds worthy ol being more generally known.The Americans had imagined that they could take Canada without soldiers and that they could as easily command it as England did the Ocean The Voltigeurs and the gallant officers of the french militia, in whose veins coursed the generous blood of the french chivalry roused the Upper Canadians to follow their example and quickly shewed the invaders that they had no puny foes to contend with (1) (1) Montgomery Martin—The British Colonies. 150 JOURNAL OF EDUCATION The French Canadian peasant still recurs with pleasure to the affair of Châteauguay, where he shewed himself far superior in military qualities to his boastful neighbour.The war of 1812 taught England to appreciate the loyalty of the Canadians, and to consider Canada as her bulwark in North America.One of the most memorable events of the campaign of 1812 and which reflects a high degree of honour upon the Canadian militia, meriting for them the esteem of the country, a leaf in its history and a monument to their leader, was the battle fought near the present village of Queenston, which is seven miles below the falls, seven miles above Fort Niagara, and twenty miles north by east of Fort Erie, a battle known’in our history as the battle of the heights of Queenston.The engagement took place on the 13 October, 1812.The following narrative of the event is from Christie’s History of Canada.“ General Brock, who with unwearied diligence had watched the motions of the American forces upon the Niagara frontier, commanded by major general Van Ransalaer, was convinced from the movements he had observed on that shore, that an invasion was premeditated, and kept his slender force upon the alert.On the 4th of October a spy was sent over to the British side, who returned with information that General Brock had moved on to Detroit, with all the force that could be spared.Encouraged by this news, every preparation was taken for a descent upon Queenston.On the morning of the 11th, their forces were concentrated at Lewiston, opposite that place, with a view of making an attack upon the latter ; but through the neglect or cowardice of the officer entrusted with preparing and conducting the boats io the place of embarkation, the attack miscarried.Early in the morning of the 13th, then-forces were again concentrated at Lewiston, and the troops embarked under cover of a battery of two eighteen and two six pounders.This movement being soon discovered, a brisk fire was opened upon them from the British shore, by the troops, and from three batteries.The Americans commenced a cannonade to sweep the shore, but with little effect.The first division under colonel Van Ransalaer, effected their landing unobserved under the heights a little above Queenston, and mounting the ascent, attacked and carried an eighteen pounder battery, and dislodged the light company of the 49th regiment.The enemy were in the meantime pushing over in boats, and notwithstanding the current and eddies, here rapid and numerous, and a tremendous discharge of artillery which shattered many of their boats, persevered with dauntless resolution, and effected a landing close upon Queenston, where they were opposed by the grenadiers of the 49th regiment and the York volunteer militia, with a determination verging upon desperation.The carnage became terrible.The British being overwhelmed with numbers, were compelled to retire some distance into a hollow.General Brock, who was at Niagara, a short distance below, having heard the cannonade, arriving at that moment, the o-rey of the morning, with his provincial ald-de-camp, Lt.-Col.M’Donnell, from that place, and having rail id the grenadiers of his favorite 49th, was leading them on to the charge, when he received a musket ball in his breast, which almost immediately terminated his existence.In the interim, the light company, supported by a party of the Yorkers, rallied, and reascended to dislodge the enemy from the heights.They formed and advanced to the charge, exposed to a smart fire, but finding the enemy posted behind trees, so ttiat a charge could have little effect, they desisted, and separating, posted themselves in like manner, and kept up a sharp fire for some time.Lieut.-Col.M’Donnell, who had joined them while forming for the charge, and was encouraging the men, received a ball in his back, as his horse, which hail been wounded, was in the act of wheeling.He survived his wound but twenty-four hours, in the most excruciating pain.The Americans having effected their landing with an overwhelming force, the Bnstish were obliged to give way, and suspend the fight until the arrival of reinforcements, leaving the Americans in possession of the heights.General Sheatfe soon after came up with a reinforcement of three hundred men of the 41st regiment, two companies of militia, and two hundred and fifty Indians.Reinforcements having also arrived from Chippewa, the general collected his whole force, amounting to upwards of eight hundred men, and leaving two field pieces, with about thirty men under lieutenant Holcroft ot the royal artillery, in front of Queenston, as a check to prevent the enemy from occupying the village, proceeded by a circuitous route to gain the rear of the heights upon which the enemy were posted.The Indians, bein'* more alert than the troops, first surmounted the hill, and commenced the attack, but were repulsed and fell back upon the main body, who formed with celerity, and upon the word, advanced to the charge under a heavy shower ot musketry.Hie British set up a shout, accompanied with the war-whoop ol the Indians, and advanced at the double quick pace, when the Americans struck with terror, gave way and fled in ail directions, some concealing themselves in the bushes, others precipitating themselves down the precipice and being either killed by the fall or drowned in the attempt to swim the liver.A terrible slaughter ensued by the Indians, whose vengeance it was impossible to restrain, until a while flag wasobserved ascending the hill with offers of unconditional surrender, which were accepted.An armistice of three days was proposed by the American and granted by the Bristish general, in order to take care of their wounded and bury their dead on condition of destroying their batteaux, which was immediately complied with.One general officer (Wadsworth) two lieutenant-colonels, five majors, a multitude ot captains and subalterns, with nine hundred men, one field-piece, and a stand of colours, were the fruits of this important victory, the enemy having lost in ki led, wounded, missing, and prisoners, upwards of fifteen hundred men.General Van Ransalaer, before the arrival ot the reinforcements from Niagara under General Sheaffe, finding the fate of the day still undetermined, his troops almost exhausted with fatigue, and falling short of ammunition, hail returned to the American shore, to urge across reinforcements from the embodied militia ; but they, notwithstanding every menace and entreaty on his part, unanimously refused.In this dilemma, he wrote a note to General Wadsworth, who remained with the Americans on the Queenston heights, informing him of the situation of things, and leaving the course to be pursued much to his own judgment, assuring him if he thought best to retreat he would send as many boats as he could command, and cover his retreat by every fire he could make.But before the latter had time to resolve upon any mode of security or retreat, the spirited advance of the British had decided the fate of the day.Thus ended, in their total discomfiture, the second attempt of the Americans to invade Upper Canada.The loss of the British is said to have been about twenty killed, including Indians, and between fifty and sixty wounded.The fall of General Brock, the idol of the army and of the people of Upper Canada, was an irreparable loss, and cast a shade over the glory of this dear-bought victory.He was a native of Guernsey, of an ancient and reputable family, distinguished in the profession of arms.He had served for some years in Canada, andin some of the principal campaigns in Europe.He commanded a detachment of his favourite 49th regiment, on the expedition to Copenhagen with Lord Nelson.He was one of those men who seem born to influence mankind, and mark the age in which they live.As a soldier he was brave to a fault, and not less judicious than decisive in Ins measures.The energy of his character was expressed in his robust and manly person.As a civil governor, he was firm, prudent and equitable.In fine, whether viewed as a man, a statesman, or a soldier, he equally deserves the esteem and respect of his contemporaries and of posterity.The Indians who flocked to his standard were enthusiastically attached to him.He fell at the early age of forty-two years.The remains of this gallant officer were, during the funeral service, honoured with a discharge of minute guns from the American, as well as British batteries, and with those of his aid-de-camp, Lieutenant-Colonel M’Donnell, interred in the same grave at Fort George on the 16th October, amidst the tears of an affectionate soldiery and a grateful people, who will revere his memory, and hold up to their posterity the imperishable name of Brock.” The Indians who, in 1812, figured for the last time in our history, shewed their gallant spirit when in 1841 they came forward and subscribed the sum of two hundred pounds currency, to rebuild the monument which some sacrilegious hands had destroyed in 1840.The Chippewas, the Hurons, the Mansas, the Oneidas, the Nissisagas, and the Mohawks, presented addresses to the Governor of Upper Canada which breathe that eloquence which can proceed only from the lips of the inhabitant of the forest, and the dweller along the shores of ttie great lakes.There is a beauty in the Indian diction, a grandeur in its forms of expression, not to be found in the language of any other jieople ; it expresses in simple hut apt terms, with natural ornaments, the unaffected feelings of the Indian’s heart; for the savage untrammeled with the bonds of society,free from the petty observances of civilized life, has attained, or rather possesses naturally, i he most beautiful expressions to render the emotions of the soul! No greater homage has ever been offered to Sir Isaac Brock than the addresses which the few descendants of the once great tribes of the six nations presented when they heard that white men had desecrated the grave of tire brave warrior.For the Indians hold sacred the dwellings of the dead, they love to light their fires over the mounds that mark their graves, there smoke the pipe ot peace arid indulge in visions of the day, when they shall meet their warrior friends in the happy hunting grounds.Brock had acquired a great control over the Indians and was exceedingly beloved by them.They had treasured his mem- FOR LOWER CANADA.1S1 ory in their hearts; oft : he village sages, redoutable warriors ol past times, last chroniclers of the battles of the Indian, spoke of the bravest of the braves, and told how he flew to the rescue of the Red men “ who were sitting together, like a family of helpless children in danger of being tomahawked.” In tiiis great influence which Brock exercised over the Indian he resembled Montcalm, who also had acquired a mastery, over their ungovernable passions which no one before had been able to attain.In 1841 there still remained a few ol the warriors who had fought on the heights of Queenston.When the wise men of the Council told those who lived at a great distance North of the many fires and who seldom heard what was passing among their white brethren, that the monument erected to their favorite hero had been defaced : the angei of the Nissisagas was great.They had not forgotten the deeds of the lamented general of whom, they said, his eye was like the eagle’s, his motions like arrows from the bow, and whose enemies tell before him, as the trees before the blast of the great spirit.The Indian tribes are fast melting away, leaving behind them few mementoes of their existence in a land of which they were the uncontrolled sovereigns, less the euphonious name of a river, where once floated their gliding canoes, or of an eminence or sheltered dell, or mound, where once they started on their war courses, or lit their night fires, or buried their warriors.The pages of the novelists are filled with many a discourse said to have been delivered at the council lodge ; but the imaginative powers of fiction have never equalled the pathetic language in which the wanderers along the French River, or sojourners at Otanabee, expressed their grief at the insult offered to the white brave, the beloved of their great chief Tecumseth.In presenting their humble offerings we are poor, they said, but our hearts are big, we wish to put a few stones over the grave of our departed friend.From the many addresses presented to Sir George Arthur, Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, in 1841, by the Indian tribes of Western Canada, on the subject of the spoliation of the Brock monument, the followino- has struck us for its sublimity of sentiment.When time which passes with the swiftness of the deer, when startled by the tread of the young hunter, shall have swept the few remains of the tribes to the islands in the happy hunting ground, then will be held in mateful recollection the memories of Chevguna and Koutoung, orators at the council lodge.TO OUR GREAT FATHER IN TORONTO.Father:—We have heard that the Longknite has destroyed, in the night, the tomb which the brave had built to the bravest.Father:—That chief led us, as well as you, to victory.On that hill which we conquered, his blood was mingled with ours.Father, we are sorry.Father :—Among our people, the graves of the dead are sacred ; the ¦curse ot the Great Spirit falls upon him who tramples on that even of an infant ; the passing Indian stays his steps to replace its scattered remains, and calls for vengeance on the destroyer.Father :—We are poor and weak ; what we have comes from vou : but we also wish to join our White Brethern in restoring the tomb of our friend and leader.Father :—When the passer by gazes on the monument of Brock, let him see written : “ The red men struck the foe by the side of the dead • he lives in their hearts, and their hand has here placed one stone to’his memory.Father: —We say again we have but little ;—of that little accept some and we shall be proud thus at once to tell our love for the Warrior wé mourn, aud our hatred of those who insulted his remains.Father:—We take you by the hand and bid you farewell.Chevguna, Koutoung, &c.During the last month the heights of Queenston were the scene of an interesting ceremony, the inauguration of the new monument We subjoin the speech which Sir Allan McNab delivered on the occasion and a description of the monument.H.G.M.Speech op Sir Allan MacNab.My Friends, We meet upon the anniversary of a day freshly remembered b some now present, and rendered deeply interesting to all the inha ,‘tant® °f,Canada % the event which will, for ever, associate th ldtli October with Queenston Heights.On that day, fortysevei years ago, was fought, upon these Heights what is known in history and in your family traditions, as the “ Battle of Queenston.” I wa?, though crowned with ultimate success, a day of vicissitudes and no without alloy.When hostilities suddenly commenced oi this side of the Atlantic, in the year 1812, the gallant soldiers o the mo her country were, under the illustrious Wellington, engaged in the sanguinary operations of the war in Europe $ and knowing the inabiJity of the King to succour us with reinforcements adequate to our defence, the illustrious Brock, with implicit faith, at once placed his reliance mainly upon the militia of the province, and our ever faithful Indian allies, for the protection of this part of Her Majesty’s dominions.Events proved that his confidence was not misplaced.The first serious burst was upon these Heights.In the early part of that momentous day the enemy hail gained possession of the elevated ground, and the intrepid Brock, regardless of their numbers ami position, made a too daring attempt to dislodge them.While valiantly charging up the abrupt ascent at the head of a far inferior force, he fell, mortally wounded.Brock fell—not as Wolfe fell—in the arms of victory—for victory still hovered in the distance He fell, rather as Montcalm (a kindred spirit) fell in the moment ot repulse; and, like both Wolfe and Montcalm, he met a soldier’s death upon the battle-field.He fell in the arms of his country and they shall forever embrace him.you all know the sequel.The loss of our beloved General, at that early stage of the war, cannot be estimated, nor its effects described.He had established himself in the confidence of all classes in the highest degree, and had become a tower of strength in his single person.The deep hold which he had acquired in the affections of the people, is manifested by the lively interest which, from the day of his death to the present hour, has been universally taken in his cherished memory and undying fame.This universal feeling of respect prompted the Legislature, soon after the peace, to erect a monument on these heights, sacred to the memory of the illustrious dead.It was done and his remains, with those of his steadfast friend, Macdonell, reposed beneath the lofty and imposing pile— ht emblem of a people’s admiration, reverence, and gratitude.Of its wanton and malicious spoliation you are well aware.Let the corrupt heart that conceived the design, and the coward hand that polluted a hero’s unguarded shrine, under the cloak of midnight darkness, remain in darkness to the end of time.We would not give a further thought to the reprobate perpetrator , but leave him to the contempt and scorn of all mankind.The name of indignation \vhich the dastardly act Jit up throughout Canada, blazed conspicuously upon these heights in the year 1840.Yye here saw a mighty host assembled from all parts of the province, not only to express their resentment of the foul offence, but to shew lorth to the world, their lasting veneration for the departed warriors whose tomb had been thus desecrated.It was there amidst the vehement acclamations of thousands, resolved to recon-struct by private subscription, another trophy, more towering than me ürst, in proof that the feelings which animated the Legislature in 1M5 and tne men of that day, had not waned, but still glowed every breast, and to testily that the lamented soldiers—though dead—did indeed live in the hearts of their countrymen.The fruits of that day s Resolution, now covering the bodies of Brock and Macdonnell, appear in the beautiful and commanding column which stands before you “ Esto perpétua.” It may be proper or me to give here a brief outline of the proceedings which have led to this resi}lC It being rightly apprehended that the former monument had been so much shaken that it must soon fall in fragments, the necessity for taking steps to replace it became urgent.I he initiative was taken, on the 4th June, 1840, by the men of Core, whom I had the honour to command.Subscriptions were, trom time to time, received from thousands who were thus appealed to, and additional sums were received from other sources— among others, the officers and men of several regiments of the oyal y»e\\ Brunswick Militia presented their donations, and exposed in warm terms their respect for the memory of General brock, and their sympathy with the object in contemplation.Very handsome contributions were also made by the brave Indian chiefs and warriors, many of whom rendered such good service on the memorable 13th ot October, and on many other occasions, some the most trying that occurred, during the war.The remittances these lu a\e and faithful warriors were accompanied by addresses to the Queen s Representative, expressive of their indignation and îs^ust at the atrocious act of desecration which had rendered their assistance necessary.Those addresses emanated from the chiefs different tribes, scattered throughout Upper Canada, and all Èi!ÏÏej|lmi aï feeling, expressed in the native eloquence and nf thlyfof uap f°l.which the warrior chiefs of the “ red men lih^rTi vf*8 fuaiti S0 celebrated.In acknowledging their K1 .s’ * hey were assured that their names should be honour- nn le, t A°CUlted ',7* ' those ot their white hrethern, in this laudable „ mfra8‘l^'eir money would be mingled with the common hasVeen do a?conlP,ishment of a common object.And it i .Designs were called for, and the one submitted 152 JOURNAL OP EDUCATION by the talented architect, Mr.Thomas, was selected.Under his superintendence, the whole has been satisfactorily completed by Mr.Worthington, the builder, in the style you see.lou will agree with me, I hope, that it reflects great credit on the taste and judgment of the architect, and the skill of the builder ; and associated as they have become with the work, it cannot fail to constitute a conspicuous and lasting proof ot their professional abilities.This monument represents a free-will offering, flowing from emotions which reminiscences of the last war awaken.It commemorates the feelings of the country, inspired by the death of Brock and the brave men who fell with him on these heights, enhanced by the subsequent achievements which, invigorated and encouraged by their example, the loyal inhabitants of Canada proudly exult in.It points back to the scenes which were enacted in formel yeais.It points forward to the deeds which those scenes inculcate.In those years, the blood of our Militia and of our valliant Indian allies was freely shed, and mingled with the blood of the regular soldiers, with whom they fought and died side by side in defence ot Canada.Yes, with a spiiit and endurance beyond all praise, the three, supporting each other, maintained the whole line of an extended frontier, and repelled attack at every point.Though sometimes overpowered by superior numbers, and not always able at once to dislodge the enemy, yet they steadily resisted his incursions, and circumscribed his foothold within the narrowest limits.I may mention, as instances, the lines of circumvallation the cro^s-roads forming the centre, which hemmed in the enemy in the town of Niagara, in 1813, and the siege and investments of Fort Erie, in 1814.The details of these conflicts would, though full of interest, exceed the limits on this occasion—it is the task of the historian to narrate them.It may, however, interest you to be told that, on this frontier the last shot was fired on Lyons Creek at Cook s Mills, in the month of October (not on the 13th, but on the 19th), in the year 1814.The echo of that shot may still vibrate in the ears of some present.It was providentially ordained that it should prove a farewell shot—the precursor ot a lasting peace with oui hign spirited and gallant neighbours, of whom it may be truly said that, with a characteristic impulse, they warmly espoused the cause of their country, and bravely sustained in many hot encounters.It is our mutual interest, and, doubtless, our mutual inclination a.nd desire, to live in the friendly intercourse anil good-fellowship winch have since prevailed.Let no turbulence disturb the harmony May no international strife ever again place us in a hostile attitude .The sympathy manifested by that people at the funeral of General Brock, when his remains were first interred at Fort George, and in the steps afterwards taken to do honour to his memory, evinced how justly they appreciate heroic character, and accords well with the spirit of a nation emulous of heroic deeds.My friends, when we extol the gallantry of our militia, we do them but half justice, and do commend but a part only of the merit which distinguish them We should not overlook the exposure and the privations which (thinly clad and ill provided as many poor men were) all endured throughout three long years of trial.There were the outlying picket ; the frontier guard ; the sentinel s vigilance ; the midnight patrole ; the morning watch ; there were the storms of the seasons ; there were the sickness and death.Add to this, wives and children—mothers and sisters-the aged and infirm—houses and barns-the cattle and the grain all but deserted, at the imperative call to arms, of their invaded country.It required the highest moral courage to relinquish, as our militia did, their peaceful homes, when summoned away by the loud blasts of war My friends, I indulge in no fiction or flights of imagination in these allusions to harrowing recollections.They are realities vivid in living memory.There are amongst us, those whose hearts still bleed at the remembrance of those days so full of anguish—glorious though they were.Every drop of blood shed—every life lost —in that eventful struggle, did but cement more strongly attachmeiv to the soil and fidelity to the Crown, and did but develope more and more that loyal and martial spirit with which I am ever proud to proclaim the mihtia of Upper Canada have been always animated, lhe mi itia oi that Ul urr , , ,1._ „„,1 hv 1 IP orrsmhir.teaching' OI able memory of all who fell in defence of Canada, It is the becoming offering of an admiring and grateful feeling to Sn Isaac Brock.It grandly illustrates the affection, steadfastly cherished, for the heroic champion who, in the dark hour of our adversity, laid down his life in our cause.It is a splendid and imposing proof that half a century has not diminished the public esteem for that noble man, nor dimmed the recollection of his noble actions.It is a consummation in which all proudly exult and waimly participate.It is a commemoration of this anniversary worthy of both the living and the dead.It perpetuates events that shall never be obliterated.It shows forth the spiiit of this day, and should future exigencies require it, a like spirit would be aroused hall a century to come yea to the latest posterity—by a people ever prepared to evince that there exists, to the memory of Brook, a monument more durable than stone, in the patriot hearts of successive generations.Well done noble militia! Well dose people of Canada ! Let this spot be hallowed ! Honour to the remains of the heroic dead ! May they repose in peace until the Judgment morning, when the sound of the last trump shall rend this pillar—burst the tomb—and awaken the sleepers to the resurrection of eternal life.One word mote.Would that what I have said were better said, and more worthy ol the occasion.Before we part permit me in the name of Canada, to thank you for your voluntary presence here to-day, to pay these last obsequies at the shrine of Brock.I feel that I may also thank you, in the name of His Excellency the Governor General, who would, I am sure, have joined us, had not a sad bereavement, which we all deplore, prevented his attendance.We have also to regret the absence of our much respected and old friends, Sir John Beverley Robinson and Mr.Justice McLean, both of whom fought at the Battle of Queenston, and the latter of whom was severely wounded ; but I regret to say that their official duties, in holding the Circuit Courts, deprive us oi the honour of their presence, and them of the gratification it would have afforded them to have attended on this interesting occasion.I feel that I may thank you and all the contributors to this pious work, in Her Majesty’s name, for this gratifying manifestation of loyalty.In my own name, and in the name of the Committee, of which I have had the honour to be chairman, I most heartily thank you, and all other contributors towards a consummation which has been near my heart for many years—an event in which I glory, and which renders this, to me, one of the proudest and happiest days of my life.And now, remarking that this monumental pile was commenced, and has been finished, in the reign of our Most Gracious and justly beloved Sovereign Queen Victoria, I shall close, by proposing to you, what is ever enthusiastically received, and heartily responded^ to by the Loyal Militia of Canada—Three cheers for the Queen—God bless her ! MONUMENT.The operations for its construction were commenced in 1856, and on the 13th of October in that year the ceremonies of laying the foundation stone, and also the third re-interment of Brock took place.His remains and those of his aide-de-camp were temporarily removed from the ruined column to an adjoining burying around, and were now to be conveyed to their resting place in the new structure.The day was splendidly hue, and a vast concourse attended to do homage to the illustrious dead.The pall-bearers were Cols.E.W.Thomson, W.Thomson, Duggan, Stanton, Kerby, Crooks, Zimmerman, Caron, Shorne, Servos, Clark, Wakefield, and Miller.And among the chiefs mourners were Colonel Donald McDonnell, Deputy Adjutant General for Canada West, Colonel Taché, Lieut.Col.Irvine, anil the survivors of 1812 and the brave Indian Chiefs.The foundation stor.e was then laid by Lieut.Col.McDonnell, brother of the gallant man who shared the fate and the honours ol his commander-in-chief, and addresses were delivered by the Hou.W.H.Merritt, M.P-, David Thurburn, Esq., Col.Taché, Col.L.W.Thomson, &c.The column was completed in 1856.The surrounding grounds oi uppo' .-j- , j ine column was coinpieieu m ***>- .^ e> , , dav acted as became them—and taught by the graphic ‘etching o con(aining about lorly acres, have now been fenced in, a stone lodge example how it would become their posterity to act, should ( hi h ( with handsome wrought iron ornamental gates and cut 1 ii c l : l oiror orra in ltlVOk P lKft GIlcILlV : .• .V _ f a L._ nntlu m Goii avert) a call of like urgency ever again invoke a like energy and devotion in the military service of their country.When we reflect then, that the militia were led to their earliest triumphs, and inspired with confidence and self-reliance by the encouraging example ot Brock ; that his example and influence were (as it were) the foundation of all that followed his untimely death—we can understand how it is that all adore his memory.Errands ! this fit emblem of a nation's gratitude is now inaugurated.We here dedicate it to the memory of Sir Isaac Brock, and those who fell b> his side upon this battle-field-and, through them, to the impensh- stone piers, surmounted with the arms of the hero at the eastern entrance.From the entrance a carriage road, of easy ascent, winds up the steep, and is continued to the heights by an avenue 100 feet wide, planted with chestnuts, maples, &c., terminating at the monument in a circle 180 feet diameter.Upon a solid rock is built a foundation 40 feet square and 10 feet thick of massive stone; upon this the structure stands ma grooved plinth or sub-basement 39 feet square and 27 ieet in height, and has an eastern entrance by a massive oak door and bronze FOR LOWER CANADA.153 paieras, forming two galler.es to the interior 114 feet in extent, round the inner pedestal, on the north and south sides of which, in vaults under the ground floor, are deposited the remains of General Brock, and those of his aid-de-camp, Colonel McDonnell, in massive stone sarcophagi.On the exterior angles of the sub-basement are placed lions rampant seven feet in height, supporting shields with the armorial bearings of the hero.On the north side is the following inscription : UPPER CANADA Has dedicated this monument to the memory of rhe late MAJOR-GENERAL SIR ISAAC BROCK, K.B .Provincial Lieut.Governor and Commander of the Forces in this Province, Whose remains are deposited in the vault beneath, opposing the invading enemy, he fell in action near these heights, On the 13th of October, 1812, In the 43rd year of his age.Revered and lamented by the people whom he governed, and deplored by the Sovereign to whose service his life had been devoted.On brass plates, within the column, are the following inscriptions :— In a vault beneath are deposited the mortal remains of the lamented Major-General Sir Isaac Brock, K.B., Who fell in an action near these heights on 13tb October, 1812, And was entombed on the 16th October, at the bastion of Fort George, Niagara, removed from thence and re-interred under a monument to the eastward of this site on the 13th October, 1824, and in consequence of that monument having received irreparable injury by a lawless act on 17th of April, 1840, it was found requisite to take down the former structure and erect this monument— the foundation stone being laid, and the remains again re-interred with due solemnity on 13th October, 1853.In a vault beneath are deposited the mortal remains of LIEUT.COL.JOHN MoDONNELL, P.A.D.C., and Aide-de-Camp to the lamented Major-General Sir Isaac Brock, K.B., Who fell mortally wounded in the battle of Queenston on the 13th October, 1812, and died on the following day.His remains were removed and re-interred with due solemnity, on the 13th October, 1853.The column is placed on a platform slightly elevated, within a dwarf wall enclosure 75.0 square, with a fosse around the interior.At each angle are placed massive military trophies, on pedestals, m carved stone, 20.0 in height.Standing upon the sub-basement is the pedestal of the order, 16.0 square, and 88.0 in height, tile die having on three of its enriched pannelled sides, emblematic basso relievos, and on the north side, fronting Queenston, the battle scene in alto relievo.The plinth of the order is enriched with lions’ heads and wreaths in bold relief.The column is of the Roman composite order, 95.0 in height, a fluted shaft, 10.0 diameter at the base ; the loftiest column known ot this style ; the lower tones enriched with laurel leaves, and the flutes terminating on the base with palms.The capital of the column is i6.0 square, and 12.6 high.On each face is sculptured a figure of victory, 10.6 high, with extended arms, grasping military shields as volutes ; the acanthus leaves being wreathed with palms, the whole after the manner of the antique.From the ground to the gallery at the top of the column, is continued a staircase of cut stor.e, worked with a solid nurel of '-35 steps, and sufficiently lighted by loop-holes in the fluting of the column, and other circular wreathed openings.Upon the abacus stands the cippas, supporting the statue of the hero, sculptured in military costume, 17.0 h.gh.the left hand resting on the sword, the right arm extended, with baton.The height from the ground to the top of the statue is 190, exceeding that of any monumental column, ancient or modern, known, with the exception of that on Fish street Hill, London, England, by Sir VV‘'enl aichitect> in commemoration of the great fire of ibbb, 20i feet high, which exceeds it in height by 12 feet.—Globe.EDUCATION.School «lays of Eminent Men in Great-Britain.By John Timbs, F.S.A.(Continued from our last.) LXXII.A POOR WESTMINS I ER SCHOLAR.Dr.Stubbe, the eminent physijzan, one of the most learned men of his time, was born in 1631, near Spilsby, in Lincolnshire, whence his iather, an Anabaptist minister, removed to Ireland ; but when the Rebellion broke out in that country in 1641, his mother fled with him to London, walking thither on foot from Liverpool.She maintained herself in the metropolis by her needle, and sent her son, then about ten years old, to Westminster School.Here he frequently obtained pecuniary relief from his schoolfellows, as a remuneration lor writing their exercises.Busby was struck by Stubbe’s rare talents and assiduity, and introduced him to Sir Henry Vane, who happened one day to come into the school; when Sir Henry relieved the immediate wants of the lad, and remained for ever afterwards his steady friend ; assisting him at his election to Oxford, where lie became of considerable consequence : his reputation for learning increased daily, and he used to converse fluently in Greek in the public schools.LXXIII.MERCHANT TAYLORS’ SCHOOL FOUNDED.The royal example of Edward VI.was nobly followed by one of the great City companies founding, in the succeeding reign, a grammar-school in the metropolis, principally through the personal benevolence of its members.In the year 1561, the Merchant Taylors’ Company, chiefly by the gift of 500C, and other subscriptions of members of the Court of Assistants, raised a fund for this great educational object.Among the contributors was Sir Thomas White, some time master of the Company, and who had recently founded St.John’s College, Oxford.With the above fund, the generous band of citizens purchased a certain property lying between Cannon-Street and the Thames, part of “ the Manor of the Rose,” a palace originally built by Sir John Poultney, Knt., five times Lord Mayor of London, in the reign of Edward III.In these premises, consisting principally of a gate-house and court yard, the Company established their school.The Great Fire, however, destroyed the ancient buildings ; and in 1675, the present school and the head-master’s residence were erected ; it includes a library, (on the site of an ancient chapel,) which contains a fair collection of theological and classical works.The school now consists of about 260 boys, who are charged 10Z.per annum each : they are admitted at any age, on the nomination of the members of the Court of the Company in rotation; and the scholars may remain until the Monday after St.John the Baptist’s Day preceding their nineteenth birthday.Hebrew, Greek, and Latin have been taught since the foundation of the school ; mathematics, writing, and arithmetic were added in 1829, and French and modern history in 1846.There is no property belonging to the school except the buildings : it is supported by the Merchant Taylors’ Company out of their several “ funds,” without any specific fund being set apart for that object ; it has, therefore, been exempt from the inquiry of the Charity Commissioners ; but, like Winchester, Eton, and Westminster, it has a college almost appropriated to its scholars.Thirty-seven out of the fifty fellowships of St.John’s College, Oxford, and other exhibitions at Oxford and Cambridge, are attached to it ; the election to which takes place annually on St.Barnabas’ Day, (June 11,) when the school prizes are distributed ; there is another speech day (Doctors’ Day,) in December.Plays were formerly acted by the boys of this school, as at Westminster : the earliest instance known was in 1665, when the scholars performed, in the old Hall of the Merchant Taylors’ Company, Beaumont and Fletcher’s comedy of “ Love’s Pilgrimage,” but under order that this « should bee noe precident for the future.” Garrick, who was a personal friend of the head-master in his time, took great interest in these performances.They have been continued to our day, in a noble crypt, which is all that remains of the manorial mansion of the Rose.The School Feasts and Anniversary Feasts of the old scholars have, however, long been held in the Company’s Hall.Amongst the eminent scholars educated at Merchant Taylors’ 154 JOURNAL OF EDUCATION were, Bishops Andrewes, Dove, andTomson, three of the translators of the Bible ; Archbishop Juxon, who attended Charles I.to the scaffold ; Bishop Hopkins (of Londonderry) ; Archbishops Sir William Dawes, Gilbert, and Boulter ; Bishop Van Mildert, andeleven other prelates ; Titus Oates, who contrived the “ Popish Plot ; ” Sir James Whitelocke, Justice of the King’s Bench ; Bulstrode Whitelocke, who wrote his “ Memorials;” Shirley, the dramatic poet, contemporary with Massinger ; Charles Wlreally, the ritualist ; Neale, the historian of the Puritans; Edmund Calarny, and his o-randson Edmund, the Non-confoimists—the former died in 1666, from seeing London in ashes after the Great Fire ; the great Lord Clive ; Dr! Vicesimus Knox, subsequently celebrated as the headmaster of Tunbridge School ; Dr.William Lowth, the learned classic and theologian ; Nicholas Amhurst, associated with Boling-broke and Pulteney in the Craftsman ; Charles Mathews the elder, comedian ; Lieut.-Col.Denham, the explorer of Central Africa ; and J.L.Adolphus, the barrister, who wrote a History of the Reign of George HI- Also, Sir John Dodson, Queen’s Advocate ; Sir Henry Ellis, and Samuel Birch, of the British Museum ; John Gough Nichols, F.S.A., &c.LXXIV.GRESHAM COLLEGE FOUNDED.In the middle of the reign of Elizabeth, one of her merchant-princes— Flos Mercatorum, as he was deservedly styled—evinced his love of the higher branches of knowledge by the foundation and endowment of a College which considerably assisted the promotion of science in England in the early part of the seventeenth century.The founder was Sir Thomas Gresham, the originator of the Royal Exchange, the rents arising from which, together with his mansion, on the death of Lady Gresham, in 1597, to be vested in the Corporation of London and the Mercers’ Company.They were conjointly to nominate seven professors, to lecture successively, one on each day of the week, their salaries being 50/.per annum : a more liberal remuneration than Henry Vlll.had appointed for the Regius Professors of Divinity at Oxford and Cambridge, and equivalent to 400/.or 500/.at the present day.The Lectures commenced June, 1597 in Gresham’s mansion, which, with almshouses and gardens, extended from Bishopsgate-street westward into Broad-street.Here the Royal Society originated in 1645, and met (with interruptions) until 1710 The buildings were then neglec ed, and in 1768 were taken down, the Excise Office being built upon their site ; and the reading of the Lectures was transferred to a room on the southeast s!de of the Royal Exchange; the lecturers’ salaries being raised to 100/.each, as an equivalent for the lodging they had in the old College, of which there is a view, by Ferme, in Ward’s Lives of the Gresham Professors, 1740.On the rebuilding of the Royal Exchange, the Gresham Committee provided for the College, in Basinghall-street, at the corner of Cateaton-street, a handsome stone edifice, in the enriched Roman style, with a Corinthian entrance-portico.It contains a large library, and professors’ rooms; and a lecture-room, or theatre, capable of holding 500 persons.The Lectures, on Astronomy, Physic, Law, Divinity, Rhetoric, Geometry, and Music, are here read to the public gratis, during “ Term Time,” daily, except Sundays, in Latin and English.LXXV.RUGBY SCHOOL FOUNDED.Our narrative has now reached that “ critical epoch in the advance of civilization, when the discovery of a new world had opened snace to the expanding intellect of the old one, which had just then been awakenecP from the long slumber of the dark ages by the restoration of classical literature; and a new life was thus infused into the sacred cause of education.One of the first to seize this prevalent spirit was Lawrence She ff a native of Rugby, who had accumulated a large fortune fn defling with the fru!tsy’a,id spices of the West Indies.He was warden of the Grocers’ Company m 156b; and in Fox s Book of Martyrs he is spoken of as “ servant to the Lady Elizabeth, and sworn unto her Grace,” which seems to imply hat he was “grocer to the Queen : ” he kept shop “ near to Newgate Market.She ifl died ml 567, and by his last will, made seven weeks previously, bequeathed a third of his Middlesex estate to the foundation of “a fair and convenient schoolhouse, and to the maintaining of an honest, discreet, and learned man to teach grammar; ” the rents of that third, which then amounied to 8/.annual y, had swelled in 1825 to above 5.500/.The estate in Lamb s Conduit Fields (originally Close,) adjoin, the Foundling Hospital, and comprises Lamb s Conduit, Milman, New and Great Ormond, and other adjacent streets.Immediately upon the founder’s death, the school was commenced in a building in ihe rear ol the house assigned for the master ; it consisted ol one large room, having no playground attached.The first page of the" school register, commencing in 1675, shows that of the 26 entrances in that year, 12 were boys not upon the foundation, and one of them came even from Cumberland.The school now took a higher stamp ; and early in the list we find the Earls of Stamford and Peterborough, the Lords Craven, Griffin, Stawell, and Ward, the younger sons of the Houses of Cecil and Greville, and many of the baronets of the adjacent counties.The school buildings were from time to time enlarged ; until the improved value of the endowment enabled the trustees to commence, in 1809, the present structure, designed by Hakewrll, in the Elizabethan style, and built nearly upon the same spot as the first humble dwelling.The buildings consist of cloisters on three sides of a court ; the Great School, and the French and Writing Schools ; the dining halls, and the chapel ; and the master’s house, where and in the town the boys are lodged, The group of buildings cost 35,000/., but are of “ poor sham Gothic.” A library has since been added.The only former playground was the churchyard ; but Rugby has now its bowling-green close, with its tall spiral elms ; and its playground, where cricket and foot-ball are followed out-of-doors with no less zest and delight than literature is pursued within.The instruction at Rugby retains the leading characteristics of the old school, being based on a thoroughly grounded study of Greek and Latin.But the treatment has been much improved : formerly the boys were ill-used, half imprisoned, and put on the smallest rations, a plentiful allowance ot rod excepted ; and a grim tower is pointed out in which a late pedagogue, Dr.Wool], was accustomed to inflict the birch unsparingly.Nevertheless, in Wooll’s time were adced six exhibitions to the eight already instituted ; books were first given as prizes for composition ; and the successful candidates recited their poems before the trustees, thus establishing the Speeches.To Dr.Wooll (1) succeeded Dr.Thomas Arnold, the second ai d moral founder of Rugby.Of the great change which he introduced in the face of education here, we can speak but in brief.Soon after be had entered upon his office, he made this memorable declaration upon the expulsion of some incorrigible pupils : “ It is not necessary that this should be a school ol three huudred, or one hundred, or of fifty boys; but it is necessary that it should be a school of Christian gentlemen.” The three ends at which Arnold aimed were—first, to inculcate religious and moral principle, then gentlemanly conduct, and lastly, intellectual ability.One of his principal holds was in his boy sermons, that is, in sermons to which the young congregation could and did listen, and of which he was the absolute inventor.The feelings of love, reverence, and confidence which he inspired, led Ins pupils to place implicit trust on his decision, and to esteem his approbation as their highest reward.His government of the school was no reign of terror : he resorted to reasoning and talking as his first step , which failing , he applied the rod as his ultima ratio, and this lor misdemeanours inevitable to youth-lying, for instance,—and best cured by birch.He was not opposed to fagging, which boys accept as part and parcel of the institution of schools, and as the servitude of their feudal system ; all he aimed to do was to regulate, and, as it were, to legalize the exercise of it.The keystone of his government was in the Sixth Form, which he held to be an intermediate power between the master and masses of the school; the value of which internal police he had learned from the Prefects at Winchester.But he carefully watched over this delegated authority, and put down any abuse of its power.The Præpositors themselves were no less benefited.“ Bv appealing to their honour, by fostering their self-respect, and calling out their powers of governing their inferiors, he ripened their manhood, and they early learnt habits of command ; and this system, found to work so well, is continued, and with many of its excellent principles, is now acted on in most of the chief public schools of England.” Dr.Arnold died in 1811, on the day preceding his forty-seventh birthday, having presided over the school for fourteen years : in the chapel at Rugby he rests from his labours, surrounded by those of his pupils who have been prematurely cut off.“ let, (1) Dr Wooll was small in stature, but powerful in stripes; and nder his head-mastership Lord Lyttleton suggested for the grim closet a which the rods are kept, the witty motto Great Cry ami Little Vooll.—Set the Book of Rugby School, it» Ihttory awl Doily Li fe.J 85G FOR LOWER CANADA.15 o touchingly says the Rugbeian writer in the Quarterly Review, “ if they have known few of the pleasures of this world, they at least have not, like him, felt many of its sorrows, and death has not separated those who in life were united.” Dr.Arnold procured from the Crown a high mark of royal favour—her Majesty having founded an annual prize of a Gold Medal, to which several other prizes have been added.Dr.Arnold was succeeded in the head-mastership by the Rev, Dr.Tait, who retired on his appointment to the Deanery of Carlisle, in 1849 ; and who, in 1856, was preferred to the bishopric of London.LXXVI.HARROW SCHOOL FOUNDED.At the village of Harrow-on-the-Hill, ten miles north-west of London,—where Lanfranc built a church, Thomas àBecket resided, and Wo^ey was rector—in the reign of Elizabeth there lived a substantial yeoman named John Lyon.For many years previous to his death he had appropriated 20 marks annually to the instruction of poor children; and in 1571, he procured letters patent and a royal charter from the Queen, recognizing the foundation of a Free Grammar School, for the government of which, in 1592, he drew up the orders, statutes, and rules.The head-master is directed to be “ on no account, below the degree of Master of Arts ; ” or the Usher “ under that of a Bachelor of Arts.” They are always to be “ single men, unmarried.” The stipends of the masters are settled ; the forms specified ; the books and exercises for each torm marked out ; the mode of correction described ; the hours of attending school, the vacations and play-days appointed ; and the scholars’ amusements directed to be confined to “ driving a top, tossing a hand-ball, running and shooting ; ” and for the last mentioned diversion all parents were required to furnish their children with “ bow-stririgs, shafts, and bracers to exercise shooting.” In addition to scholars to be educated freely, the schoolmaster is to receive the children of parishioners, as well as “foreigners;” from the latter “ he may take such stipends and wages as he can get, except that they be of the kindred of John Lyon the founder.” The sum of 20/.was allotted for four exhibitions—two in Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge; the others in any college at Oxford—which scholarships have been increased.The revenues of the School estates which Lyon left, are now very considerable ; so that one portion of the property, which 70 years ago produced only 100/.a-year, now returns 4000/.The school was built about three years after Lyon’s decease : the school-room, fifty feet in length, has large, square, heavy-framed windows, and is partly wainscoted with oak, which is covered with the carved names of many generations of Harrovians.The plastered walls above the wainscot were formerly filled with names and dates, but they have been obliterated with whitewash.Boards have since been put up on which the names are neatly carved, in regular order and of uniform size.Above the school-room is the Monitors’ Library.Here is a portrait of Dr.Parr ; a portrait and bust of Lord Byron, and a sword worn by him when in Greece ; and a superb fancy archery dress, worn on the day of shooting for the silver arrow, about the year 1766.Here, also, is a quarto volume of “ Speech Bills.” Near the School is the Speech Room, built by old Harrovians : the windows are filled with painted glass, and here is a painting of Cicero pleading against Catiline, painted by Gaving Hamilton.There is a Chapel for the accommodation of the scholars only ; to which was added, in 1856, a “ Memorial Chapel,” in honour of those officers who fell in the Crimean war, who had been educated at Harrrow School (2).The head-master’s house is in the street of Harrow, and with the school buildings and chapel, is in the Elizabethan style.The device of the school is a lion, rampant, the armorial bearings of the founder, and a rebus of his name (motto, S/et Fortuna Domus), to which have been added two crossed arrows, denoting the ancient practice of archery enjoined by Lyon ; and on the Anniversary, six or twelve boys shot for a silver arrow, the competitors wearing fancy dresses of spangled satin.The last arrow was contended for in 1771 : the butts were set up on a picturesque spot, “ worthy of a Roman amphitheatre,” at the entrance to the village.Beyond the court-yard are courts for racket, a favourite game at (2) In the Chapel, the Church, and the School, there is no distinction of seats for the sons of noblemen.It was for this reason that Rufus King, the American Ambassador, sent his sons to Harrow, as the only school where no distinction was shown to rank.—Smith’s Handbook.Harrow.There is likewise a cricket-ground, and a bathing-place, formerly known as “ the Duck Puddle.” The scholars, chiefly the sons of noblemen and gentlemen, number about 400.Among the eminent Harrovians are William Baxter, the antiquary and philologist; John Dennis, the poet and critic; Bruce, the traveller in Abyssinia; Sir William Jones, the Oriental scholar; The Rev.Dr.Parr; the heroic Lord Rodney ; Richard Brinsley Sheridan ; Viscount Palmerston ; the Marquis Wellesley; Mr.Malthus, the political economist ; Spencer Perceval ; Earl Spencer, who collected the magnificent library at Althorp ; the Earl of Aberdeen; W.B.Proctor, (Barry Cornwall,) the poet; Lord Elgin, who collected the “Marbles” from the Parthenon ; Lord Chancellor Cottenham ; the Earl of Shaftesbury ; and Lord Byron and Sir Robert Peel, both born in the same year, 1188.(7b be continued.) .Suggestive Hint** towards Improved Secular Instruction.by the Rev.Richard Dawes, A.M.VI.ARITHMETIC.(Continued from our last.) When sufficiently advanced to commence the arithmetic of Fractions, the teacher will find it of great service in giving them correct ideas of the nature of a fraction, to call their attention as much as possible to visible things, so that the eye may help the mind—to the divisions on the face of a clock—or of the degree or degrees of lati- I I i tude on the side of a map, thus U_I_I_I_!_U__!__!_!_LJ show- 500 51o mg that a degree, which here represents the unit, is divided into twelve equal parts—and then reckoning and writing down 1?12, 2;12, 3/12, 4/12, 5/12, 6/12, (or i), 7/12, 8/12, 9/12, 10/12, 11/12, 12/12, or units, showing how these may be reduced to lower terms, and that the results still retain the same absolute value—that the value of a fraction depends upon the relative, and not upon the absolute value of the numerator and denominator ; as 2/12 and 1/6, 3H2 and 4/12 and 6/12 and etc., have in each case the same absolute value.In casting his eye round a well furnished school-room, the teacher will see numberless xvays in which he may make the nature of a fraction clear to them, as counting the number of courses of bricks in the wall—say it is fifty, as they are of uniform thickness, each will be 1/50 of the whole height—placing the two-foot rule against the wall and seeing how many courses go to making one foot, two feet, etc., there will be such and such fractions—or supposing the floor laid with boards of uniform length and width, each will be such and such a fraction of the whole surface, taking care to point out that when the fractional paits are not equal among themselves they cannot put them together until they are reduced to a common denominator, and the reason of ail this.In this way, and by continually calling their attention to fragments of things about them and putting these together, children get a correct idea of numerical fractions at a much earlier age than is generally imagined.The following kind of question interests them more than very abstract fractions ; the teacher should try to form questions connected with '.heir reading.What are the proportions of land and water on the globe ?1/3 2/3 water.What do you mean by 2/3 ?A whole divided into three equal parts, and two of them taken.Here the teacher would put a piece of paper into a boy’s hand, and tell him to tear it into three equal parts, and show the fractions ; or by dividing a figure on the black board.What proportion of the land on the globe does America contain ?1/3.What Asia ?1/3.Africa?1/5.Europe?1/15.And Oceanica ?1/15.Now, putting all these fractions together, what ought they to give?The whole land.The unit of which they are the"fractional parts was what?The land on the globe.Work this out.Africa 1/5 or 3/15 ; Europe and Oceanica, each being 1/15, these with Africa will be 5/15, or 1/3 America and Asia together are 2/3, and adding 1/3 to this gives 3/3, or 1 for the whole.Having been taught this and decimal arithmetic, they should be taught to work out most of their sums decimally, and made to reason about them as much as possible, rather than to follow a common rule—for instance : 156 JOURNAL OF EDUCATION What is the interest of £500 at 5 per cent, for two years?—5 per cent, means what?—the interest on a hundred pounds for a year : then the interest of £1 will only be the one hundredth part of that : work it out, -05—the interest of £2 will be twice as great ; of £3 three times as great ; and of £6 six times as great, etc.Having the interest for one year, the interest for any number of years wifi be the interest for one, multiplied by that number, etc.Children sometimes get into the way of working out questions ol this kind, without having any definite idea of what is meant by so much per cent., etc.; this they should be made thoroughly to understand, as bearing upon many other questions besides those on interest, as will be seen from the examples given; also what is meant by so much in the shilling, so much in the pound, etc.,—that if a person spends twopence in the shilling in a particular way, and lays out two, three, ten shillings, he spends Ad., 6d., 20d., etc., in that particular thing.A penny in the shilling is twenty-pence in the pound, twenty pence in one pound is a hundred times that in a hundred pounds, and would be called so much per cent.The same in the common rule of three ; they get into the way of stating their questions mechanically ; but what the teacher should do, is, instead of saying as 1 yard : 2s., 6 d., : : 50 yards to the answer ; he should say, if one yard cost 2s., 6d., two yards will cost twice as much ; three yards three times ; 50 yards 50 times as much, having recourse to the common-sense principle as much as possible.The following questions, with those at the end of this section, may be useful to the teacher, as bearing upon the economic, purposes of life, and will suggest others of a like kind :— The population of the parish in 1831 was 1,040 at the census of 1841 it had increased 7 per cent., what is it at present ?In the population of the parish, 20 per cent, of them ought to be at school ; in this parish, containing 1,040, only 12 per cent, are at school ; how many are at school ?and how many absent who ought to be there ?The population of the county in 1841 was 355,004 82.8 per cent, were bom in the county, 14.2 in order parts of England, 0.5 in Scotland, and 0.9 in Ireland ; what number were born in each country ?—how many in number, and what per cent, are unaccounted for ?Give the average of the parish, how many to the square acre ; number of the houses, how many to a house, etc.These questions ought also to be the vehicle of a good deal of instruction on the part of the teacher.A sheet containing the names of the towns in each county, arranged by counties, and giving in a tabular form the population in adjoining column, according to the census of 1831 and of 1841, is to be had for a shilling, and offers great facility to a master for making questions of this kind ; as well as affording useful statistical information.In teaching them superficial and solid measure, the following mode is adopted :— They are first shown, by means of the black board, what a square inch, foot, yard, etc., is, by proofs which meet the eye ; that a square of two inches on a side contains four square inches : of three inches on a side, nine square inches, and so on ; or, in other words, that a square of one inch on a side, could be so placed on a square ot two inches, as to occupy different ground four times, and in doing this it would have occupied the whole square, one of three inches, nine times : thus showing clearly what is meant by a surface containing a certain number of square feet, etc.The" same illustration with an oblong, say nine inches by two, three, etc., two or three drawings or diagrams of figures so divided are painted on the walls.VII.MENSURATION.The teacher takes a cube of four inches on a side, divided into four slices of one inch thick, and one of the surfaces divided into sixteen superficial inches ; to this slice of one inch thick, containing sixteen solid inches, add a second, that will make 32, and so to the fourth, making 64 ; so that they now have ocular proof so simple, that they must understand : that the superficial inches in a square, or rectangle, is found by multiplying together the number in each side ; the contents of a regular cube by multiplying the number of superficial inches on one side by the number of slices.To apply this : The master tells one of the boys to take the two-foot rule (a necessary thing in a village school;, measure the length and breadth of the school-room.Yes, sir.Length 26 feet, breadth 16 feet.What is the figure?An oblong —sides at right angles to each other.Multiply length and breadth —what is the area ?To another—Look at the boards of the floor ; are they uniform in width?How are they laid ?Parallel to each other.The breadth of the room you have got, and, as the boards are laid that way, you have the length of each board ; measure the width of aboard.Nine inches.Reckon the number of boards.What is the area of the room?Does it agree with your first measurement ?If not, what is the source of error ; the boards will turn out to be unequal in width.The door—what is the shape of the opening?An oblong, with one side a good deal longer than the other.Measure the height—the width : now what number of inches of surface on the door ?The rule again.Measure the thickness.Now how many solid inches ?The door-posts.Measure the height, width ; now the depth.How many solid inches of wood in one post ?How many in the whole door-posts?How many solid inches in a foot ?Turn it into feet.In the same way they may apply the rule to find out the surface of a table, a sheet of paper, surface of a map, a page of a book, etc., but always making them do the actual measurement, first taking one child, then another.Again the room—we have got the area—tell us how much wrater it would hold, if we could fill it as high as the walls ; we have got two dimensions, what is wanting?—The height.We cannot reach up, sir.—Take your rule.Measure the thickness of a brick with the mortar.— About four inches.Measure the first three courses.—A foot, sir.—Reckon the courses of the wall.—Thirty-six.—Then the height is what ?—Twelve feet.Now find out the solid contents of the room.Find the surface and solid contents of a brick.In fact, the two-foot rule is to the village school what Liebig says the balance is to the chemist.Another practical application, which works well in giving fixed ideas of linear measure, is the following: Take a hoop, say of two feet diameter ; apply a string to the circumference ; measure it.—Rather over six feet.-—Another of three will be found to be nine, and by a sort of inductive process, you prove that the circumference is three times the diameter ; when farther advanced, give them the exact ratio, 3.14159, which they will work from with great facility.That a child should feel and understand this mode of inductive reasoning is very important, and is one of the most useful school-lessons he can have.Boys ! make a mark on the hoop : let it rest on the floor, the mark being directly opposite the point which touches the floor ; trundle it, stopping every time when the mark rests upon the floor, and let another boy make a chalk-mark where it touches ; now take your two-foot rule and measure between each mark.What is it ?—Six feet, twelve feet, eighteen feet, etc.—And the hoop has been round how many times at each mark ?One at the first, twice at the second, three times at the third, etc.—Now, you see, if you trundle your hoop over a piece of level ground, and reckon the number of times it has gone round, you can tell the length of space it has gone over.How many miles to Winchester ?—Nine, sir.—Measure the height of your father’s cart-wheel, and tell him how often it will go round in "going to market.Tell him he must not zigzag.The teacher should point out the souices of error.The philosophy of common life and every-day things is most attractive to children, and a book of this kind, if well done, would be a most useful one for our village schools.This two-foot rule, and other appliances, selling to work both hands and head amuses, at the same time that it instructs, and gives a sort of certainty to their knowledge, and fixes it in a way that learning things by mere rote, never can.(To be continued.) Summary of Hints to Teacliers.In our day education has received a prominence among subjects of study and discussion, which in days gone by it had not.To this its value justly entitles it.For the more it advances the more will civilization advance and society improve ; the more will the comforts of life be increased and its ills diminished ; and the more extended and thorough it becomes,—having the Bible for its basis, —the safer will life and property be, and the more stable and united, in promoting general welfare, will communities become.— Deserves it not, therefore, all the attention it can receive,—all the laudable efforts which may be made for its improvement and extension ?And does not every one who heartily cooperates in its FOR LOWER CANADA.157 promotion deserve the encouragement and thanks of his fellow- m' etWed b?The McGill normal school had on the return of the classes 71 female pupil-teachers and 6 male pupil-teachers.The number of pupils in the model schools annexed to them is 300 ; and an infant lon°°i v.te-ia.add?d °n ‘he plan of the salles d'asile has already 140 A building has been erected for this latter out of the income of the model schools.The McGill normal school had on the 31st December last a balance on hand of $546 46.The Laval normal school had on the return of t e classes 34 pupil-teachers, and 52 female pupil-teachers.This school was on 31st December last in debt to the amount of $3213 17, an unfor-tunate confirmation of my prediction of the preceding year, and sufficiently explanatory of our delay in establishing a department ol female pupil-teachers at the Jacques-Cartier normal school.An examination of the tabular statistics of the three schools will show that the business of instruction has made all desirable pro