own superintendance of their morals, habits, and manners, and the innumerable felicities of their own firesides.

In the reputation and usefulness of the University of Pennsylvania a new and important era has just commenced. The ability of the professor of languages has been too long attested, and is, therefore, too well established, to need our commendation. As respects the provost and vice provost, recently elected, time, we are confident, will verify our assertion, that their talents and qualifications would do honour to the high and responsible stations they hold, in any institution, whether of this or of foreign countries. Ardently devoted to the duties of their vocation, and determined to derive celebrity to themselves from that of the school whose interests they superintend, the issue of their exertions cannot be doubtful, in case their fellow citizens repose in them the confidence and extend to them the patronage to which they are entitled. Let youth of talents and good dispositions such as would do credit to other institutions-be placed under their care, and we have no fear as to the disappointment of our anticipations, or the falsifying of our predictions.

Warmly recommending to the citizens of Philadelphia, and of the United States in general, the interests of the school of languages, arts, and sciences, in the University of Pennsylvania, we shall proceed, without further preface, to lay before our readers the article which we have too long withheld from them, and to which our remarks have been only introductory. ED.

As our colleges are the nurseries of science and the places from which we are to derive, in continued succession, a sufficient number of learned and able men to fill the several offices of church and state; as well as to adorn the walks of private life; and, moreover, as it is in them that the minds and morals of our youth are formed, and from them, as their source, that the taste and literature of our country derive their character; every thing which relates to such institutions cannot but be regarded as interesting to the public. It is on this account, that the writer of this article, takes the liberty of obtruding upon the attention of his fellow citizens, a brief statement of the new arrangements which have lately been made in the above-mentioned seminary, in order that when

fairly and fully apprised of the particulars they may be able to determine the degree of confidence and encouragement it merits from them. It is far from his intention to give an inflated and exaggerated representation of the improvements recently attempted in this institution, or to endeavour to attract to it a share of public patronage to which it is not entitled: he has in view nothing more than merely to communicate such a plain and unvarnished account of its present establishments as will enable his fellow citizens to decide upon its claims for themselves.

There are, at this time, in the University of Pennsalvania, three professors in the department of arts-(of the department of medicine, it is not the purpose of the writer of the present article to speak, at this time, since its reputation has been long established, and his countrymen are well acquainted with the talents and efficiency of those who occupy the several chairs)-To each of these professors are allotted distinct branches of science. From the professor of languages the students are to receive all their knowledge of the languages, of antiquity and ancient geography. From the professor of natural philosophy, all their knowledge of that science and the various branches of the mathematics; by the professor of moral philosophy, they are instructed in ethics, in history, in logic, and in the belles lettres. Three years constitute the allotted period of college study, and one of the new dispositions made in the college lately is the plan adopted by the faculty, of making the senior class in the grammar school, correspond to the first class in the other seminaries of the union, and requiring of its members, as preparatory to their entrance into college, to pass through that course of instruction usual in this class-It is contemplated, however, by the friends of this institution, that, as soon as its funds will admit of it, another professor shall be appointed, and thus the pupils will enjoy the advantages of collegiate instruction and government for a longer period of time. A committee has just been appointed by the board of trustees to consider of and report upon the expediency of procuring a professor of oriental languages, and it is more than probable that this chair will be immediately filled. A professorship of history and of eloquence are also contemplated-We mention these circumstances merely to show the more extended plans of the trustees, and their large and liberal views in reference

to the affairs of the seminary-They have already made full and ample provision for the education of youth-The apparatus is, perhaps, one of the most extensive and complete in this country, and has, by the present professor of the department of natural philosophy, been put into perfect order, and transferred from the room which formerly held it, to one on the south of the building, the best adapted to that purpose which the writer of this ever recollects to have seen-A large hall, before occupied as the grammar school, has been elegantly fitted up as a place of public worship and speaking, both of which exercises are regularly attended to in the morning of every day. In this hall public exhibitions are held, at which the youth are made to declaim in presence of the citizens, in order to excite their ambition to excel, and improve them in the art of public speaking, upon which their future reputation as legislators, as pleaders, and as divines, so materially depends. In order, if possible, to excite the young men to industry and to rouse a spirit of emulation, dies have been purchased by the trustees, and medals are prepared to bestow on those who, at their examinations, shall distinguish themselves in scholarship, and these medals will be distributed among them, in future, in exact proportion to their moral and intellectual merits and their proficiency in their studies. In addition to what has been already mentioned, a literary society, upon a respectable and permanent foundation, has been instituted, whose sole object it is, to strengthen and support the discipline of the college and extend and consummate its system of instruction and improvement. These are the means which are now resorted to, to give a new impulse to this literary institution, and it is hoped that they are such as must prove effectual in advancing its growth and prosperity. The board of trustees who superintend its interests are, for the most part, men of the highest talents and respectability in the city, and many of them zealous and active in their endeavours to raise and support it.

To the inhabitants of this great metropolis it certainly should be a matter of pride and congratulation to have the means of instruction to their children brought within the reach of their own doors, insomuch, that while they remain under the full control of domestic government, the best safeguard of their moral conduct,

they can receive, at the same time, all the advantages of a finished education Under these circumstances, it is ardently hoped, that if the arrangements lately made in the University are such as meet the approbation and claim the confidence of the citizens, they will not permit it to languish and decline for the want of that countenance and support, which it is in their power to afford it.

FOR THE PORT FOLIO.

THE TOMB OF ELIZA JENNINGS, FROM THE FRENCH OF MALLET

DU PAN.

In the month of April, 1775, I was crossing the Alps by the road of the Great Saint Bernard.-Towards four o'clock in the afternoon, the company with which I was ascending this dangerous pass, reached the summit of the mountain. We stopt to rest ourselves at a house built in the tenth century, by Bernard de Menthon, for the relief of weary travellers. The heat of the sun had subsided and the sky was overcast. Thick vapours moved hea

vily along the tops of the rocks, and covered the narrow valleys beneath us. The hospitable monks who have charge of the house, pressed us to remain with them all night, predicting the extreme darkness which soon followed.

By six o'clock the frozen surface of this elevated spot was mantled in the deepest gloom. The clouds driven from the northwest, flew swiftly over us, whirling themselves round the huge cavities of the rocks, which repeated with a loud noise the sound of the distant avalange. The snow fell in dusty particles, and shut out every surrounding object.

The monks were abroad in the midst of the storm, exercising the humane duties of their station, and prepared to stretch forth a helping hand to the benighted traveller, without regard to rank, religion or nation. From the top of the craggy rock, they brave the tempest to hearken to the voice of distress: unmindful of the piercing cold, they clear the road of new fallen snow, and penetrate to the verge of the deepest chasms; there, waiting for the unhappy wanderer, they guide him to the single, safe, and certain

road: ofttimes they drag him from under the drifted snow, and restoring him to life, transport him in their arms to their comfortable convent, where, cherished by the kindest care, he lives to bless them for their noble charity.

For more than an hour, five of the religious with their servants, had been absent upon this benevolent duty, when the barking of the dogs announced their return. In a few moments the doors were opened to ten persons, perishing with cold, fatigue and fright. Clean linen and reviving cordials were ready in a moment, and distributed without distinction amongst the sufferers.

This party consisted of an English Baronet, his wife, a very handsome young lady of about twenty, the delicate paleness of whose face, made her beauty more interesting, and their servants.

We sat down to an abundant supper. I addressed the new comer in English. He had heretofore spoken in monosyllables only; but hearing his own language, he became somewhat sociable, while the lady, who had maintained a mournful silence, in spite of the great attentions of the good monks, now joined in our conversation,

I spoke of the danger they had been in, and learning from them that they were going into Lombardy, where they had principally resided for the last two years, we agreed to keep company as far as Verceil.

The image of the fair lady followed me to my cell. The recollection of her soft voice and touching melancholy, kept me from sleep. Suddenly I heard her in the adjoining room, address a prayer to God, expressive of her deep distress. She accused herself of having deserted a father, become wretched by her misconduct; she sighed and wept in the greatest grief. I joined in her invocations, and asked for her the blessing of a tranquil night, and my wishes were fulfilled.

On the summit of the Alps, the wide spread book of nature seizes upon the mind with an interest, superior to the fables of romance; yet, I dwelt upon the fancied pictures of the novelist, when I contemplated this charming woman. Her countenance expressed the sweetest affability, through which was seen the fire of passions softened by modesty. Her complexion was fair, het eyes of the mildest blue, and her mouth most exquisitely beautiful, ornamented with the finest teeth.