CHAPTER VII.

COLLEGIATE SCHOOLS.

THOUGH the engagements of past years led me more to concern myself with the education of the working classes, and the friendless, it was impossible to dwell among the cultivated and refined, without being desirous of learning somewhat of the plan by which they had been educated.

Profes

Most of the Female Institutes seem to be under the guidance of men, or of a man and his wife, when it is understood that most of the solid parts of instruction are conducted by the head of the house. This is a plan not followed in England; and in various cases, when a husband happens to be in existence, he is generally felt to be an incumbrance to the household, rather than an assistant. sors who, it is presumed, are well qualified to teach the one object of their pursuit, attend at stated hours with us. But, judging by advertisements, it would seem that husband and wife teach and manage in unison all over the United States. It is customary to deliver lectures on astronomy, botany, chemistry, &c., to the pupils in both countries, and

it is possible that some expansion of mind is thus obtained, even when no real thirst for knowledge induces the pupils to follow up the subjects by private study.

In some of the Female Institutes in America, a plan is pursued which, with the exception of the Normal School students, has not yet been adopted in Britain, within my knowledge. The students "graduate" after strict examination on various branches of education-a useful and important mark of a certain degree of attainment, the absence of which is often felt with us on occasion of selecting teachers. The graduating is by no means a nominal or slight affair, but is accomplished only on the candidate being able to meet a searching inquiry into her attainments.

Nevertheless, as it happens at home, persons whose previous education and habits have not been calculated to fit them for the office, and whose chief qualification is present misfortune, frequently assume the office of instructors. In consequence, it at times occurs that the benevolence of parents interferes with their judgment in the choice of a school; and sometimes a dash of romance or pathos, or elegance of manner, carries the day against substantial attainments and conscientious industrious instruction. One learns in every country to defide "picturesquish" programmes, and to fear the solid instruction of strings of young ladies who are carried about to fashionable lectures and evening concerts.

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To have judged by the unsteady attendance at school, and the little solicitude observable among the young people about preparing for their classes, to say nothing of the wilful speeches, such as, Mamma, I don't feel like studying French any more;” or, Ma, I am going to drop mathematics, they are so tiresome;" one would suppose there are many imperfectly educated women. But meet them grown up, engaged in the useful pursuits of life, and you will find well-informed, cultivated, refined minds, strong in their sense of right and pursuit of duty. Ask them of their early years, and you will find they were nearly as idle as their children seem to be, and then you must draw the conclusion that their wilfulness is only seeming or vanquished while it is yet time, and that they acquire as much amid their springy, vivid ways, as we do in our more sedate and careful fashion.

The means of education extend continually with the need of it. Yet as food, shelter, and clothing form the most imperative necessaries of life, each new settlement must first secure these, leaving the mental and spiritual supplies to lag behind, and overtake these as they best may. Taking pity on the uninstructed condition of the settlers around them, some young gentlemen have begun to give an hour or two of evening teaching to their young neighbours. Some have employed themselves during the winter months in that benevolent exercise. Some have collected Sabbath-schools, and in a few

cases, the log school-house has formed the nucleus of a church, where at last, when the population thickens, a church is erected, a minister of Christ appears, and next comes the colporteur with his load of good books, and a library is formed. How sound is the patriotism, how true the benevolence, which, amidst the earnest pursuits of present advantage, step aside from the tumult and the cares of life, to enter on such engagements as these! And how happy the man who falls on that era of his new district's cultivation which enables him to be the founder of useful institutions, which will continue to bless the land when he is resting from his labours! His stock-in-trade for this kind of usefulness need not be brilliancy of genius, nor high attainment, but simply common sense with some power of arrangement, and a heart to love his neighbour.

It is not for me to tell of college halls and professors. The names of the first, and the faces or writings of many of the others, are familiar to students in Britain; yet it is pleasant to recall the shades of Yale-the more than half venerable aspect of a portion of its numerous edifices-the extent and excellent order of its museum-the countenances of learned men, and their portraits in its picture gallery, and the interest excited by the living men who study and walk its academic groves. The hours passed at Princeton, also, amid the courtesies and hospitalities of the venerable Dr Alex

ander, are amongst the hoarded gems of memory. A powerful interest hangs around that aged man so true of heart, so distinct of mind, so affable of manner. He is full of Christian sympathies, and ready to communicate, so that you require but to put an inquiry, and he flows out, whether the subject be a thing of sixty years since or of yesterday, and it is your own fault if you are not the wiser for his communings. Perhaps others may have remarked, what adds much to the interest that cleaves to the demeanour of this excellent gentleman-his strong resemblance to Wilberforce. Though much more bulky, yet the figure is like that of a twin-brother. manner of sitting in his easy-chair, of speaking, of smiling, and, above all, his ready way of giving information, and his edifying Christian remarks, shewed a resemblance both in the mould and in the jewel within.*

His

Princeton! with its troops of busy students, with its historical memorials of battles, shewing still with

* How touchingly are those remembrances deepened in pathos by the tidings just arrived, that the Patriarch is with Abraham and Moses, and all the prophets in glory. It is true he has reached the consummation of his faith and hope, but then his family have lost him-his students have lost him. Princeton will see his face no more. The Church will never again appeal to his wisdom and experience. America must number him with her patriots, and heroes, and divines, who have departed-and I, a passing stranger, while I prize the more the privilege of having seen him, feel but the more keenly that the anticipated "passing away" has begun. One leaves a country where admiration, respect, and love have been awakened, with the conviction that we shall see the faces of most of these estimable persons no more; and that while one's own life lasts, the tidings will come ever and anon, that one and another has entered into rest, and left ourselves and the world the poorer.