Studies for each of the professions.

lives and actions they read in history, spoke two of the best languages that ever were, the most expressive, copious, beautiful, and that the finest writings, the most correct compositions, the most perfect productions of human wit and wisdom, are in those languages, which have endured for ages and will endure while there are men; that no translation can do them justice or give the pleasure found in reading the originals; that those languages contain all sciences; that one of them is become almost universal, being the language of learned men in all countries; and that to understand them is a distinguished ornament-they may be thereby made desirous of learning those languages, and their industry sharpened in the acquisition of them. All intended for divinity should be taught the Latin and Greek; for physic, Latin, Greek, and French; merchants, the French, German, and Spanish; and though all should not be compelled to learn Latin, Greek, or the modern foreign languages, yet none that have an ardent desire to learn them should be refused; their English, arithmetic, and other studies absolutely necessary, being at the same time not neglected." Such was the language of the self-taught Franklin upon the subject of liberal education; and much of the latter part of his life was spent in devising plans for the systematic and thorough training of the young.

Columbus.

Leverrier and Adams.

Dr. Gall.

In conclusion, we may remark that a cultivated mind will always command respect. It is the thinking man that takes the lead in society, whether he hail from college, from work-shop, or from tented field. Intelligence everywhere challenges our reverence. It has been somewhere remarked, that we should honor Columbus not so much because he discovered America, as for having thought through the problem that there was in existence a continent heretofore undiscovered which he could go in search of. We honor Leverrier and Adams because they figured out, by means of mathematical principles, that place in the heavens where a new planet could be found, more than Dr. Gall, who actually turned his telescope to the spangled vault and discovered the wandering world. Our reverence and gratitude are due to James Watt, not because he actually made a steam engine and put it in operation, but because he thought out a plan by which a steam engine could be made. We should ever be ready to give credit to him whose thoughts are most valuable, and who thinks most successfully. The day is past when men are held in honor for what they are presumed to know, and are only accredited with the amount of available stock,

It is when such principles as these prevail that real merit receives that encouragement and credit which

Our Common Schools.

Rally around them.

it deserves; when thought is unfettered and is free from embarrassing restraint, whether imposed by arbitrary rule, or the forms and usages of an aristocracy in letters, that the mass of intelligence in a nation will produce its greatest results. It is then that every means adopted for mental development will meet with the greatest success. No step has ever been taken by any nation, which is calculated to accomplish this result so successfully, as that for the founding and putting in operation a system of common schools,-one of the distinguishing characteristics of our civil polity. Here all the children of the State are put on a common level. Every form of aristocracy is broken down, and the utmost freedom is given to every child to make the greatest progress possible. Around our common schools all good and true men should rally, and every means which can improve and perfect the system, should be freely lavished upon it. It is only when made worthy the confidence of all interested that it will accomplish the greatest good. In general, the means that have been adopted, are, as systems, well adapted to the ends they are designed to accomplish. But the chief trouble is, they have not been put into effective operation. Our plans are good upon the statute book and in the laws of the corporation, but we fail in the skill necessary to make them work well.

Disciples of Bacon indeed.

It is only when our combined organizations in all their parts, from the primary department up through the academy and college, to the university with its professional schools, are made thorough and effective, that they can produce satisfactory results, and that the scholar who shares their benefits can become truly learned. At every step of the progress ripe scholarship should be the motto. Then should we behold the lovely sight of education bearing rich fruits, and the votary of learning would become the disciple of Bacon indeed.

LECTURE VII.

POPULAR

EDUCATION.

T is with feelings of sincere pleasure that I come

IT

to meet with an association of teachers, and with citizens and friends anxious to promote the cause of education. You are engaged in a noble enterprise, one which can not fail to enlist the sympathies of every generous bosom; and although your Institute is in its infancy, you will be certain of producing good; for if you fail to impart to those around you that spirit which you possess, you will at least strengthen your own aspirations, and nourish in your bosoms a yearning for improvement and excellence, which is one of the fundamental conditions of success. It is a source of consolation to feel that one is aiding in the improvement of the race; that he is doing something to dispel the darkness of ignorance, even if he holds up but a feeble taper.

One of the means of pleasure and pastime among the ancient Greeks was the Bacchanalia. These were feasts in honor of Bacchus, the god of wine, and were extremely popular throughout all Greece.