that there are cities, and in them palaces and houses; and also that there are writings and books; that there are employments and tradings; and that there are gold, silver, and precious stones, in a word, that there are all things whatsoever, that are in the natural world; but those in heaven are immensely more perfect. But the difference is, that all things, that are seen in the spiritual world, are created in a moment by the Lord, as houses, paradises, food, and other things; and that they are created for correspondence with the interiors of the angels and spirits, which are their affections and thoughts thence; but that all things that are seen in the natural world exist and grow from seed."

From the testimonies lying before us we learn that Swedenborg was deeply versed in every science; a first-rate mechanician and mathematician; one of the profoundest of physiologists; a great military engineer, conducting battles and sieges for Charles the Twelfth; a great astronomer; the ablest financier in the Royal Diet of Sweden; the first metallurgist of his time; and the writer of vast works, which, even at this day, are of sterling authority on mining and metals: that he was also a poet, and a master of ancient and modern languages; and a metaphysician, who had gone through all the long mazes of reflective philosophy. In short, that so far as the natural sciences go, it is much more difficult to say what he was not than what he was.

He was occupied fifty-five years in being and doing the things we have recorded in this paper. Having thus laid an immense basis for his mind, in nature, and a knowledge of the actual, and yet only a basis, he now, like a huge pyramid, rose into the ideal. The whole of his theological works, which have consigned him to a neglect which he appears to have anticipated, were now produced. The spiritual world was the object, as well as the subject of his thought; and this produced what may be called the realism of his psychology. Whether imagination and sentiment, properly so called, had any place in his mind; whether, instead of imagination, there was reason, producing itself in images; whether, instead of sentiment, there were affections forming themselves into reasons, it is not our province, as an impartial historian, to determine. But this we will venture to affirm, that no one can read his writings, and justly deny that there is every where conspicuous the greatest boldness and the greatest method in his thoughts,

one startling proposition developing itself after another, and each coming forth by the most fixed rules of ratiocination, with a superficial formality, and an internal freedom everywhere apparent.

Among the testimonies to which we have alluded, we find those of the most scientific men of the age, of prime ministers and counsellors of state, of kings and queens, of the most distinguished philosophers and poets, of the most esteemed divines, not of one country, but of several, all concurring to demonstrate that Swedenborg was a man of unblemished life, of exalted piety and virtue, of distinguished eminence as a philosopher, in nearly every department of science; honored by the kings under whom he lived, as one of the most useful members of the community, revered and loved by a numerous and most respectable circle of acquaintance in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Holland, and England.

From this great body of testimonies it would afford us pleasure to give a specimen, did our limits permit. After what we have written, we leave the reader to the exercise of his own judgment, not doubting that he will give the evidences thus presented such an examination, as will enable him to determine correctly the degree of credibility attached to the life and writings of the Hon. Emanuel Swedenborg.

J. H. P.

NOTE. In the above paper we have endeavored to give an outline of what we consider most essential in the life and writings of Baron Swedenborg, and to present some of the most distinguishing principles contained in his philosophical and theological works. In doing this we have made free use of what we found written on the subject, our object being not so much to write an original treatise, as to collect and combine what would be most important, in order to give the reader a clear and correct idea of the real nature and character of the author and his works. The writers, to whom we are particularly indebted, besides Swedenborg himself, are the authors of the following works: Clowes' Letters to a Member of Parliament; Barrett's Life of Swedenborg; Boston, N. J. Magazine; Hobart's Life of Swedenborg; London Intellectual Repository; London Penny Cyclopædia; Noble's Appeal; London Encyclopædia ;

Eulogy on Swedenborg; An Essay on the Philosophical Principles of the New Jerusalem, &c. The particular works of Swedenborg referred to are, The Arcana Cœlestia; Divine Love and Wisdom; Heaven and Hell, and True Christian Religion. Our limits have necessarily prevented our going very fully into any of the subjects introduced, and compelled us to omit many others equally novel and distinguishing. A general outline only has been attempted. We have carefully withheld the expression of our own opinion on the general credibility of Swedenborg, preferring to leave every reader to the exercise of his own understanding. The honest endeavor has been to be impartial and just. If, in any instance, we have failed to apprehend, or to state correctly any principle or doctrine, we assure the reader that it has been wholly involuntary, and not the result of prejudice or want of care. Our belief is, that the above exposition of principles and doctrines is in perfect harmony with the writings of Swedenborg.

QUATRAINS

IN THE PERSIAN MANNER.

FROM THE GERMAN OF FRIEDRICH RUCKERT.

O, BE in God's clear world no dark and troubled spright!
To Christ, thy master mild, do no such foul despite ;
But show in look, word, mien, that thou belong'st to him,
My yoke is easy, and my burthen light."

Who says,

So long as life's hope-sparkle glows, 't is good;
When death delivers from life's woes, 't is good.
O praise the Lord, who makes all good and well!
Whether He life or death bestows, 't is good.

The stars above me mount the heavens with tranquil beam ; So round my couch, O Lord, may heavenly warders gleam!

And if my bolster be, like Jacob's, a hard stone,

Let Jacob's ladder too be lifted in my dream.

There came from heaven a flying turtle dove,
And brought a leaf of clover from above.
She dropp'd it, and O happy they that find!
The triple flower is Faith and Hope and Love.

N. L. F.

SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. WITH THE SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE BOARD.

It was only within seven years, that the enlightened State of Massachusetts established a board of men of the highest intelligence and benevolence, to superintend the means of educating the great mass of the children in the Commonwealth. Schools have been established from the first settlement of the country, but they were left to the fostering care of the people of each town and district. And except that the legislature ordered their existence under certain conditions, it seemed to take no farther interest in their welfare. But colleges and academies have been founded, endowed, and watched by the men in power. Trustees to govern, and committees to visit, and boards to examine these institutions, have ever been selected from those who best understood and cared most for their interests and thus the best education was faithfully and generously provided for the very small minority of our sons. But common education for almost all our daughters, and the great majority of our sons, was supposed to be sufficiently cared for, when a definite number of families were ordered to maintain a school for a certain number of months.

The establishment of the Board of Education in 1837 was a movement of great hope, and noble purpose; and the results of their labors and of those of the Secretary have fulfilled the promise of the benevolent projectors. The law required, that the Secretary "shall, under the direction of the board, collect information of the actual condition and efficiency of the common schools and other means of popular education; and diffuse as widely as possible throughout every part of the Commonwealth information of the most approved and successful methods of arranging the studies and conducting the education of the young, to the end that all children in this Commonwealth, who depend upon common schools for instruction, may have the best education which those schools can be made to impart." The great burden of the labor fell therefore upon the Secretary. Happily for the schools and for the State, the Board elected Mr. Horace Mann to fill this office; and he has most faithfully and successfully devoted himself to this work until the present time.