duty, without so neglecting what parents consider | school, and every teacher required to spend three the only business of a teacher, as to occasion dis- years in preparing for such duties; while, on an satisfaction, and the removal either of teacher or average, one teacher is furnished for every ten pupils. pupils through the nation. The effects of merely Until publick sentiment is so changed, that teach-intellectual culture soon convinced the monarch and ers shall be educated for their profession, and parents are willing to pay the price for such a division of labour as will give time and opportunity for the discharge of their most sacred duties, it is desirable that conscientious teachers should realize how much is left undone, in moral education, that might be accomplished. In regard to education, the world is now making experiments, such as were never made before. Man is demanding disinthralment, alike from physical force, and intellectual slavery; and, by a slow and secret process, one nation after another is advancing in a sure though silent progress. Man is bursting the chains of slavery, and the bonds of intellectual subserviency; and is learning to think, and reason, and act for himself. And the great crisis is has tening on, when it shall be decided whether disinthralled intellect and liberty shall voluntarily submit to the laws of virtue and of heaven, or run wild to insubordination, anarchy, and crime. The great questions pending before the world, are simply these are liberty and intelligence, without the restraints of a moral and religious education, a blessing, or a curse? Without moral and religious restraints, is it best for man to receive the gift of liberty and intelligence, or to remain coerced by physical force, and the restraints of opinions and /customs not his own? The master-spirits of the age are watching the developments as they rise, and making their records for the instruction of mankind. his counsellors that moral and religious instruction must be the basis of all their efforts; and now the Bible is placed in every school, and every teacher is required to spend from one to two hours each day, in giving and enforcing instruction in all the duties of man towards his Creator, towards constituted authorities, and towards his fellow-men. And what is the experience of our own country? Those portions of the nation, most distinguished for the general diffusion of education, are those in which moral and religious influences have been most extensively introduced into schools, and have pervaded all the institutions of society. But, in those portions of our country the increase and jealousy of religious sects, and other combining causes, have had an influence in banishing the Bible, and moral and religious influence, more and more from publick schools. And now we hear the widely-extended complaint, that common schools are dangerous places for children; while parents, who are most regardful of the moral influences exerted upon their children, are more and more withdrawing them from what they deem such contaminating influence. Thus, in those parts of our country which have been most moral and intelligent, the education of the lower classes is deteriorating, as it respects moral and religious restraints, while the statisticks of education, coming from other parts of the nation, are most appalling. We find that in one of our smallest middle states, thirty thousand adults and children are entirely without education and without schools. In And what results are already gained? In Eng- one of the largest middle states, four hundred thouland, the experiment has been made by the skepti- sand adults and children are thus destitute. In one cal Brougham; and, at great expense, knowledge of the best educated western states, one-third of has gone forth with increasing liberty, and all who the children are without schools; while it appears, have witnessed the results are coming to the con- that, in the whole nation, there are a million and a viction, that increase of knowledge, without moral half of children, and nearly as many adults, in the and religious influence, is only increase of vice and same deplorable ignorance, and without any means discontent. And what are the results of the ex- of instruction. At the same time, thousands and periments in France? The statisticks of education thousands of degraded foreigners, and their ignorant show, that the best educated departments are the families, are pouring into this nation at every avenue. most vicious, and the most ignorant are the freest All these ignorant native and foreign adults are now from crime. And, in that country, where the na- voters, and have a share in the government of the tional representatives once declared that Christian-nation. All these million children, in a very few ity should be banished, and the Bible burnt, and the Sabbath annihilated, we now find its most distinguished statesmen and citizens uniting in the publick declaration, that moral and religious education must be the foundation of national instruction. Victor Cousin, one of the most distinguished philosophers of the age, and appointed by the king of France to examine the various systems of education in Europe, has reported, as the result of his investigations, that education is a blessing, just in proportion as it is founded on moral and religious principles. Look, again, at Prussia! with its liberal and patriotick monarch, with a system of education unequalled in the records of time, requiring by law that all the children in the nation be sent to school, from the first day they are seven years of age, till the last day they are fourteen, with a regular course of literary and scientifick instruction, instituted for every years, will take the same stand; while other millions, as ignorant and destitute, are hastening in their rear. What is the end of these things to be? How long will it take, at this rate, for the majority of votes, and of the physical force of the nation, to be in the hands of ignorance and vice? That terrifick crisis is now before us; and a few years will witness its consummation, unless such energetick and persevering efforts are made as time never saw. (Concluded in our next.) All animals display varied and strong intelligence, but we notice most those acts which resemble our own. Thus, the species of the motacilly, called the tailor-bird, astonishes by sewing two leaves together with vegetable fibres as with a needle and thread, for its nest. The nightingale, wren, robin, &c. are other species. The Revolutionary war was closed by the cap- on the Hudson, and marched through New Jersey ture of Cornwallis, at Yorktown, on York river, and Pennsylvania, to the head of the Chesapeake. Virginia. He had just returned from Carolina, and The French Admiral De Grasse, who had just arnow hoped to subdue Virginia. But in September, rived, carried the American forces down the bay to the Americans and French, under Washington, sur-Yorktown. rounded him from all quarters on land; while the The army passed through Philadelphia in a line French fleet in the Chesapeake Bay blocked up the more than two miles long, and in very splendid mouths of the rivers, and shut out the English. style. The streets were filled with crowds, and the Clinton was at New York; but it was impossible for him to reinforce Cornwallis. Washington had harassed Clinton all summer, and induced him to believe that he was to be besieged in New York. On the 24th of August, Washington left his camp windows to the highest stories with ladies, all cheering on the troops with immense applause. Washington, with all his generals; the French Count Rochambeau, with all his; General Knox, with one hundred cannon; and the whole army, Virginia Gov. Nelson M. la Fayette Road to Hampton New York Sappers & Miners Gen. Clinton 104 THE FAMILY MAGAZINE. pressing on with proud steps and a noble confidence, presented a most magnificent spectacle. In the midst of this scene, news came, that the French fleet had arrived in the Chesapeake. The whole city rang with the notes of the general joy, and all seemed inspired with confidence in a certain vic tory. Cornwallis was completely invested by the 7th of October. He had raised intrenchments; but the Americans and French had erected breast-works all about him, and now opened their batteries. They fired day and night. The roar was terrible. The ground, for miles, shook with it; and the bombs and shells were seen whirling and crossing each other If they in the dark sky, and blazing like comets. fell upon the ground, it was torn up for a rod around, The and dozens were killed when they burst. bombs sometimes went over the heads of the enemy, the British works at Gloucester and fell among Point on the other side of the river. The water spouted in columns as they fell. One night, an attack was made upon two redoubts, which the British had built out so far, that they stood in the way of some American works just building around them. The French were ordered to take one redoubt, and the Americans under Lafayette, the other. The two parties tried to outdo each other. Lafayette carried his redoubt first, however, and sent his aiddecamp to the leader of the French party, through all the fire of the batteries, to tell him he "So will I be," said the Frenchman, "in was in. five minutes;" and he performed his promise. His army, Cornwallis surrendered on the 19th. of about seven thousand men, marched out, at two o'clock, and passed between the American line on one side, and the French on the other, stretched out for more than a mile. They were dressed in their most splendid uniforms, with colours flying, and accompanied with fine musick. The English, carrying their colours bound up, marched with a slow and solemn step. The English general rode up to Washington at the head of the line, and excused the absence of Cornwallis, who feigned sickness. Washington pointed him politely to General Lincoln, and the latter directed him to a large field a little on the south, where the whole British army laid down their arms, and were led away prisoners. The following article which we extract from a "During the month of November, the accounts was to second the address in the House of Lords "Military affairs have since displayed themselves on a broader scale, and we can scarcely conceive that such notions of national calamity could be appended to the capture of a force which, however brave, scarcely amounted to the vanguard of a modern army, certainly not to the twentieth of the army with which Wellington appeared on the frontier of France. The misfortune of the troops under Cornwallis was unquestionable, but their characte was unstained; they had been brought by their comBut that contingency was mander into a cul de sac, where, it is true, they might have held out for ever, if they could have received supplies by sea. too delicate to have been relied on by an officer of any intelligence. The result proved the fact. The Fiench fleet took up the position which Lord Cornwallis's imaginary plan had marked out for the British. The army within Yorktown found, that though to Americans they were impregnable, they had a more formidable enemy, famine, to deal with; and finally, to that enemy, and that enemy alone, they surrendered. "We next have a picture of a Cabinet Council When the first agitation had subsided, in terrour. the four ministers discussed the question, whether it might not be expedient to prorogue the meeting interval of forty-eight hours remained before the ap of Parliament for a few days; but as scarcely an pointed time of meeting, and as many members of both Houses had arrived in London, or were on their way, the proposition was abandoned. It became, however, indispensable to alter, and almost remodel the King's speech. This was done without delay, and at the same time Lord George, as secretary for the American department, sent off a despatch to the King, then at Kew, acquainting him The narrative proceeds :-"I dined that day at with the fate of Lord Cornwallis's expedition. Lord George's, and although the information which had reached London in the course of the morning from France, as well as from the official report, was of a nature not to admit of long concealment, yet it had not been communicated to me or any other individual of the company when I got to Pall Mall, between 5 and 6 o'clock. Lord Walsingham, who | strong and weak, on the devoted heads of the culprit also dined there, was the only person, except Lord Cabinet. Pitt, with keener sagacity, for both the George, acquainted with the fact. The party, nine present and the future, tore up the frame of the minin number, sat down to the table. I thought the isterial policy, spared persons, avoided all insult to master of the house appeared serious, though he the monarch, but with the copious and superb commanifested no discomposure. Before dinner was bination of fact and feeling, argument and appeal, over a letter was brought back by the messenger which from that period was adopted as his great parwho had been despatched to the King. Lord Wal- liamentary weapon, and which was made to give singham, to whom he exclusively directed the ob-him matchless superiority in a deliberate assembly, servation The King writes,' said he, just as he swept all before him with a 'two-handed sway,' always does, except that I observe, he has neglected and where he smote, left nothing for friends or to mark the hour and minute of his writing with his enemy to combat or defend after him. usual precision.' This remark, though calculated to "These efforts failed of overthrowing the Cabinet awaken some interest, excited no comment; and at the time; but there can be no question that they while the ladies, Lord George's three daughters, re-hastened that precipitate fall which was so speedily mained in the room, we repressed our curiosity. afterwards to surprise the nation. The assault had But they had no sooner withdrawn, than Lord terrified the garrison, and shaken the battlements to George having acquainted us that information had a degree which made the result of the next attack just arrived from Paris of the old Count Maurepas, secure." first minister, lying at the point of death; 'It would grieve me,' said I, 'to finish my career, however far advanced in years, were I first minister of France, before I had witnessed the termination of this great contest between England and America.' He has survived to see that event,' replied Lord George Germaine, with some agitation. GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE CREATION. By far the most interesting portion of geological inquiry relates to the inference derived from the situation and composition of the strata and remains of animals and vegetables that are imbedded in them. "The conversation was prolonged until, on the This investigation discloses a valuable history in mention of the Virginia campaign, the minister dis-our earth, a history in its very nature indisputable closed the full bearing of the intelligence. " The and written in characters so simple, that he who army has surrendered, and you may peruse the par- runs may read.-When we discover in the middle ticulars of the capitulation in that paper.' The of a continent, the relicks of myriads of animals of paper was taken from his pocket, and read to the the shell-covered tribes, that dwell in the sea, what company. The next question was one of rather an proof more conclusive can we require, that the obtrusive kind, to see what the King thought on the waves of the ocean once covered the spot? When subject. The narration states the minister's remark, we see imbedded in a rocky mass, the trunks of that it did the highest honour to his Majesty's firmtrees deprived of their branches, and broken and ness, fortitude, and consistency. But this was a torn, and the bones and mangled forms of fish and complying moment, and we are told that the billet other animals, who can avoid the conviction that was read to this effect: 'I have received, with senti- these are the monuments of a terrible catastrophe ments of the deepest concern, the communication which carried with it death and destruction? In which Lord George Germaine has made to me, of some of the strata we find positive demonstration; the unfortunate result of the operations in Virginia. and equally conclusive is the evidence presented by I particularly lament it on account of the consequen- others, that they were the results of causes, sudden ces connected with it and the difficulties which it and rapid in their operation. In comparing the ormay produce in carrying on the publick business, order of their formation with the remains of vital exin repairing such a misfortune. But I trust that istence entombed in this strata, every one must be neither Lord Germaine, nor any other member of convinced that there was a day when the waters the Cabinet will suppose that it makes the smallest determination in those principles of my conduct, which have directed me in the past time, which will always continue to animate me under every event, in the prosecution of the present contest.' “The Cabinet, strengthened by the royal determination, now recovered courage; they met Parliament at the appointed time, and fought their battle there with unusual vigour. Perhaps in all the annals of senatorial struggle there never was a crisis which more powerfully displayed the talents of the Commons. Burke, Fox, and Pitt, were at once seen pouring down the whole fiery torrent of declamation on the Government. The characteristick distinctions of their publick speaking gave a new vividness and force to their assault upon the strong holds of the ministry. Fox's passionate personality hurled the fiercest invective against the ministry, the court, and, fatally for his own ambition, the King. Burke's vast grasp gathered materials of charge from all quarters, and all subjects and heaped them alike, VOL. III-14 covered the face of the earth-that at a subsequent period the lower orders of the animal creation started into being-that the most perfect tenants of land began their existence at a later day-and that man was the last creature into which was breathed the breath of life. A MORAL TAUGHT BY A FLOWER. But in the soft declining eve, Again I pass'd that quiet spot, And in the fate of that fair thing It certainly appears strange that the Mississippi, | five to about twenty feet, according to the richness after absorbing the Ohio, presents no visible aug- of the soil. Through this thicket of cane, I should mentation of its volume. Below the point of junc- think it quite impossible to penetrate; yet, I have tion, the river is not broader than the Ohio alone. been assured, the Indians do so for leagues togethThough flowing in the same channel, the streams er, though by what means they contrive to guide are not mingled. For many miles there is a distinct their course, where vision is manifestly impossible line of demarcation between the waters of the two it is not easy to understand. rivers. Those of the Ohio are clear, while the stream of the Mississippi is ever dark and turbid. When the Mississippi is in flood, it almost dams up the Ohio, and suffers it to occupy but a small portion of the common channel. It has been the fashion with travellers, to talk of the scenery of the Mississippi as wanting grandeur and beauty. Most certainly, it has neither. But there is no scenery on earth more striking. The dreary and pestilential solitude, untrodden, save by After quitting la belle riviere, as the French first the foot of the Indian; the absence of all living designated the Ohio, one feels as if he had made an objects, save the huge alligators, which float past, apexchange for the worse. The scenery of the Mis-parently asleep, on the drift-wood; and an occasionsissippi is even less varied than that of the Ohio. al vulture, attracted by its impure prey on the surIt is almost uniformly flat, though in the course of face of the waters; the trees, with a long and twelve hundred miles, a few bluffs and eminences hideous drapery of pendent moss. fluttering in the do certainly occur. The wood grows down to the wind; and the giant river, rolling onward the vast very margin of the river; and the timber, for some volume of its dark and turbid waters through the hundred miles, is by no means remarkable for size. wilderness, from the features of one of the most disAs the river descends to the southward, however, mal and impressive landscapes on which the eye of it is of finer growth; and about latitude 30°, veg-man ever rested. Rocks and mountains would add etation becomes marked by a degree of rankness nothing of sublimity to the Mississippi. Pelion and luxuriance which I have never seen any where else. The American forests are generally remarkable for the entire absence of underwood, so that they are easily penetrable by a foot-traveller, and generally, even by a mounted one. But, in the neighbourhood of the Mississippi, there is, almost uniformly, a thick undergrowth of cane, varying in height from four or might be piled on Ossa; Alps on Andes; and still to the heart and perceptions of the spectator, the Mississippi would be alone. It can brook no rival, and it finds none. No river in the world drains so large a portion of the earth's surface. It is the traveller of five thousand miles, more than two thirds of the diameter of the globe. The imagination asks, whence come its waters, and whither tend they? |