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Telescopes. Female Education in Greece. [Oct

straw. They do their own cooking and washing, under the superintendence of a respectable colored woman, who was formerly, for many years, in the family of Gov. Trumbull, of Conn. This labor, however makes a part of the four hours per day. Every scholar, on entering this school, is required to subscribe a promise of abstinence from all intoxicating drinks, including cider and strong beer; and also from tobacco in every form. There is a reading table in the school-room, supplied with many periodical publications. Accommodations are furnished, thus far, for only eighteen students; none of whom are received under fourteen years of age.

TELESCOPES.

Mr Amasa Holcomb, of Southwick, Mass. has been engaged, several years, in the construction of Telescopes. He is a self-taught man, and has at length brought his instruments to a high degree of perfection. Mr. H. does probably what no other man has ever done, casts and grinds his mirrors and lenses, makes the tubes, and founds and fits all the mountings and finishings.

We learn from the journal of the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, that one of these telescopes, of six feet focal distance, has been examined by a committee of the Institute. It is constructed on the plan of Herschel's great telescope, which requires the observer to stand with his back to the object, and look directly into the speculum. It was compared with two fine English telescopes, and was found much superior. The waved appearance of the edges around the craters of the volcanoes in the moon were distinctly visible, and yet land objects could be clearly seen at the short distance of a quarter of a mile. The committee state that Mr Holcomb can furnish for $100, with plain mounting, or for 150 to 200 with more expensive mounting, telescopes, whose performance equals that of Gregorians and Achromatics hitherto imported into the country at an expense of five hundred dollars.

THE ACADEMICAN AND SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF EDUCATION.

We are sorry to record the orbituary of another periodical on education. "The Academician,' which has been struggling for an existence nearly a year, is about to be discontinued, for want of patronage. The editor has felt himself gradually compelled to adapt his paper to that popular taste, which will not admit of the sober discussion of important topics to any considerable extent, but must needs be gratified by a large proportion of light reading, as the modern palate must be tickled by dainties in the place of wholesome and solid food. We had fain hoped that the good sense and intelligence of the people of Georgia would have sustained a journal of only eight semimonthly pages, to be devoted exclusively to education and instruction; and above all, that they would not suffer it to perish in its very infancy. But thus it is. Periodicals on trifling or comparatively unimportant subjects receive the cheerful and liberal patronage of thousands, and perhaps tens of thousands; especially if they will enlist in the service of sect or party, while those which aim at giving solid and useful instruction on the highest interests of man are suffered to languish and die. Parents and teachers! guardians of the republic! ought these things so to be?

FEMALE EDUCATION IN GREECE.

The annual meeting of the Troy and other co-operating Societies for the advancement of Female Education in Greece, was held in this city on the 20th inst. After an anthem, suitable for the occasion, was sung by the

1834.]

Education Abroad.

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choir, and prayers by the Rev. Mr Paddock, a Report of the past transactions of the Societies, from Mrs Emma Willard, Corresponding Secretary of the Troy Society, was also read by him. A Poem from the pen of Mrs Sigourney, written for the meeting, was read by Mr T. H. Vail. We regret that ill health prevented Miss Beecher from preparing her anticipated address. The concluding prayer was made by the Rev. Mr Newton. A liberal collection was taken up, in aid of the object of the Society. Norwich Courier.

IMPROVEMENT IN AFRICA.

Africa presents a recent example of invention similar to that of the Cherokees. The Vey people,' says a missionary of the American Board, in the Missionary Herald, residing on Grand Cape Mount, have recently invented a system of writing entirely new, and altogether different from any other we have yet seen; in which, although it is not more than two years since it was invented, they write letters and books. Some of their characters resemble the Arabic, some resemble the Hebrew letters, others Greek; but all of them, except those resembling the Arabic, are merely fanciful. The alphabet is syllabic.' In the last point it resembles that devised by Guess, whose origin was described by Mr Boudinot, in the 2d volume of this work.

The missionaries find that the people along the whole coast, are desirous of schools. Wherever the plan of the missionaries was known, urgent applications were made for schools, and a written promise was often requested. In one instance, they would not close a council until this was given; and after travelling 200 miles, the Americans received a message reminding them of this promise! And yet, thousands of parents in our own country, and of our own color, are willing that their children should grow up in ignorance!

The progress and state of several schools in Liberia is very encouraging.

TEACHERS IN HINDOOSTAN.

A native Hindoo paper states, that two students have recently been selected from the Hindoo College, and sent to Moorshedabad as teachers of the English Language, in the Nizamut College, and that the natives at Santipore are desirous of engaging a well qualified teacher, either christian or native, to reestablish a deserted English school among them.

COLLEGE OF THE PROPAGANDA IN ROME.

The zeal and diligence of the Roman College of missions, in providing instruction and books in every language of the world, deserves the imitation of Protestants. At a recent public recitation, speeches were made in thirtytwo languages. The Chaldee, Samaritan, Syria, Arabic, Coptic, Ethiopic, Greek, Armenian, Georgian, German, Highland Scotch, Irish, Persian, Curdic, English, French, &c, were recited or spoken by students, generally natives of the countries in which they are vernacular or best understood.

HOTTENTOT SCHOOLS.

In connection with the charge of the missionaries in South Africa, there are eight schools, containing five hundred Hottentot children. It is stated by the superintendent that they are not by any means deficient in capacity,' but shrewd, lively, intelligent and good-tempered,' and most of the schools are taught by Hottentot teachers, under the direction of the superintendent! If the brutish Hottentot' as he was once termed, is found, on cultivation, capable of being a useful school-master, is it not time to subject our prejudices against the African race to the test of thorough impartial experiment ?

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Notices of Books.

NOTICES OF

BOOKS.

[Oct. 1834

The Intellectual and Practical Singing-Book; embracing the Elements of Vocal Music, and a Selection of Pleasing and Popular Tunes, designed for the use of Beginners, particularly the Children connected with the Sunday Schools of the Protestant Episcopal Church also, for Teachers and Sunday Schools in general. By Charles Dingley. New-York. N. B. Holmes. 1834. pp. 80. This little work adopts, to some extent, the Pestalozzian plan; and far surpasses in simplicity any of the ordinary elementary books for children. We think, however, it partakes too much of the character of the old system, especially in the rapid progress required, and in the introduction and explanation of technical terms. We hope that this very circumstance may be a means of introducing a more rational method of instruction into schools where a system completely inductive would not be received.

The Family Minstrel. A semi-monthly Newspaper. By Charles Dingley. New-York.

This new periodical is designed to excite and gratify the taste for Music of a social and religious kind, and to advocate its introduction as a branch of study in all our seminaries, from the primary school to the university and its important religious influence. Each number is to contain from two to four pieces of music, adapted to the school and the family, which is intended to be of a medium character, between the light and frivolous, and the solemn and devotional. We are much gratified with the sentiments of the editor expressed in the first number, and cordially wish success to the enterprise. The terms are $3; or $2 in advance. The Third Class Reader. Designed for the Use of the Younger Classes in the Schools of the United States. By B. D. Emerson, late Principal of the Adams Grammar School, Boston. Boston: Russell, Odiorne & Metcalf. 1834. 18mo, pp. 160.

In a former number we have expressed the pleasure we found in examining the First' and 'Second Class Reader,' by the same author. The present work is designed for the younger class of pupils, and affords the same evidence of experience and taste, in the selection and arrangement. There is much that is instructive combined with many amusing lessons, and the selections are unusually simple in their style. moral tendency is excellent, but we could wish to see more lessons of an elevating religious tendency, like those found in the previous works, in one that is adapted to the most susceptible years of childhood.

The

The Mother's Friend; or Familiar Directions for Forming the Mental and Moral Habits of Young Children. New-York: Leavitt, Lord, & Co. Boston: Crocker & Brewster. 1834. 18mo, pp. 240. This volume is a republication of an English work, selected and edited by Mr Abbott, as one of a series. Its chief object is to show how good principles in the heart are to be carried out to amiable and praiseworthy manners and habits.' It is simple and unpretending in its character, and without those numerous illustrations which excite so much interest in the original works of Mr Abbott; but it is full of valuable principles and maxims, which appear to have been derived from close observation in the nursery itself. Early associations,' 'Justice and Generosity, Manners, and Order,' Early Lessons, and Amusements,' 'Rewards and Punishments, The Nursery Maid,' are among the titles of its chapters, and will furnish some idea of its contents. We find the spirit of the editor throughout the work, but we do not find any of his own peculiar religious views, except in the concluding chapter on Religious Instruction.'

6

AMERICAN

ANNALS OF EDUCATION

AND INSTRUCTION.

NOVEMBER, 1834.

REVIEW OF COMBE'S PHYSIOLOGY.

The Principles of Physiology applied to the preservation of Health, and the improvement of Physical and Mental Education. By ANDREW COMBE, M. D., Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1834. 18mo. pp. 291.

It is more than four years since we began in this work, to press the subject of Physical Education upon the community; to urge them to consider the mutual connection and dependence of mind and body; and the consequences which have resulted, and which still result from overlooking this connection in practice. We have been sustained in our views, by many of the most able periodicals of the day, and have been encouraged by the appearance of several interesting books on the same general subject. "The Constitution of Man, as related to external objects," by George Combe, Esq., of Edinburgh; "The Influence of Mental Cultivation on Health," by Dr. Brigham, of Hartford; "The Principles of Physiology applied to the preservation of Health," by Dr. Combe, of Edinburgh; and a recent work by Dr. Caldwell, of Kentucky, are among this number. In addition to this, three school books, "The Anatomical Class Book," by Dr. Smith; "The Outlines of Physiology," by Dr. Hayward; and "The House I live in," an allegorical description of the human frame, by Dr. Alcott, have appeared in Boston; and a fourth work of this same general character is expected from Dr. Drake, of Cin

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Neglect of Physical Education.

[Nov. cinnati. We might also mention, in this connection, the many valuable lectures and addresses on this subject, especially at Conventions of Teachers in various parts of the United States, which have been delivered, and the many manual labor schools which have been established.

We had promised ourselves the pleasure of reviewing another of the same general tendency, the recent interesting work of Dr. Alexander Combe, one of the most valuable of a popular kind, we have yet seen upon physiology; but ill health has compelled us to relinquish the hope. We are happy, therefore, to have received an article, which we can present as cordially as if it were our own, and in which we preserve the editorial style which we have ceased to admit in the articles of others, since our early associates have been compelled, one after another, to leave us.

"The phrase 'physical education,' in the title page of any book," said a friend not long since, "is alone sufficient to secure it a favorable reception." But he was mistaken. The philosopher Locke, who said one hundred and fifty years ago, that a sound mind in a sound body is a short but full description of a happy state in this world," might have advanced the same opinion, and with his own estimate of the value of a sound body, nothing would have been more natural. Yet the observation and experience of every friend of physical education, both before and since the days of Locke, must, it seems to us, lead to a far different conclusion. For ourselves, we feel assured that the subject has not obtained a permanent hold on the public mind. There is yet a propensity almost every where to exalt the intellect, and leave the body to shift for itself; and not a few of those who press the subject with the utmost earnestness, and are resolved never to cease from doing so, till they cease from their earthly labors, are still regarded as enthusiastic or visionary.

It is this view, among many others, that induces us to welcome the appearance of such a work as that to which we have referred, by Dr. Combe. The interesting, we might say captivating, manner, in which the subjects of that work are treated, and the wide circulation which the manner of its publication almost inevitably secures, have led us to hope that it will do more towards awakening the public mind, than any other work which has yet appeared; the abler one, by Dr. Caldwell, not excepted. We hope so, because it will be read by more individuals than any previous work ; and its style is more of a popular cast than any kindred work which has been published, either before or since. Dr. Combe is evidently no visionary; and his work will do much, we trust, to