brace the physical, intellectual, and moral nature. Our part now has reference more especially to the intellectual, but in attending to this, we need not, we do not intend, wholly to neglect the other departments. In regard to the physical, something may be done by the erection of suitable buildings, and by care to protect the inmates from unhealthy influences. And in regard to the moral, much may be done, by good regulations, by the selection of teachers, who, to proper intellectual endowments, unite purity of heart, elevated sentiments and refined feelings, rendered more attractive by modest, manly deportment and winning manners; and when practicable, by locating school-houses in situations where the natural scenery will instill beauty into the soul, and bring it under those harmonizing and elevating influences with which a wise and beneficent Creator has imbued his works. Let them stand aloof from the turmoil of business, and elevated above its cares, where the orient sun will inspire hope, and his setting hues gild a glorious futurity. Let them be where verdant fields and flowery groves, made vocal by the melody of birds, will regale the senses and refresh the imaginationwhere extensive prospects will awaken the sense of the sublime, inspire lofty aspirations, and nurture all the infinite tendencies of the immortal spirit. Place them near, where, in some sanctuary of nature, the crystal fountain sends forth the refreshing stream, in which the infant soul may baptise itself in purity, and from its murmuring waters catch the hallowed voice of song. And when this is impracticable, let the same intention be fulfilled, as far as possible, by artificial means-by paintings and statuary, by poetry and music. Let the whole arrangement be such as will gladden the heart, and make the future recollections of the spring time of existence, and all its associations, as a celestial vision, blending its tranquilizing and holy influences with the cares and asperities of life, and gilding with poetic gleams its stern realities.

Procuring suitable teachers is, perhaps, the most important and the most difficult portion of the work. Properly to fill that station, requires the highest order of talent, and the most exalted character. But can we expect men of high talent and character, to devote themselves to a pursuit, in which the honors and emoluments are so far from being commensurate with the labor and responsibilities? A high sense of duty impels some persons thus to devote themselves, but in the p esent state of public feeling, we cannot rely onthis inducement, for a sufficient number to fill any considerable portion of our schools. In this State, we are very deficient in this particular. Preparation for such an office, has neither been a duty, a trade, or a profession, and we have of course to rely much upon our neighbors. I do not object to this for the reason sometimes urged against it-that it gives our school funds to the citizens of other States. The argument, on that point, is wholly involved in the mooted question of free trade and protection. There may be some advantages in the circulation of intelligence, which is produced by this employment of instructors from other sections, and their con

tinual change from place to place, but I apprehend they are trifling in comparison with the disadvantages.

In this State, I believe, our sound and liberal political and religious institutions, have laid in the free thought and mental vigor of the people, a broader and firmer basis for education, than has elsewhere been found, and I would that the superstructure should be raised, by those who are familiar with these institutions, and have profited by them by those whose thoughts have never been circumscribed by authority, and whose souls have never been narrowed by bigotry or debased by superstition. In these views, I believe, I am influenced by no merely sectional feeling. I know there are many in other States, who in this particular will well compare with the best in ours. But I do not think that their institutions and acquired habits of thought, are so favorable to the development of this character, or that it is so universal among them. But there are other considerations, which I deem more conclusive on this point. In the present mode of engaging a teacher for a few months, with only a mere chance of his being re-employed in the same district, he cannot be expected to feel the same interest in the affairs of the community, or even in the progress of his pupils, as if he were permanently located among them, and expected to see the fruit of the seed he planted.

Such is now the general neglect in visiting his school, and in extending to him even the civilities of society, that in an ordinary term he will hardly become acquainted with the parents at all, unless he "boards round," which, by the way, is the only recommendation of that system which occurs to me.

Now every man with improved mind, cultivated taste, and elevated morality, exerts a great and happy influence on the community in which he resides, and those requisites should be indispensable to all the teachers of our schools. They will, in some respects, be better situated to exert this influence, than most other citizens. They will receive no fees for their opinions; and not having to encounter the suspicions of interested motives, and the feelings of rivalry which the competitions of business so often engender, their approval of right and reprobation of wrong, will have all the weight of intelligence, character and impartial judgment. The influence of such men, permanently located in all our districts, their interests and feelings all blending with those of the community, could not fail to elevate the moral standard, and strengthen all the ties which bind society. As they advanced in years, and their pupils came into active life around them, this influence would assume a paternal character, and be to the whole community, what that of a long settled and venerated minister of religion is to his congregation. Perhaps, too, there would be a more grateful feeling for the moral influences which the teacher has insinuated into the mind with science, than for even greater benefits in the same way, from one, who imparted them in the fulfillment of duties, which, in virtue of his office and his salary, he was bound to perform.

To secure these benefits, and remedy in part the difficulties alluded to, it is proposed to establish, within the state, normal schools,

for the education of teachers of both sexes.

I will not enter into the details of this plan, further than to say, that it is the intention of the projectors of it, to rely on voluntary subscriptions for the funds necessary to carry it into effect.

Some years must elapse, before we can realize the full benefits expected from this source, but in the mean time, much may be done by vigilance in procuring the best teachers which circumstances permit, and by encouragement and aid in their efforts to become better qualified for their responsible station. The association of teachers, already formed in this county, for the purpose of mutual improvement, gives promise of much usefulness, and reflects credit

on its members.

While, however, the rate of compensation is so low, it is to be apprehended, that men of talent will only make school keeping a stepping stone to some more lucrative occupation. This presents a very serious difficulty, and I confess I have been alarmed by the consideration, that our best lawyers, who devote themselves to their profession, realise two, three and even five thousand dollars per annum, and that education requires talents not inferior to theirs-not inferior to any. I endeavored to flatter myself, that when the importance of the subject was justly appreciated, we would be willing to pay as much to the man who performs so important a part in training the minds of our children, as to the man, who ever so ably and successfully defends our purse, or even our personal rights.

But when entering into figures, I found that this would require certainly more than ten-perhaps more than twenty times the amount now appropriated by the state, I despaired of its early accomplishment, and sought relief in another aspect of the subject, which I think presents some encouragement. I find this encouragement in the fact, that most men do not labor exclusively for money. The number who have so wofully misconceived the ends of existence, as to make the mere accumulation of wealth, or even a wholly selfish application of it, their ultimate object, is very small. Now those, who for the purposes of rapid acquisition, devote themselves to active laborious pursuits, involving anxiety, perplexity and mental vigilance, have almost always one or more of three objects in view-the pursuit of agriculture, of literature, or of benevolence.

I know that some may doubt these premises, and as they are important in themselves, and essential to the cheering conclusion I aim to deduce from them, I will trust to your indulgence to dwell a moment upon them,

The very general desire of men, to escape from the anxieties and perplexities of hazardous and intricate business, to the green fieldsthe golden harvests-the home-felt joys and sober certainties of agricultural life, is matter of every day observation and experience; nor will it be doubted, that with many, the calm pursuits of literature and science are looked to as an evening haven from the storms of a bustling life; but I am aware, that on the last point, the popular mind inclines to a belief of the engrossing selfishness of business men. They see them pursuing wealth, with an energy so intense,

and an interest so absorbing, that they may well suppose, that with them, it is the final and exclusive object of existence. The uninterested and superficial observer, does not suspect, that they are goaded on by a consciousness that the great work of life is still before them— that they are yet far from home-that night is approaching, and they have not entered even into the territory of their abiding place. But it may be urged, that even when successful, they are slow to apply their wealth to benevolent purposes. This is very often the case, and yet, paradoxical as it may appear, it does not argue that this is not the purposed object for which they are acquiring it. They overrate the value of money as a benevolent power. They measure it by its cost; and this, when every energy of body and mind has been engrossed in its acquisition, they can hardly over-estimate. Though holding in theory to their early impressions of its omnipotence, their business experience and judgment enables them practically to perceive in every attempt to apply it, that money in itself is a very low order of power, and requires the aid of as much thought and labor to make it effective as an agent of good, as it does to make it productive in business. They long hope, however, for an opportunity of applying it with those magnificent and certain results, the imagination of which has lured them to its exclusive pursuit, and it is not till they have exhausted this hope, that they yield to less inducements.

They are then only carrying into the application of their wealth, the rules by which it has been acquired, and are loth to part with it at less than the original cost, or to invest it, where, in the absence of their own supervision, they have not what they deem sufficient security that it will be judiciously applied. Those habits of saving money, and of parting with it only upon the expectation of a larger return in kind, and which are generally necessary to enable them to commence accumulating, may at first militate against their giving freely for any other purpose; but when they have once learned to look to humane objects as a return for investment, their acquired boldness in parting with large sums, in confident anticipation of profitable results, comes to the aid of their benevolent feelings, and perhaps goes far to supply the want of enthusiasm, which is sometimes induced by the vividness of the imagination having become obscured in matter of fact calculations, and the engrossments of reality.

The recent subscription of business men, for the erection in this state of an asylum for the insane, carrying into effect the original design of one of their own number, whose generous aid through life to literary and benevolent objects, might, of itself, go far to disabuse the public mind on this point, shows how cheerfully they will give, when in their opinion the object warrants it. And the very liberal donation of one individual, who perhaps for the very reason I have suggested, set a high value on money, shows how freely he can bestow it, when his judgment is convinced of the utility of the application. He is now animated by a new impulse. His life is no longer objectless. The cheering thought that all his labor has not been in vain, attends him. He is inspired with a fresh hope, for he

has found an opportunity of investing the proceeds of his toil and anxiety, in a manner, which evidently affords him more satisfaction, than he ever felt in the acquisition of a like sum. The sagacity by which he at once secured the present co-operation of the community, and ascertained that their feelings were sufficiently interested in the object of the gift, to warrant the expectation that it would continue to receive the attention from them, essential to its usefulness, is a striking illustration of the thoughtful prudence of business men, under circumstances, which might have dazzled the imagination, and misled the judgment of those having less practical habits and experience.

Having touched upon this subject, it may not be out of place here to remark, that the improved treatment of the insane, and the education of the deaf and dumb, and the blind, are among the most glorious triumphs of knowledge, and that education has raised her proudest trophy in the midst of that intellectual and moral illumination and holy joy, which she has carried into the recesses of mind, from which, by a combination of the two latter maladies, every ray of light or hope was formerly excluded. Who would not rather have been the first who triumphantly planted the standard of intelligence and hope within the apparently impreguable ramparts of that dark and dreary citadel, than to have victoriously borne away the martial banners from the fields of Arbela and Waterloo.

But to return. The facts I have mentioned, go far to confirm my premises, and I think warrant the assertion, that so far as the prospects of this life are concerned, Agriculture, Literature and Benevolence, may generally be regarded as the ultimate objects of busy men. The intelligent farmer may well be content, for he already occupies one of the positions which so many are toiling to obtain, and one in which constant observation of the liberality of nature, must imbue his mind with generous feeling, and thus eminently fit him for the enjoyment of another of the ultimate objects. The office of the teacher also embraces two of three objects, the pursuit of literature, and the gratification of benevolent feelings.

If the farmer may look with delight on the green fields in which he has made two spears of grass grow, where only one grew before, with what higher rapture may the teacher look on the beaming countenance which attests that another idea, another truth, has been successfully engrafted on an immortal mind. If the former, when he plants, may look forward with pleasant anticipation, to the refreshing fruit or shade, with what more holy hope and joy, may the latter reflect, that the germs he is nurturing will grow through eternity.

A man imbued with benevolent feelings, and a passion for knowledge, may find in the office of a public instructor, that pleasurable occupation and exhilerating exercise of his faculties and feelings, which will induce him to pursue it, for that moderate compensation which will ensure him a comfortable subsistence through life. And 'the very causes which induce this willingness, insure, at the same time, the highest qualifications, and most devoted zeal in their appli