freedom, and published in 1647. Bishop Taylor says it was found in Jewish books, but Hallam says it is probably of Arabian origin. It was not in the first editions of the Liberty of Prophesying, and the book from which Taylor is supposed to have borrowed it was not published until 1651. Franklin sent the same parable, with some variations to make it resemble the style of scripture, to Lord Kaimes, and it was published by the latter in his "Sketches of the History of Man." It was for a long time attributed to Franklin, and published among his works as his. See Hallam's Literature of Europe, vol. 3, ch. 2. § 61, (Harper's ed. vol. 2, page 52). Cross' Selections from Edinburgh Review 3, 277, note. NORMAL SCHOOL. We had the pleasure of being present at the late examination of the Normal School, in Providence. The pupils acquitted themselves in a manner to reflect great credit on themselves and their instructors. Opportunities for better instruction they could not have had anywhere. Messrs. Russell, Greene, Colburn and Guyot have long been among the most distinguished in their several departments. While the number of young ladies in attendance was large, we were sorry to see so few young gentlemen among the pupils. We hope this will not be the case another winter. There are very few places in our country where teachers have it in their power to obtain such instruction from so well qualified instructors, and we hope that at their next term, which will commence in Providence next autumn, the school will be full. KINGSTON ACADEMY. This institution which formerly sustained a high standing in our State as a school for the classics and higher branches of English education, has lately been reorganized. A new and convenient building is now erecting by private subscription, and will probably be opened for use in the fall, under competent instructors. COUNTY INSPECTORS. The following gentlemen have been appointed County Inspectors for the ensuing school year, viz : Providence County-Rev. John Boyden, Jr., of Woonsocket; Rev. O. F. Otis, of Chepachet; John H. Willard, of Pawtucket; and John B. Tallman, of Central Falls. Bristol County-Rev. Thomas Shepperd, of Bristol. Newport County-Rev. Charles T. Brooks, of Newport. From the Evening Post. THE SOULS OF THE CHILDREN. "Who bids for the little children- The world on their page may write ?" "We bid," said Pest and Famine, "We bid for life and limb; Fever and pain and squalor Their bright young eyes shall dim. "I bid," said Beggary, howling, I'll teach them a thousand lessons- They shall sleep in my lair like maggots, And if they serve my purpose, I hope they'll answer thine." "And I'll bid higher and higher," Said Crime, with wolfish grin, "For I love to lead the children, Through the pleasant paths of sin. They shall swarm in the streets to pilfer, They shall plague the broad highway, Till they grow too old for pity, And ripe for the law to slay. "Prison and hulk and gallows I'll take them as they're born; "Give me the little children, While ye shut your idle eyes; Shall be fathers to the young." "O, shame!" said true Religion, From the mire in which they've trod; "You're not the true religion," Said a Sect with flashing eyes; "You're antichrist and bigot You'd train them up for hell." And England, sorely puzzled I fear the little children Will plague both you and me." But all refused to listen ;— Quoth they-"We bide our time;" And the prisons teemed with victims, Spread reeking to the sky. SCHOOL COMMISSIONER. At the May session of the General Assembly, A. D. 1853, at Newport, Elisha R. Potter, of South Kingstown, was nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, as Commissioner of Public Schools for the year ensuing. Dear Sir: SCHOOL LAW. PROVIDENCE, May 21, 1853. From the best consideration I have been able to give to the subject, I am of opinion that a district having once legally made an election of any of the officers required by law to be elected, would have no right to rescind it. The case would be different, however, with persons who were merely appointed by the district as a committee for some particular purpose. Over such cases the district would have complete control and might remove such agents at pleasure, A trustee once elected and accepting, could only be removed for good cause, and after notice and a hearing. The contrary doctrine would lead to continual contests and confusion. Very respectfully yours, &c., E. R. P. Mr. ****. M. Ampere, a French writer who has lately been writing on the subject of the United States, speaking of the American habit of boasting, and claiming the credit of everything, says :-"I cannot help thinking, that it is painful to the inhabitants of the United States not to be able to pretend that an American discovered America. On the whole, this predilection for their country has nothing aggressive or offensive in it. It rather inspires me with esteem for the American people." TERRITORY OF WASHINGTON. By act of Congress, March 2d, 1853, a new territory was established, to be called the Territory of Washington. It includes "all that portion of Oregon territory lying and being South of the fortyninth degree of North latitude, and North thofe middle of the main channel of Columbia river from its mouth to where the forty-sixth degree of North latitude crosses said river near Fort Wallawalla, thence with said forty-sixth degree of North latitude to the summit of the Rocky Mountains." REPORT OF THE EXAMINING COMMITTEE OF THE NORMAL SCHOOL. The undersigned having been requested to act as an Examining Committee of the Rhode Island Normal School, lately in operation in this city, and having in this capacity visited it and attended its closing examination, present to its patrons and friends the following report: The school was commenced at the instance, and through the exertions of Professor S. S. Greene, Superintendent of Public Schools in this city, and was originally designed simply to meet the wants, especially of young ladies and others, who were preparing to be teachers, but who yet could not join the class under the instruction of Prof. Greene, in the Normal Department of Brown University. For the accommodation of such persons-many of whom had already been employed as teachers a class was first formed in the winter of 1851-2, which met in the hall of the High School, and continued for nearly eight months, under the instruction of Mr. Greene alone. In the autumn of 1852, several gentlemen, friends of education, in this city, contributed a sum sufficient for defraying the expenses of a room centrally situated and providing fixtures suitable for the accommodation of a Normal School, which should be continued through the winter, and embrace several different departments of instruction for the benefit of any persons who at a moderate charge might desire to attend it.Through the liberality of those gentlemen, the hall of the Second Universalist Chapel in Broad street, was hired for the purpose, and the school was opened on the first day of November last, and continued to the first day of April, under the direction of Professor Greene, assisted by Professor William Russell, Mr. Dana P. Colburn and Mr. Arthur Sumner, all of them instructors of established reputation in their respective departments. The tuition for six month was fixed at fifteen dollars, a sum deemed barely sufficient to meet only the cos of instruction, in sessions of four and a half hours for five days of the week. The number of pupils who attended the school, was in all eighty-five, of whom eight were males; and the average number during six months was about seventy-five. The several departments of instruction embraced in the school, were those of English Language, Geography, Political and Physical, Arithmetic, Elocution and Reading, in all of which, the instruction was designed to be strictly normal in its character. It supposed the pupils to be already, to a consider |