lence of those who first urged its claims on the public attention, and of the legislature which established it. To that enlightened philanthropist, Thomas Eddy, whose disinterested feelings for the calamities of his species, have been evinced by an active course of exertion in so many ways for more than thirty years, the state of New-York is in an especial manner indebted for this new instance of his benevolence. The liberal views of the board of governors of the New-York Hospital, have been long known and admitted, by those who, either in the capacity of patient or of pupil, have partaken of the benefits of which they are the dispensers; and the same wisdom, which in 1769, founded the institution under the venerable Dr. Bard, and has directed that excellent charity so many years, will, in the continued efforts of Matthew Clarkson, Thomas Franklin, John Murray, jun. Peter A. Jay, G. Aspinwall, Hugh Williamson, and others of that benevolent association, be attended with equally happy results in its new and enlarged sphere of action. It may be confidently hoped that this new retreat will prove a place of refuge, and the means of restoration to a numerous class of our fellow-men: and when it is considered to whom is committed the superintendence of the erection of this asylum, we are satisfied that it will be no less honourable to the talents of Thomas C. Taylor as an architect, than to his benevolence as a man, his services being a free-will offering, and not admitting of pecuniary reward.”

NOTE E.-p. 49.

This measure of providing for the rearing up of competent teachers, was among the last suggestions of Mr. Clinton's mind. Few can be ignorant of the fact, that many of our schools have deteriorated in character, and ultimately fallen into disgrace from the paucity of talents and want of ability in those commissioned as instructors. The plan of Mr. Clinton applied the proper corrective to the evil. His services in behalf of the common school fund of New-York, were such as to challenge the approbation equally of his most decided political opponents, as of his uniform friends.

In this important business he never tired. From its foundation in 1812, to the close of his life, he was consulted on every measuse calculated to improve and render more available this liberal and magnificent provision in behalf of useful knowledge. One who well knew his exertions on this head, Gideon Hawley, Esq. thus writes to me:-" Participating in common with you and many others, in veneration for the character and memory of Governor Clinton, I am happy to avail myself of this occasion to bear testimony to the great interest which he always took in the establishment of our system of common schools. While I held the office of superintendant, I had often occasion to consult him on subjects connected with my official duty: he was always ready to assist with his counsel and advice; and it is a matter of personal knowledge with me, that he has rendered the most important services, not only in the first organization of the system, but in all the subsequent stages of its progress."

In his speech to the legislature in 1818, Mr. Clinton states:-The fund appropriated to common schools consist of about one million of dollars, and eighty thousand acres of land. The income for distribution this year is 60,000 dollars. Having participated in the first establishment of the Lancasterian system in this country, having carefully observed its progress, and witnessed its benefits, I can confidently recommend it as an invaluable improvement, which by a wonderful combination of economy in expense, and rapidity of instruction, has created a new era in education; and I am desirous that all our common schools should be supplied with teachers of this description. As this system operates with the same efficacy in education, that labour-saving machinery does in the useful arts, it will be readily perceived that it is peculiarly adapted to this country.

For if by this means one teacher can perform the function of ten, and if a pupil can learn in one week as much as he would in one month in the common way, it is evident that more wealth, more labour, more time, and more industry, can be devoted to the ordinary occupations of life without interfering with the dispensation of knowledge. Wherever it has been attempted, it has succeeded, and several parts of the state have experienced its benefits. Competent teachers can be educated for this express purpose, and in sufficient

number to supply all our common schools, by sending intelligent young men to the Lancasterian seminaries in New-York, where they will be instructed gratuitously, and where in the course of a few months they will acquire sufficient knowledge of the system. Appropriations for this purpose by the several common schools out of their portion of the general fund, under the direction of the superintendant, will defray the small expense attending the attainment of this important object.

In that of 1822, he again adverts to this subject:-"The Lancasterian or monitorial system, or, as it has been emphatically denominated, the system of mutual instruction, is making its way in the community by the force of its transcendent merits. Our common schools have flourished beyond all former example and our higher institutions, the seats of literature and science, continue to maintain the respectable character which they have so honourably acquired. Having in the course of the last year had an opportunity from personal observation to witness the progress of Columbia College, I cannot omit, on this occasion, to express the high sense which I entertain of the able superintendence of the trustees, of the learning and attention of the president and professors, and of the laudable advances of the students; and my intelligence from the other colleges is also propitious to the progress of knowledge, and honourable to those venerable and distinguished men who watch over their interests.

"I am happy to have it in my power to say that this state has always evinced a liberal spirit in the promotion of education, and I am persuaded that no considerations short of total inability will ever prevent similar demonstrations. The first duty of a state is to render its citizens virtuous by intellectual instruction and moral discipline, by enlightening their minds, purifying their hearts, and teaching them their rights and their obligations. Those solid and enduring honours which arise from the cultivation of science and the acquisition and diffusion of knowledge, will outlive the renown of the statesman, and the glory of the warrior: and if any stimulus were wanting in a case so worthy of all our attention and patronage, we may find it in the example before our eyes, of the author of the declaration of independence,

who has devoted the evening of his illustrious life to the establishment of an university in his native state."

In his speech of 1825, he thus again addresses the two houses, demonstrating, if any thing were still wanting, how intensely the subject was connected with his feelings, and how prominent a place it held among his multifarious occupations.

"The number of children taught in our common schools during the last year exceeds 400,000, and is probably more than one-fourth of our whole population. Ten thousand three hundred and eighty-three have been instructed in the free and charity schools in the city of New-York, a number by no means proportioned to the wants of its population. The students in the incorporated academies amount to about 2,683, and in the colleges to 755.

"The fund for the common schools may be stated at upwards of 1,739,000 dollars, and its annual income at 98,000 dollars; to which may be added the interest on the future sales of lands, and on the disposal of escheated property; the proceeds of which latter item may be added to the capital. "However imposing this fund may appear, it is sufficiently obvious that it ought to be augmented. This state is capable of supporting fourteen millions of inhabitants. This appropriation will therefore soon be found far behind the progress of population, and the requisitions for instruction. Deeply impressed with the momentous nature of this department of our social policy to the cardinal interests of the state, I cannot withhold one important fact derived from past experience. Of the many thousands who have been instructed in our free schools in the city of New-York, there is not a solitary instance known of any one having been convicted of crimes. In furtherance of this invaluable system, I recommend to your consideration the education of competent teachers on the monitorial plan, its more general introduction, and the distribution of useful books."

From the last annual report of the superintendant of common schools, A. C. Flagg, Esq. made to the legislature of the state of New-York, in January 1828, I have selected the following statements. While it exhibits the magnificence and efficiency of the system of public school instruction, it

must constitute an enduring monument to the benevolent and generous zeal of its principal founder.

"There are 55 organised counties in the state, from the clerks of each of which returns have been received. It will be seen from these abstracts, that of the 742 towns and wards in the state, 741 have made reports according to law, and that only one town is delinquent. This town is Bushwick, in the county of Kings.

"That there are in the towns which have made reports, 8,298 school districts, and consequently the like number of schools organised, and that returns have been received from 7,806 of those districts.

"That 179 new school districts have been formed during the year 1827, and that the number of districts which have made returns, exceeds that of the preceding year by 256.

"That there are in the districts whose trustees have made returns, 419,216 children between the ages of 5 and 15; and that in the common schools of the same districts, 441,856 children have been taught during the year 1827; the general average of instruction having been about eight months.

"The number of children instructed in the common schools, exceeds by 17,804, the whole number between the ages of 5 and 15 years. This estimate does not include the cities of New-York and Albany, where the children between 5 and 15 are not reported.

"The returns show an increase of 7,960, of the children between 5 and 15; and the number of children taught in the common schools, (New-York excepted) has increased 10,255 since the last annual report.

"In 1816, the number of children returned as instructed in the common schools, was 140,106; since which time the number taught has increased 301,750.

"Two hundred and twenty-two thousand, nine hundred and ninety-five dollars, and seventy-seven cents, have been paid to the several school districts during the year 1827: of this sum $100,000 were paid from the state treasury, $110,542.32 were raised by a tax upon the several towns in the state, and $12,453.45 were derived from a local fund which certain towns possess.