Lancaster Gazette, 1828-03-04

EDUCATION. INSTRUCTION OF TEACHERS. The following is the report recently made to the Legislature, relative to the instruction of teachers of schools, which has been a subject of investiga- i tion for two or three of the last sessions. It will be seen that, though the report is not made with ; reference to the particular contemplated institu institution - tion institution which suggested it, the committee express entire confidence in the project itself; but recom recommend - mend recommend a distribution throughout the State of the aid which shall be afforded by the Legislature: The Committee on Education, to whom was referred that part of the Mesmge of His Excellency the Governor, delivered at the June session, which relates to an In Institution - stitution Institution for the instruction of School Taaohco and to the general subject of Education, have considered the same, in obedience to the order of the House. ' The Committee need not multiply words for the purpose of indicating the magnitude and importance of the topics to which their attention has been directed. It is known, that the existing systems of common school education, have within a few years attracted the particular notice of this community. Whilst for a long pe period - riod period the free schools of the Commonwealth had pursued their regular, stated course without becoming the object of legislative interference; and whilst the system itself out of which they grew, had been made the theme of praise and commendation, both at home and abroad; it is not to be concealed, that the opinion had often been expressed, that the schools were in a lan languishing - guishing languishing condition, and that the whole system was in many essential particulars defective and inefficient. A minute and careful examination instituted and car carried - ried carried through by successive Legislatures, resulted at last in the enactment of cer certain - tain certain provisions, which, in the opinion of the Committee, have in a high degree subserved the interests of the public in this regard, and contributed already very much to elevate the character of the com common - mon common schools. These provisions, together with all pre-existing enactments upon the subject, were embodied in one general law at the last winter session. Of the prominent features of that law, the Com Committee - mittee Committee have expressed an opiniion very fully in a former report. They feel satis satisfied - fied satisfied of the correctness of that opinion ; but they believe that the course of im improvement - provement improvement should not be suffered to stop at this point, lest what has already been gained be put in jeopardy. Something more is '"Fich shall me and vigour into the system, and bring the operations of it con constantly - stantly constantly home to the observation of the Legislature and of the community. Some Something - thing Something too is wanting to insure the results, which are reasonably to be anticipated from the enactments just alluded to. The general regulations in regard to the schools, the regulations in regard to their periodical examination, to the selection of books, and to the duties of the various committees, are all highly important. But there are no means yet devised of warranting to the schools the services of well qualified instructors. Nor has any plan as yet been presented to satisfy the community, that the goverment of the Commonwealth are, what they surely ought to be, the substantial and efficient patrons of these valuable institutions. The deep and intimate connection of these institutions with the best interests, nay, with all the interests of the public ; and the fact, that all which we hold deir, even though considered but political}', rests mainly upon them, should forn a sufficient reason for establishing and con constantly - stantly constantly maintaining such patronage and guardianship. The object contenulated cannot, as is obviously to be seen, bs sud suddenly - denly suddenly accomplished. The accunulation of a fund for the purposes in view is indis indispensably - pensably indispensably necessary. And as no neans of accumulating such a fund at oice are known to be accessible, such meins must be resorted to as shall conduce to this end by regular and gradual appropria appropriations. - tions. appropriations. , / The establishment of a find should look to the support of an institution for the instruction of school tea:hers in each county in the Commonwealth and to the distribution, annually, to all .he towns, of such a sum for the benefit a the schools, as shall simply operate as m encourage encouragement - ment encouragement to proportionate effors on the part of the towns. A fund whica should be so large as to suffice for the support of the whole school establishment of the State, as is the case in Connecticut, would, in the opinion of the Committee, be rather det detrimental - rimental detrimental than advantagerus: it would only serve to draw off from the mass of the community that animiting interest, which will ever be found indispensable, where a resolute feeling ujon the subject is wished for or expected. Such a result is in every sense to be diprecated, and whatever may tend to it even remotely should be anxiously avoided. A fund which should admit of the distribution of SIOOO to any town that should raise S3OOO, in any manner within itself, or in .that proportion, would operate as a strong incentive to high efforts; and if to this

MORAL MORALITY AND GOOD TASTE. In an enlightened age you will scarce scarcely - ly scarcely believe to what a degree good morals de depend - pend depend on good taste, and good taste on good morals. The works of Racine, gradually becoming more pure, in proportion as the auther became more religious, at last con concluded - cluded concluded with his Athaliah. Take notice on the contrary, how the impiety and the genius of Voltaire discover themselves at one and the same time in his productions, by a mixture of delightful and disagreea disagreeable - ble disagreeable subjects. Bad taste, when incorrigi incorrigible, - ble, incorrigible, is a perversion of judgement, a natu natural - ral natural bias in the ideas; now, as the mind acts upon the heart, the ways of the latter can scarcely Fo upright whe n those nf tha tormer are not so. He who is fond of de deformity - formity deformity at a time when a thousand master masterpieces - pieces masterpieces might apprise him of his error and rectify his taste, is not far from loving vice, and it is no wonder if he who is in insensible - sensible insensible to beauty should also be blind to virtue. Every writer, who refuses to believe in a God, the author of the universe, and the judge of man, whose soul he has made im immortal, - mortal, immortal, in the first place excludes infinity from his works. He confines his intellect within a circle of clay, from which it has then no means of escaping. He sees nothing that is noble in nature; all her operations are, in his infatuated opinion, effected by impure means of corruption and regeneration. The vast abyss is but a little bituminous water ; the mountains are small protuberances of calcareous or vitrificable rock, and the heavens are but a petty vault, thrown over us for a moment by the capricious hand of chance. Chateaubriand. BENEFICENCE. " In doing good," says Mr. Burke, " we are generally cold, and languid, and slug sluggish, - gish, sluggish, and of all things afraid of being too much in the right." There is a timidity attending our incipient actions, not only in circumstances which never involved us, but in circumstances which have not in involved - volved involved us for a long time. It is hence that, having long neglected the work of mercy, we become languid in doing good, and are afraid of being too mwh in the right. There is also danger lest, by neg neglecting - lecting neglecting the culture of benevolent sympa sympathies, - thies, sympathies, the seeds of ill-will and injustice, alas, too generally sown in the human heart, will spring up and flourish in bane baneful - ful baneful luxuriance. There are men, however, whose chief cmpivj tuvin consists nr mnrcnurnc?, ana who taste a pleasure in acts of humanity which can be tasted by the humane alone. Like the faculty of taste, a disposition to goodness is educed and improved by pro proper - per proper exercise. If, therefore, we emulate the character of the beneficent man, and would know the luxury of doing good, we must let no opportunity to be useful es escape - cape escape us unused ; but must be ever awake to the wants of our kind, and have our ears continually open to the whispers of distress. MEANS OF DOING GOOD. As the capacities of different minds vary, so ought to vary the means of affecting them. There are multitudes whose attention is caught by any thing new or peculiar in its appearance. Such are tracts with an inter interesting - esting interesting cut to attract the notice of observers. Such also are cards with valuable instruc instruction - tion instruction imprinted on them; especially if there is any peculiarity in the form, color, or impres impression - sion impression of the paper. Of this kind is the following, which exhibits a particular meth method - od method of doing good, and which will probably be new to many readers. WHOLESOME ADVICE. Hear j f Be silent Be silent I , , . I Understand Understand f and learn to Remember. Remember J [do accordingly. see, judge } can do, do J Wealth some j lost, much Most. Virtue ' more ( Soul (all J 'praying, (lose aims, j impoverish Bv being unjust, ' 5"" j enneb not ' .lying, J [profit Whatever abstracts the thought from sen sensual - sual sensual gratifications, whatever teaches us to look for happiness within ourselves, must advance in some measure the dignity of our nature. Would you judge of the lawfulness or un unlawfulness - lawfulness unlawfulness of pleasures, take this rule: what whatever - ever whatever weakens your reason, impairs the ten tenderness - derness tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spir spiritual - itual spiritual things - in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind - that thing is sin to you, though it may appear innocent in itself. When persons loiter on a journey they are sometimes benighted afterwards: - and when believers are not diligent in the use of ordinances, and in the performance of good works, no wonder if they walk in darkness. Happiness has been beautifully compared to the manna in the desert. "He that gath gathered - ered gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack." Therefore, to diminish envy, let us consider not what oth others - ers others possess, but what they enjoy.

BLISHED EVERY TUESDAY EVENING, BY F. & J. ANDREWS, LANCASTER, MASSACHUSETTS. >BMS _Two dollars per annum - or one dollar eventy five cents if paid in advance. If not within six months after the expiration of the two dollars and fifty cents. ivbrTISEMENTS conspicuously inserted three s for one dollar per square; less than a e SEVENTY-FIVE cents,andcontinueda longer at one shilling an insertion. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. t year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred i and twenty eight. ACT ceding to the United States isdiction over a Tract of Land purchased by in Chelsea, for the erection of a Naval Hos Hosai - ai Hosai tnercvu. eit enacted the Senate and House of resentatives, in General Court assembled, by the authority of the same, That the sent of this commonwealth be, and hereby ranted to the United States, to purchase hold a tract of land situate in Chelsea, in Lounty of Suffolk, for a Naval Hospital, in the following limits, viz: begining at int at low water mark on the north side ie nothern channel of Mistic River,where uches Chelsea Bridge, thence northeas northeasr - r northeasr along the western side of said Bridge ligh water mark, thence northeasterly g the north side of Salem Turnpike road en rods, to the land of Abel Gardner, from ice northerly by tile land of said Gardner, it rods and three links, from thence heasterly partly by the land of said dner, partly by the land of the Proprie Proprieof - of Proprieof Salem Turnpike and partly by the of Samuel Chittenden, fifteen rods and links, from thence southerly by the land aid Chittenden to the Salem Turnpike, i thence by the Salem Turnpike to the of Thomas Williams, from thence herly by the land of said Williams, to nd End River, from thence by a line due tto Mill River, from thence southwes southwesr - r southwesr along the low water line of said River s junction with Mistic River, thence along the northern low water of the north channel of Mistic River to dace of beginning ; containing seventy seventyacres - acres seventyacres of land, be the same more or less. lan or map of said described premises squired to be deposited in the office of Secretary of State of this Common Common-Ith. - -Ith. Common-Ith. Provided, That this Common Common-Ith - -Ith Common-Ith shall retain, and does hereby retain, surrent jurisdiction with the United es, in and over said land, so far that all and criminal process, issued under the ority of this Commonwealth, or any er thereof, may be executed on any part lid land, or in any building, which now r may be hereafter erected: thereon, in same way and manner as if this consent not been granted. Provided also, That irovisions or mis aui sicm-mn it until the building for said Naval Hos Hosbe - be Hosbe erected on said described premises, iproved by the Governor, Feb. 20,1828. ACT in addition to the several Acts givi g 0 r her Remedies in Equity. c it enacted by the Senate and House of resentatives in General Court assembled, by the authority of the same, That when complaint, bill, or suit in Equity shall be ling in the Supreme Judicial Court in County in which any decree, order, or iction shall have been made or passed, tall be lawful for any Justice of said rt, as well in vacation as in term time, to J all such writs and processes as may be issary to carry into full effect such de de, - , de, order, or injunction. pproved by the Governor, Jan. 28, 1828. A PROCLAMATION FOR DAY OF FASTING AND PRAYER. is suited to the sentiments and hab habf - f habf a Christian People that occasional ons should be unitedly observed, in ible acknowledgement of dependence i Divine Providence, in humiliation sin, and in supplication to God for on and future blessing. ith the advice arid consent of the 'utive Council, I therefore appoint URSDAY, the third day of April > for those solemn services, in Fasting Prayer, throughout this Common Commonth - And - th - And Commonth - And I recommend to the People, . with one accord, abstaining from sement and unnecessary labor, on that ttiey assemme wretrmen ors and Teachers, in the Houses de deted - ted deted to Public Worship, and offer to throne of infinite mercy, the incense earts contrite for the defects and trans transsions - sions transsions of past time, and religiously re resd - sd resd upon duty and faithfulness in the ovement of the future - that they mend, in their devotions, the Country its Government, the Commonwealth its Institutions, the spread of a know knowe - e knowe of the Gospel, the cause of learning, influence of a sense of moral account account>ty, - >ty, account>ty, the laudable pursuits and true in- Sts of the people, to the favor of hea hea' - ' hea' an d that, individually, they seek hope of salvation, which comes of the mess of God, by faith in his Son, and hence to the law of his revealed Will, ven at the Council Chamber, in Boston, this wenty-sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twentv twentv®>Rht, - ®>Rht, twentv®>Rht, and of the Independence of the United States the fifty-second. LEVI LINCOLN. r His Excellency the Governor, with the advice consent of the Council. Edward D. Bangs, Secretary, od save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts !

In another view of this subject, a fund for both of the objects indicated becomes deeply important, and indeed indispensa indispensable. - ble. indispensable. It is known that the number of Academies in the Commonweath is very great, and that of late years the objection has been forcibly urged against their in increase, - crease, increase, that they have a tendency to in injure - jure injure the common schools, by diminishing the interest taken in the welfare of the schools in towns where Academies are established. It is said, and the Commit Committee - tee Committee believe with much truth, that men of wealth, who are able to educate their children at these institutons, or at private schools of a high order, will rarely be dis disposed - posed disposed to exert their influence to obtain generous or even barely adequate grants of school money. There is no slight rea reason - son reason for the apprehension, that this in in influence - fluence influence may oftentimes be exerted a con contrary - trary contrary way. Indeed, even a partial exam examination, - ination, examination, the Committee believe, will be sufficient to satisfy any one, that such has heretofore notunfrequently been the case; in the experience of the past, thoro is a abundAut - bundAut abundAut confirmation of these views. It is easy to see that as the country advan advances - ces advances in wealth, these causes, adverse to the interests and well being of the free schools, must have a still wider and deeper opera operation, - tion, operation, and unless counteracted, may even eventually - tually eventually weaken, if they should not abso absolutely - lutely absolutely prostrate, the hopes in which the system originated, and which have thus far accompanied it. To avoid so unfortu unfortunate - nate unfortunate a result, means must be devised to ensure, if possible, a permanent interest in this concern on the part of the whole peo people. - ple. people. In the opinion of the Committee, the establishment of the proposed fund constitutes such a means, and will fully answer the purpose, by shielding the common schools against the mischievous effects which otherwise might follow a too prodigal increase of Academies and semi seminaries - naries seminaries of a higher order. The Committee, therefore, feel it to be their duty to offer to the consideration of the Legislature a Bill making provision, prospectively, for the purposes set forth in this Report. The fund, it is true, may not be available for some time to come ; but the Legislature and the community cannot fail to see the importance of no longer delaying the commencement of the work, and of putting it at once in the train of successful operation.

POLITICAL. As most of our readers have probably made them themselves - selves themselves acquainted with the proceedings of the present Congress, thus far, it is not necessary for us to go back to the beginning of the Session, or to attempt to give a summary of the business which has already been transacted. We commence ab abruptly, - ruptly, abruptly, therefore, with the following account of the proceedings of the 22d ult. which we copy from the Boston Courier, the readers of which have been highly favoured during the past winter with suc succinct, - cinct, succinct, yet comprehensive and interesting accounts of the congressional proceedings, from the senior editor, who has resided at Washington during the session, for that purpose : - In the House of Representatives this morning. Mr. Insham, by the direction of the committee on the rost omce and Post offered a joint resolution, conferring on Charles Carroll of Carroll Carrollton, - ton, Carrollton, the only surviving signer of the de declaration - claration declaration of independence, the privilege of receiving and transmitting letters, pa papers, - pers, papers, and packages, through the mails, free of postage. Mr. M'Duffie hoped that the mover of the resolution would state the reasons which had induced the com committee - mittee committee to offer it. Mr. Ingham said, in in reply, that he knew of no other motive than a desire to offer a mark of respect to the venerable man to whom it had refer reference. - ence. reference. Mr. Smith said he had no objec objection - tion objection to the object proposed, but as it might be desirable to pass it with some modifica modification, - tion, modification, he moved it be referred to a commit committee - tee committee of the whole House,, and made the order of the day for to-morrow. This motion was lost, and the resolution having been twice read, the question being on its passage to a third reading, Mr. M'Duffie said he thought this the worst possible mode of expressing respect for the gentle gentleman - man gentleman to whom it referred. Such a mea measure - sure measure was not necessary in order to testify to the people of the United States, or to the world, our feelings with regard to the only surviving signer of the declaration of independence. It could not be acceptable to that individual himself. It was only offering a very small, pecuniary privilege to one of the wealthiest individuals in the nation. It involved, also, a more danger dangerous - ous dangerous principle than any other he had ever known to be brought forward in Congress. On motion of Mr. Taylor, the resolution was laid upon the table.

The resolution offered on Thursday, by Mr. Wilde of Georgia, calling on the Pre President - sident President of the United States, "to inform the House whether and what measures have been taken to preserve inviolate that part oi the Constitution of the United States, which declares that no State shall be formed or erected within the jurisdic jurisdiction - tion jurisdiction of any other State, &c. without the consent of the Legislature of the State concerned as well as of Congress," was taken up for consideration. Mr. Wilde very briefly explained his object in moving the resolution, that it was to ascertain with what views, and on what principles, cer certain - tain certain Indian tribes, with whom the people of the United States had an anomalous connection, had been organized into in independent - dependent independent and distinct governments, with within - in within the limits of the States, and under constitutions formed by white people. On motion of Mr. Storrs, the resolution was so modified as to embrace a call for infor information - mation information respecting the organizations allud alluded - ed alluded to. Mr. Storrs supposed that, although these Indian governments were indepen independent - dent independent of the State jurisdiction, they were not statements, in the sense of the Con Constitution. - stitution. Constitution. After a few remarks by Mr. Lumpkin and others, the resolution was laid on the table. Mr. Chilton offered a resolution propos proposing - ing proposing an inquiry into the expediency of re reducing - ducing reducing the number of Cadets at the West- Point Academy. Mr. C. said he was not an enemy to science; but he thought it his duty to use all the means in his power to arrest the progress of institutions of an aristocratical character. He was aware that many gentlemen did not believe this to be an aristocratic institution, but he,

The bill accompanying this report provides that the Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary, and Trea Treasurer - surer Treasurer of the Commonwealth, be Commissioners to manage a fund to be called the Massachusetts Lite Literary - rary Literary Fund - that this fund be appropriated to the endowment of an Institution for the instruction of school teachers in each county, and for the aid and encouragement of common schools, provided that no appropriation shall exceed the amount raised by in individuals - dividuals individuals or towns in said county - that the money received from sales of public lands, such portion of the Massachusetts claim as shall be allowed, and fifteen per cent, of the taxes on banks hereafter in incorporated, - corporated, incorporated, be appropriated as this fund - that the fund be invested in stocks or other securities in the name of the Commonwealth, and that an annual exhibition be made of its condition - and that the Commissioners have power to accept donations, &c. for the increase of said fund. No disposition has yet been made of this report ; and it is doubtful whether it be acted upon at the present session. Andover Seminaries. The catalogue of the Theological Seminary, for the pre present - sent present year, contains the names of 108 stu students - Licentiates - dents - Licentiates students - Licentiates resident 3, Senior class 27, Middle class 38, and Junior class 40. The Trustees of Phillips Academy pro propose - pose propose to erect another building, and establish a department in which instruction will be given in the higher branches of an English education. The late Gov. Phillips, of Boston, bequeathed to the Academy $15,000 for this purpose.

should be added, the farther requisition of a faithful return to the Legislature annu annually - ally annually of the condition of the schools, the consequences could not be otherwise than decidedly favourable. These then are the objects which the Legislature should have in view, in the establishment of a literary fund ; and the principles and purposes of the distribution of its avails should be fixed by them, and kept constantly within their control. That an institution for the instruction of school teachers is practicable seems hard hardly - ly hardly to admit of doubt. In such an institu institution - tion institution the attention of the student would be directed to a course of reading upon the general subject and objects of education ; he would be thoroughly instructed in all the branches pertaining to his profession (for such it would certainly become) but more particularly to that portion of solid and useful learning which would be calculated to fit him to communicate the knowledge required in out common free schools. With such a course would be connected the distinguishing advantages of an experimental school of young per persons, - sons, persons, in which the student would have practically set before him the kind of man management - agement management ami discipline which these schools require. The plan is extremely simple, and conforms in all respects to the course pursued in fitting young men for any other professional business - happily combining theory and practice together. '