310 PROCEEDINGS OF PROVINCIAL SOCIETIES. 



slow cooling, combined with pressure, many crystalline bodies. He 

 also suggested (from the observation of the gradual increase of mag- 

 netic power in basalt in passing from the glassy to the stony struc- 

 ture) the idea that crystallization, if not dependent upon, may be 

 much influenced by, electricity. 



CHELTENHAM 

 LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTION.* 



During the past session, Dr. Conolly has delivered two highly 

 interesting lectures on " Physical Education." After adverting to 

 the system adopted among the nations of old, especially the 

 Greeks and Persians, and having given a general outline of the aim 

 and end of physical education, Dr. Conolly considered its principles 

 with reference to food, air, and exercise ; examining and explaining 

 the laws which should regulate each, in order to secure the bodily 

 and mental health of the patient. He further divided his subject, 

 with reference to age, into infancy, childhood, and adolescence, to 

 the first of which his observations in his introductory lecture mainly 

 applied ; childhood and adolescence being reserved for the second 

 lecture. The discussion of such subjects as diet, clothing, and clea?i- 

 liness, afforded the lecturer an opportunity to reprobate many of 

 the prevailing errors and deep-rooted prejudices which even still 

 continue to retain their hold upon society ; concerning the early 

 training and education of infants; and to advocate sounder and 

 more rational views in these respects ; as well as to throw out many 

 practical hints and suggestions for the moral government and regu- 

 lation of the temper and disposition of children generally. In the 

 second lecture the learned doctor confined himself to an application 

 of the principles already laid down in reference to youth and adoles^ 

 cence. The evils pertaining to the present systems of physical edu- 

 cation, particularly as regards females, were described at some 

 length, and their injurious consequences strongly deprecated. The 

 diflferences of the modes of training generally adopted in the educa- 

 tion of boys and girls were pointed out, and their respective advan- 

 tages and disadvantages commented upon, and illustrated by instances 

 of daily occurrence. The paramount importance of a due attention 

 to the exercise of young ladies at school was insisted upon, in lan- 

 guage at once forcible and convincing. The eloquent lecturer then 

 proceeded to inquire into the causes of that precocity of intellect 

 which is so frequently observable in youth, and explained the me- 

 thods which, in reference to the education of children thus distin- 

 guished, should be pursued, as also those which should be employed 



* Abridged from The Looker-On, 



