378 Mr* Stephens's Suggestions for the Improvement [Nov. 



and dictatorial style, and forego the right of thinking for 

 themselves, till they are roused from their false security by 

 reading contradictory accounts, assigning different causes for 

 the same effect, and thus fortunately discover that both parties 

 have been unblushingly stating their guesses as matters of fact. 



Perhaps the greatest improvement in education, effected in 

 modem times, is the system of mutual instruction which has 

 been so happily applied to the diffusion of chemical knowledge 

 in the national institutions of France. On this plan, each of a 

 numerous class of pupils undertakes in turn to cleliver, or assist 

 at a lecture on a given portion of the science, (on carbon, for in- 

 stance,) under the direction of the professors. This creates a 

 necessity that each shall thoroughly uuderstand the part to 

 which he applies himself, to enable him to instruct others with 

 credit and effect. He must be prepared to make experiments, 

 to answer questions, and explain the difficulties of the subject 

 to his companions ; and it is invariably found that in these cir- 

 cumstances they learn with quickness and satisfaction. Whether 

 this proceeds from sympathy and purity of reasoning on their 

 part, or from the absence of all display and repulsive pretension 

 on his, whether their attention is rivetted by the novel sight of 

 their companions successively appearing as lecturers, or that 

 the science is simplified by the familiar and modest language 

 which is naturally employed on these occasions, it is certam the 

 effect is most beneficial, and the plan consequently worthy of 

 earnest attention. 



In a public laboratory where the system of mutual instruction 

 and investigation is adopted, students soon perceive the value of 

 each other's company. Almost every one is possessed of some 

 peculiar character or turn of mind, from which his companions 

 may derive a benefit they could not separately have attained. 

 For instance, the talent of one is to originate ideas, to invent ; 

 of another, to seize on and apply the invention to purposes of 

 utility ; of a third, to follow up these notions by a patient expe- 

 rimental reseach conferring satisfaction and certainty by every 

 step in his progress ; the taste of a fourth lies in reading, and 

 he brings valuable collateral information to bear on the subject 

 under examination; while a fifth amuses himself in talking 

 about the matter to every one, and collecting various opinions 

 and advice for the benefit of his more studious companions. 

 The attribute of a sixth is foresight, of that peculiar species, 

 which conjures up objections of every probable and possible 

 shape, and thereby ensures to his more sanguine friends the 

 advantages of experience, without the loss of time and labour 

 usually paid for it. In addition to these may be observed an 

 embryo critic, possessed of that happy talent which guides some 

 minds almost instinctively to the clear perception of a lurking 

 error, as something vitally noxious, employed in separating 



