326 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



even earlier : a child is fufceptible of a patriotic 

 education, as foon as he is able to Ipeak, and to 

 walk. The fécond (hall begin with the period of 

 adolefcence j and the third end with it, toward the 

 age of fixteen, an age when a young man may 

 begin to be ufeful to his Country, and to affume a 

 profeffion. 



I would begin with difpofing, in a central fitua- 

 tion, in Paris, a magnificent edifice, confiruéled 

 internally in form of a circular amphitheatre, di- 

 vided into afcending rows. The mafters, to be en- 

 trufted with the charge of the national education, 

 fhould be ftationed below, in the centre ; and 

 above, I would have feveral rows of galleries, in 

 order to multiply places for the auditors. On the 

 outfide, and quite round the building, I would 

 have wide porticos, ftory above ftory, for the re- 

 ception and accommodation of the People. On a 

 pediment, over the grand entrance, theie words 

 niight be infcribed : 



NATIONAL SCHOOLS, 



I have no need to mention, that as the children 

 pafs three years in each epoch of their education, 

 one of thefc edifices would be requifite for the in- 

 ftruâiion of the generation of ^e year, which re- 



ftrias 



