JAMES MITCHELL. 149 
fectually to persons of various natural faculties and various dis- 
positions the benefits of education. Principles analogous to 
those which have been recently introduced into schools will. 
afford great assistance in the education of James Mrrcuett ; 
_and the study of such an interesting and difficult case as his, 
together with the various incidents which must arise in the 
execution of a carefully concerted plan, may throw some light 
on that sort of management which is required both for domes- 
tic tuition and for the universal interests of education. 
' Miss Mircuexx’s letter to Mr Parxer*, giving an account of 
the failure of her efforts, shews the necessity of method as well 
as of delicacy in-the undertaking. A plan which imposes less: 
labour on him, and leaves more to his own activity as excited: 
by powerful motives, will be so far in less danger of producing 
disgust. Although his present local situation were not altered, 
I should entertain some hopes of success from the plan which 
I have described, in the hands of Miss Mrrcnerr. But, if 
these should be disappointed, the object might with certainty 
be attained by a change of measures not difficult of execution. 
Miss Mircnerx allows that another person, possessing more: 
controul over her brother’s mind, might succeed better than 
she did, and thus shows that she did not suffer the temporary 
disappointment to produce irrational discouragement. Before 
reading this letter, we might naturally enough consider her: 
presence as necessary to his comfort and improvement. But 
it now appears evident that the plan of instructing him in 
language would be commenced with greater advantage by a 
temporary separation, provided he were connected with” an: 
establishment otherwise suitable. He should be under the. 
care of a stranger, who has a perfect understanding of the~ 
mode of conducting his lessons, and who would carry it into: 
effect’ by an authority from which there would lie no ap-. 
peal. 
* See p. 130. of this Volume. 
