452 
write, suppose it is the word ‘ ab-so-lu-ti-on ;’ 
they are obliged to listen with attention, to 
catch the sound of every letter as it ‘falls 
from their teacher's lips ; again, they have to 
retrace the idea of every letter, and the pro- 
nunciation of the word, as they write it on 
the slates. If we examine ourselves, when 
we write letters, we shall find that writing is 
so much associated and connected with or- 
thography, that we cannot write a word 
without spelling as we write, and inyolun- 
tarily correcting any inaccuracy that may 
occur. ' 
«« Now these twenty boys, if they were at 
a common school, would each have a book, 
and, one ata time, would read or spell to 
their teacher, while the other nineteen were 
looking at their books, or about them, as they 
leased ; or, if their eyes are rivetted on their 
ooks, by terror and coercion, can we be 
sure that the attention of their minds is en- 
gaged as appearance seems to speak itis? On 
the contrary, when they have slates, the 
twentieth boy may read to the teacher, while 
the other nineteen are spelling words on the 
slate, instead of sitting idle. The class, by 
this means, will spell, write, and read at the 
same instant of time. In addition to this, 
the same trouble which teaches twenty will 
suffice to teach sixty or a hundred, by em- 
ploying some of the senior boys to inspect the 
slates_of the others, they not omitting to 
spell the word themselves, and on a signal 
given by them to the principal teacher, that 
the word is finished by all the boys they over- 
look, he is informed when to dictate another 
to the class, This experiment has been re- 
peatedly practised by 112 and 128 boys at 
ence; and judicious persons, good judges on 
the subject of education, who were present, 
were convinced, that the same trouble was 
Arr. VI. 
EDUCATION AND SCHOOL BOOKS. 
sufficient to teach 200 boys, or more, ory the 
same plan. . 
‘But if the individual advantage derived 
from this method in tuition is great, what 
must the aggregate be? Lf 20 boys spell 200 
words each, the same number spelt by 60 
boys mast produce a great increase of total. 
“«* Each boy cau spell 100 words in a morn= 
ing: if 100 scholars do this 200 mornings 
yearly, the following will be the total of their 
efforts towards improvement : 
100 words 
200 mornings 
20,000 words ea@h boy per ana. 
100 boys 
2,000,000 Total words spelt by 106 
boys per ann.” 
This financial aggregate is rather ludi- 
crous, but the plan is not the less praise- 
worthy. The younger boys, who have 
not yet learnt to write, are made to print 
the word in sand. 
The mode of cyphering is similar ; all 
the boys of a class write down a sum 
upon their slate as the monitor reads it 
to them, the whole process in words and’ 
figures. 
Mr. Lancaster has 300 scholars, and 
expresses himself fully satisfied with the 
eflects of this plan. We earnestly»re- 
commend. his pamphlet to the attention 
of all persons concerned in the education 
of the poor. The Society for bettering 
the Condition of the Poor would do well 
in cireulating his plan. It might be 
fully stated in a hand-bill, 
An Essay on the Beautizs of the Universe: selected from the most eminent Au- 
thors, illustrated with Notes, containing the chotcest Thoughts of the best Enghsh Poets. 
To which are added, suitable Reflections designed for the Amusement of Youth. 12mo. * 
pp: 183. 
THE attention of children cannot be 
too early or too frequently directed to 
the beauties of the universe ; these beau- 
ties, which open upon them every morn- 
ing as they rise, are, from the very 
circumstance of their familiarity, too 
frequently unheeded. 
these pages is to awaken the dormant 
The object of 
sensibilities of young persons, by re- 
mindiug them, that every insect which 
crawls on the ground, every blade of 
grass which grows, every shower and 
every sun-beam, proclaim at once the 
omnipotence and universal benevolence 
of God. 
Axrt. VII. Holidays at Home ; ‘written for the Amusement of Young Persons. By) 
CHARLOTTE SAUNDERS. 
AMUSING stories, which may safely 
be put into the hands of children. The 
writings of Dr. Aikin, Mrs. Barbauld, 
Miss Edgeworth, and one or two others, 
12mo. pp. 309. 
have made us somewhat fastidious ; but” 
wé must not expect to meet with rival ex- 
cellence every day. 
