664 



SCOT LAN 6. 



statistic*, -with all the learning and science of the times, and 

 N^-y-^/ from this cause there is a good understanding between 

 State of the parochial schoolmaster and the established clergy, 

 Education, which produces the happiest results. 



With such establishments for education it is not to 

 be wondered at that it is scarcely possible in the low- 

 land districts of Scotland to find a man who is not able 

 to read, write, and count, and there are very few who 

 cannot write and read. 



In the highland districts, however, but particularly 

 in the isLnds, the parishes are of such extent that it is 

 impossible for the inhabitants to avail themselves of 

 the parish schools, and consequently the people in 

 these districts are instructed in a very inferior degree 

 to the lowlanders. 



This great evil has been to a considerable extent re- 

 medied by the Society for Propagating Christian Know- 

 ledge, who have established missionaries, catechists, 

 and schoolmasters in these benighted districts. In or- 

 der to promote the same object, the king presents to 

 the General Assembly every year the sum of ,2000. 



As the funds, however, and consequently the exer- 

 tions, of this society are greatly limited, the state of 

 education in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland 

 became lately a subject of general interest. 



In 1824, the General Assembly appointed a com- 

 mittee to enquire into the existing means of education 

 and religious instruction throughout Scotland. This 

 committee transmitted to each of the ministers of the 

 907 parishes a list of queries, in order to ascertain the 

 facts of the case. They received in the course of the 

 year 800 returns, and from a statement which they 

 have published in J825, we have taken the following 

 abridged view of the leading facts. 



' The whole population of Scotland amounts to 

 2,093,856, and the church is divided into 16 synods. 



In the ten synods of Lothian and Tweeddale, Merse 

 and Tiviotdale, Dumfries, Galloway, Glasgow and 

 Ayr, Perth and Stirling, Fife, Angus and Mearns, 

 Aberdeen, and Moray, there are 764 parishes, and 

 1,716,120' persons, and so abundant is the number of 

 schools in these districts, that, with a few exceptions, 

 they may be said to be well supplied with the means 

 of education, and there is scarcely an individual who 

 has not been taught to read. 



The remaining six synods, however, namely Argyle, 

 Glenelg, Ross, Sutherland and Caithness, Orkney, and 

 Shetland, situate chiefly in the Highlands and Islands, 

 and containing only 143 parishes, and a population of 

 377,730 persons, are, as stated in the parochial returns, 

 in the most urgent need of not less than 250 additional 

 schools. 



The number of scholars that would attend each of 

 these 250 schools, it is computed, at a low average, 

 would amount to 42. It follows, therefore, that in 

 these synods there are 10,500 children left without the 

 means of any education ; and the committee are quite 

 satisfied, that the number is, in fact, much greater 

 than the calculated number of 10,500. 



These 10,500 children alluded to, are all, it is to be 

 noticed, under 15 years of age. If persons of all ages 

 are included, the number of those not taught to read 

 almost exceeds belief. But how could it be otherwise, 

 when more parishes than one are described as not hav- 

 ing a sufficient number of schools to accommodate bne- 

 .tenth of their population ? Several are said to be in 

 of three and four, and one of even six schools ; 



and as to another, the fact is mentioned, that it con- 

 sists of 1000 square miles, and has a population of 

 4747 souls, and that of these only 995 have learned 

 to read at all. 



In the first ten synods above mentioned, there are 

 only six catechists stated to be necessary for the due 

 means of religious instruction to the people, and this 

 necessity arises from the large territorial extent of some 

 particular parishes. 



In the other six synods also above mentioned, no 

 fewer than 130 catechists are required! Nor will this 

 deficiency seem surprising, when the physical lo- 

 calities of the country are considered. There are 

 many islands in it at great distances from the coast. 

 The coast of the mainland is often indented by long 

 arms of the sea ; and its whole surface is intersected, 

 and in many places rendered impassable, by precipi- 

 tous mountains, and by rapid rivers. 



One parish, seventeen miles long, on the mainland, 

 has an island belonging to it with a population of 300, 

 situate at 24 miles from the shore, and owing to its 

 great distance, and a dangerous navigation intervening, 

 the minister cannot visit it above once in the year. 

 Another parish consists of nine islands, of which six 

 are inhabited, and it extends, including sea, 50 miles 

 in length, and 30 in breadth ; and a third parish of 

 24 miles long on the mainland, includes four inhabited 

 islands, some of which are twenty miles distant from 

 each other. 



Each of these parishes has only the parochial mi- 

 nister to perform every pastoral spiritual duty to the 

 people.'' 



The general instruction of the people of Scotland is 

 greatly promoted by Sunday schools,* which are es- 

 tablished in many of the parishes and villages ; and 

 several of these have libraries consisting of books easily 

 understood, which are lent out to the children. 



Besides the parochial schools and those established 

 by the Society above mentioned, there are many pri- 

 vate schools in every part of the country, which are 

 supported solely by the fees of the pupils, and some of 

 which are taught by women. 



In the principal burghs and provincial towns of 

 Scotland, where the parochial schools are of a higher 

 description, they have been distinguished by the name 

 of Grammar Schools, and the title of rector has by 

 courtesy been given to the master. At such schools 

 there is generally provision for accommodating a num- 

 ber of boarders ; and the education which they afford is 

 of the very best description. 



Within the last 20 years another kind of establish- 

 ment has arisen in some of the larger provincial towns 

 called Academies. These institutions, sometimes tin- 

 der the direct patronage of the magistrates, and some- 

 times under that of subscribers, are taught by a rector 

 and several subordinate masters. They exist at An- 

 nan, Ayr, Cupar, Dundee, Inverness, Montrose, Perth, 

 Tain, and several of them have been described in our 

 accounts of these towns. 



Scotland possesses four universities, viz. 



Founded in. 



St. Andrews, 1412 



Glasgow, 1450 



Aberdeen I Kin g' s Colle ^ e l 40 * 

 "JMarischal College 1593 



Edinburgh, 1581 



Statistics. 



State of 

 Education. 



Sunday 

 schools. 



Private 

 schools. 



Grammar 

 schools. 



Acadefnies. 



* In 1818, these schools amounted to 50.0, 



