FELLENBERG. 



161 



In 1807, the first building was erected for the 

 scientific institution. The number of professors, in 

 a few years gradually increased to twenty, and the 

 pupils to eighty. After selecting and losing two 

 instructers for the projected school for the indigent 

 he was entreated by a schoolmaster of another canton, 

 inspired with enthusiasm for this object, to e'mploy 

 his son in the execution of this plan. Fellenberg 

 received the young Vehrli into his family, in order 

 to test his character, and, before the end of the year, 

 was induced, by his earnest request, to place him 

 with three pupils, gathered from the highways and 

 hedges, in the farm-house of the establishment. Here 

 Vehrli partook of their straw beds and vegetable 

 diet, became their fellow-labourer and companion, as 

 well as their teacher, and thus laid the foundation of 

 the agricultural institution, in 1808. 



About the same time, a school of theoretical 

 and practical agriculture, for all classes, provided 

 with professors of the respective sciences connected 

 with it, was formed at Buchsee, at which several 

 hundred students were collected. But experience 

 satisfied Fellenberg that too many contented them- 

 selves with theoretical and superficial knowledge ;' 

 and he has since preferred to train young men by an 

 experimental course, in his own improved system of 

 cultivation. 



In the same year, he commenced a more important 

 part of his great plan the formation of a normal 

 school, or seminary of teachers. The first year, 

 forty-two teachers, of the canton of Berne, came to- 

 gether, and received gratuitous instruction in the art 

 of teaching. So great was their zeal, that, on find- 

 ing the establishment was not large enough to re- 

 ceive them, they were contented to lodge in tents. 

 The following year, twenty-seven were added to this 

 number, from seven other cantons, and a door was 

 opened for regenerating gradually the schools of 

 Switzerland. But the rulers of Berne, without any 

 apparent mot ive consistent with the spirit of a free 

 government, forbade their teachers to attend these 

 instructions, on pain of losing their stations. Since 

 that period, the seminary for instructers has been 

 connected with the agricultural institution, and 

 none have been received except those who were em- 

 ployed at the same time as labourers. 



The establishment had by this time become the 

 resort of strangers from all quarters. The govern- 

 ments of some of the cantons, the general govern- 

 ments of Switzerland, and several of the German 

 princes, sent deputations to examine and describe it. 

 The late king of Wurtemberg requested permission 

 from the government of Berne to visit Hofwyl incog- 

 nito, and, after his departure sent Fellenberg a snuff- 

 box, containing a picture of Columbus breaking the 

 egg. In consequence of these visits, a number of 

 pupils of princely and noble families were sent to the 

 institution for education. 



In 1814, in accordance with a plan suggested by 

 Fellenberg to the emperor Alexander, for the gra- 

 dual melioration of the state of his empire, he sent 

 the count Capo d'Istria (afterwards president of 

 Greece) to examine the establishment. His report 

 was in the highest degree favourable ; and, in con- 

 sequence of it, Alexander not only presented to Fel- 

 lenberg the insignia of the order of St Vladimir, but 

 confided to his care seven sons of Russian princes 

 and noblemen, for whose use he maintained a Greek 

 chapel near Hofwyl. In a few years after, the poli- 

 tical state of Europe excited jealousy in regard to 

 the influence of Hofwyl on its pupils ; many states 

 forbade the education of children abroad ; and even 

 the patronage of Russia was withdrawn. Of late, 

 about one-third of the pupils have been English, and 

 the remainder Swiss. 



In 1815, a new building was erected, to accommo- 

 date the increasing number of the agricultural 

 school, the lower part of which was occupied as a 

 riding-school and gymnasium. In 1818, another 

 building became necessary for the residence of the 

 professors, and the reception of the friends of the 

 pupils ; and, soon after, a large building, now the 

 principal one of the establisliment, with its two 

 winjp, was erected for the scientific institution, which 

 furnishes every accommodation that could be desired 

 for health or improvement. In 1823, another build- 

 ing was erected in the garden of the mansion, for a 

 school of poor girls ; and, in 1827, the last building 

 designed for the intermediate or practical institu- 

 tion. 



Hofwyl now comprises, 1. the extensive experi- 

 mental and model farm we have described, some 

 portions under the highest state of cultivation, and 

 others undergoing the process of gradual improve- 

 ment, which supplies the wants of its population, 

 amounting to about three hundred persons ; 2. work- 

 shops for the fabrication and improvement of 

 agricultural implements, scientific apparatus, and 

 clothing for the establishment; 3. a lithographic 

 press, at which music and other things useful to the 

 institution are printed ; 4. a scientific institution, for 

 the education of the higher classes ; 5. a practical 

 institution, for those who are destined to a life of 

 business, or whose circumstances are limited ; 6. an 

 agricultural institution, for the education of the 

 labouring classes, with two distinct buildings for boys 

 and girls ; 7. a normal school, or seminary for teach- 

 ers, which forms a part of this institution. At the 

 distance of six miles, is the colony of Meykirch, an 

 interesting branch of the institution, consisting of 

 eight or ten boys, who are placed, much like the 

 new settlers of America, on an uncultivated spot, to 

 acquire their subsistence by their own labour. In 

 this, as in the agricultural institution, the pupils 

 receive from three to five hours' instruction daily, 

 and acquire an education equal to that of our com- 

 mon schools, while they are sustained by a small 

 capital, supplied by Fellenberg, in addition to their 

 own earnings. By a letter from the founder, it 

 appears, that, in Sept. 1829, there were one hundred 

 pupils in the scientific and practical institutions, and 

 one hundred and seventeen in the agricultural insti- 

 tution, under the care of forty educators and instruc- 

 ters. The pupils in the scientific institution and the 

 school for peasant girls, are under the immediate care 

 of Fellenberg, his lady and children. The agricul- 

 tural and practical institutions are committed 

 especially to the care of Vehrli, whose faithfulness 

 and ability have been so fully tested. 



As a warning to those engaged in similar enter- 

 prises, it should be mentioned that the greatest 

 difficulty which was encountered in forming this 

 establishment was in procuring suitable coadjutors. 

 Many of those who possessed the necessary intellec- 

 tual qualifications had been educated on a system 

 which Fellenberg deemed radically wrong, and, with 

 honest intentions, rather thwarted than promoted 

 his views. Others sought to introduce infidel and 

 revolutionary principles. Both classes seriously 

 injured the reputation of the institution, and often 

 became its open enemies, when they found it necessary 

 to leave it. 



Within the limits allowed us, it is impossible to 

 give even a sketch of the system of education 

 pursued. Its great aim is to produce men, and not 

 mere scholars. Its leading principle is to unite 

 physical, moral, and intellectual education, and to 

 form all the faculties into one harmonious system, 

 corresponding to the capacities and destination of the 

 individual. Great care is taken to provide for the 



