8 Notes and Reflections made during a Tour. 



wealth * than by science or refinement : in Germany this spirit 

 is evinced in public buildings in a superior taste, in agricul- 

 ture, and education ; in France in the amelioration of public 

 institutions, and, at this time more especially, in the establish- 

 ment of a permanent system of national education. 



Of all the different matters that attracted our attention 

 during our tour, nothing struck us with so much force as the 

 effects of general education in Wurtemberg ; and the general 

 and ardent desire to spread education throughout the lowest 

 ranks, and to establish it on the best and firmest principles, in 

 France, It is clearly proved in Wurtemberg and Baden, that 

 a knowledge of the usual branches of education, such as gram- 

 mar, writing, arithmetic, the French language, geography, 

 natural history, natural philosophy, general history, and my- 

 thology, may be possessed by what is called the very lowest 

 class of society, without endangering the safety of the state, 

 and without preventing the rich from getting servants and 

 workmen of every description. It is also found, that though 

 the inhabitants of these countries are as poor as those of any 

 country on the Continent, yet that they are as honest as any 

 people in Europe, and that there are no mendicants among 

 them, and very few imprisoned for debt or criminal offences. 

 In France it is proved that all the education given in Ger- 

 many, and a great deal more, in short all that is essentially 

 useful and ornamental, may be communicated to children 

 before the age of fifteen, by commencing at three years of 

 age with infant schools, and continuing afterwards by means 

 of the Lancasterian plan. The friends of France and of hu- 

 manity are endeavouring to establish such a system of educa- 

 tion on a permanent basis, and connected with such legal 

 regulations, as shall insure its effectual application to every 

 male and female child born in France. They are at present 

 opposed by those who think it their interest to keep the people 

 in ignorance ; but that so grand a cause will ultimately prevail, 

 those can only doubt who fear its effects. We sincerely hope 

 that France will succeed in showing, to surrounding nations, 

 what is to be effected in the world by rendering all mankind 

 on a level, in point of useful knowledge and agreeable man- 

 ners : for we are persuaded that this principle of high and 

 equal education and manners, will produce in society what no 

 other principle could produce ; or rather, that, in its operation, 

 it will give rise to every other ameliorating principle, and 

 ultimately effect for the human race all the good of v^hich their 

 nature is susceptible. 



* Buckingham Palace, the Treasury, the water in Hyde Park and St. 

 James's Park, &c. 



