176 Gyvtinastic Science. 
Oerstedt had also agreed to superintend them gratuitously. 
Prince Christian, who affords so noble a protection to the 
sciences, has not only contributed to the funds of the society, 
but condescends to preside as its patron. The king has 
taken it under his protection.—/dem. 
10. SwirzeERLanp.— Canton de Vaud.—M. Benjamin De- 
lessert, deputy from Paris, has just given to the town of 
Cossonay, the cradle of his ancestors, a fresh proof of his 
liberality, by placing under its contro] 10,000 franes to aid 
in that district, the establishment of a school of mutual i- 
struction.—Rev. Encyc. Feb. 1825. 
11. Gymnastic Science—The French government having 
resolved to encourage the Institution of M. Amoros, profes- 
sor of gymnastics at Paris, the minister of the interior, ap- 
pointed five commissioners to examine in all their parts the 
gymnastic exercises and to report thereon in detail. M.Am- 
oros first gave the committee an idea of what he calls element- 
ary exercises, which consist in chaunting different pieces, the 
rhythm of each of which corresponds with various movements 
of the legs, arms and body, which the pupils execute on the spot. 
A metrometer (metronome) regulates these motions. The pu- 
pil thus learns to measure time and space, to regulate with 
precision the common step, the accelerated step, and the 
leaps of the gymnastic course. These exercises impress 
upon their different movements a rhythm which befits them ; 
they give greater developements to the voice, and more force 
to the lungs; they render the joints more supple, prepare 
the pupils for fatigue, and dispose them to exercise in the 
openair. ‘The committee were too enlightened not to ap- 
preciate the advantages of chaunting in connextion with gym- 
nastic exercises. ‘To accustom the pupils to preserve their 
equilibrium, so necessary in certain cases of danger, M. Am- 
oros made three of the professors take a ball of 6lbs. and 
hold it sometimes with the left hand, sometimes with the 
right, the superior extremity horizontally extended, and ad- 
vanced in front. ‘The same exercise was repeated with the 
inferior extremities, the ball being supported alternately 
by each foot. To sustain the effort, maintain the station, to 
keep all the moveable points of the body in a fixed position, 
io subject the extremities to the tarsus and make the differ- 
ent points of the latter a solid pivot which maintains the ef- 
4 
