166 Notice of '^ Plans for the Instruction and 



would think the scholar hkely to become a profound geom- 

 etrician, whose master was contented with reading demon- 

 strations to him ? Indeed, it is an acknowledged truth 

 among teachers, that no man can do them a greater ser- 

 vice, than by reducing every art and science, which the 

 extending information of society from time lo time de- 

 mands, to be made a part of juvenile education, under the 

 dominion of " Practical instruction." 



'' We shall not be called upon to prove that, to give a 

 knowledge of the science of morality is an excellent means 

 of ensuring a correct practice of it; because, the position 

 being universally allowed as respects every other depart- 

 ment of human learning, we may fairly call upon the ob- 

 jector to show why the analogy, which holds good in eve- 

 ry other instance, should fail here. But even if the effect 

 of this science on the conduct of the student were as re- 

 mote as it is immediate, still, exercising his mind, and ex- 

 tending his information, it would equally well deserve his 

 attention, with the objects to which it is usually directed. 



"They, however, who willHake the trouble to glance over 

 the history of (heir early years, and call to mind the perti- 

 nacity with which their school-fellows screened each other 

 from the most deserved punishment ; and the many acts of 

 oppression which remained unredressed, because the suf- 

 ferers dared not to disobey the stern edict against " bearing 

 tales," — the only one in the community that was never 

 violated, — will think something done towards improving 

 even the practice of morals, when they learn, that in an ex- 

 perience of more than two years,* one solitary instance on- 

 ly has occurred, in which the verdict of the jury did not 

 cbincide with the opinion of the master. Great, but of 

 course unexpressed anxiety, has more than once been felt 

 by us, lest the influence of a leading boy, which in every 

 school must be considerable, should overcome the virtue 

 of the jury ; but our fears have been uniformly relieved, 



*Trial by Jury was established early in 1816. This chapter was writ- 

 ten in November, 1818; since that time two other verdicts have been giv- 

 en, in which the teachers did not concur ; they were appealed ag'ainst, as 

 it has been already slated, and were reversed by the committee. A remark- 

 able instance of conscientious feelings was lately given by a jury who con- 

 victed a boy on a charge of prevarication ; though they were so much 

 moved by the distress of mind which he evinced during his trial, as to pay 

 half hii fine from their own pockets. The remainder was immediately 

 subscribed by the spectetors. 



