Method of Piiblic Instruction, ire. l9l9 



dents. All these establishments were frequented, in 1819, 

 by 31,401 pupils. These institutions are under the direc- 

 tion general di'.s etudes, but there are many others devoted to 

 special instruction. The Royal Academy of Sciences at 

 Lisbon, publishes every year a volume of transactions. 



33. Contagion and Infection. — The Royal Society of 

 Sciences at Rouen, in France, offer a premium of 800 francs; 

 or a gold medal of that value, to the person who shall best 

 solve the following question. 



'' Is it proved by exact observation that there are fevers 

 which can be communicated by infection, without being con- 

 tagious ? In admitting the existence of these fevers, what 

 are the principal causes which give rise to their develope- 

 ment, and to their propagation ? What are the means proper 

 to prevent them, or to arrest their progress.'*" The memoir 

 is to be addressed to the perpetual secretary of the class of 

 sciences, before the 1st of June, 1823. 



34. Public Instruction. Method of M. Ordinaire. — In 

 conformity to a special ordinance of the Rector of the 

 Academy of Paris, the pupils of the Institution Morin, in- 

 structed upon the method of M. Ordinaire, were examined 

 with the most scrupulous attention on the 23th of September 

 last. The results even far surpassed the expectations that 

 a knowledge of the theory had excited. It appears to be 

 proved that, by the employment of this method, a child 

 may acquire in fifteen months all the positive knowledge 

 usually required of a pupil of the fifth year. It is to be re- 

 marked that this method changes neither tlie customary de- 

 nominations, nor the class book actually in use, and that it 

 does not oppose the progress of the course of instruction 

 generally established. 



35. The Society for promoting elementary instruction in 

 France held its annual meeting at Paris on the 10th of April 

 1822. The Count de Chabrol, prefect of the Seine, and 

 the Duke de Rochefoucauld each pronounced a discourse 

 relative to the object of the society. M. Jomard, the sec- 

 retary, gave a luminous account of the proceedinsis of the 

 past year. He congratulated the society on the establish- 

 flient of 156 schools during the year 1821, notwithstanding 



