NOTICES OP CHILE. 



139 



a great share of the public attention in Chile. Experience has 

 taught, that the South American republics will never be tran- 

 quil or happy, while military prowess and glory dazzle the 

 minds of the people, who want the lights of knowledge to en- 

 able them to estimate correctly the nature of their rights and 

 privileges. Convinced of this fact, the legislature has labored 

 to establish schools in every section of the country. The con- 

 vents have been required to open free schools, for instructing 

 children in reading, writing, morals, urbanity — a branch much 

 neglected in our common schools — and arithmetic, on the Lan- 

 casterian plan. Besides, every encouragement is given to pri- 

 vate schools for both sexes. 



El Instituto Nacional was established in 1821, on the 

 debris of a college which existed during the reign of Fer- 

 dinand VII. It is adjoining to an old Jesuistical church, called 

 La Campania, the front of which is ornamented with no less 

 than seven representations of the Saviour. In the Institute 

 are taught Latin, English, French, mathematics, geography, 

 grammar, and what are very expressively denominated "las pri- 

 meras letras" or elements — the last on the Lancasterian plan. 

 Roman law is also taught. The college is supported by an ap- 

 propriation derived from the church tithes, and the fees of the 

 resident pupils, who pay each one hundred dollars annually. 

 Day scholars attend gratis. 



When I visited the Institute, the geography class was re- 

 citing. The professor gave the cardinal points of the compass 

 to a boy, and directed him to supply, on the black board, the 

 intermediate ones ; then required him to describe the figure of 

 the earth, which was very readily done. In another apart- 

 ment, a class in mathematics was reciting. At one end of the 

 room stood the pedagogue, with spectacles on nose," beside 

 a rough table, upon which was a fragment of an earthen vessel 

 containing a coal of fire, flanked by a cigar case ; the dominie 

 was not smoking. A boy of about twelve years of age was 

 demonstrating a problem in geometry ; — how to find a centre 

 for a circle, which should cut three given points. The pupil 

 seemed to be au fait, and convinced us that he understood 

 what he was saying. I was requested, by both professors, to 



