not unfrequently meet with those who are inces¬ 
santly talking,—attempting to pour knowledge into 
the pupil by the medium of “tongues and sounds.” 
But such teachers do not instruct,—they only be¬ 
wilder and confuse the pupil. By attempting so to 
simplify every lesson as to relieve the pupil from 
study and thought, they unfit him as a true learner. 
It should not be forgotten that the learning must be 
done by the pupil; and if this requires close applica¬ 
tion and severe study, the results will amply com¬ 
pensate. The teacher may encourage, guide, and 
sometimes assist the pupil in his efforts to learn, but 
he can never learn for him. It is the trne office of 
the instructor to accompany the pupil up the “hill 
of science"—not to lift him over every obstacle, but 
to cheer and stimulate him in his efforts to surmount 
them himself. It is by bis own labors and trials 
that the pupil gains true knowledge and mental 
growth. 
If the view we have thus briefly taken is correct, 
those teachers will not be the best and most success¬ 
ful who talk most, but those who can lead their 
pupils to think for themselves and to give clear 
expression to their thoughts. Let it be remem¬ 
bered that true teaching is teaching how to learn. 
stood the whole brunt of the fight, and acted nobly 
in other engagements in the Valley. He was a 
pure patriot, and was held in the highest esteem, 
not only by his men but by his superiors. 
A dispatch from the Rappahannock, dated on 
Thursday last, informs us that the 1st New Jersey 
regiment, while making a gallant charge upon the 
enemy, was unfortunately surrounded by two regi¬ 
ments of rebel infantry, and one-halt were taken 
prisoners. 
Carl Schurz was with Sigel during the reconnois- 
sanee of the latter on Friday, on the south side of 
the Rappahannock. Scburz's crossing was unop¬ 
posed. He kept on up the opposite bank, and out 
upon the level ground, and went more than a mile 
before his pickets came face to face with the enemy’s. 
As soon as our fellows saw the “gray backs,” they 
fired, but the rebels, instead of standing ground or 
making a show of fight, fell back, in no very leisurely 
manner either, for half a mile. Sigel followed a 
white, until it was evident they wished to entrap 
him into an ambush, when he halted and took up a 
fine position in the edge of some heavy timber, the 
approaches to which were over open fields. Their 
design foiled, the enemy had no choice but to face 
about and attack Schurz in his own position, which 
they did in force. One of the officers who was 
wounded in this fight, tells me that he counted 
twenty-five pieces of ordnance on their side, which 
were in action at once, supported by adequate forces 
of infantry and cavalry. 
The fight on the trans-Rappahannock field was 
hotly contested, as you may well imagine from the 
fact that it commenced about 9 A. M. and lasted 
until C o’clock in the evening! Charges were 
repeatedly made by both sides, and the rebels, 
seemingly determined to conquer in spite of every 
obstacle, even stripped to their pantaloons in many 
cases, as our Irishmen are said to have done at Bull 
Run. But although the musketry was sharp, and 
the fighting mostly at short range, Sigel did not lose 
abovo fifty or sixty in killed, and wounded. It was 
here that Gen. Boblen was killed. Toward eve¬ 
ning, Sigel’s object having been accomplished, and 
Schurz’s force not being sufficient to hold his ex¬ 
tremely advanced position, our troops were with¬ 
drawn to the north bank of the river. They were 
hotly pursued to the very water’s edge by the 
enemy, and during the passage through the ford the 
rebel volleys were as sharp as any 1 ever heard. 
Ail of our killed and wounded were brought safely 
across, and a small number of prisoners (not five 
whole regiments, as one report has it). 
into the rebel cavalry, killing two and taking two 
prisoners, in a skirmish of nearly an hour. When 
the fire oponed. Major Wm. Painter, Division Quar¬ 
termaster, Capt. Fred. Gerker, Brigade Quarter¬ 
master, and Capt D. B. Jones, Commissary, ran out, 
mounted their horses, cheered the men, urging them 
to stand firm, and were taken prisoners. An hour 
before daylight, a squadron of the brave Col. Allen’s 
First Maine Cavalry charged up the railroad, and 
the rebels at once departed thence for Warrenton. 
About 7 A. M. Saturday, a squadron of rebel cav¬ 
alry drove in our pickets on the Warrenton road, 
and the whole camp was again under arms; guards 
were called out, the teamsters formed their wagons 
in circles, with the horses inside, and all the guns 
were got out to make a desperate resistance; in a 
few minutes the cavalry were deployed out, and a 
body of cavalry coming up from towards Manassas, 
proved to be the 12th Pennsylvania cavalry, deploy¬ 
ing as skirmishers. Such cheers as went from the 
men one seldom hears. Soon a long string of cars 
and engines, loaded with infantry, came up, and 
order and security again reigned. 
All the morning we heard one incessant roar of 
artillery down on the Rappahannock. We can learn 
no particulars. Up to last night there had been no 
fight, though it was believed the rebels were trying 
to throw a column of eighty thousand across the 
Rappahannock, above the railroad, to get in our 
rear. 
The rebels were very ferocious, and in all their 
charges shouted, yelled and Bwore, surrender or 
diet A contraband, who came in this morning, says 
that a number of contrabands with him were cut 
down by the cavalry, and he only escaped by taking 
to a thicket 
In the height of the panic, this morning, we saw 
a number of 3talwart negroes, with muskets, side 
by side with teamsters and soldiers. 
Our whole loss is about 300 prisoners, 7 wagons 
and 100 horses, and a few killed and wounded. 
All our wounded and their own were taken off with 
them. 
During the onset of the rebels, after the wagons 
had been fired, they started back from the road to 
where Gen. Milroy’s trains lay, intending to pay 
their attentions to them, but they were promptly 
met by a guard of about one hundred men, headed 
by Capt. J. B. McDonald, Commissary of Milroy’s 
brigade. His bravery and determination saved the 
train. 
Capt. T. Lowry and his clerks, of the Quarter¬ 
master’s Department, secured the valuable papers 
and money belonging to the Government, and 
retired to a secluded place in the woods until the 
dash was over. 
[Written for Moore’s Rural New-Yorker.] 
HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE 
The Anglo-Saxons appear to have been origin¬ 
ally Theiets, but after tbeir advent into Britain they 
deified many external objects. They were a strong, 
rude race, devoted to war, and wholly unacquainted 
with letters. Beneath their power the Celtic 
language was overborne, and most of the improve¬ 
ments of Roman life and rule perished; but after 
thoroughly subduing their new country, a great 
change passed upon their habits and history. 
Christianity was re-introduced, and learning en¬ 
tered. A Saxon alphabet was formed, which, with 
the exception of two characters, was the same as the 
Roman. However, the learned Saxons usually wrote 
in the Latin, as was the custom of the educated for 
several centuries, throughout the civilized world. 
Thus, the authors of all lauds had a common 
language, a circumstance which doubtless contrib¬ 
uted largely toward the creation of a solid and 
thoughtful literature. 
The Saxon tongue is of Teutonic origin. The 
Teutonic is of great antiquity, and appears to have 
prevailed in Asia in the most ancient times. Among 
the earliest Saxon authors, were the religious poets, 
the elder and the secoud Uedmon, and the memor¬ 
able Bkdk, who was born in the county of Durham, 
and was one of the most distinguished Latin writers 
of his age. To the Saxon period also belongs King 
Alfred, wbo ascended the throne A. D. 872, and 
reigned twenty-nine years, an interval crowded 
with as favorable changes, and as much true pro¬ 
gression, as any of similar length in the history of 
England. He laid the foundation of Britains' naval 
power, which produced vast changes in the lan¬ 
guage and habits of his subjects. About the middle 
of the ninth century the Danes established them¬ 
selves in the east and north parts of the island, and 
their laws prevailed somewhat for several centuries, 
although they usually professed to be tributary to 
the Saxon kings. They were driven from Britain 
in 1066, and William the Conqueror, a Norman 
Frenchman, reigned until his death in 1087, thus 
ushering in the Norman period, and the fourth era 
of the English tongue. The Danish being an off¬ 
shoot from the Gothic, which is closely allied, to the 
Teutonic, wrought no radical change in the lan¬ 
guage of the country, although some Danish words 
were introduced, which still hold their place in the 
language. 
Long before the Norman conquest there had been 
much intercourse between Britain and that part of 
France then called Normandy, which lay along the 
English channel. Many of the Saxon nobles took 
refuge in that country during the Danish preva¬ 
lence; the sons of the higher classes were often sent 
there to be educated; and thus the Norman-French, 
which was considered a more refined language than 
the Saxon, was first carried into Britain. Norman- 
French was a mixture of the Gothic and of the Latin- 
French, or of French showing largely its Latin 
basis. After the Normans gained the ascendency 
over the Saxons, tney earnestly enueavoiuu to extir¬ 
pate the language of the latter. The Norman- 
French was exclusively used at Court, and in all 
law processes and offices. The nobility appear to 
have acquiesced in this change; but the common 
people clung to the language nf their fathers, and 
after a trial of three hundred years, the Saxon, 
which had long been, coalescing with the Norman, or 
rather with the Latin won from the Norman, was 
restored at Court. This was done by Edward III, 
between 1326 and 1377. 
Just at this period the English may be considered 
in the light of a new language, endowed with the 
best capacities and powers,won from many tongues, 
and adapted, as a whole, to make a firm impression 
upon the world. Many changes have since been 
wrought in the language, but its essentials are tbe 
same; nor can one conceive how, unless foreign 
conquests interpose, lapsing both England and 
America, it can be lost out of the world, or even be 
radically changed. At the present day of profound 
immuuity from foreign invasion, science is effecting 
a most graceful influence upon our tongue. The 
old classic Greek is strongly impressing itself upon 
the dialects of our scholars, and is even wending its 
way into our household forms of speech. “For 
terms in the sciences,” remarks Dr. Webster, 
“ authors have generally resorted to the Greek, and 
from this source, as discoveries in science demand 
new terms, the vocabulary of the English language 
is receiviug continued augmentation.” 
The immense influence of tbe Latin as a spoken 
tongue, engendered as it w r as by the Roman con¬ 
quests, and later by the service of the Catholic 
church, has perished from Europe, and languages 
built chiefly upon it have taken its place. Our 
own tongue made the most rapid improvements 
during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and her 
successor, King James. We have now, for the main 
constituents of the English language, Celtic words, 
a tongue of the remotest known antiquity; Saxon, 
which forms the body of the language, and is of 
Teutonic origin ; Latin, which has for its (sup¬ 
posed) basis, Celtic and Teutonic, both most ancient 
languages; Greek, with nearly the some foundation; 
also a sprinkling of Danish and Norman words, 
the latter beiug chiefly law terms. 
Le Roy, N. Y., 1862. E. Woodworth. 
Our brave mountain-eagles svoop from the eyrie, 
Our lithe panthers leap fron forest and plain, 
Out of the West flash the flajies of the prairie, 
Out of the East roll the waits of the main. 
Down from thetr Nofhorn shores, 
Swift as Niagara pouf. 
They mareh. mid their tread fake- the earth with its jar, 
Under the Stripes aw Stars, 
Each with the soul ol Mars, 
Grasping the bolts of the thmders of war.” 
ROCHESTER, N. Y., SEPTEMBER 6, 1862. 
pERHArs nothing will so much hasten the time 
when body aud mind will both be adequately cared 
for, as a diffusion of the belief that the preservation 
of health is a duly. Few seem conscious that there 
is such a thing as physical morality. Men’s habitual 
words and acts imply the idea that they are at 
liberty to treat their bodies as they please. Dis¬ 
orders entailed by disobedience to nature’s dictates, 
they regard simply as grievances, not as the effects 
of a conduct more or less flagitious. Though the 
evil consequences inflicted on their dependents, and 
on future generations, are often as great as those 
caused by crime, yet they do not think themselves 
in any degree criminal. It is true, that, in the case 
of drunkenness, the viciousness of a purely bodily 
transgression is recognized; but none appear to infer 
that, if this bodily transgression is vicious, so, too, 
is every bodily transgression. The fact is, that all 
breaches of the laws of health are physical sins. 
When this is generally seen, then, and not till then, 
will the physical training of the young receive all 
the attention it deserves. 
Nature is a strict accountant; and if you demand 
of her in one direction more than she is prepared to 
lay out, she balances the account by making a de¬ 
duction elsewhere. If you insist on premature or 
undue growth of any one part, she will, with more 
or less protest, concede the point; but that she may 
do your extra work, she must leave some of her 
more important work undone. 
In primitive times, when aggression and defense 
were the leading social activities, bodily vigor, with 
its accompanying courage, were the great desid¬ 
erata; and then education was almost wholly phys¬ 
ical; mental education was little cared for, and, in¬ 
deed, wasoften treated with contempt. But now that 
muscular power is of use for little else than manual 
labor, while social success of nearly every kind de¬ 
pends very much on mental power, our education 
has become almost exclusively mental. Instead of 
respect the mind and ignore the body. Both these 
attitudes are wrong. We do not yet sufficiently 
realize the truth, that as, in this life of ours the 
physical underlies the mental, the mental must not 
be developed at the expense of the physical. The 
ancient and modern conceptions must be combined. 
—Herbert Spencer. 
THE WAR’S PROGRESS 
From the Rappahannock. 
The regular correspondent of the Philadelphia 
Press, writing from the “ Hindquarters of the Army 
of Virginia,” on the 22d ult.,says: 
There have been some fcarp skirmishing and 
cannonading during the Iasi two days, but nothing 
of a very decisive character, The enemy is afraid 
to attack us in force, and we occupy a position 
which it would be imprudent to abandon for a few 
days. All unnecessary baggage having been sent 
to tbe rear, we are now unefoumbered and in ex¬ 
cellent fighting trim. On lqst Wednesday an inci¬ 
dent occurred which was sffnewhat singular, and 
gave a slight advantage to be rebels. A party of 
fifteen of our cavalry bad betb scouring the country, 
and not having found a relel during their morn¬ 
ing’s ride, resolved to break fist. They accordingly 
alighted, and having had a iharp ride, they unsad¬ 
dled their horses, so that he animals might be 
refreshed when they next npunted. Their fancied 
security and repose were of short duration, how¬ 
ever, for scarcely had they fairly set about preparing 
breakfast, when a troop of rebel cavalry pounced 
on them so suddenly that they were captured before 
they could otter any effectual resistance. While the 
rebels were securing their prisoners, the horses, 
which had been quietly glazing, on lifting their 
heads and seeing that all w&s not right, very saga¬ 
ciously and properly set off at full speed, without 
saddles or riders, and having arrived safely in camp, 
created quite a sensation, which gave rise to many 
surmises as to what had become of the riders. 
After nearly an hour bad elapsed, in which possi¬ 
ble and impossible speculations were indulged, a 
flrtuofl.-An nf Own Buford’s eavnlfv, went Out to 
search the surrounding oiu.ntry. They aid not 
proceed far when they encountered a body of rebel 
cavalry under Gen. Stewart. On these they charged 
with such impetuosity that the rebels ran in all 
directions. Many were captured, amoDg whom was 
an exquisitely dressed major, who, from the style 
of his dress, was supposed by our men to be the 
principal person in command, and who, accord¬ 
ingly, was pursued with the utmost vigor and de¬ 
termination. Our men were much disappointed on 
finding that he was only a major, while that indi¬ 
vidual, like the stag in the fable, was left to bewail 
his fate. The fop in this case saved the general, 
and he may have the benefit of the consolation. 
Later in the day another attempt was made by 
the enemy to occupy the left bank of the river at 
this point. They came forward cautiously through 
a belt of woods, the open field in front of which was 
held by a part of Ricketts’ division. Both parties 
commenced firing, and as the rebel position was 
rather more favorable than ours, a feigned retreat 
was ordered. This had the desired effect; the rebels 
dashed forward with a shout of triumph. It was 
The Rebel Attack ou Catlett'* Station. 
A correspondent of the Philadelphia lnquir- 
er gives the following graphic account of the rebel 
raid on Catlett’s Station. His letter is dated “Ma- 
nasgas, Aug. 24:” 
Friday evening, about 8 o’clock, as your corre¬ 
spondent was in camp with the baggage and supply 
trains of Sigel’s First Army Corps, south of Cat¬ 
lett’s Station, an alarm was given that the rebel 
cavalry had attacked and taken the station, and 
For a time the conster- 
Gen. Butler und the French Consul. 
Tub order of General Butler, confiscating all the 
private fire-arms in New Orleans, provoked the fol¬ 
lowing remonstrance from Count Mejan, the French 
Consul in that city: 
French Consulate at New Orleans, 1 
New Orleans, Aug. 12, 1862. j 
Sir: —The new order of the day, which has been 
published this morning, and by which you require 
that, all and whatever arms may be in the possession 
of the people of this city, must be delivered up, has 
caused the most serious alarm among the French 
siib|ecj^of.New Orleans. 
notwithstanding the "accusations brought against 
some, of them by certain persons, sacrificed every¬ 
thing to maintain during the actual conflict the 
neutrality imposed npon them. When arms were 
delivered them by the municipal authorities, they 
only used them to maintain order and defend per¬ 
sonal property, and those arms have since almost all 
been returned. And it now appears, according to 
the tenor of your order of the day, that French sub¬ 
jects, as well as citizens, are required to surrender 
their personal arms, which could only be used in 
self-defense. 
For sometime paBt unmistakable signs have man¬ 
ifested themselves among the servile population of 
the city and surrounding country, of their intention 
to break the bonds which bind them to their masters, 
and many persons apprehend an actual revolt. It 
is these signs, this prospect of finding ourselves 
completely" unarmed, in the presence of a popula¬ 
tion from which the greatest excesses are feared, 
that we are above all things justly alarmed: for tbe 
result of such a state of things would fall on all 
alike who were left without the means of self-defense. 
It is not denied that the protection of the United 
States Government would be extended to them in 
such an event, but that protection could not bn ef¬ 
fective at all times and in all places, nor provide 
against those internal enemies whose unrestrained 
language and manners are constantly increasing, 
and who are but partially kept in subjection by the 
conviction that their musters are armed. 
I submit to you, sir, these observations, with the 
request that you take them into consideration. 
Please accept, sir, the assurance of my high esteem. 
The Consul of France, Count Mejan. 
Lieut. Weitzel, United States Engineers, and Assis¬ 
tant Military Commandant of New Orleans. 
Gen. Butler sent this sharp reply: 
Heawjvajiters, Dki-t on the Gulp, > 
New Orleans, Aug. 14, 1802 > 
Sir:— Your official note to Lieut. Weitzel, Assis¬ 
tant Military Commandant, has been forwarded to 
me. I see no just cause of complaint against the 
order requiring tbe arms of private citizens to be de¬ 
livered up. If is the usual course pursued in cities 
similarly situated to this, even without any exterior 
force in the neighborhood. 
You will observe that it will not do to trust to 
mere professions of neutrality. I trust most of your 
countrymen are in good faith neutral; but it is un¬ 
fortunately true that some of them are not. This 
causes the good, of necessity, to suffer for the acts of 
the bad. 
I take leave to call your attention to the fact that 
the United States forces gave every immunity to 
Monsieur Bonnegross, who claimed to be the French 
Consul at Baton Rouge; allowed him to keep his 
arms and relied upon his neutrality, but his son was 
taken prisoner on the battle field in arras against us. 
You will also do me the favor to remember that very 
few of the French subjects here have taken the oath 
of neutrality, which was offered to, but not required 
of them, by my order No. 41, although all the officers 
of the French Legion had, with yoor knowledge 
and assent, taken the oath to support the constitu¬ 
tion of the Confederate States. Thus, you see, I 
have no guaranty for the good faith of bad men. 
1 do not understand how it is that arms are altered 
in their effectiveness by being “ personal property,” 
were advancing upon us. 
nation occasioned by so sudden and unexpected an 
attack was great; but by the cool and determined 
behavior of some of the officers and men, order was 
8UU11 1UM01UU. AilV A union CiOglOn TOrniOll qUiUAlJ 
and fought bravely, and, although crashed back by 
overwhelming numbers, stood their ground until 
resistance wa3 destruction. 
Upon repairing to the station at daylight, we 
The Object of Education.— It seems to me that 
the object of education is to produce men practiced 
in business, with enlarged minds and correct judg¬ 
ments, and men of learning not unversed in the 
world. Now as to our practical rnen, they owe 
their knowledge, not to their education, but to tbe 
necessities of life; all they have ever learned at 
school they have long since forgotten and very little 
regret; and as to our learned men—they are what 
they are. But how great, I would ask, is the learn¬ 
ing tho youth eau bear away from school, however 
you may facilitate its acquisition? So minute a 
fraction of that he must afterward acquire, as scarcely 
to deserve mention. The importance of school edu¬ 
cation, then, can never consist as much in what it 
teaches, as in tho method it uses, and to which from 
boyhood it accustoms the man for acquiring and 
giving certainty to knowledge and putting that 
knowledge to use .—Outline of a System of national 
Education. 
car loads of sick from Warrenton. Jnst as the train 
started, about thirty men of Company B, Purnell 
Legion, of Baltimore, advanced to the rear of the 
train, and poured a volley into the rebel cavalry 
who had surrounded it. The rebels fell back In a 
perfect “skedaddle,” but in a few minutes rallied 
and charged most vigorously, and took all tho men 
prisoners. 
The hospital at Catlett’s Station was “sacked,” 
and all the sick taken out South. The rebels then 
had their own way, and pillaged and plundered to 
their heart’s content. Two sutler wagons were 
plundered of such articles as the scamps wanted, 
and then burned. The rebels remained near the 
station nearly five hours, doing as they pleased. A 
fearful thunder storm raged drning the whole time 
of the attack. The lightning was almost blinding, 
and the thunder was most appallingly fearful. The 
rain fell in drenching torrents. 
While one of the rebel regiments was at work 
immediately at the station, another dashed up to 
Gen. Pope’s wagon train, half a mile further up the 
road. The train was guarded by about two hun¬ 
dred of the Pennsylvania Bucktails. under Col. 
Kane, who had just reached here the previous day, 
since being wounded at Cross Keys. The men 
rushed out and tired a volley in the darkness; the 
rebels fell back, but advanced again, surrounding 
the whole party, and took Col. Kane and 149 of his 
men prisoners. Providence favoring. Col. Kane, 
encouraging bis men, sent them out one ly one to 
the rear in the storm, and when all were out, fol¬ 
lowed himself, and while tho rebels were absorbed 
by the storm, escaped. 
Fourteen of the same gallant men charged on a 
body of the rebel cavalry, killing a large number of 
their horses, which lay along the Orange and Alex¬ 
andria railroad. The robs then popped over to 
Pope’s wagons, took all his fancy horses, papers, 
&c,, aud burned his two wagons. They also robbed 
and burned two sutler’s wagons and three of the 
supply wagons, with all the equipage of Gen. Pope 
and others, whicli they did not want. Gen. McDow¬ 
ell’s guard lay but a short distance off, and kept up 
a continuous lire, aided by a few “ Bucktails.” who 
had escaped previous to the surrounding. But the 
rebel fire and charge was too severe, and the men 
fell back. The rebels took some half a dozen horses 
from McDowell’s train, and all his private stores, 
completely rummaging his mess chests and wagons. 
Another party had crossed the railroad and gone 
down to Generals Ricketts’and King’s supply trains 
and headquarter wagous. They gave a tremendous 
shout, and charged down into the ravine, where 
King's wagoners were, upon the outside, guarded 
by some Wisconsin troops, who drew up and fired 
Tiie School in the House. —Every family is a 
school. All its members are teachers, all are 
scholars. Without text-books all study, and by 
instinct all learn. Looks, smiles, frowns, caresses, 
reproaches, shrugs, words, deeds, make up daily 
household lessons, from which each learner derives, 
first, impressions; next convictions; and then, char¬ 
acter. What the school in the house should be, may 
oftentimes be best known by noticing what it is not. 
It domestic courtesy, and family politeness, and 
mutual forbearance, and considerate patience, and 
benefiting love are not in the house, there will be in 
their stead, rudeness and selfishness, and impatience 
and strife. These last are scorpions whose deadly 
venom is sure destruction of domestic peace, con¬ 
cord and happiness. Christian parents, you are 
teachers at home! Let your children learn what 
practical piety is from the benignity of your tempers 
and the blamelessness of your examples. 
TEACHING AND LEARNING, 
Singing. —The effect of music is powerful. In a 
school it has a tendency to promote cheerfulness and 
help discipline. It also furnishes a pleasant relaxa¬ 
tion from study. Wherever it has been faithfully 
and systematically tried, with well qualified instruct¬ 
ors, it meets with general commendation. To unite 
in singing at the opening of a school, seems to com¬ 
pose the mind and fit it for study; and to sing at the 
close of the school, when the perplexities and duties 
of the day are over, tends to allay all irritable feel¬ 
ing—to unite hearts—to bring rays of sunshine to 
clouded countenances, and mako the associations of 
the school room pleasant and inviting. — Maine 
Teacher. 
The words teach and learn are frequently used as 
though of precisely synonymous import. In some 
of the old writers we find learn used in the sense of 
teach. Shakspearo says, “Hast not thou learned 
me to make perfumes?” Drayton says, “Who, till 
I learned him, has not known his might?” It may 
he contended that this use is sufficiently sanctioned 
by such authority,—but it is not sanctioned by good 
writers of the present day. The dictionaries char¬ 
acterize it as an “antiquated” or “obsolete” use. 
We recently heard a teacher eay of a certain 
pupil,—“ He is a dull scholar and I cannot learn 
him anything,” We frequently bear similar expres¬ 
sions, but they are not warranted by good usage. 
To learn, implies to gain or acquire knowledge; to 
teach, is to impart knowledge or to guide one in his 
efforts to secure it. One may learn how to teach, 
but the true teacher will teach how to learn. The 
instructor teaches ,—the pupil learns. This differ¬ 
ence should be carefully observed by teachers, and 
the improper use of these words, interchangably, 
should oc discountenanced. 
With this understanding of these words we may 
see that mere talking is not teaching, and yet it 
would seem that many teachers so regard it. We 
nor do I see how arms which will serve for personal 
defense, (“eiti ne pmvent setvlrgue pour leur defence 
personelle, ) cannot be as effectually used for offen¬ 
sive warfare. 
Of the disquiet which yon say there are signs 
manifesting themselves among the black population, 
ot a desire to break their bonus which bind them to 
their masters, O-certaines dispositions a rompre les 
.I _ . J * . I .. f.,,/ 4«o wi mNamo T Vi otto 1 in.in 
teries. Our loss was seventeen killed and thirty- 
three wounded, part of whom, are now at Cooper’s, 
in Alexandria. 
On Friday night and Saturday, the rebels again 
attempted to cross the Rappahannock, but were 
driven back, 
liens qui les aitaohent a tears maitres ,") I have been 
a not inactive observer, without wonder, because it 
would seem natural, When (heir masters had set 
them the example of rebellion against constituted au¬ 
thorities, that, tiio negroes, being an imitative race, 
should do likewise. 
Bat surelv the representative of the Emperor, 
who does not tolerate slavery in France, does not 
desire his countrymen to lie ai med for the purpose 
of proven ling the negroes from breaking their hoods. 
Let me assure you that the protection of the United 
States against violence, either by negroes or white 
men, whether citizens or foreign, will continue to be 
as perfect as it has been since our advent here, and 
by far more manifesting itself at all moments and 
everywhere {"tons les instants et ptir touts”) than 
any improvised citizens’ organization pan do. 
Whenever the inhaoitanis ol' this city will, by a 
public aud united act, show both their loyalty and 
In a skirmish on Friday night, Capt. 
Golding, Brigade Quartermaster,was taken prisoner, 
with about five thousand dollars he had in his pos¬ 
session, and on Saturday morning, we regret to say, 
Gen. Henry Bohlen,of Philadelphia, while gallantly 
leading bis men against the enemy, was killed. 
Gen. Boblen left Philadelphia several months since, 
as commander of the 75th Pennsylvania regiment, 
and was subsequently promoted to the position of 
Brigadier-General. He was a well known citizen 
of Philadelphia, and for many years a respected 
and prominent citizen. He was distinguished for 
his gallantry at Cross Keys, where his brigade 
Education in France.— Out of 310,289 soldiers 
in France, representing all grades in society, only 
102,873 can read and write. Out of 2,250,000 boys 
and 2.593,000 girls, 475,000 boys and 533,000 girls do 
not go to school. In all France there are but 4,225 
booksellers, of which only 165 are in the rural com¬ 
munes. 
Milton on Education. —A complete and gener¬ 
ous education is “ that which fits a man to perform 
justly, skillfully, and magnanimously, all the offices, 
both public and private, of peace and war.” 
