state of agriculture throughout the greater part of the kingdom, can rightly estimate. As Ireland is now the granary upon which England depends for a large portion of its supplies, the consuming classes in England have a deep interest in every effort which is made to increase the agricultural produce of Ireland. The cost of these agricultural schools would, after the first outfit, be very inconsiderable; since, if properly managed, they would. very nearly support themselves. A large school of this kind might be established, at a very trifling expense, in the south of Ireland, upon an estate which belongs to the Crown. It is situated at Pobble O'Keefe, in the county of Cork; consists of several thousand acres; and, having been already laid out and partially reclaimed with the view of serving as a model estate, there would be but little trouble in making arrangements for the reception of young men from all parts of the kingdom who are desirous of becoming instructed in the most improved processes of agriculture.

SUPPLEMENTARY EDUCATION.

It now only remains that we should speak of that class of institutions which have been designated as subsidiary to the general purposes of education. In this class may be placed scientific and literary associations, mechanics' institutions, public libraries, museums, botanic gardens, galleries of paintings, schools of arts, &c. An enumeration of the institutions of this nature existing in Ireland, will furnish but a meagre catalogue. They are chiefly confined to the metropolis; and may be stated, in general terms, as consisting of several associations connected with the study and pursuit of the professions of law and medicine; a geological and a zoological society; a society of civil engineers; several musical societies; and a society for promoting the fine arts in Dublin; a similar society in Cork; horticultural and agricultural societies in Dublin and in the provinces; a few scientific and literary associations and mechanics' institutions in some of the principal towns. Upon the whole, Ireland is sadly deficient in these aids to education. Neither in number nor effi

ciency can the very few institutions of this nature which exist, be said to indicate a just appreciation of the enjoyments and advantages of literature, science, and the arts. The only establishments which appear to us to require a special notice are those which are aided by parliamentary grant. These are the Irish Academy, and the Dublin Society. The former receives a small annual grant of 300%. It publishes transactions which are chiefly devoted to subjects connected with polite literature, with abstract science, and with antiquities. Among its members are to be found most of the leading men of science in Ireland, and in general its reputation stands deservedly high.

The Dublin Society was founded above a century since; and was much encouraged, and most liberally supported, by the parliament of Ireland. An enumeration of the objects which it embraces, will show how comprehensive is the range of useful action which it assumes to itself. It possesses a museum, a library, and a botanic garden, which are open to the public. It maintains four professors, who give gratuitous lectures, which are numerously attended by the public, in chemistry, natural philosophy, botany, mineralogy, and geology. The botanic garden, which is one of the finest in Europe, is a practical school for young men seeking instruction in gardening. There are also four schools of art, in which several most distinguished artists have received the rudiments of their education. They are as follow :- -A figure school, a school for landscape and ornamental drawing, a school of architecture, and a school for modelling in clay. Exhibitions of Irish manufactures and agricultural implements are also held once every year under the auspices of the society. Evening meetings frequently take place, for conversation and mutual instruction in regard to objects connected with literature, science, and the arts. About nine hundred members have been admitted since the Union, upon payment of a sum which has varied from twenty guineas to fifty guineas each. The society having given upon some occasions indications of party spirit, it has not hitherto fully possessed the confidence of the Roman Catholic portion of the commu

nity; but there is every reason to hope that such circumstances will never again occur. The annual parliamentary grant is 53007.; but considering the multiplicity of objects which the society embraces, and that it stands in the same position with regard to Ireland that the British Museum does to England, it will not excite surprise that this grant is found inadequate to enable the society to perform, in a satisfactory manner, everything that such an institution, if properly supported, is calculated to effect. The Parliamentary Committee, which was appointed in 1836 to inquire into its management, recommended that it should be enabled, in some degree to supply the void which exists in Ireland with regard to instruction in the experimental sciences, by sending down to the small towns either its own professors, or other qualified persons, to give lectures in this department of science. It was proposed that a small subscription should be raised by the locality applying for such a course of lectures, partly with a view of defraying a portion of the expense, and partly in order to show that the call was made by persons who were really desirous of deriving benefit from such instruction. The Dublin Society has recently been enabled, by the government, to act upon this suggestion, and lectures upon chemistry, natural philosophy, and mechanics, have been given by the professors of the Society in the towns of Galway, Partarlington, and Wicklow. We cannot conclude this part of the subject without expressing it as our opinion, that the municipal bodies in the different towns in the kingdom, should by law be enabled to apply a portion of their borough rate to the maintenance in each town of a public library, a museum, a botanic garden, and of other means of promoting the innocent recreation and instruction of the inhabitants.

We have now completed this review of the educational institutions of Ireland; and we deduce from the facts before us the conclusion, that the provision heretofore made for the instruction of the people, either by the voluntary efforts of individuals, or by the fostering aid of the State, is wholly inadequate; that the endowments founded by private or by royal munificence have, through a defective administration, failed to produce be

nefits commensurate with the means of usefulness which they possess; that the instruction at present afforded to the different classes of society is seldom the most suitable that could be given in reference to the circumstances of the individuals receiving it; and that its quality requires to be improved, and its range to be enlarged. If these results cannot be fairly deduced from the facts which are before us, we are at liberty to stand still; but if neither the facts can be denied, nor the conclusion be controverted, then we are entitled to call upon the Legislature, upon the Government, and upon the people to begird themselves strenuously to the noblest task that can occupy the human energies-that of enlightening the minds, refining the tastes, and improving the habits of a nation; and, above all, of teaching them the practical exercise of that religion which was announced by its divine herald as the harbinger of peace on earth and goodwill to man.

WILLIAM S. O'BRIEN.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF A STUDY OF ANTIQUITY AT THE PRESENT TIME?

THIS question, which has often been discussed, it is proposed to examine again; not with the expectation of completely satisfying either the advocates or the opponents of what is commonly termed a Classical Education, but with the view of stating the matter in dispute with somewhat more of precision than has generally characterized this discussion. When we undertake to explain the advantages of any particular branch of study, we undertake to explain what that study comprehends: it may also be expected that we should point out how such a study should be prosecuted in order to be profitable.

A Classical Education comprehends a study of the Greek and Latin languages, and also a study of the matter contained in Greek and Latin books.

One end proposed to be obtained in the study of these languages, and an end which under a proper course of instruction may be obtained, is the power of reading with facility the Greek and Roman writers. If this end be not fully or adequately obtained, one object of a classical education is not completely accomplished; but it does not therefore follow, that the education has been of no

use.

The

The question which we shall first consider is the study of the Greek and Latin languages, as languages. term "language" in its widest sense, may comprehend every medium by which we express our meaning to one another, or by which such meaning is transmitted to future times. In its limited and proper sense, language is the totality of those vocal sounds, by the combination of which society converses, and by which man expresses all that he feels, conceives, and concludes. That which gives language a permanent form is writing; a mode of representation purely arbitrary and conventional, of which the historical