in the garden. There should also be a border of flowers round the play-ground, of such sorts as will yield the most fragrance, which will tend to counteract any disagreeable smell that may proceed from the children, and thereby be conducive to their health, as well as to that of those who have the charge of them. They will, besides, afford the teacher an opportunity, of giving the children many useful lessons; for the more he teaches by things, and the less he teaches by signs, the better. These things need be no expense to the establishment, except the purchase in the first instance, for they will afford an agreeable occupation for the master before and after school hours, and prepare him in some measure for the duties of the day; and will afford him an ample opportunity of instilling a variety of ideas into the minds of the children, and of tracing everything up to the Great First Cause. I have witnessed the good effects of these things, which makes me desirous of humbly recommending them to others. With regard to the expense, I have ascertained beyond a doubt, that according to the plan adopted in Mr. Wilson's school, 300 children may be taken care of, from the age of eighteen months to seven years, and instructed in every thing that such children are capable of learning, for 1507. per annum*, which is ten shillings a year for each *It is to be observed, that I am speaking of a free-school. In Mr. Wilson's school the children pay nothing; but some persons have wished that the children should pay a penny or two-pence per week; this of course would considerably diminish the expenditure, and I have no doubt that in country villages, and in decent neighbourhoods, it might be obtained. But in such neighbourhoods as Spitalfields, St. Catherine's, K child. This includes the salary for the master and mistress; the salary for a third person to do the drudgery; coals, slates, cards, and every other thing requisite for the school, except the rent of the premises. I QUESTION WHETHER IT DOES NOT COST THE COUNTRY AS MUCH FOR EVERY TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE TRANSPORTED OUT OF IT. Perhaps I shall be excused in this place for indulging in a few thoughts on the practicability of establishing Infant Schools throughout the United Kingdom by means of a legislative provision. I have thought that it might be practicable to establish one or two Infant Schools in every parish, by imposing a tax of one shilling a year upon every family, and every servant in place, both male and female. The family, I should think, would have no objection to pay such a trifling sum, if they had the privilege of sending their children to school for it; and the latter I should conceive would pay it cheerfully, knowing that they themselves might derive many advantages from similar institutions. The rich would not have any objection surely to pay so trifling a sum, although they should receive no other benefit from the plan, than being saved perhaps the expense of prosecuting individuals, who, probably, had it not been for the good impressions made upon them in an Infant School, might have committed some crime, so as to have rendered such a proceeding necessary. I should imagine, that some parts of St. Giles's, Wapping, &c. &c., many of the parents are not able to pay, and many that are, would sooner let their children run the streets than pay a penny: yet the children of the latter persons are the greatest objects of charity; and it is the children of such persons that chiefly fill our prisons. there is no person possessing the least spark of humanity, who would not rather pay a tax to prevent a child from falling into danger, than to be compelled to pay a tax for the express purpose of punishing him after he had fallen into it. Perhaps no tax could be imposed that would not be considered unjust by some persons, although they would have no objection to reap the benefit arising from it. The only objection I could see to such a plan, would be on the score of religious opinions, for if an attempt were made to insist upon the children being taught any particular religious sentiments, or should the schools be under the superintendence of individuals of any particular religious sentiments, to the exclusion of all others, such an attempt no doubt would be extremely unpopular, and I for one should object to the plan; but if these things should be done upon truly liberal principles, and an opportunity given to both Churchmen and Dissenters to have schools and schoolmasters, according to their own choice, without any interference on the part of the legislature as to these particulars, I do think that such a tax, with the generality of well-disposed persons, would be far from being objectionable. With respect to the collection of this tax, that would be an after consideration; but, no doubt, care would be taken to have no useless drones in the concern; and further, that in its collection, the public should be put to the least expense possible. If the poor, generally speaking, "could see the propriety, as well as the necessity, of keeping their children out of the streets, where there is nothing but bad example before their eyes, and of sending them to school at the earliest age, there would be no necessity for a tax, for they would cheerfully come forward and voluntarily throw in their mite; but this is not the case; many of them do not see the danger until it comes upon them, therefore it behoves the legislaturethose who are the guardians of us all-to endeavour to avert the danger; and where the poor will not do that which would evidently be for the good of themselves as well as of their children, I can see no impropriety in compelling them to do it, provided that the religious scruples of many, before mentioned, are not lost sight of; for we have certainly no right to compel a man to have his child taught that which he deems to be erroneous. There are many leading truths which may be taught children, to which few persons would object, and these might be taught generally; but where certain points have been subject to controversy, without coming to any final decision, such points should be avoided, and left to the decision of those who are most interested therein. I have merely thrown out these suggestions, as an opinion, the value of which must be estimated by my readers. I can only say, that I would most willingly pay my share of the tax, come when it may; but, if never adopted, I shall not feel grieved, so long as the public see the necessity of taking care of children, and form schools or asylums for their protection. The means by which such a desirable object may be accomplished, is of little consideration; yet every one who desires its accomplishment, is in duty bound, to suggest any thing he may deem likely to facilitate its extension. CHAPTER VI. QUALIFICATIONS OF A MASTER AND MISTRESS. "Delightful task! to rear the tender thought, THOMSON. PERHAPS no one ever felt his own insufficiency, in any situation, more strongly than I did, whilst in charge of the Spitalfields' Infant School, which induces me to make a few observations on the qualifications of a master and mistress. It is a very common idea, that almost any person can educate little children, and that it requires little or no ability; but it will be found that this is a great mistake, for if it be the business of such a person to lay the foundation of religion and virtue in the infant mind, with every grace that can adorn the Christian character, there must be something more done than merely saying a few printed lessons by rotation, without knowing whether the children really understand what they say. How frequently may we find children, ten or twelve years of age, who cannot answer the most simple question, and who nevertheless have |