forts, in consequence of the alarming tendency to sensuality, which it produced. The same general truth is illustrated by the comparison of nations and communities, in different stages of civilization. While a certain degree of culture will diminish the sensuality of a savage tribe, or of a new colony, it rolls back in overwhelming waves upon those nations who have attained the height of cultivation and refinement, and whose intellectual faculties have been cultivated beyond the due proportion to their moral faculties.

Painful as the conviction is, it is forced upon us by our own observation of the past, the present, and the rising generations, that the process of decay has begun in our country, under the combined influence of causes which Dr Brigham assigns in the work before us. We look round almost in vain, for that vigor of constitution, that energy of character, that capacity for enduring hardships, that fortitude and perseverance in surmounting difficulties, which converted a wilderness into the fruitful land which we inhabit, and which raised us from colonial bondage, to the rank of the freest and happiest nation on earth. We fully agree with the author of this work in considering it "a subject demanding the attention of the patriot and the philanthropist," and we will add of the christian.

The practical result to which these principles tend, is as simple as that which is derived from a system of regimen for the body. — All indulgence of excessive intellectual activity, all efforts of mind which are forced or unnatural, whether of the reason, of the memory, the imagination, or the affections, are especially dangerous during childhood. At this period of life, the brain should never be compelled to perform a task which is laborious to it, nor excited to efforts which are unnatural, either by threats, or promises, or rewards, or persuasions; nor even suffered to attempt excessive acquisitions. Above all, it is cruel to employ the affections, or to rouse the passions, as a means of urging the child to mental labor, and thus exhaust it by the double excitement of intellect and feeling. In short, let the rule" Be temperate in all things; be anxious for nothing' be made the guide of the infant as of the adult, and be applied as watchfully and constantly to the mind, as it is to the body.

If it be asked, "What is excess What are the bounds of temperance?"—we may reply by asking — What is excess, and what is temperance in eating? The answer must in every case be regulated by the constitution and powers of the individual, and not by any fixed rule. We find, however, that as the brain does not appear to be completely formed until the seventh year, it is the general opinion, of medical men "from the highest antiquity," that close application of mind should not be required during the first six years of life. But we hear the inquiry from some of our startled readers, "Are our children then to grow up in ignorance? Would physicians starve them in order to prevent their being surfeited?" Far from it. A'similar objection has been made and answered a thousand times, in reply to the arguments and directions for moderation in food. It is made only

VOL. III. — NO. II.

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from the feeling, which our immediate sensations encourage, that the strength acquired, is in proportion to the quantity of food devoured; and without any reference to the fact, that all which is not digested, however wholesome in itself, is but a load upon the system, which produces nothing but oppression and disease. These wise advisers do not propose that children should grow up ignorant; for this would be impossible without confining them, like Caspar Hauser, in darkness and silence. But they urge, that during the first years of life, the periods of direct instruction should only be occasional and brief, that we should suffer the mind to acquire ideas by ranging among the world of objects, instead of confining it to the mere marks of sounds the letters and words of a language and at the same time, enfeebling the body by the impure air and close imprisonment of a school-room for six hours in the day. Still they would cheerfully admit, that even this is far better than a similar confinement in many of the abodes of poverty, or negligence, or vice. They beg parents to be satisfied while the mind and the brain are yet so immature, with the knowledge which a child is eagerly and constantly drinking in, from every object which he sees, and every sound which he hears, and every individual with whom he converses knowledge incomparably better adapted to expand and improve the mind than the mechanical repetitions of lessons which do not reach the understanding or affect the heart. They would simply require that the rule, to feed babes "with milk and not with meat," should be applied to intellectual as well as to moral subjects.

They would also urge, that our Infant and Primary schools should be rendered asylums of infancy, where it may resort for that affectionate and constant care which the circumstances, or health, or character of its parents may render impossible at home - a care which should watch over the body and the heart as well as the intellect. The wisest and ablest observers of the infant mind unite with the immediate guardians of the body, in protesting against that system which converts these asylums into intellectual hot-houses, where the child is urged forward by every motive which ingenuity can devise, or affection and often piety can present, to an intensity and amount of effort altogether disproportioned to its strength, and whose ultimate effect must be to impair the vigor of the body and the energy of the mind.

INTELLIGENCE.

WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY AT MIDDLETOWN.

WE have received a Catalogue of the Corporation, Officers and Students of this new University, which promises, under the care of President FISK, to take a high stand among the kindred institutions of learning. The number of students is about sixty. We subjoin the names of the faculty, together with some particulars which strike us as interesting.

Faculty. Rev. Wilbur Fisk, D. D., President, and acting Professor of Moral Science and Belles-Lettres. Augustus W. Smith, A. M., Professor of Mathematics, and Professor of Natural Science. Rev. John M. Smith, A. M. Professor of Ancient Languages and Literature, and acting Professor of Natural Science. Rev. Jacob F. Huber, Professor of Modern Languages.

All the studies pursued at the University, are divided into departments, or general classes, with a professor at the head of each. The number of these departments will be increased, as the means and wants of the University shall increase. At present they consist of five, viz:- I. Moral Science and Belles-Lettres; II. Mathematics; III. Ancient Languages, and Literature; IV. Natural Science; V. Modern Languages.

The students of each department are divided into sections, so as to accommodate their different degrees of advancement, without any reference to their standing in the other departments, or to the time they have been members of the University. Any student may take a partial or an entire course, as may suit his circumstances; and when regularly dismissed, shall be entitled to a diploma, according to his attainments. But no one will be entitled to the collegiate degree of Bachelor of Arts, except he pass a thorough and satisfactory examination in the entire classical course. Whenever he does this, he will be admitted to his degree, without regard to the time he may have been in the University.

Daily bills of merit and demerit, are kept of each student the former denoting the excellencies of each in his recitations, and other College exercises the latter, the deficiencies and delinquencies of each in his respective duties. The President will furnish an exhibit of these records in any particular case, when requested by the student or his friends; and in all cases where the delinquencies exceed a certain number, and where private and public admonition have been given without effect, a statement of the bill of demerit will be forwarded to the friends of such delinquent scholars. This will be the last step of discipline, preceding the final one of suspension or dismission. The Faculty are determined, that the University shall not be infested, and the whole community embarrassed and perhaps corrupted, by idle or corrupt inembers.

The University has a choice Library of about 3,000 volumes, and a very respectable Philosophical and Chemical Apparatus. Genius of Temp.

LA FAYETTE COLLEGE, EASTON, PA.

This institution was opened May 9, 1832. It is under the care of Rev. George Junkin, President, three Professors, besides a Business Agent, and a Farmer. Pres. Junkin was formerly the Principal of the Germantown Manual Labor School, which, owing to its proximity to Philadelphia, and other causes, had been discontinued. The course of instruction is similar to that of other Colleges.

The present number of students is sixtyseven, and they are from thirteen States. They labor three or four hours in a day, or twenty hours in a week, either on a farm or in workshops provided for the purpose. During the last season, they have paid, with their labor, three eighths of all their expenses, although their average age was only sixteen, and this, too, without any interference with their studies. In fact, it appears from the First Annual Report of the Trustees, with which we have been favored by the President, and to which we are indebted for these facts—that, in almost every instance, progress in study has been in direct proportion to the amount of labor performed. The health of the students is excellent. It should, however, be understood, that many of them came from the Germantown Seminary to this place, and were, of course, already accustomed to labor, in connection with study. We have only room to add the following fact, to show what manual labor students can perform.

The President and the students, between March 14, 1832, and May 9, performed the whole labor of erecting a building thirtyone feet square and two stories high, with garret rooms finished, and the basement for workshops, and dividing it into eight lodging rooms, two school-rooms, and the shop, with the exception of the masonry and plastering, and eight days' work in the quarry.

EDUCATION In Georgia.

In Dec. 1831, a Teachers' Society and Board of Education for the State of Georgia was formed; and the process of improvement has never been more rapid in that State, than since that period. The following facts are chiefly derived from the Family Lyceum, and the Charleston Observer.

The College at Athens is unusually flourishing. Several academies and high schools of the very first respectability have come to our knowledge. A seminary in Savannah, under the charge of three gentlemen of great intelligence and skill in teaching, numbers nearly 200 pupils. A female seminary at Milledgeville, under the charge of Dr Brown, has over 100. One of the most flourishing in the State, or in the Union, is at Mount Zion, in Hancock County, under the care of Rev. Mr Beman.Thomas B. Slade of Clinton, has a flourishing seminary. Rev. Sereno Taylor is endeavoring to get a female acadamy or seminary into operation. Several other schools, in Georgia, within our knowledge, are thought by many to be in a most flourishing condition. Most of these seminaries are well supplied with apparatus, periodicals, &c.

We rejoice to learn that the public sentiment in that State is ripe for the introduction of manual labor schools, of which two have been already formed. One of these was opened in June last, in Camden County, about thirty miles from St Mary's, by Mr A. Steele, who had been for many years a successful instructor at the latter place. In a short time after commencing, Mr S. had two or three times as many applicants as he could accommodate. He has in his school ten young men, twenty years of age and over, several of whom have commenced a three years' course, wholly upon the self-supporting plan. Several very wealthy and respectable citizens have made application in behalf of their sons, with the special object of having them work. And even some young ladies of respectable families have made application to take a part in the domestic employments, under Mrs Steele.

The other manual labor school, near Athens, was established by the Presbyterian Education Society of that State, Jan. 14th, 1832, and is under the care of Mr B. B. Hopkins, formerly an officer of Franklin College.

The object is to prepare young men for usefulness, or to fit them, if desired, for college, and ultimately for the ministry. We understand from the Charleston Observer, that Mr H. will reside in the house with his pupils, who will be at all times under his care and subject to his control. The boarding-house will be under the superintendence of a lady, whose maternal care and aid will be of the highest importance to the institution. Every student is required to labor on the farm three hours a day for five days of each week. This labor is intended to defray a part of the expenses of boarding; and ultimately the whole. Provision is also to be made for such young men as wish to defray the whole expense of their education by labor. The grand object, however, which the friends of the school have in view, (and which should always be the leading object) is to secure health and morals; but they expect also that every student may labor three or four hours a day, and yet pursue his studies to better advantage than if no labor had been performed; and if there is any reliance to be placed on human experience they will not be disappointed.

These and similar institutions will do much, we are confident, to remove the impression that white people cannot labor in the Southern States, than which we are convinced, both from observation and reasoning, a more glaring error never existed.

ADDRESS OF THE NEW ENGLAND ASYLUMS FOR The Blind.

We have received a very interesting address of this Asylum, embracing an account of the methods of instruction adopted in Europe, and of some important improvements by Dr Howe. The method of printing for the blind, devised by him, is far more simple and less expensive than the European, for extensive works; and the maps in relief which he has formed, are far superior, both in neatness and utility, to those employed in the schools of Paris and Edinburgh. Specimens both of the printing and maps accompany the report, and we are gratified to learn that Dr Howe proposes to publish a map of New England in relief, for common schools. The asylum is now open for the reception of pupils, at 140, Pleasant St. and may be visited on Thursday afternoon of each week by a permit from one of the Trustees, or the Superintendent. It is highly interesting to see the ingenious mode devised for aiding in the instruction of these unfortunate persons, and to witness the rapid progress they have made in reading, arithmetic, and geography, during a short period of instruction.

A similar institution has been established in New York, and another is proposed in Philadelphia.

ASSOCIATIONS OF YOUNG MEN.

We are gratified to see associations of young men forming in various places for mental and moral improvement. We have formerly given a very full account of the New York Association. Since that period we perceive that one has been formed in Richmond, Va. which has established a Library, Reading-room, Publication office, and Lecture Room, in which lectures are delivered and discussions held.

A similar institution has been formed in Boston. tions are as follows.

Some of the regula

The Library and Reading-room are open every evening, except Sunday and Monday, from seven till ten o'clock in the summer, and from six to ten in the winter; they are also open during the whole of the afternoon of Saturday. Every subscriber who has young friends, strangers in the city has the privilege of introducing three of them for three weeks; and strangers in the city, generally, who desire it, may enjoy the same privilege, for a term not exceeding three weeks, by applying to the Librarian.