ASSYRIAN RECORDS. tablets had been examined and deciphered he believed that we should have a better acquaintance with the history, the religion, the philosophy and the jurisprudence of Assyria 1500 years before the Christian era than we had of Greece or Rome during any period of their respective histories. GUTTA PERCHA. Athenæum. At the late meeting of the British Association, Major Rawlinson said that we had every prospect of an important accession to ethnological materials, for every letter he got from the countries now being explored, announced fresh discoveries of the utmost importance. In Lower Chaldea, Mr. Loftus, the geologist to the Commission appointed to fix the boundaries between Turkey and Persia, had visited many cities which no European had ever reached before, and had everywhere found the most extraordinary remains. At one place, Senkereh, he had come on a pavement, extending from half an acre to an acre, entirely covered with writing which was engraved upon baked tiles, &c. At Wurka (or Ur of the Chaldees) whence Abraham came out, he had found innumerable inscriptions; they were of no great extent, but they were exceedingly interesting, giving many royal names previously unknown. Wurka (Ur or Orchoe) seemed to be a holy city, for the whole country, for miles upon miles, was nothing but a huge necropolis. In none of the excavations in Assyria had coffins been found, but in this city of Chaldea there were thousands upon thousands. The story of Abraham's birth at Wurka did not originate with the Arabs as had sometimes been conjectured, but with the Jews; and the Orientals had numberless fables about Abraham and Nimroud. Mr. Layard, in excavating beneath the great pyramid at Nimroud, had penetrated a mass of masonry, within which he had discovered the tomb and statue of Sardanapalus, accompanied by full annals of the monarch's reign engraved upon the walls. He had also found tablets of all sorts, all of them being historical; but the crowning discovery he had yet to describe. The palace at Nineveh, or Koynupih, had evidently been destroyed by fire, but one portion of the building seemed to have escaped its influence; and Mr. Layard, in excavating in this part of the palace, had found a large room filled with what appeared From a small collection of " Hymns for Little Children," pub. to be the archives of the empire, ranged in successive tablets of terra cotta, the writings being as perfect as when first stamped. They were piled in huge heaps from the floor to the ceiling, and he wrote to him (Major Rawlinson) stating that he had already filled five large cases for despatch to England, but had only cleared one corner of the apartment. From the progress already made in reading the inscriptions, he believed we should be able pretty well to understand the contents of these tablets at all events, we should ascertain their general purport, and thus gain much valuable information. A passage might be remembered in the book of Ezra, where the Jews having been disturbed in building the Temple, prayed that search might be made in the house of records for the edict of Cyrus permitting them to return to Jerusalem. The chamber recently found might be presumed to be the house of records of the Assyrian kings, where copies of the royal edicts were duly deposited. When these Gutta Percha makes its way in the world. It has long had its sphere of duty as a comforter to the soles of men, and it is gradually displacing other raw materials of use and decoration. Leather has suffered not a little in the competition, some kinds of ornamental wood have been superseded in the making of nick-knacks and picture-frames; gold has been dug out of decayed teeth to make room for it; and it has replaced the silk on our umbrellas. A day or two ago we saw an advertisement describing hats made of the raw material; so that from the crown of our heads to the soles of our feet, we shall probably ere long be cased in gutta percha! But this is apparently only a beginning. Last week a sailing yacht built of this substance was exhibited on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, which it was said could neither be sunk nor overturned. Various experiments were tried, all with success. The boat sailed equally well full of water or empty! An attempt made to capsize her, failed. We must add, that she was built on the life boat principle, and was provided with air cells, which enabled her to float and make fair way even when full of water and carrying her cargo besides. The plan on which she is built is claimed as a new invention, which has been registered under the Copyright of Designs Act.—Athenæum. THE DOVE'S VISIT TO THE CHILD. lished by Masters, London. I knew a sickly little child, The long, long summer's day, There used to come a little dove, Before his window small, And sing to him with her sweet voice, And when the sick child better grew, And he could crawl along, And quiet at his play, There is a Holy Dove that sings To every Christian child, That leads him on to all things good, And he must hear that still small voice, He must be pure, and good, and true, Will drive that Dove away. SUMMARY OF NEWS. CALIFORNIA.-By the arrival of the steamship Cherokee, we have news from California to the Ist of 9th month. The report brought by the last steamer of the burning of Sacramento, proves to be unfounded. In the different melees between the citizens and the rioters, there were killed on the part of the former, Sheriff McKinney, and Woodland; wounded, Mayor Bigelow and Capt. Radford of the squatters, George W. Henshaw and Madison Kelly were killed. The squatters have been dispersed and the difficulties at Sacramento appeared to be at an end. The arrival of an agent by the last steamer, charged by our minister at Mexico with a mission in regard to land titles in California, has served to give much confidence to owners of property. It is the belief of this person that most of the grants made by the Governors before the acquisition of California by the United States, will be confirmed by our government on the evidence our minister in Mexico is prepared to furnish from the official records in the city of Mexico, as the invariable practice of the Mexican government in this particular. The excitement against foreigners in the southern mines has subsided, and assassinations have almost wholly ceased. 1 Business, hitherto backward, has given some indications of improvement. Emigrants continue to arrive in large numbers, and generally in great destitution. Meetings have been held in all the principal towns for the purpose of affording relief, and trains have started with provisions to succor the wayfarers. It is probable that the proceeds of the collections made will be sufficient to relieve the distress in a great measure. Schleswig Holstein armies, resulting slightly in favor of the latter. HESSE CASSEL.-The Germans were occupied, last week, with the sudden and precipitate flight of the Prince of Hesse Cassel. Disputes having occurred between the Prince and the Chamber, as to his right to impose taxes without the consent of the latter, and the people having obtained the sanction of the legal tribunals to their resistance of the illegal taxes imposed by the government, the Prince found the place too hot to hold him, and fled. The Hessiery appears to be getting on very well without the Elector and his infatuated ministers, and it is said to be probable that other States will shortly follow their example. AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA.-These countries are view ing the outbreak in Hesse Cassel with no little anxiety. It is said that Austria will take sides with the Elector. MISCELLANEOUS -Considerable excitement exists throughout the North on the subject of the Fugitive Slave Bill, passed at the last session of Congress. Great numbers of fugitives from oppression have left the States for Canada. In a number of places, the colored people have held meetings, and have adopted resolutions expressing their determination to remain where they are, and to resist all attempts to re-enslave them, at the cost of their lives, if need be. Meetings of the inhabitants generally, have also been held in various places, at which resolutions have been adopted condemning the bill in the strongest terms, and announcing the determination to resist it at all hazards. REPORT OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE RELIEF OF SICK CHILDREN. The acting committee of the "Annual Association for the Relief of Sick Children, in the Summer Season." having concluded their labors for the season, offer the following summary of their proceedings to the Association: Application was made, as usual, to most of the Physicians who were interested in aiding us last summer, together with several others, all of whom readily consented again to render us assistance, by recommending to different members of the comFOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.-The steamship Cam-mittee such sick children as came under their care, bria arrived at Halifax on the 3d inst., bringing Liverpool papers to the 21st ult. It is asserted that arrangements are on foot be tween Spain on one side, and England, France and Holland on the other, by which Spain, on condition of having Cuba protected by the joint action of those powers, engages to pay the debt due by her to England and to French and Dutch creditors. FRANCE. The President returned to Paris on the 19th ult. Some of his friends have begun to agitate the question of allowing him another 3,000,000 francs for his personal expenditures, but the proposition meets with little favor. Of the whole number of 85 provincial councils, 49 passed resolutions in favor of the revision of the constitution, with the view, as is understood, of prolonging the powers of the President. Of the 36 others, only twelve passed resolutions decidedly adverse to the proposed change. DENMARK AND THE DUCHIES.-Some skirmishing had taken place between the Danish and the whom they believed would be benefitted by excursions on railroads or steamboats, and whom they deemed suitable objects of this charity. We have had under care during the season, 70 children, and have distributed for their benefit 319 steamboat, 20 Germantown railroad, and 52 omnibus tickets; and some have been furnished with articles of clothing, arrowroot, medicine, etc. Several who were under care died, but a considerable number of the cases are reported as benefitted or recovered-and we think there is encouragement for us to continue our efforts. Though the relief afforded is not very extensive, yet we believe that as the Association becomes more known, the applications will increase. In addition to the above, there were 76 Red Bank tickets furnished to the "Children's Home," which appear to have been gratefully received, and we believe were beneficial to a number of the children under care of that benevolent institution. SARAH ALLEN, Secretary. FRIENDS' REVIEW. VOL. IV. A RELIGIOUS, LITERARY AND MISCELLANEOUS JOURNAL PHILADELPHIA, TENTH MONTH 19, 1850, EDITED BY ENOCH LEWIS. -. Published Weekly by Josiah Tatum, Price two dollars per annum, payable in advance, or six copies for ten dollars. This paper is subject to newspaper postage only. For Friends Review. NO. 5. the theory and practice of Teaching. It is proposed, in order to render the information contained in this volume more generally accessible to the readers of the Review, to insert extracts from it, selecting those topics which appear likely to interest the greater number of them. We select for our first extract, the following statement of the principles upon which one of the correspondents "endeavors to act in the government of the boys under his care," taken from the report of the Committee on Moral Discipline. C. In the year 1837, an Association of Friends, "It has always appeared to me, that if the interested in the work of education, was organized ultimate object of school discipline were the at Ackworth, England, "for the purpose of col- maintenance of external order merely, it would lecting facts and observations, illustrative of the be most perfectly attained by a system of coerbest means of conducting the religious, moral, cion, by a law of fear:-a reference to military literary, and physical education of youth in our discipline may suffice to prove the complete efSociety; with a particular reference to the state ficiency of such a system, for such an object. of the public and private schools." The meet- But I do not think it comports with a Christian ings of the Association are held annually, at the education, to make a school consist of a series of time of the general meeting for Ackworth school, living machines, in which the great moving on which occasions many Friends usually assem-power is authority, acting upon the fears. Our A Standing Committee charged with the immediate management of the Society's affairs, meets quarterly; and correspondents, selected from various parts of Great Britain, communicate with this committee, and are at liberty to attend its meetings. object I conceive is to form character; to model At the annual meetings, special committees are nominated for various topics of inquiry, such as religious instruction, moral discipline, the experience of Friends on the subject of education, statistics, &c. The reports of these committees contain the results of their inquiries in reference to the practice of the several schools under the care of Friends, and the general conclusions at which the committee's correspondents have arrived. In reference to some topics the judgment of the committee is stated, with the reason-acting the most implicit obedience. ing on which it is founded, while in other cases, the report is limited to a brief exposition of the different opinions which have been elicited by the inquiries addressed to teachers, without any expression of the committee's views on the subject discussed. These reports are printed, and those published up to the year 1845, having been collected, form a volume containing much valuable statistical information, as well as interesting discussions upon important points in reference to "The law therefore which I endeavour, feebly and imperfectly I confess, to bring into operation, is the law of love-it is my desire that love may form the very texture of my discipline; the ground-work and superstructure of my system. Experience abundantly assures me, that the more completely this is wrought out in practice; and the more the child sees and feels in our daily conduct toward him, that this is our mainspring of action, the more absolute is the influ ence we gain over him. I would not exchange this influence, for all the power which the sternness of authority could give me. "I would not be understood to advocate or to practice laxity of discipline; rules must be enforced; the will must in the first place be subjected. I would insist upon this as of the first importance the child must be taught to submit, I had almost said in faith: he must feel that our power, as it respects himself, is absolute. Whether I think proper to explain my reasons for any particular measure or not, I always expect the boys to be willing to yield to what is required, without knowing why and without asking a question. A schoolmaster's government must, in a certain sense, be despotic; but he must administer it as one that must give account, and as being himself subject to a superior law, which exacts from him a mild sway of his power, and enjoins upon us all 'not to provoke our children to wrath, but to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.' "I regard it as a point of great importance, for a teacher to ascertain the exact position relatively to the children, in which his personal influence upon them is most powerful. I think my own has been in descending so nearly to their level, that they may easily reach me; and yet to keep so much above it, as in no degree to compromise that respect which is essential to the relation. The responsibility of influence is really awful; our influence, as teachers, cannot but be great; our actions, our words, our manner, our very looks, are all important; and may be moulding the sentiments and habits of our pupils to an extent of which we may be little aware: its operation may not always be.very obvious; but its effects are like the leaven spoken of in the parable, if not in degree, at least in kind. It is, however, often apparent; and it is very instructive to observe its workings-Father says so,' 'Mother does so,' is an argument of paramount authority, with an artless child. On this principle, I disallow myself many little things, unobjectionable for me, but not suitable for the children, when I think it probable they will not see the reasonableness of the distinction; and I find it materially seconds my efforts in maintaining good discipline. Children like to have confidence placed in them; and as like produces its like, so does a disposition to trust them; an unwillingness to suspect or call in question, without very satisfactory reasons, calls forth in the minds of boys, a confidence in their teachers, which I have found exceedingly valuable as a moral power. "Next to personal influence, I have found few things contribute more to the efficacy of sound discipline, than the uniform administration of it. I have seen teachers of good abilities, who, from being unfixed in their principles, and fickle in their plans, sometime lax and lenient, at others, strict and severe,-have made but little head' against the current of untoward dispositions, and reckless habits, and stubborn wills, by which they have been opposed: whilst an inferior system, administered with equable pressure,' has proved incomparably more influential. "I have heard of a few well-conducted schools, in which the managers profess to discard all the restraints of punishment, and all the stimuli of rewards, and appeal exclusively to the highest considerations. I must acknowledge, however, that in carrying out my principles, whilst endeavouring to govern by the law of kindness, and to keep in active exercise the highest and best of motives, I have not been so successful. I have needed the aid of both punishments and rewards. I regard the fear of punishments as one of the lowest influences of which moral discipline admits. Much depends upon previous training: we have often a great deal to undo: much depends also upon the character and temperament of a child, and much upon the nature of the offence. "I like a boy to perceive, if possible, the connexion between his fault, and the privation which ensues. Thus, he quarrels with his schoolfellows; he is, by confinement, separated from them: he neglects his lessons; he must perform them in play hours:- he wastes his food:-he is put on short allowance :-he is guilty of a breach of truth, or of trust; his punishment includes a marked withdrawal of confidence, &c., &c. Few punishments appear to me more salutary than solitary confinement, rendered more or less irksome, according to circumstances; and always accompanied by suitable and serious advice. To corporal punishment, as of common occurrence, I entertain strong objections:-it may, perhaps, be a short mode of disposing of a case of disorder; but it generally entails more evil than it cures. I consider it allowable, but seldom expedient; and have only had recourse to it in a very few rare instances; and these, for the most part, where previous bad management had rendered it needful: its efficacy depends on its infrequency. The good effect of punishment depends greatly on the tact of the teacher, and on the mode and temper in which it is administered. For my own part, I find it needful to maintain a strict watch, or the continual exercise of authority, imperceptibly induces a magisterial tone and air; a sternness and severity of manner, which are very repulsive to children, and are sure to do harm. Another point of importance, in my apprehension, and one in which I have known teachers, with whom I have been connected, miss it greatly, is a sympathy with the circumstances of children. Unless we enter into feeling with them in their little trials, and troubles, and temptations, there will of necessity be a lack of that tenderness and consideration in our dealings with them, without which punishment or reproof, too frequently hardens and aggravates. I recur with pain to instances in which I have myself inflicted injury by an abrupt rebuke, or an unconcerned off-hand mode of administering punishment, which might have been entirely avoided by the exercise of a little of this sympathy. It should extend also to their sports and enjoyments. "The greatest difficulty I have felt in regard to punishment, has been in reference to those numerous minor offences against order, &c., which will occur; and in a large school especially, must be repressed. Marks, tickets, numbers, or whatever other similar mode may be adopted, as most convenient, for noticing and recording such delinquencies, all have their difficulties and objections: but I have not seen how to dispense with something of the kind. Perhaps, in small schools, they may not be needed. I prefer a well-arranged ticket system; the state of a boy's register being frequently brought under review. "My experience does not enable me to speak very favourably of the effect of periodical rewards. I find them more difficult of equitable administration than punishments; inasmuch as these are taken as offences occur, while those are awarded for good conduct in bulk. The benefits of them with us have not been very obvious: and yet I am not quite prepared to discard them altogether. I think that with great care and discretion, they may be brought into good service, particularly with younger children. One of my difficulties has been how altogether to avoid awarding them on the principle of comparative merit, which I think is an unsound basis; and another has been how to dissociate the idea of prizes being earned:-to be really useful they must be given as a mark of approbation, and received as an incitement to future perseverance. "I think emulation, though it may be difficult to regulate, is admissible under strict limitations; and I do not know a single school, where, however it has been declaimed against in theory, I have not seen it more or less brought into operation. Perhaps teachers differ as to the definition of the term. I regard it simply as a desire to imitate what is excellent in others; and to be stimulated, by their example, to press more earnestly forward towards its attainment. I have not observed any ill effects, (except incidental,) produced by bringing this kind of emulation into exercise, under proper checks to pre vent its abuse. "We sometimes, and not unfrequently, take advantage of the occurrence of some circumstance of general interest to the scholars, to operate on the mass. A short address to the whole school, clear and close to the point, is decidedly useful. I find it difficult to be sufficiently concise; and if we weary the children, we probably destroy all benefit. "I have found great good to result from cherishing a tender attachment to home and its endearments; a reference to parental advice, and particularly to the care of pious mothers, had not unfrequently gained access to the better feelings of a child, when his heart has not been so open to other considerations. With this object in view, I endeavour to maintain a very free intercourse with parents respecting their children, when I have reason to believe it may be advantageously done. "But of all the means I have adopted to restrain and influence my charge, none have been so effectual in the maintenance of moral discipline, or in making durably good impressions on the children's minds, as well-timed, serious, private conversations. I repeat well-timed; for though I not only seek these opportunities, but try to promote them, I am sensible harm rather than benefit will result, if they are obtruded when the heart is not fitted to receive them. But in those favourable moments, when the soil has been prepared, and I have endeavoured to speak the truth in love, many have been the occasions which I remember, with thankfulness and instruction; and in reference to which, though I speak it humbly, I could say with Solomon, 'A word spoken in due season, how good is it.'" BORAX LAGOONS OF TUSCANY. We are without information on many points connected with the population of those districts, to throw light on which it would be necessary to institute fresh investigations on the spot. The lagoons are usually excavated by labourers from Lombardy, who wander southward in search of employment in those months of the year during which the Apennines are covered with snow. They do not, however, remain to be employed in the business of manufacture. This is carried on by native Tuscan labourers, who occupy houses, often spacious and well built, in the neighbourhood of the evaporating pans. They are in nearly all cases married men, and are enabled to maintain themselves and their families on the comparatively humble wages of a Tuscan lira a day. It would have been satisfactory to know the number of the Lombard navigators from time to time employed in excavating the lagoons, as well as of the native labourers, who carry on operations after their departure; but we may with certainty infer the successive appearance of fresh soffioni on the sides of the mountains from the perpetually-recurring necessity of excavating new lagoons. Again, from the immense increase of borax produced in former times we may safely infer its increase in future. quantity obtained was quadrupled in four years by superior methods of extraction, by economy of water and vapour, and other improvements suggested by experience. There can, therefore, be no doubt in our minds that similar improvements will produce similar results. In 1832, about 650,000 Tuscan pounds were obtained; in 1836, 2,500,000. The We quote the following suggestion from the ob |