The first column of figures has reference to the pages of the text;-and the second 1. THE following work has been tinction; and, in this country espewritten for the use of Schools and cially, such pursuit is deemed honourFamilies, as well as for miscellaneousable, and, in fact, indispensable to a readers. It embraces a class of sub-reputable position in the community. jects in which every individual is 3. Nevertheless, it is a fact that candeeply interested, and with which, as not have escaped the attention of pera mere philosophical inspector of the sons of observation, that many inaffairs of men, he should become ac-dividuals mistake their appropriate quainted. 2. They, however, challenge attention by considerations of greater moment than mere curiosity: for, in the present age, a great proportion of mankind pursue some kind of business as means of subsistence or dis calling, and engage in employments for which they have neither mental nor physical adaptation: some learn a trade, who should have studied a profession; others study a profession who should have learned a trade. Hence arise, in a great measure, the ill success, and discontent which so composed of many faculties both of frequently attend the pursuits of men. | the intellectual and the animal kinds, 4. For these reasons, parents should be particularly cautious in the choice of permanent employments for their children; and, in every case, capacity should be especially regarded, without paying much attention to the comparative favour in which the several employments may be held; for, a successful prosecution of an humble business is far more honourable than inferiority or a failure in one which may be greatly esteemed. and the reasoning faculties were originally designed by the creator to have the ascendency. In the present moral condition of man, however, they do not commonly maintain their right of precedence. This failure arises from imbecility, originating, in part, from a deficiency in judicious cultivation, and from the superior strength of the passions. 8. This condition is particularly conspicuous in youth, and shows it5. To determine the particular ge- self in disobedience to parents, and in nius of children, parents should give various other aberrations from moral them, at least, a superficial knowledge || duty. If, therefore, parents would have of the several trades and professions. their children act a reasonable part, To do this effectually, a systematic while in their minority, and, also, after course of instruction should be given they have assumed their stations in not only at the family fireside and in || manhood, they must pursue a course the school-room, but also at places of early instruction calculated to sewhere practical exhibitions of the cure the ascendency of the reasoning several employments may be seen. faculties. These means, together with a com- 9. The subjects for instruction best petent literary education and some adapted to the cultivation of the young tools and other facilities for mechan- mind are the common things with ical operations, can scarcely fail of which we are surrounded. This is furnishing clear indications of intel- || evident from the fact, that it uniformly lectual bias. expands with great rapidity under their influence during the three or four first years of life: for it is from them, children obtain all their ideas, as well as a knowledge of the language by which they are expressed. 6. The course just proposed is not only necessary to a judicious choice of a trade or profession, but also as means of intellectual improvement: and as such it should be pursued, at all events, even though the choice of an employment were not in view. 7. We are endowed with a nature 10. The rapid progress of young children in the acquisition of knowledge often excites the surprise of pa rents of observation, and the fact that their improvement is almost imperceptible after they have attained to the age of four or five years is equally surprising. Why, it is often asked, do || not children continue to advance in knowledge with equal and increased rapidity, especially, as their capabilities increase with age? garded in this light, our schools would now present a far more favourable aspect, and we should have been farther removed from the ignorance and the barbarism of the middle ages. 14. Were this view of education generally adopted, teachers would soon find, that the business of communicating instructions to the young has been changed from an irksome to a pleasant task; since their pupils will have become studious and 11. The solution of this question is not difficult. Children continue to improve, while they have the means of doing so; but having acquired a intellectual, and consequently more knowledge of the objects within their || capable of comprehending explana Such a reach, at least, so far as they may be tions upon every subject. capable at the time, their advancement course would also be attended with must consequently cease. It is hardly the incidental advantage of good connecessary to remark, that the march || duct on the part of pupils, inasmuch of mind might be continued with in- as the elevation of the understanding creased celerity, were new objects or over the passions uniformly tends to subjects continually presented. this result. 15. For carrying into practice a system of intellectual education, the fol 12. In supplying subjects for mental improvement, as they may be needed at the several stages of advancement,||lowing work supplies as great an there can be but little difficulty; since we are surrounded by works both of nature and of art. In fact, the same subjects may be presented several times, and, at each presentation, instructions might be given adapted to the particular state of improvement in the pupil. 13. Instructions of this nature need never interfere injuriously with those on the elementary branches of education; although the latter would undoubtedly be considered of minor importance. Had they been always re amount of materials as can be embodied in the same compass. Every article may be made the foundation of one lecture or more, which might have reference not only to the particular subject on which it treats, but also to the meaning and application of the words. 14. The articles have been concisely written, as must necessarily be the case in all works embracing so great a variety of subjects. This particular trait, however, need not be considered objectionable, since all |