The National Register. — London, England, 1816-07-29 00:00:00

Dt No. 442.—V0L. IX. POLITICAL DISQUISITION. ON GENERAL EDUCATION. Wlett constitutes a state? Not 4cd battlerinnt, or labouid-mound, tho tte.p trench profound : But Man, high-minded Man." A AUBJECT so important and interesting as National rduc.ltion, cannot be an improper one for the remarks of a Politititl Disvisitor. We feel, too, that there is some thing in it that. excites in us sensations the most plea surable ; and, if the delightful views which our minds have tisrmed to themselves on this question should never be fully realised, yet we shall never regret the enjoyment we have experienced. Not long ago, " wars anti rumours of wars" were the dreadful subjects of our contemplation ; and, though " our cause was just, and our quarrel ho.. nourable,"—yea, though our country has be.m honoured by a most perfect triumph, and has received back her colours from the same valiant hands into which they were delivered, yet there is something of dread anti terror -connected with such seasons, which even these pleasing considerations cannot wholly efface from our minds.— Thank God, an honouruble peace has at last been pro .eured for us ; and these pages, which not long ago were stained with blood, shall resound with the sweet warh lings of the communication of that instruction - to every British youth, which Cicero beautifully describes as " the ornament of preiperity, the refuge and solace of adversity, the best nourishment of youth, and the noblest pleasure of age." Whether this knowledge should be communicated or not ; whether our young people should pine away their joyless seasons like brutes, or lire honourable and useful lives like men—like free men ; whether they should be furnished in early fife with the principles of virtue to do- fend them from the seducing artifices of a wicked world, or be left to suck down the seeds of vice with their mo ther's milk—to live the plagues and pestilences of society, and, finally, to end their lives in a jail, or on a gibbet ? These are qwstions, on which, we believe, there is now no dispute. The high authorities of our pure and holy church, together with the great ministers of the Crown, and almost cve:-v member of our well organised Govern ment, are agreed that there is no means so likely to check the progress of crime—to induce subordination among the lower ranks of society—and, consequently, to pro mote public peace anti prosperity, as a general diffusion of the blessings of education. With such sentiments on our minds, it is impossible that we should refuse our mite of applause to the wisdom of the legislature, in instituting an enquiry on this subject ; and, especially, to that en lightened individual who first su-estei the investi gation. If, however, any among our readers should doubt of the wisdom of educating the poor, let them take a view of the state of Scotland, and this view shall decide the question. There the poor can read, and yet are honest : they can write, and yet are loyal : they can calculate, and yet arc virtuous. By the wise and salutary diffusion of education, even in parts which appear to he impenetra ble to civilization, upon the sides of frightful mountains, or in dismal glens seldom visited by the rays of Heaven, the astonished and admiring traveller behelds a sight, at once gratifying and affecting, "In a hut of brunches and sods," (says Sir John Carr), " When the hour of la bour is over, the young, enlightened by those institu tions which do honour to human nature, arc seen instruct ing those who are younger, or consoling the last hours of venerable and sightless age, by reading aloud the Scrip tures, or some pious book printed in their own language ; yet, in this sorry dwelling, the benighted traveller nuty rest in safety, amid howling storm and roaring thunder ; not a hand will be extended to him, but in kindness; not a voice will be raised, but to charm his ear with the song of other times; or, if he understands the language, to store his mind with the wild, romantic, and beautiful effusions of the Gaelic muse." Such are the happy effects of the general difinsion of the blessings of education in this country, that while in England one commitment takes place in 52000 souls, and in Wales one in 800, our more month countrymen north of the Tweed afford an example of only one in '2 0,0 0 . But it i 4 I not in Scotland only that we may look for the advantages of education. The history of every country :fiords the same example ; Europe, in parti cular, teaches the same truth in a manner more fiircible. what, but to the influence of education, are we in &Med for our boasted superiority and civilization ? Why do we no longer behold around us the horrors of ferocious 'barbarians. or degrading superstitions ; the impious scones ofidulatry, and the afflicting tuiscrius of unntitlgated sla t ationalt ttitittr+ Our titno, eonOitution anb 3Lai3o. MONDAY, JULY 51.9, 1816. very ; the ravages of merciless cruelty, or the outrage of ungoverned lust ; altars stained with human gore, or funerals resounding with the groans of butchered gladia tors? It is, because, at the commanding aspect of sci ence, these abominations vanishedfrom the earth.—Why are inftnts no longer exposed to capricious destruction from ur&eling parents ? Why .re parents now secure fr.an the snares and the murdering designs of ambitious sans? Why is the wife now respected in her ago; and, not, us formerly, dismissed to make mom for the seducing wanton, or tortured with the insolence of rival concu bines ? What has exalted the whole female sex to re spectability, to deference, and to love ? Without a question, it is the light of learning. It was this that first taught men to abhor these abuses; and it is this that still restrains the most unworthy from relapsing into such enormities. What has mitigated tie horrors of war—civilized the manners of nations—attempered the power of the great—and exalted the condition of the poor ? It is the same cause. If these are the effects of learning in its indirect influence, what wonderful bene fits would it produce if it were extended to every indi vidual.--flow greatly would it check the progress of crime I How greatly would it increase the sum of civil and domestic happiness ! FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. —..5,-- AFRICA. By fresh adviccs from the Gold Coast, it appears, that Gen. Daendels, Governor in Chief of the Dutch Forts in that country, has been surveying the River Ancobar, and has reported to his Government the expediency and practicability of acquiring land by purchase of the natives at a very low price ; and has recommended that extensive purchases should be made with a view to convert the same into plantations of cottou and coffee, and that he has already made considerable progreat in clearing the land of wood, &c. The General further states, that the River Ancobar is navigable ns far as the centre of the Dinkiva country, the first province of the King of Ashantee; and he adds, that it is certain that this River was navigable in the time of Rosman. The General then refers to ancient Dutch maps copied from the Portuguese, to show that formerly the Portuguese bad several Establishments on the Ancobar, at which were convents of Monks and Chris tian Churches, above 40 leagues in the interior of the country. The General suggests, that were the English and Dutch to agree - to establish forts on each side of the River, with the consent of the King of Ashantec, not only might the whole commerce of that country be attracted, but also that of the country on this side of Long Mountains. The expense of such a project to the Governments the General thinks would not exceed 10,0001. sterling; as he conceives the -King of Ashantec would supply a number of work men to carry wood, stones, and lime, of which there is an abundance in the neighbourhood. --.1181..---- AMERICA. The last arrival of American Papers stated, that there had been a arcatiftil Jim -as between Judge Randolph, Col. Greenhill, and a Mr. T. Wells, Delegate fur Not toway. The following extract front Wells's statement in the Richmond Virginia Amuse gives the particulars of the affray :—.lfter stating that he was walking in his gar den with his funny on the 89th of Max', and that he then discovered the Judge's servant, with three horses stand ing in front of the house, and believing " that he was about to be attacked by more persons than one, seeing CoL Greenhill's horse with the Judge's, Mr. Wells in forms us that he retired to his house to prepare for his defence ; and thus proceeds when I arrived at Ilse front door of the room now alluded to, I discovered the Judge 30 or 40 yard; in soy trout ; it was my wish to have seen where Col. Greenlai was, bust the Judge seeing sue in the door, immediately advanced in a direct line. with Isis eyes fixed steadily on in.. IMk ...veers, that Ire had ll Whip Wilts sr thi/114 to it, in hit left Imi4- he placed his right hand either in the bosom pocket of Isis t, tor in his bosom, inside of his waistcoat. so soon as he had Ali% anced within 15 or 09 paera of me, I stepped back with rev left foot behind my right and prepast.d for defence.---lt hen the Judge advance's] to the steps ot she piazza, he mule no hats and sshcn he com menced ascending the steps, I asked him it to meant to Attack me its my own house ; to which he made last with his eves fixed on lily face, step:sell Usti. the plazzr . , Where he halt ed within less an to set at which pier bee 1111111 l poet d speaking, taking his whip and drawing his band (which I pre• some was on Isis pistol) all sit the 11IAP. SO won as he c 1111 l menced these motions and Ape akitig, I drew my pistol (scatty corked) and tired as quiekly as pomade—no I have al reads. stated, he was ise lv , s than Its fret ohnc, w hich rendered It nei iiecessiii, to take right. His wordsolorto he commeucest his motions for attack, w ere these—' Are vim the damn's, tits. cal that; and at the word' that,' the fire of soy pistol stopped his speech, Lacb of my pilau's was charged with two bails, PRICE 91d. and one struck the Judge's wrist, which ha% inn; impeded the force of the ball, it did not penetrate smartly into his breast, but tell hack on the floor.—The Judge. after a short and silent pause, turned, staggered out, and fell 13 yard. from the d ar n; but some time before he WI, I stepped into the piazza, near midway, between the house door and the piazza door, when I discovered Colonel Greenhill advancing rapidly towards the Judge. Col. Grenbill advanced to the Judge, made a small pause, something passed between them whieh I did not db... tinctly understand, and he immediately left the Judge, and ad vanced towards me. I instantly made ready n ith my second pistol,llllll when he had advanced within four yards of the step', to the piazza, I addressed him in these words -- 4 And have I cot to fight with you too'—when he made me no answer, but advanced to the foot of the steps. He wag then within If► tact of me, or less, with kis eyes fixed on my face, and, as 'The bes°, about to draw a pistol; when, considering myself nut bound to wait any longer, I drew, aimed at his head, and fired. Col. Greenhill staggered and fell, with his head off from the door, where, in struggling to rise, he bled considerably." Wells adds in his justification, "he (Judge Randolph) was found 1 .1 yards from my door, armed with tinir pis tole ; and Col. Greenhill's blood was only flair yards from my door, and he armed with a pistol and a dirk." The Paper from which this ex-parle account is taken says, the prospect of Judge Randolph's recovering is hap pily increasing. Col. Greenhill is stated to be entirely out of danger. A dreadful calamity has been experienced at Raleigh, in America. Upwards of 50 houses have been destroyed by tire, supposed to be the work of incendiaries. The loss sustained is supposed to exceed 100,000 dollars. The project of a National Bank meets with little encou ragement. The subscription-books have not vet been opened. The PoriNuunith Oracle is venting bitter Phi lippics against it ; and the Nero Turk Post is re-echoing them. It is denominated a child of the Government, produced by its own desires—unsupported by a single tition for its establishment from any portion of the ea ple. The American Papers have letters from Paris, speculating strongly on the probability of a war between England on one side, and Russia, Prussia, and the Ne therlands on the other. These letters assert, that the Bourbons are sending money to America. —.a.- • SOUTH AMERICA. A Daily Paper has published the following :—We have received letters from Barbadoes of the I tith ult. containing some details respecting the war in South Ame rica. On both sides the war has aisumed the most hor rid character—Extermination seems to be the ruling aim of both Royalists and Independents; and if the strug gle he long continued not a white man will be left in the Southern Continent to contend for the dominion. `With great grief we state, that in the beginning of last month several row-boats, manned by Royalists, lauded on the little island of Pato, near the northern Bocas, in the en trance into the Gulph of Paria, and which Mongs to England, and robbed, plundered, and murdered a great part of the inhabitants, on the charge of being Patriots. Among other refinements of the Spaniards. in their treat ment of these unfortunate people, they put seven of them to death by crucifixion. Yes, crucified &wee Er.itiAh set. jells, and by other means put to death all that fell into their hands ! We simjoin a letter from our countrym an . Kellwood Hyslop, Esq. one of the British subject., whit unfortunately fell into the hands of the Ilovali.ts on the capture of Carthagena. This Gent,l e man is n ow at kini.rston, Jamaica :—" You have heard, no doubt. of my arrest and imprisonment et Carthagena by Moral(); but you can have no idea of the treatment I recoived. I was unthrtnnate in being too late in getting ink hoard at the evacuation : and on the 7th of December I watt thrown into the Inquisition, where I rm.:steed two months without any communication at all, undtwo more in a miserable state of suspense. Poor Stuart was shot, with Augniana, Takao, M. Amador, Porrocarrera, bon, Castillo, Ayos, and De Gremlins, on the :t4th February ; and, but for the •iiiterecssZon of the Admiral, I was to have been the tenth victim on that day. Se that, ud of being triad by a mock Court-martial, I was tried by a civil process and miracalons:y autptifted. I left Carthagena on tlie'27th if April, at Whidltillletheret 1111 N -a general silence in town, it was whispered that his progress was not so rapid as he expected.—Santa Fe of course had not fallen. , The General Congress was at Tunja. ardl since the execution of Amada and itlbbon. who had surrendered under a promised pardon, the in terior spirit had resolved to defend itself to the Inst. riles with two battalions of Caraccas troops, had mara ed fiw Venezuela, when meters %%sere changed touch against Ferdinand ; so that Moral() has AM more ti t = about 3000 men with him.—Carthagena is garrisoned by the regiment of Leon, about 650 effeetivk and non-ef fective, (and I may add, disaffected men, from the walla