The National Register. — London, England, 1816-07-28 00:00:00

rt, br tia No. 1-12.—VoL. IX. POLITICAL DISQUISITION. ON GENERAL EDUCATION. " What constitutes a state? Not high-raiscd hattlement, or labour'd.mound, Or this deep trench profound : But Man, - high-minded M.tn." A SITIIJECT NO important and interesting as National Education, cannot be an improper one for the remarks of a Political Disquisitor. 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 formed to themselves on this question should never be fully realised, yet we shall never regret the enjoyment we have experienced. Not long ago, " wars and 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 been 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 and terror connected with such seasons, which even these pleasing considerations cannot wholly efface from our minds.— Thank God, an honourable peace has at last been pro. cured tar us ; and these pages, which not long ago were stained with blood, shall resound with the sweet warb- Logs of the communication of that instruction to every British youth, which Cicero beautifully describes as " ornament of prosperity, the refuge and solace ofadver sie , 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 live bonourible and useful lives like men—like free men ; whether they should be furnished in early life with the principles of virtue to de 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 ? church, together with the great ministers of the Crown, and almost every 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 and prosperity, KS a general diftiision 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 suggested 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 vet arc 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 be impenetra ble to civilization, up , m the sides of frightful mountains, or in dismal glens seldom visited by the rays of Heaven, the astonished and admiring traveller beholds a sight, at once gratifying and affecting, "In a hut of' branches and vas," (says Sir John Carr), " when the hour of la bour ix over, the younf, enlightened by those institu tions wbigh do Iftmear to human nature, are 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 may rest in mtfety, 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 understuds the language, to store his It3itfM ttith the wild ttottantie, and ueautiful c.litsions of the Gaelic muse. &iclr arc the happy effects of the general diftlision of the bierings td' education in this country, that while in England due ctommitment takes place in 2000 souls, and in Wales one in 800, our more moral countrymen north of the Tweed afford an example of only one in '20,000. Bur it is not in Scotland only ,that we may look for the advantages of education. The history of every country affords the same example; and Europe, in parti cular, teachtitt the same troth in a manner more fiweilde. To what, but to the influence of education, are we in debted our boasted superiority and civilization ? Why . 41 w we no longer hehbld around us the horrors of krocious Itobarians or &walling superstitions ; the impious scenes 'idolatry, and the afflicting luiacrios of unmitigated - nal( Ur Our Unto, Oonfititution anb 3Lab36. t otliNt 6 •4 l , SUNDAY, JULY 28, 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, dive abominations vanished from the earth.—Why are infants no longer exposed to capricious destruction from unfeeling parents? Why arc parents now secure from the snares and the murdering designs of ambitious sons? Why is the wife now respected in her age; and, not, as formerly, dismissed to make room 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 the 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.—How greatly would it cheek the progress of crime ! How greatly would it increase the sum of civil and dome tic. happiness ! -El GS INTELLIGENCE. AFRICA. By fresh advises i'rim the Gold Coast, it appears, that Gen. Dae) , 'elsh governor in Chief of the Dutch Forts in that counts . •..ss been surveying the River Ancobar, and has repc ) 'ils Ctovernment the expediency- and practicability qtaring land by purchase of thenat ivcs at a very low price ; and has recommended that extensive purchases should be made with a view to convert the same into plantations of cotton and coffee, and that he has already made considerable prog res s in clearing the land of wood , &c. The General further states, that the River 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 had several Establishments on the Ancobnr, at which were convents of Monks and Chris tian Churches, above 40 leagues in the interior of the country. The Gnneral 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 Ashantee, 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 Ashantce would supply a number of work men to carry wood, stones, and lime, of which there is an abundance in the neighbourhood. AMERICA. - - - - The last arrival of American Papers stated, that there had been K dreadful fracas between Judge Randolph, Col. Greenhill, and a Mr. T. Wells, Delegate tbr Not toway. The following extract from Wells's statement in the Richmond firginsa Argus gives the particulars of the alliay :—A fter stating that he was walking in his gar den with his family on the '29th of May, 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 finms us that he retired to his house to prepare fiir his defence ; and thus proceeds :- 4 6 When I arrived at the front door of the room now alluded to, I discovered the Jndge 30 or 40 yards in my front : it was my wish to have seen where Col. Greenhill was, hut the Judge seeing mime in time door, immesliatziy advanced in a direct line, with his eyes fixed steadily on me. I discovered that he had a ebip with a thong to it, its his KR hand—he piaced his right hand either in the bosom pocket of his coat, or in his bosom, inside of his waistcoat. No soon as he hxd advanced within 13 or 00 pares of me, I stepped back with my :etl foot behind my right and prepared for defence.—When the Judge ',thawed to the steps of the plasm, he made no hall ; and when he COM- Melletli ascending the steps, I asked him if he meant to atteek me in my Own house; to which he made no reck, but with h's eyes fixed on my face, stepned into the piar7a, whs. r" he ilAt.• eft within less than 10 feet of me, at w tacit Wars- he coonnonced speaking, raising his whip and drawing his hand (which I pre- some was on Hs pistol ) all at the same time. So soon as he cannuenecd these motions und speaking, I drew my pistol (ready cocked) and tired as quirksy as possible—as I have al- ready stated, he s:as in tem than tell feet of ms., which rendered it mot necessary to take sight. His words when he eommtneed lIIN motsom tir attack, were these—' Are yon the damo'd ras cal that,' and at the semi-! t/tray the fire of my pistol stopped hi. speech. £.ce jikv pisuili Ivo chased with two b411". 1 ' - a:' •': - • ( ,S : - .\ 11 k PRICE fl id, Ili one struck the Judge's wrist, "Awl having impeded the toe ce of the ball, it did not penetrate unto ray into his bream, hut fell hack on the door.-- -The Judge, after a slinrt and silent peeve, turned, staggered out, and fell 1 t yards from the door bit some time before he tell, I stepped into the idatira, near •oidway, between the house door and the piar.ea door, when I discovered Colonel Grecididl adiancir.g rapidly towards the j n a ge . Col . Grenhill ed.:weed to the lodge ' made a small puma., something I.aesed between them whi c h I did not dis tinetly audcnlauJ, and he immediately left the Judge, and ad. yawed towards me. 1 instantly made ready widi my second pistol, and when he haul advanced within four yards of the steps to Cu , :Mazza, I addressed him in these words—. And lave I rot to tight with you too'—wheu he made roe no a:.swer, bat ad 'anew, to the toot of the steps. lie was then witiiiii to feet clime, or less, with his eves fixed on my face. and, as l Le. here, about to draw a pistoi: when, considering myself not bound to uait any longer, I drew, Rimed at hi, head. and thud. Col. Greenhill staggered and fell, slid' his head mitt from the door, where, in struggling to rise, lie bled considerably." Wells adds in his justification, "he (Judge Randolph) was found 14 yards flan my door, armed with four pis thls ; and Col. Greenhill's blood was only four yards from my door, and he armed with a pistol and at dirk." The Paper from which this ez-na-te account is tudcett says, the prospect of Judge Randolph's recovering is hap pily increasing. Col. Greealiill 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 fire, supposed to be the work of incendiaries. The loss sustained is supposed to exceed l 00,000 dollars. The project of a National Bank meets with little encou ragonicnt. The subscription-books have not yet been opened. The Portsmouth Oracle is venting bitter PM lippics against it ; and the Nov York Post is re-echoing them. It is denominated a child of the Government, produced by its own desires—unsupported by a single po tition for its establishment from any portion of the Pea. pie. 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 11. SOUTIf AMERICA. A Daily Paper has published the following :—We have received letters from Barbadoes of the 18th ult. containing sonic details respecting the war in South Arne-. rica. On both sides the war has assumed the most hor rid character—Extermination seems to be the ruling aim of both Royalists and Independents; and if the styli-. gle be long continued not a white man will b e l e f t i u 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, landed on the little island of Pato, near the northern Baas, in the en trance into the Gulph of Paria, and which belongs 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, went of these unfortunate people, they put seven of them to death by crucifixion. Yes, CniCifif;i sever British auG jeds, mid by other means put to death all that tell into .their hands ! We subjoin a letter from our countryman. Kellwood Hyslop, Esq. one of the British subjects, who unfortunately fell into the hands of the Royalists on the capture of Carthagena. This Gentleman is now at kingston„lamaira :—" You have heard, no doubt, of my arrest and imprisonment at Carthage.na by Morillo ; but you can have no idea of the treatment I receivtal. I was unfortunate in being too late in getting on board at the evacuation ; and on the 7th of December I was thrown into the Inquisition, where I remained two months without any communication at all, and two more in a ntiserable state of suspense. Poor Stucrt was shot, with Augniana, Tolledu, M. Annulor, Porrocarrem, Rib bon, Castillo, Avon, and De Granalos, on the lath of February ; -and, but for the intercession of.the Admiral, I was to have burn the tenth sietim on that day. So that, instead ,of being tried by a mock Court-martial, I was tried by a civil process and miraculously acquitted. I left Curthagena on thei7th of April, at whichtimethere svas a general silence in town, it was whispered that his ,progress was not so rapid expected.--4anta Fe of course had not fidlen. The General Congress was at Tunja, and since the execution of Amatia and Ribbon, who bad surrendered under a promised pardon, the in. tenor spirt had resolved to defnid itself to the last. rules with two battalions of Camecas troops, had match ed fir Venezuela, where matters were changed much against Ferdinand ; so that Morillo has no lucre than about ;;000 men with him .--Carthagena is ,garrisoned by the regiment of Leon, about 650 effective anti non-el fictive. (anti I may add, disaffected men, from the want -