The Sun.
London, England, 1827-08-30 00:00:00

PESTALOZZI.

Henry Pestalozzi was born at Zurich, on the
12th of January, 1745. He soon lost his father,
who was an esteemed physician, and his educa-
tion was superintended by some distant relatives.
At school, Henry was known to be "no com-
mon boy:" he evinced great energy tff character
on several occasions. His benevolence was
unbounded. His time was divided between
solitary meditation and study. The result of
the latter was a spirited translation of several
speeches of Demosthenes, and the composition
of some essays, which he then published, on the
formation of character for public life, and on the
Spartan Legislature. From excessive study he
fell into a severe illness ; and when he had re-
covered, he at once altered his plan of life, and
abandoned his literary pursuits. He burnt all his
papers, gave up entirely the reading of books,
applied himself to the study of agriculture, and
purchased an extensive farm in the canton of
Aargau. At the age of 22, we find him living
in rural retirement, separated from all his furmer
connexions. Here he began to put into practice
his benevolent plans for educating the lower
classes. " Pestalozzi was determined," says the
author, " to try what education might do, even
for those who were taken from the dregs of the
people. He received into his house 50 children,
most of them orphans of the poorest class,
or children of vagabond beggars. He
had a share in an extensive cotton manu-
factory, which was constructed on his own es-
tate. In this and in some agricultural occupa-
tions the children were employed, and at the
same time treated in the kindest manner, and
with the most careful attention to their wants.
Pestalozzi himself acted as a father to them all,
not only by thus providing for them, but by un-
dertaking the superintendence of the whole of
their education, and giving them all the instruc-
tion that might be useful in their circumstances.
In teaching them he followed a most original
plan, which enabled him to conduct large classes,
to occupy all, and yet to fix the attention of every
individual child. IVith this establishment he
went on for fifteen years, without the least sup-
port from any private individual or public body.
Keeping up, as he did, the whole by his own
means, his property was reduced, and must at
length have been exhausted. While he engaged
in these benevolent exertions, he was satisfied
that education was the principal means for me-
liorating the condition of the lower classes, and
he looked round for a more extensive ground on
which to begin. He was at length compelled to
give up his labours at Newhof, and at the period
of the Revolution, took refuge in Underwalden.
Here, at a little village called Stauz, he established
a school for seventy poor children, and in spite of
numberless obstacles, he succeeded, during the
few months it was in existence, in exciting in
them a desire for instruction. He made them
wiser, happier, and better. In 1804 he became
fixed at Yverdun, under the patronage of the
Canton de Vaud, and there he continued his
instructions and his vast labours for the improve-
ment of the rising generation ; but his generosity
was too great for the economical management
of such an institution, and at the end of a few
years he was obliged to give it up, and retire to
Newhof. He passed the remainder of his life
in correcting and revising his books, and was_ga-
thered to his fathers on February 17, 1827. The
difficulties which this generous and humane man
had to encounter, and the persevering zeal with
which he laboured to substitute care and atten-
tion on the
part of teachers for brutal severity,
and the success which followed his exertions, are
little known in this country. His life was passed
in planning
schemes for the improvement of
youth, and steadily
carrying them into execution.
He was a most amiable
enthusiast."
count of his life, from which we have taken these
statements, is apleasing
attention of all those The ac.
history, and worthy the
who think we 1111USt make
instruction interesting by kindness, and lead youth
to virtue by our example.

The Speaker of the House of Commons is
reaiding at Worthing,...Brighton Gazette.