The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-10-23 00:00:00

mach distinction, if the munificence of the parechlia
schools had not in the first instance conferred on them
such an education as their own fortunes could

otherwise have provided. The great advantage which
Scotland enjoyed over other commies was the ewe
knee of her parish schools. It was this which ac-
counted for the superiority of her labouring classes.
—lt was the common facilities of education
which had enabled them co struggle with difficulties
at home, and which had- enabled them in every part
of the civilized world, to raise to honour by the Sole in-
fluence of their natural talent. This observation of
Mr. Horner's is well calculated to convey a proper es-
timate of Scotch economy, to those by whom it is of-
letter talked of than it is understood. It does no:
signify, that our people are not, in common with their
neighbours, ton much addicted to be profuse, when it;
prosperity ; neither does it imply that in adversity
they will content themselves with the wretchedness
and degradation of the Irish hovel ; but that they will
overcome the natural difficulties of situation by tLe
methodical peYseverance of their genius and habits. Is
t, then, a matter of surprise, that a people who are
economists by eduction, and by the force of cireatEk•
stances, at bc.me, should advance to affluence and pras•
pertly in countries where such are the rewards of their
national characteristic, and where the diffienlties to
which they have hemom inured do not so frequently a:t-
pear ? in the following anticipation, Mr. Horner will
no doubt meet with a ready acquiescence: If. ailed try
the natural talents of Seta:miter, so much benefit Iris
accrued from our parochial schools, what may not be
hoped from the estahiishnient of such institutions 'as •
the present ? It is :o be presumed, that few of those
whit have enrolled themselves on the lists of the
Schaal of Arts, can need to lie told of the ativantagl
which the practical mechanic twist detive, from an ac•
mptaintnnee with the abstract principles of seience.
This viol, however. was briefly adverted to by Mr.
Horner, and was subserviently still more widely illes•
!rated in the prelitnimtry lecture on rhyntie•ry.
we have expressed oar gratitnde to Mr. Boner, for it!
ire eats here record of Lis feeling and judicious a•.'l•
dresses. the public, awl this institution in particula-,
must still be content to owe him mach. • slut we err •
taut shut to !pollee the beautiful and ImpresSive obsrc-
vistido with w ich lie coacinded, the force 4 which r.?
individual present could have eiceepetl. Itsuggestie.
in forcible language, as a roneideration deserving o.
general attention, itieieg equally appileahle to othm4:s.
beside those engaged in mechanical profes.ions, t 1
benclizial tendency w/iieti the philosophital coate-t•
platiuns now prepoetol tong have, not merely in with-
drawing pertmns from frivolous and useless employ-
twen.i, to ear nothing of such parratits as were worse
than frivolous, but especially in exalting the character
to a higher sphere of moral respectability, by familiar-
izing the mind to the ennobling studiee of nature, and
enlarging its rapacity for the contemplation even of
what is superior to nature.
We trust that Dr. Pyfe will reel ire, in the suttees•
ful mealy; of hts labours, that justice which a news.
paper paragrt.ph is inadequate to convey. He explain-
ed the chemical principles of attmaction and repulsi•i'm
in the most familiar term', at the salve time illustrate
ing his propositions by processes denerintive of die
actions of various 11°114% It was truly affecting to
notice the marks of approbation and surprise wliiitia
some of these n!).rvi ins exeited in a portion of the
auditory, and which had a visible street on the feeling's
of the ieetnrer. His tassii was by no %leans an easy
one; to lay aside the mattietnatical language of science,
and to renatrime; a lll9i'e cotwitottly inteffigilsie medium
fir the tratismi tel in of its doctrines, require a great ef-
fiirtot the mind, while it is at one and the same time c.m•
scions of the necessity of precision, and oppressed
with more than a usual anxiety to he understood : but
science never ap:.ears in a more noble and venerable
light, than when stoopaig to the capacities of he,
iinuiblest disoiples. The language throughout was, in-
deed, remarkable for clearness and simplicity: so
such so, that, fur one reason, we almast rerre•ted
walling hail been allowed to remain more problemati-
cal, so 45 to :31n)rd an opportunity farsome of the stu-
dents to propose questions at the conclusion of the lec-
ture. This iltintacy between time Professor and his
students, so desirable to be cultivated in every literary
establishments, it it obri Ole must he extremely ailean-
tageous and retplieite in this; and the sooner that th •
resolve and r,-sir tint which diffidence may at first ins.
pose is diseelve I, ire think, the better. The con-
descending and &Stol:mate ntani,er in which Dr. Fife
e:.tpressed his taTlitigness to explain whatever be mig.it
be considered to leave obscure, could not fail to hart
afforded much pleasnr• to the directors and friend: of
the institution. The lecture lasted about an hour.—
The feeling which seemed to pervade all present, at this
close of the disceers-, tr?.n, ire apprehend, the ties'
which could have b; 'n desited—that of awititenti
curiosity on the part a the students, and of inexpresal.
bin gratification on the pert of th••ir friends.
'I he students present were mimes-oes, 27? having
purchased tickets; and, ea ;II tsavitig a privilege on
time first night of bringiNr with halm two friends,
the ball was completely erowded. Nearly 400 person:
went away from the door, not being able to get iut
the room.

On Monday last the :pother of the family of 'ho
Bartons, and her dattis.hter, both of whom hal Iwo
sodie time in Oxf 'pi City Gaol on a charge of assxolf.
ing the police officers, ware discharged try prude:na-
tion. the their ,entering iv° the house of Airs.
fttymill, the mother of Mrs. Barton, the poor old •Pro.
man, ninety yeas tv.ss Ito mach affected aa,i
alarnsed.ll t Aden op:fell:tate, that ape f•ls
back in tbk, c.llO, gild lust:awl,. expiced.

I);ttt %brut, SOn4hy eYenkr,
L welstb,ii4samootsosita oatl iiensknaton..a. geotietnim Inas
unfortuts.o•l v. tbrown fpun bi< isots•-, iv; h*4
ogktkll dittOlully fr.:•tureil ; he teo.tstt.n to. ;he 4(1402
twoi{'e. liv.usiwrivi..w4vre. be. jolote;ltei.ely eikpited.
.et:tttiout beirm aige togive itmy ihituetnatkey thatjni4lit
;o bjs.sliseyeery. .lljan js.lwitis..l A, 11. ; 04.
hieralmse.sejt« ;09:-/11741.01.1.1. fkt W,Wilt44g.
the ij.o ilut4 ul .us. a!vtc ;cu.