The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-07-04
FRom TIE National IsrsLticEscEs
PEsTALozzI

IT 10 with pride we perceive an inerea6ng atten-
tioupad to the intfdelion Of youth throughout the
wide extent of the United States. Colleges, Acade-
mics, and Schools are every day and every whefe
becoming more numerous. Although much good
will flow from tn. multiplication Of thefe Iulttutions,
ffill more may be expected from, improving the mode
than from neresGng the places of inaraaion. There
il no one, who has ferouny devoted his thoughts
this fubjea, but mua lament the imperfeGaions of
our exiting fytems Of education. This fnbjea has
long engaged the attention IF of benevolent and
enlarged minds on this well the other tide of the
Atlantic. Among oshefs 1t appears to have engaged
the thoughts Of M. Pefalozzi, native of Zurich,
who, after fuccetive efforts attended with various
fnecefs, has at length eaabrihed Berthoud atown
within few leagues OF Bern, Seminary, conducted
on principles, and with fuccefs, which forms new
era in the annals Of education. For Knowledge of
the exiting tuation of this Seminary, of the eDma-
ton in which is held, of the plan on which it is
Quoted, and its effects the young mind, are
indebted TO friend at Pars,s who has for feveral
years paR employed much Of the leifure he enjoys
advancing the general nterens of ufefu knowledge,
and in transferring its benefits the United States,
Of which he had previou1y bean irhabitant for
many years, ard in which he acquired an ample for
tame, which he is indebted for his lefure and
ny OF his other Of acquiring and extending
formation. Having read the works of PeRalozzi, Ss
his ditipes his euriofty was 70 far awakened to
lead him to Berthoud where from very minute
iuveaigation, he BECAME convinced of the hyperion
excellence of Pelalozzis fyacn. Anxious to extend
its benefits the United States, he has engaged
OF his protectors, MIR Meet, eablih Seminary in
this country undertaking himlelf to pay all the ex-
pences attending his removal, and inurng him fala-
i ry of at Leaf five hundred dollars year. Under
thsle aufpices Mr. Neef has embarked for Philadel-
phia, where, it !, probable his ntute will be OPEN
ed. Mr.. Meet is fud to be good mathematician,
and perfectly to und-rf}aud French, German, Italian
and Latin. He read, Englifh, bur does not freak it.
fhofe who feel an intereft in this fsbje4 (and
what enlarged mind does not p will look with ioli-
eitude every progrefve Rep taken in the eaablih-
n,ent Of this Inittuton in this country. To exhi-
Bit the claims has the general patronage by de-
nIonttrat;ng the inappreeiabe advantages that may
be derived from IT'S fuceefsful enabiihneut in this
country, we viii proceed to lay before readers,
d, the rft place, few extracts from the letters we
have received, and then fubnit to them fome ex-
tracts from traS, written by DIR. Chavannes, lay
Jag down "The Elementary Method Of De II. PEI.
taiozzi, accompanied by account of the labors of
chat celebrated man. of his intue and of hi, prin-
cipal coadiutors. We will merely prevouly pre-
miGe, that the great and Characterize principle of
the fylfem of Petalozz, is to bring his intructons
down to level with the understanding OF the pupil,
10 convey them in the mott clear aad perfPicuous
manner, to inlure which effects he has adopted the
mode which will be deferbed. Another dihinguifh-
ing trait in which he differs from every other teach
,r is TO retard rather than hafen, the progrefs of
''h' PuPu, FreIrnting an ttrs fully
comprehend, and never allowing him to leave it un-
ell condered in alits various relations and apecs
We have to regret our inability, without the and OF
pates. to give adequate idea of, perhaps the ,o
intereaing as well as orr Il and profound part Of
the work, the relations Of numbers and forms
We fial only attempt general notice Of this etaion
which will do little than excite sie curioity of
the reader.