Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-09-19

AND TIE FRIENDS OF AMERICAN EDUCATION.
.TortoB, ytrginia, 11tA month 20tl, 1919.
IfoNoRED FRIEND,
In addressing thee, and the friends OF
education in their Legislative capacity,
! have two objects to which l ish to
claim attention, and both are well known
to accord with thy patriotic solicitude :---
LIST. Measures essential to the extension
of the Lancasterian system OF education,
in its most perfect shape end secondly,
Measures by which the citizens of the
United States may increase their intel
Iectual rank as nation, beyond all pre-
cedcnt in the history of the world.
Measures BY which national excellence
may be attained in relation to subjects
truly scientific and dignifying, not only
as productive of great local advantage,
but as setting an example beneficial to
future ages and opening to other coun-
tries the path ofknowledge--The march
OF mind
Near twelve months have now elapsed
since was honored with thy friendship;
thy spontaneous kindness--and the
consequent honors Of congress. A quick
revolving year reminds me that claims
which call ior gratitude ought not 10 be
neglected. feel anxious to make such
communications as may prove how deep
Iy l have felt the open-hearted and
generous reception which | experienced
when lecturlng before the natlona. legis-
lature. How can l better express my
feelings than by proving that the general
prosperity OF this country has been q
subject of consideration ever since ]
landed The first subject, that of educa-
ton, is in the line of my professional du-
ty-in which after twenty-five years de-
votion, l feel an undated zeal and en-
thusiastic ardor, but the important
measures" which may conduce to the
general advancement of art, science and
national resources, is most consonant to
my present feelings. l not only intend
to keep the subjects very much distinct,
but, in the present case, the first shall be
last, and the last first.
In travelling above four thousand
miles in the United States--and lecturing
to above .ftty Mouscna persons, have
seen much for one twelve months; yet
compared with the magnitude OF terri
tory or extent of population, feel salts
fled that all have yet seen Of the charac-
ter ofthe peoplc---or the productions of
the country is comparatively small
Twelve months travelling, with much
public and private intercourse, cannot
warrant me in forming as TOO many have
done, superficial and fixed opinion of
the country, which is as various from it.
sselfas from any territory Of the same eX-
+ent on the surface of the globe. Far
from vain confidence in the acquisition
Df knowledge respecting country so
new to me in many respects, l would not
hazzard an opinion even with much dit
tdence-yet am convinced, by the little
! have seen, that any contemplative mind
under the same circumstances must
feel deeply impressed with those natural
riches and superior capacities tor i'm
,royement, which must ultimately raise
IS rank in the scale of nations and by
t. be early cultivation of these capacities,
.av even confer benelaction on the
i uman race.
1t has seemed to me not only possible,
/ ut easy, contrasted with the magnitude
Of the object and result Of the design,
C such a nation to exert their patriotic
and Intellectual energy, so, as TO take
p,f5ute all nature on scale OF gran
de1,r 7yhich never entered the mind OF
anv earthly potentate, which is without
a naral,el in the history of nations or re-
cords of science; if the truth OF this as,
sertion be eventually demonstrated,
knowledge shall have temples reared to
its right use, more universal and emo
hing than that of Solomon, but, like
mat building, containing emblems and and
marks or hio goodness. who not only still
enthrones himself upon the merry seat,
but who fills the temple of the universe
with his glory and his presence.-Per-
haps the brightest page Of human history
vet remains blank for Americans to fill,
with such vivifying characters as shall,
with equal perspicuity and briiliancy,
prove to the nations Of the world in the
full force Of demonstration, that "know-