The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-08-19

II.
sumo he would anxiously solicit them to endeav-
or to have an experiment made of its facilitating
method of arstilling instruction into the minds OF
pupils who sit beneath its active and engnglng
sway. Ihls is what we are anxiousiy solicitous
to have done. And we cannot see any promi-
nent reason aChy it should not be done. Every
unprejudiced man on seeing fair trial of its
merits made, has expressed bis decided approba-
ton towards it. The testimony Of the first men
OF the age, and Of the greatest in this nation
| and throughout Great Britain, has been freely,
voluntarily, and unasked for given in its favor
II has been, Also recommended BY the LegisIa-
tive or Executive body of several Of the states
In the Union. Can we not place confidence in
proof coming from source like thisP If not
TO whom we would ask, shall we look for proof
lin whom SHALL we confide2 Bat We forbesr--
It is impossible for US to say thousandth part
lunder this head that now offers itself
| We come now to notice, hastily, the vast diff
ference between the proof upon which Veri-
/ tas' founded his statements and the condensed
testimony of three distinguished men. The ex-
tracts we make from what they have advanced
on this subject being quite brief, and, to use
phrase, advance many ideas in felo words
IS thought by us to be the most appropriate Of
any we have to introduce. Though more. abup-
| this will be sufficient to convince manu- and
those who are not prejudiced towards another
{ system, or who have no sef-interest 10 answer
by opposing this, will undoubtedly give into the
same impression Let us then first examine. for
moment, and see what 'Veritas' SAYS Of his
KNOWLEDGE or EXPERIENCE relative to a Lam
casterian School, In his second communication.
he said:
.NeUer having witnessed but one of these
Schools, while in operation, and that some time
since, must be pardoned for making up the de-
hcIency OF my otherwise Incompetent knowl-
edge, by reliance on those whose experience,
it is supposed, enttle them to credit
| Now, fellow citizens, what think YOU Of
mans expressing decided opinion either Of
the merits or dement's of a susten, after having
witnessed its operations, at most for tuuo or three
hours Shall you consider this a fair opinion /?
Our answers to this inquiry, we think. will per-
fectly comport with every mans, that such an
expression is totally unjust; that an opinion of
TINS description has strong SAVIOR Of issuing
from the lips of man whose interests are in
VOWED, and comes forward with this fctioned
story to aid his individual cause, and not to BEN
eit the public. Should you be convinced that
this IS the real fact, would you place much con-
hdence in what be has advanced (? No--vou
/ certainly would not. Then, we can assure YOU
tlis As the sSUe case. me simple fact o. the
business is" that Mr.. Veritas" is nothing more
nor less than one of our public schooImasters."
lie thinks, probably, that should change in
our schools be effected, he, unfortunately might
lose his present employment and therefore
raises this :" hue and cry" under the garb Of
sincerity, 10 order 10 crush, at once all attempts
at improvement or alteration. Let these things
have their due weght-that is all we ask for.
We cannot dwell longer with " Veritas' here /:
but we would observe that we think the produc-
ton he has sent forth in last Tuesdays Gazette,
bears the impress of the most uioleRt passion,
Imperfect accordance with what IS known of
us author) and partakes more of chiIdren's play,
than OF nature and philOsophic reasoning. And
we are not alone in this opinion.
we leave " Veritas, at present, and introduce
the testimony spoken of above. We only ask
you 10 say which of the two appear to be most
CONSISTENT The one gives his opinion upon ttco
hours examination of the system the others,
have witnessed its practical operations for qears,
and unquestionably feel a conscientious pride
10 recommending it. The one is an Interested
schoolmaster, the others are disinterested. and
conspicuous officers Of three several nations
men with whom you, undoubtedly, are quite
familiar. Another word need not be added
then for the testimony.
Extract from the Edinburgh Repie,O. Mop 1910.
on the subject Of the LancasteyGn Sgste1 Of edulca
ealton Tins article was written By Henry Broughanq
NJ I. II goes 10 show that this system is alike an.
plcable to the higher branches as TO the lower
" ~ Is manifest that any rule of Algebra NAV be
communicated by the same process-from the simplest
70 me most intricate and refined from the addition Of
TWO quantities. TO the method Of infinite series and
huent-Every part Of geometrcal science NAV be
taught by similar MEANS from the first proportions of
Euch I'D to the sublime theories of Newton and Lao-
iace. In like manner whatever branches of natural
philosophy admit Of 81 mbolical notation as the
whole OF the mixed mathematics, and in general the
application of the sciences of number to experiment
and quantity, are all capable of being 50 commune
Gated"
Testimony Of general the marquis De Ia Favette 10
the e1cehence OF the LoncaserTan Systen Of education
recently dsIacered tn the French Legislative Assem-
oty-Now gentlemen the Lancasterian system il
since the invention ofprnting the greatest step which
mas been made for the extension of prompt easy and
popular instruction - On this system several hun
dred thousand children have been already instructed
Ertrdct from the message of DE Win Clinton. Con.
eTaoT o. Ne10 York TO The Legislature Of that Stale
Having participated in the first establishment of the
Lancasteran System in this country having careful
y observed ITS progress and witnessed its benefits
can confidently recommend ii as an inralable Improve
nenf, which BY wonderful combination in expense
and rapidity Of instruction has created new era in
educauon-the system operates with the same efficacy
In education, as abor-saving machinery does ia the
useful arts"
This brings us to more direct application of
the subject. But we must necessarily be brief
for we have already heightened out this num-
Der beyond what we had, in the least, contem-
plated.
Parents: with the preceding testimony star
lnp vou in the f,ca 80 ;sa~I.-