American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-01-13


with the prosperity and the glory of the country.
The first duty OF government, and the surcst evil
dence OF good government, is the encouragement oI
education. A general diffusion of knowledge is the
precursor and protector of republican institutions
and in it we must confde as the conservative power
that will watch over our liberties and guard them
against fraud, intrigue, corruption and violence. In
early infancy, education may be usefully admins
tered In some parts OF Great Britain, infant schools
are successfully established, comprising children
from two to six years OF age, whose tempers, hearts
and minds are meliorated and whose INDECENT pa
| rents are enabled by these means, TO devote them
selves to labor without interruption uneasness.
Institutions OF this kind only adapted to dense
population and must be left to the guardianship of
private benevolence. Our common schools, EN-
brace children from Ave to fifteen years old apd
continue to increase and prosper. The appropria
tons for last year from the school fund amount to
$50, $40, and an equivalent sum is also raised by
taxation in the several school districts, and is app
ed in the same way The capital or fund is S $685.
600, which will be in state OF rapid augmentation
from sales of the public lands and other sources.
And it is well ascertained that more than 42o,o 900
children have been taught 10 common schools
during the last year. The sum distributed by the
state is now too small and the general fund can we'll
warrant an augmentation to 100000 annually.
| An important change has taken place in the free
IsS''NS,S -
the corporation OF that city and the trustees OF the
free school society, these establishments to be
converted into public schools, to admit the children
OF the rich as we'll the poor, and by this annhia
ton OF fictitious distinctions, there will be strong
incentive for the display of talents and felicous
accommodation to the genius OF republican govern
ment In these seminsries, the monitoral system
has been always used and it has in other institutions
been applied with complete success to The high
branches of education
The system of instruction, with all its numerous
benefits, is still however susceptible ofgreat improve
ment Ten years Of the life of child may now be
spent in common school. In two years the ee-
ments OF instruction may be acquired and the re-
naming eight years must either be spent III repeti
ton or In ldleness, unless the teachers Of common
schools are competent to instruct in the higher
branches of knowledge. The outlines Of Geogra.
ply, Algebra, Mineraogy, Agricultural Chemistry,
Mechanical Philosophy, Surveying, Geometry As
tronomy, Political Economy and Ethics nigh, be
communicated in that period Of time by able pre-
ceptors, without essential interference with the calls
of domestic industry.
The vocation of teacher, in its influence on the
character and destnies of the rising and all other
future generations has either not been fully under
stood or duly estimated 1t is ought 20 be rank
ed among the learned professions. With full ad-
mission Of the merits OF several who now associate
in that capacity, still it must be conceded that the
Information OF many OF the instructors OF our COM
! mon schools does not extend beyond rudimental
education-that our expanding population requires
constant accessions to their numbers-and that to
realize these views 1t is necessary that some new
plan Tor obtaining able teachers should be devised.
] therefore recommend seminary for the education
OF teachers in the monltoria system OF instruction,
and in those useful branches Of knowledge which
are proper to engraft on elementary atiainments.
A compliance with this Recommendation will have
| the most benign influence on individual happiness
and social prosperity. To break down the barriers,
which poverty has erected against the acquisition and
dispensation Of knowledge is to restore just equ.
llbrium OF society and to perform duty OF indispen
sable and paramount obligation and under this i'm
preston also recommend that provision be made
for the gratuitous education in superior semina
| res of INDECENT, talented and mertorious youth
| consider the system of our common schools as
the palladium OF our freedom, Tor no reasonable ap
prehension can be entertained OF its subverson, as
long the great body Of the people are enlightened
by education. To increase the funds, to extend the
benefits and remedy the defects Of this excellent
system is worthy OF your most deliberate attention..
| "In 1918 had the pleasure to congratulate the
legislature on the suspicious commencement and
successful progress of The contemplated water COM
muncations between the great western and northern
| lakes and the Atlantic ocean; and now have the
peculiar qualification to fecitate you on their COM
pletion. On the Goth Of October last, the western
canal was in navigable state, and vessels passed
from Lake Erie to the Atlantic ocean. In about 8
years, artificial communications near 429 miles in
length have been opened; to the Hudson river from
Lake Champlain by the northern canal; to Lake
Ontario by the Otsego river and the western canal,
and to Lake Erie and the other western lakes by the
latter canal thus aHording an extent ofinand nav
cation unparalleled in the experience OF mankind.
The expense Of these works and of some auxiliary
connected and incidental operations. amounts to
80, lS0,57S IS exclusive of interest paid On loans.
| The canal debt is as follows.
S4,524,270 SO at per cent.