Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-08-30

L 3
day, by the School Committee, by the parents
4 and friends of the youth, by a large number Of
respectable citizens, and by several distinguish
ed strangers At the exhibitions in the Latin
and the English High Schools, the President OF
the United States was present. The schools
were full and in good order; and the literary at
tainmenls of which they gave proofs were in
dcaive of ability and fidelity in the instructors,
and creditable to themselves. for their applica-
ton the year past. The boys in the High
School, who are on an average fourteen, thougs
some are younger, discovered an accurate
knowledge Of Algebra, Geometry, Trigonome-
ry, calculations of Eclipses, Of physics and of
moral philosophy Several of them exhibited
projections, which requires an accurate know
ledge of mathematical calculations. Their an
swers given to the questions proposed TO them,
were generally correct and prompt.
At the other English Schools, the boys APP
Geography and Arithmetic The specimens
of Chirography, in many instances, were supe-
rior, and generally good. Tie upper classes
also read with much propriety.
| The Classical School maintains its former
high standing. Most of the boys very
ready in constituting the Latin and Greek Ian
guages; and their elocution has improved, The
members Of this school study Geography and
| Mathematics; but there was not time for their
| instructors to examine them fully in these
! branches.
| The number Of schools visited is eight, be-
sides the Latin and the English High Schools.
| The whole number of children in these is esti-
mated at about four thousand. Seven Of them
| contain five hundred each. The primary
Schools are not visited on these OCCASIONS
There are about two thousand children in these,
from four to seven years of age.
The Committee, Instructors, Masters who
had the, medals, and a numerous company of
strangers and citizens invited, repaired to Fa-
neuil Hall to dine, at o'clock. The President
OF the United States was among the guests
After dinner many patriotic and appropriate
sentiments were announced by Mr.. Quincy
Chairman Of the Committee and Mayor of The
city, by other eminent individuals of the Com
mittee, by some of the municipal officers, and
by several of the strangers and guests. Such
as we recollect are given below.
The associations on these occasions, are
highly interesting, and the impressions receiv
ed cannot fail to be salutary Whenever assem-
bled in the Cradle Of liberty, we are carried
back to past scenes Of trial and danger; we
learn to venerate our ancestors, 10 whose wis
dom and virtue we are indebted for our excel
lent Institutions; and we ought to catch some
thing Of their patriotic spirit. This place, we
think, is we'll chosen for our literary festival.
There is close connexion between the republic
OF letters and republics, which are Of a social
nature: They afford mutual aid 10 each other.
Our fathers had almost an equal love for iber
ty and learning. To perpetuste the former,
they believed 1t necessary to encourage and Gull
tivate the latter
TOASTS.
Public Free Schools-institutions vital TO re-
pubics;-by necessity ofnature, they and Iiber-
1y must exist and. perish together
Kno Wedge and learning-the only powers,
which command human will and human rea-
son; and the only pleasures, which are simply
good, without alloy or accident
The Tree of Knowledge-May there be no
serpent at its root, and no devils apples on its
branches.
Our Public Schools-Of all the branches they
teach, may uirtue be the highest and purity the
most classical, in he esteem both ofinsructers
and pupils.
Antent School Discipline-A long oblivion
to the old practice of treating intellect as though
1t were blister, to be raised by applying cows
skln.to boys skin.
Modern School Dscipline-May our youth
remember to value not the metal by weight in
the hand-but the honor, by bearing off the
palm.
Our Universities and ColIeges-Whle we
enlarge and multiply, and make accessible the
spring-heads of science, may we be mindful to
extend the receiving and distributing pools and
cisterns.
The Mind-May men study to connect its
correction and amendment with its use and en-
ployment.
Our Latin and English High Schools--May
the former continue to prove like aDeH tried Gold,
and the latter to distance all others by Miles.
After the above toasts were announced, the
Mayor gave the following
The United States May It long have for its
head, scholar, statesman and patriot.
This was received with great enthusiasm--S
the President arose and addressed the Mayor s
citizens present, in most eloquent and impress
slve manner.--He was himself evidently affect
ed, and his address deeply affected all who heard
him. 1t is impossible to do justice either to
the manner or the sentiments without giving
the address itself. And this we are not able to
do at present. We hope it will be given to the
public, that all NAV read ii: thouph all could