Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-06-04

portion be repeated, until the meaning of evory word IS fixed in the mind; after which the parsing should be attended to- This it will be seen, would be an Approximation to the Hamiltonian and Lancasterian systems; and, had literal, cerbdt transations of our school books, should heartily recommend the combined use of them the grammar and the dlctlon- ary, the carly study of every language Cyropeda to be read entire with the study of the Attic dialect in the grammar
 The next and last book shall mention is Ho- mers 1liad Here too, l consider it unfortunate, that Odyssey has not been adopted school book instead of Iliad, inasmuch as the domestic scenes and beautiful fctions of the former the.
 Speciosa niracula,
 Antiphaten, Scyllamque, ct cum Cyclope Charydin, are much better calculated to interest and captivae the youthful mnd than the battles and speeches and more complex machinery of the latter. With the Iiad, let the geography and maps of Greece, the Egean Sea and Asia Minor, be carefully and mi nutely revised. Tookes Pantheon should also be now revised, and plot representing Troy it's plain and it's rivers, Mt Ida the Heespont, the situation of the Grecian ships and camps, &c. be set before the pupil. His views will thus be changed, and his attention awakened before he begins to peruse the story of Achilles wrath" The usual portion of nine books is much perhaps, as can, at present, reasonably be expected to be studied proftaby.-. The prosody of Homer, except some difficulties that are most probably corruptons of the tex, is very easily acquired, by means of the fixed quantity of the Greek vowels the rule of position and few other rules which little observation will make evil dent, The dialects being interesting in an hstor- cal and philosophical point of view, should receive due attention and study A comparison of the lan- guage of Homer and Xenophon will exhibit and fix in the mnd the general peculiarities of the dialect likewise show the distinction between poetic and prosac phraseology. See exercises on metaphrase, prosody and dialect at the end of Anthons gr exer cises.
 It has been my wish to recommend no subject or book that would not, probably, be generally adopted by our schools and academies. 1 need not say, how ever that the study of antiquities is essential to d correct knowledge of the classics. If any of them are disposed to introduce them into the no books to be obtained here, are preferable to Adams Roman and Cleaveland's Grecian Antiquities Per haps Irvings little works on Antiquities would be most advisable the use of them would be attend- ed with little labor and expense.
 The History of the United States having been al ready studied, Worcesters Elements of History and chart (ogether with the proper maps should be in- troduced into the course and studied at stated peri ods, until completed. The appended questions to be used, but not exclusively, answered merely by yes and no.
 Composition should engage portion of every pu- pil's time and attention from early period but this exercise should be directed with great prudence and judgements and adapted to different ages and degrees ofnformation. Much injury, it is believed, is often done to the health and understanding by in- judiciousy assigning themes quite beyond the capa- city or comprehension of the pupil; such as enry, reUenge fortitnde, consistency, Sc. Sc. "Thls" says Locke, ''is sort of Egyptian tyranny to bid them make bricks who have not yet any of the materials :" Boys should be required to give description in the best words and method they can, of some event or object they have seen the narrative of some story they have heard write letters to each other on their friends. But no exercise in composition Is, perhaps, at the time, pleasing and profitable to every young person, as transations. The ideas are here furnised them, and they have nothing do but to arrange them, and clothe them in English dress.
 have recommended the practice of teaching boys, viva voce, the Latin and Greek names of familiar, sensible objects; and aso the advantage of frequent repetition ofthe same lesson. To illustrate the utili- ty of these exercises will beg leave to narrate to the convention, two circumstances, in the life of the celebrated Wryttenback, late Professor of Greek and Latin literature &c in the university of Ley den. During the vacation of the university Gin Switzerand) his father took young Wryttenback then years old, with him to his farm in the country On their way he asked him the Latin names of the different objects before them, and then proceeded sentences, in which those names employed.- The boy was delighted at his own ready apprehen- sion, and his ambition was excited by success. But to encourage him still more, his father superadded pecuniary reward. At the farm" said he, we will make themes (with which he had become dis gusted) and, for every theme, will give you a ses- terce, and to begin, here's for you account of
 
 weeks spent in this manner, Wryttenback returned rich in lore and lucre-"doctus ct dives" The next circumstance is the following: [" I now come to De- mosthenes." says he, and it was all darkness 10 me but had learned not to be discouraged at the beginning of any undertaking. I go on-I encoun- ter greater difficulties than did beore not on- ly in single words, but in the involved structure of long sentences. With immense labor, at length got through the first Olynthac. then read it over and again, and found every thing plain and in- tegible, although was still nsensibe to the ora torical force ofhe style. Ihesitated hether Ishoud proceed to the second reuieo the first but Ideter- mined on doing the latter. sautary determination, and nscer to be sufficiently commended! Upon this perusa my mind seemed to be endued with ano- ther sense. An unusual and more than human emo- ton pervades my whole mind, and becomes stronger and deeper at every reading. see the various pas sons that possesses the orator by turnshs zeal his rage his impetuosity. Ikndle with his feelings and am borne along ty the same impulses. I seem to myself to be Demosthenes standing upon the Bema, delivering oration, and rousing up the Athenan assembly to virtue and glory. no longer read it silently as began, but with loud voice, which l am nsensbly led to raise to a high pitch by the force and fervor of the reasoning less than the perfection of the oratoral rythm." Southern Re- view Mo- ?.
 Baak Agents.-Two gentlemen, Agents of the Bank ofthe United States, tour through the Western country, examining the different towns for the purpose of selecting those proper for locating Branches of the Mammoth. They have examined those through that part of Kentucky contiguous to the Tennessee line, have visited Florence and the intervening towns in the direction of Huntsville, at which latter place they arrived, and after remaining several days departed, we understand, for Knox vile, &c. &c. The general department of these