The native American., 1840-01-01

SuppOSe He TeduS Ol q SilpNitCh w"
is said to consist Of Thirty men besides the
captain and mate and three hundred and thir-
teen passengers, and company of sixty grena-
,iers. The captain and mate and ten of the
crew escaped in the long boat The rest were
drowned, except twelve of the grrnaders, who
clung 10 floating fragment Of the wreck till
they were taken off by another vessel Now IS
there single person in existence, who would
read such an account, without being anxious TO
know how many persons in the whole were
lost Yet nine readers in ten would mol know;
and why? Simply because they will not stop
to use what little addition and satisfaction they
possess.
do not say that, in reading to company,
who did not expect it. young man would be
required to stop and make the computation but
do say that in all ordinary cases, no person IS
excnsable who omits it, for it is fragrant wrong
to his mind. Long practice, il is true may rem
der it unnecessary for an individual to pause, in
order to estimate sum like that aforementioned.
Many, indeed most persons who are familiar with
figures, might compute these numbers while rea-
ding and without the slightest pause; but it GER
tainy requires some practice. And the most
important use Of arthmetical studies Except as
discip pne to the mind) is to enable us to reck
on without states and pencils. tie has but
miserable knowledge Of arithmetic, who is 10
arithmetician without pen or pencil IL his
hand These are but the ladders upon which
he should ascend to the science and not the sci
ence itself.
4. CHEMISTRY AND OTHER NATURAL SCIENCES.
If were to name one branch, as more impor-
tant to young man than any o,her,-next to the
merest elements Of reading and wrtlng-t would
be chemistry. Not mere smattering Oft, how
ever; for this usually does about as much harm
good. But a thorough knowledge of few of the
simple elements ofbodes, and some OF their most
interesting combinations, such as are witnessed
every day Of our lives, but which, for want Of a
| little knowledge of chemistry, are never under
stood, would do more TO interest young man in
the busines in which he may be employed, than
almost any thing | could name. For there is
hardly single trade or occupation whatever, that
does not embrace greater or less number of
chemical processes. Chemistry is of very high
importance even to the gardener and the farmer.
There are several other branches which come
under the general head of Natural Science, which
| recommend to your attention. Such are Bota-
ny, or knowledge of plants; Natural History,
or knowledge of animals and Geology, or
general knowledge of the rocks and stones of
which the earth on which we live is composed. |
do not think these are equally important with the
knowledge Of chemistry, but they are highly in
teresting, and by no means without their value.
S. GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION.
The foundation Of knowledge Of Grammar
is, III my view Composition; and composition,
whether learned early or late is best acquired by
letter vriting. This habit, early commenced,
and judciousy but perseveringly followed, will in
time, ensure the art not only of composing well,
but also dramatically. l know this position is
sometimes doubted, but the testimony is so strong,
that the point seems to me fully established.
1t is related in Ramsay's Life of Washington,
that many individuals, who, before the war Of the
Ameacan Revolution, could scarcely write their
names, became, in the progress of that war, able
to compose letters which were not only ntelligi-
bic and correct, but which would have done credit
to profund grammarian. The reason of this un-
doubleday was, that they were thrown into stua-
tons where they were obliged to write much and
often, and in such manner as to be clearly un-
derstood. Perhaps the misnterpreation of sin
gle doubtful word or sentence might have been
the ruin Of an army, or even of the Cause. Thus
they had motive TO write accurately; and long
practice with powerful motive before them, rem
dered them successful.
Nor is it necessary that motives so powerful
should always exist, in order to produce this re-
suit sit is sufficient that there be a motive to
aorite weU, and 10 persecere in writing WE'LL |
have known several pedlars and traders, whose
business led to the same consequences.