New-York daily tribune., 1845-03-28
nowen,s Lecture.

The second Lecture Of M.. Owen was delivered
les, evening al the Minerva Rooms, 10 an sudleaee
yerv respectable IL poin: OF numbers, and WHO
manifested by profound and 5rezrhless silence,
interrupted Only by occasional tokens Of applause,
the deep and gathering interest which they ieii n
the !abors and teachings OF ms venerable man
The Lecture was quite cIscurzlye in Is chzrsc-
ter, and iniersper5ed with accounts OF the Lectu!-
ers experiences IN he course OF his long and ac-
tive ebors He began By stating the general Pfo-
positions upon which he founds his doctrines,
which he divides INTO four departments, as en-
orecing the whole subject OF Man and MS Destiny
Isl, The creation OF the wealth and products
cessary 10 ,he existence and comfort CT mankind;
%, The proper distribution Of this; 81. Inc toT-
nation OF the character Ell individuals, by applying
to their education from infancy the science OF the
Influence OF circumstances and, ith, The govern
ment OF man. locally and generally. Without UE-
de-standine fully these fundamental couGiilons he
consnded that no correct judgment OF any plan Of
reform l. possible. Circumstances had enabled
him TO learn BY experience al these four branches
of knowledge before h- was thirty years old. TINS
was the greatest advantage he had ever mad In
the whole course OF he long and widely. extended
travels he had never met with single individual
who understood all these four braach-s and Until
they were known, the ideas OF men IN regard TO
social reforms must necessarily De crude and I'M
perfect.
The possession OF this knowledge d, an early age
unfoIded TO him the map OF human nature from th-
careful study Of which ne drew this conclusion
that man at all times, IN all places, and under al
circumstances, Il, 10 grea- e1ien, the creature OF
his geographical position and oil those external clr-
cums;ances which exercise their influence over
him; and that, a. these are appropriate or Other
wise, he IS rational or irrational being He had
al first applied his principles 10 coliectioa OF iYe
hundred persons in Manchester, where they worked
well, ana a. he had anticipated. But NJ tell The
want of larger field and at length transferred his
experiments 10 Lanark IN Scotland, where he most
satisfactorily tested the truth o ms leading principles
1t was here that he first broached his idea OF
Scientific Infant School The place where he had
established hlmcclt contained about two thousand
inhabitants, and he had beenfor somr time prepar-
ing the public mind TO expect something new. AZ
length the house was finished, and he invited all
the people 10 attend It's opening About l2'O came
Alter laying open his plans, he requested all the pa
rents the place 20 send those OF Their children oe-
tween the ages of two and five. They expressed
great asionshment al this, as they had never heard
OF sending children 10 school carrier than SIX or
seven He knew the strength OF the pTeudlces
against which he had 10 contend, and expected but
few scholars. About one-third ct the children
WITHIN the prescribed ages attended al flrst; but
before the year was out he had errY one under h!>
so astonished and delighted al the improvements IN
their children, that they asked Mr.. Owen whether
he could no, take them at still earlier age. lie
replied Yes that they might come soon az they
could walk. From this moment, sad Alr. Q.
'he only care OF these people seemed TO he TO
make their children walk as soon as possible.
Mr. Owen described eoqueniIy the change which
the operation OF his system produced upon those
under his charge. The reports o tins great and
wonderful change spread far and wide, and his
school was visited by mauy eminent Characters
bv Cler.yrlen Statesmen, Bishops and other Eccle-
sias;iCs-who examined with establishment, and eN-
claimed with tears OF Joy, that they could not have
believed it-tbat this was new human nature,
such as they had never before seen. And these
were the poor children OF the very lowest, moai
ignorant and Immoral population IN the h,ngdoIl-
the very dregs Of society. Many thousands he had
educated III the course ol the thirty wears that he
had devoted 10 the purpose and ne could honestly
say that IN all tins large experience he mad never
found a bad child During the whole period not
one reference had been had to lawyer or magls-
rrate. and not single legal penalty was ever IN
hcted.
The Lecturer then described the mode ol treat
ment adopted in his establishment. Except IN the
payment OF wages apportoned TO the ability and
experience OF the edcrentindividuals Of his colony,
they knew nothing OF individual punlshmenis aac
rewards. BY treating human nature IN accordance
with itself every individual acquired the most ar
dent desire OF pertectlng and developing himself as
far as his faculties would permit.
but we are compelled from want OF space re-
lucanty to pass the remainder ot the Lecture,
which was concluded by the reading OF The Address
delivered By vi owen Ill tiIr urHu, Ui it!s sJUUi
IN Lanark and which has been published 10 Eng
land, and gone through many editions. Il contains
lucid statement OF his principles and mode oi edu-
cation. and was received with lively dcmonstra-
lions Of satisfaction
The third Lecture is 10 be given this evening, at
the Minerva Rooms.