Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-05-18
TO THE EDITORS.

WASHINGTON, MAY IL, $780,
Messrs GALES & sEATos am happy 10 inform you
that your request for the privilege Of placing your columns
the suboned letter. from Mrs. Judge MCLEAN has been ac-
ceded to by Judge Mclean. To it is due word of expa-
nation. 1t is not merely the fruit Of capacous mind in
view of great subject bat of the application Of the hand
with the mind to demonstrate the practical oogs of that
subject in calling into action human powers for supplying hu-
man wants-physcal, intellectual moral social religious,
immortal.
While in Washington, few weeks since, Mrs. MCLEAN
and her son. with the families of several members Of Con-
gress engaged hearyasi would every good mother
should do-in aiding the instruction of her child. Pa
and children united with great spirit and energy in pre-
pairing collections Of Natural History, especially specimens of
Geology and Mneaogy greatly aided and enriched by prsc
cal illustrations in Geometry, designed especially show
the forms Of crystals, exhibited in minerals The result
not merely instruction, but instruments Of self nsruc
ton, and aiding the instruction Of others thus causing
turning action, the whole producing results which, Mrs.
McLEAs remarked, could not be estimated by money.
Among these young sefinsucors, girl Of thirteen
from Psbg, since returned home richly imbued with
the spirit aided by instruments made by herself, OF npang
instruction to others; also little girl of years, daugh
ter OF member Of Congress from New York, who has col
ected classified arranged and labelled principally by her
hands, than hundred minerals showing only
the elements and structure Of the EARTH but the valuable
and other mineral productions dep sted in the earth.
This same little girl Of seven years. principally under the in
sucon OF another Of ten years. has also prepared by her
ratio Of increase and various combinations Of the cube
Practical Mesration also the elements of mechan-
m both Of the heavens and of the earth, embracing the
orbits Of the planets insect architecture and especially the
beautiful science of crysalogaphy thus bringing skingly
under the view the simplicity and vasnes and Of course
the perfectness of the works of God.
The portfolio referred the letter made by several
young girls in one of the Washington Public Schools in
charge of Mrs. We II ornamented in worsted work,
with several beautiful and appropriate designs with the su-
prescription "For Mrs. Judge MCLEAN" The contents
of the portfolio consisted Of Drawings, Writing, Needewok,
Geometica Illustrations &c. These prepared partly
by the pupils of several OF the Washington Public schools
with number from the little year old friend Of Mrs.
McLEAs referred to but principally by pupils Of the Public
Schools Of New York; of which have three times of
four, been taken be the work Of engraver rather than
that of pupils the regular Of common school nstruc-
ton. Their excellence fully explained by remark Of
of the most skul teachers in those schools, My girls
very apt grow careless in their drawing and writing,
except when preparing specimens to send abroad when they
always do their best II is proper here 10 remark that
within five years past many thousand specimens Of the work
of The New York pupils have been sent abroad only TO
every section OF country but TO mary sections of all
countries This work Of the New York Public Schools has
not only given them, in many respects the very first place
among the schools Of country hut shows the principal
origin and of the prevailing and pervadng interest now
existing in country for universal educatop especially
thorough knowledge Of the practical Sciences applied to
the most practical purposes in the daily pursuits OF all classes
ard all sections of the human family.
With the request that you will pardon the length Of this
explanation, intended to be embraced in few words,
main, my dear sirs, your often obliged friend,
""@ JOSIAH HOLBROOK.