excited by the report that an Englishman, employed at San Juan by the Patriots as an agent and spy, had arrived. Many of them evinced a kindly feeling in my favour, who evidently dared not express themselves in other language than that of pity and regret for my present situation. Others there were who cursed me as an insurgent, a spy, a pirate, and a heretic-but these were few in number compared with others, who never retired from the grating without throwing something into the cell, so that in the course of the morning the floor was covered over with cakes, gingerbread, cheese, chocolate, cigars, and not a few quartos, medios, reals, dollars, and other coins. In this whimsical situation I found myself placed, like a wild beast in a cage, unable, if ever so much inclined, to withdraw for one moment from observation. I had this consolation, however, that nearly all my visitors seemed to consider themselves bound to pay something for the sight, or contribute towards my support. Many of them, who were evidently afraid of being observed by those attached to the existing government, hastily threw money into the cell and withdrew; almost every one who peeped in had a cigar in his mouth, and the smoke and heat became so intolerable that I found myself in danger of suffocation, which obliged me to beg a few minutes' respite, that fresh air might be admitted. When the smoke began to disperse, I set myself to collect the various articles which had been thrown into my cell; and was agreeably surprised to find that the contributions in cash amounted to twenty-seven dollars, besides sweetmeats, chocolate, cheese, gingerbread, cigars, &c. sufficient for several weeks' consumption.”—pp. 202–204.

We cannot follow Mr. Roberts in his subsequent fortunes, neither can we combine into any condensed form the various topics of information which he derived from his journey to Leon, and his leisurely return to the coast. We recommend all those fond of sympathising with the accidents of a seafaring life, and more particularly those who are anxious to enlarge their knowledge of the countries lately raised to the rank of nations, to the book itself.

FRENCH CHARITY SCHOOLS.

UNDER this head it was our intention to have given an article entitled French National Schools; a few Sibylline leaves having fallen within our reach, casting some glimpses of light on rather a dark subject, viz. the state of which we, in our ignorance and simplicity, might understand by the term French National System of Education; since schools of a similar nature and constitution are so defined in our country, each diffusing, as from a central point, information and instruction like the concentric circles undulating from the spot whence stone has fallen upon the smooth surface of the waters. But we regret to add, that the term national, if intended to convey an idea of encouragement or approbation from government, must be entirely obliterated, for in liberal expanded systems of education for the lower orders the higher powers share not and delight not. We would moreover premise, that our readers must by no means expect a full or perfect account quoad the effect or extent of the French systems, such as they are; for although we have reason to believe that our researches, aided and directed by no despicable guidance, penetrated somewhat deeply into the recesses of the subject, such is the difficulty in Paris of procuring minute and satisfactory information on any required point, that we should never deem its depths or ramifications to have been completely fathomed, unless, gifted with the surveillance of the police itself, we had explored our way through the intricate

mazes of the French capital. The truth of this remark will, we are sure, be admitted by every person who has, like ourselves, journeyed from fauxbourg to fauxbourg with a laudable and insatiable curiosity for collecting wherewith to satisfy the longings of an appetite hungering after some favourite pursuit. We need scarcely remind such persons that Paris is not like London. With us, where every public or private institution forms a fair subject of examination and discussion, into the merits of which, as members of a free country, we have a presumptive right to inquire indefinitely, few events of the slightest notoriety or interest are unknown, and every scheme for good or evil is as rapidly disseminated for public investigation as if proclaimed from Charing-cross by the trumpet of a royal herald. But, in Paris, owing to the character of its government, men and manners assume a very different form; and what is not (under peculiar circumstances) powerfully forced into public notice, such as the museums, Louvre, libraries, and a few other institutions, where a freedom of admission is allowed, which we wish were the case in some similar institutions in this country, stands little chance of attracting attention beyond the immediate limits of its direct effect on the verge of its physical or moral position. We have deemed these preliminary observations necessary as an apology, should our information appear defective, or fall short of what might be reasonably expected upon a subject so accessible to all on this side the British channel.

A Parisian visitor in London has himself alone to blame if he fails to acquire information sufficient to gratify his most sanguine expectations: let him but step into Messrs. Hatchard's or Rivington's, and he will be directed to almost every charitable institution of note in the metropolis, and ascertain the character of each. Alas, we went many a weary and unavailing round through the shops of Parisian booksellers: in vain we addressed such of the clergy as chance threw in our way: the dealers in literature, and superintendants of morals, were alike silent or ignorant. All we can therefore say, in favour of what we have to describe, is simply this, that we were indebted to an enlightened and intelligent resident in Paris, (to whom the moral wants and necessities of the teeming population of that corrupt city were well known, and for whose amelioration his wealth and energies were liberally expended,) for a list of the best of those schools founded upon our improved system of education, and known in Paris by the title of "Les Ecoles d'Enseignement Mutuel ;" and further, that in` introducing our readers to those establishments, we shall, with the addition of such casual remarks as struck us in our progress, and such details as personal inspection enables us to afford, give those who wish to visit them an opportunity of forming a tolerable opinion of what might be fairly expected should the enlightening hand of time bear them up amidst existing difficulties, and systematic opposition of princes or priests, who would simultaneously crush the uprising of an æra in their country from which the most salutary results might be expected. But before we proceed, we feel constrained to notice a piece of information which may not a little surprise those who have hitherto supposed that to Bell and Lancaster, jointly or individually, Europe is indebted for the introduction of those systems with which their names are usually associated. Not so; our inventive neighbour according

to custom, from the steam-engine to the kaleidoscope, assume priority in the discovery by half a century; for thus we find their claims announced at the head of a "Courte Notice" on the subject of national education:-" Vers l'an 1747, Herbalt inventa la Méthode d'Enseignement Mutuel, et il l'appliqua à une Ecole de 300 Eléves confiès à ses soins, dans l'Hôspice de la Pitié, à Paris ;" and for its introduction into England we are further informed that we are altogether indebted to M. Gaultier, who founded a school in London in 1792 or 1793, about ten years before the similar establishments of Lancaster and Bell were heard of. Not being over anxious again to call upon the stage of controversy this long-ago hotly-contested question, we shall leave the verdict of priority of right in the hands of better judges than ourselves, and forthwith enter upon our more immediate subject.

Of these soi disant national schools we visited seven, viz.

FOR BOYS.

1. M. Badareau's, rue St. Jean de Beauvois.

2. M. de Verlcourt's, à la Tralle aux Draps.
3. M. Boulet's, rue St. Ambroise.

4. M. Moyencourt's, rue de Seine.

FOR GIRLS.

5. Mme. Guignon's, rue de le Tonnellerie.

6. Mlle. Le Lievre's, enclos St. Jean de Lateran.

7. Mlle. Lucherre's, rue de Pont de Lodi.

The first of these, that of M. Badareau, is established in a fine old chapel or convent, a dilapidated remnant of the Revolution, containing a space of about 170 square yards, being exclusive of a recess at the end 50 feet long by 30 wide. The usual number of scholars on the books varied from 300 to 350. The present muster amounted to about 320, dressed in a simple clean uniform composed of blue smock-frocks with a neat belt round the middle. The area was fitted up, as in our Lancasterian schools with benches, leaving a sufficient space for free communication in every direction. The weekly course of instruction is nearly similar throughout the year. The forenoon of each day is taken up with a certain portion of reading, writing, and arithmetic. In the afternoon of each day catechisms and various religious exercises are introduced; in addition to which, in the afternoons of Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday, drawing is taught; on the Wednesday and Thursday evenings a certain time is exclusively devoted to singing; which, it should be observed, formed also part of their regular exercise, particularly at the commencement and conclusion of the school-hours. On Saturday, before dismissal, thirteen very excellent simple rules, of a moral and religious tendency, are repeated by the classes, that all might have them thoroughly imprinted on the memory.

We are prepared to hear, in the above enumeration of elementary lessons, some surprise at the admission of music and drawing; but we doubt whether any person, however strong may be his prejudice or objections, could witness the effect without giving his entire and unqualified sanction to what might have been heretofore considered as superfluous innovations. The drawing consists chiefly in giving steadiness to the hand and accuracy to the eye, by a judicious selection of out

lines and simple figures applicable to almost every mechanical profession. Thus the master, or the monitor by his order, directs a class in an audible voice to describe a square, a circle, or a triangle, the copy of which, if necessary, he draws in chalk, and exhibits on a large black board. These are again ordered to be divided, sub-divided, or doubled at pleasure, so as to form uniform, and often not inelegant, patterns; and as these figures are to be described without rule, compass, or any other mechanical aid, it is obvious that accuracy and truth must result, as was manifested in the neatness and clearness of touch in several architectural outlines by children from seven to nine years of age, equally gratifying and surprising. The introduction of vocal music, we think, still less deserving of animadversion; for whatever may be the objections urged against drawing on the grounds of inexpediency, we cannot consider singing in any other light than an useful, or at all events, an innocent appendage to popular education. In the first place it tends incalculably to enliven the dull monotony and wearisome routine of many a poor scholar's daily task. In our national schools we have witnessed, with any thing but feelings of satisfaction, class after class going through the clock-work business, inflicted without reference to age, sex, temper, or disposition, according to the letter and tittle of Dr. Bell's instructions-issued like the laws of the Medes and Persians, never to be broken or interrupted by the inflexible superintendents of our national establishments. There may be, nay, we are free to admit, that there actually is a much more lively flow of blood in a Parisian child's veins, than is discoverable in the juvenile inmates of Baldwin's-gardens; but we feel quite confident that much of the pleasant cheerful vivacity we beheld in the school of M. Badareau was attributable to his judicious introduction of vocal music. It was beautiful, we may add affecting, to witness the merry animated countenances of his 300 children now bursting forth in one simultaneous chorus, in another moment softening down to little more than a murmur, gay or grave as the air or song were changed; while the classes marched in quick or slow time in single or double file round the room, or deployed in sections to take their appointed places, M. Badareau elevated in the midst of them, regulating the whole like a master-spirit by the tap of a wand on the bench whereon he stood, each class saluting respectfully as it passed its chief. We observed one little fellow dart from his rank for the purpose of pouring water for the favourite cat from a tall jug which puss had been in vain attempting to reach, and having performed his benevolent mission, rejoined his comrades with an arch and complacent look, falling again. instantly into the step, and taking up the note of the hymn they were chaunting. M. Badareau is certainly a very superior character-his manner, though simple and unpretending, is decisive, his words few and to the point he seems to have infused his own zeal and energy into every department. The monitors evidently took a pride in the discipline and arrangement of their classes; every movement was made with the utmost quickness and precision, and every order executed with a smartness, reminding us of the service of a ship of war, without its severity; and, as a final proof of the perfection of this school, established in the very St. Giles's of Paris, not an idle whisper was heard; and silence, we need scarcely add, must, by all who pretend JAN. 1828.

C

to any practical knowledge of schools, be admitted as the surest test of a master's superiority and fitness for his situation. The expences are defrayed by the city of Paris; and M. Chablot, of whom we shall speak hereafter, attends at the distribution of prizes, notwithstanding the infirmities of age, rendered still more acute by frequent attacks of gout.

M. Verlcourt's school, little if at all inferior to M. Badareau's, comes next under observation. It is held in a large room, forming part of the Halle aux Draps, divided longitudinally into two compartments, in one of which the scholars dine: the other, in length about 60 feet and 30 wide, fitted up nearly in the style of M. Badareau's, with benches, &c. being appropriated to instruction, and calculated for the accommodation of about 400 children, though the average attendance seldom exceeds 350. The course of education appeared rather of a higher cast than that adopted in the school of St. Jean de Lateran, for history was superadded; in a work of no great merit, however, overloaded with the worst part of M. Feinagle's complicated system of artificial memory.* The arrangements for the Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are as follows:

The singing in this school having been but recently introduced, though very tolerable, was by no means equal to that at M. Badareau's; but as an hour on three days in the week was exclusively devoted to it, no doubt an equal proficiency will soon be attained. The drawing in this school was in many instances excellent; and, as in the preceding case, the monitors (who have access to a small library selected for their use) manifested much zeal and attention in the performance of their duties. Having been rather minute in our details respecting two of these schools for boys, it will be unnecessary to particularise those of M. Boulet and M. Moyencourt, which are conducted much on the same plan. The number of scholars varies. In the school of the latter there were about 200 present. Of the girl schools, we are inclined to give Madame Guignon's the preference, being calculated for a greater number than the others, viz. about 500. The room, a finely arched and well aired apartment, about 70 feet long and 35 wide, like that of M. Verlcourt's, is connected with the

*Tableau Historiques des Peuples Modernes Europeens, par Mlle. L. de St. Ouen. Paris, rue Haute-Feuille, No. 18, 1825.

† A selection of hymns, with airs, has been prepared by Mr. B. Wilhem, rue St. Dennis, pres le Boulevard, No. 374, where they may be procured. Also, Musique des Cantiques à l'Usage des Infans, par M. Amoros.