the mind of the child. It presents it in an intelligible form, and prepares him for a future advance. Here he would begin other courses. The characteristic of the second stage is analytical. We must go on and take the characteristic forms of the continents. And here, the pupil must be required to construct a map from memory.

He proceeded to illustrate these views in an exceedingly interesting manner, with charts; and, among others, he presented and explained outline maps of Germany, in which, by means of a description of the mountains and rivers, the way is prepared for understanding the civil geography of that most intricate portion of Europe. The historical importance of this, he said, was incalculable, as the history of the middle ages was identified with this country. And also that the civil divisions of the country accord with the physical separation of territories, so that they are a kind of reprint of the natural divisions; and the consolidation of Germany is almost a physical impossibility, while France is one great open country.

After the lecture, Mr. HUNTINGTON read a letter from Lieutenant Governor POND, who is soon to became the acting Governor of the State, expressing his regret at not being able to attend the meeting, with the deep interest he felt in the object.

On motion of Mr. BAKER, of Gloucester, the usual votes of thanks were passed, beginning with a complimentary resolution to Mr. THAYER, the late President.

Mr. THAYER responded to the vote of thanks, and said he had been twenty-three years an officer in this Institute, and had felt proud and gratified in all the posts to which he had been called.

He had hoped, on declining a reëlection to the presidency, to be permitted to retire to a private station; but as the Institute had thought proper to decide otherwise, he should acquiesce in silence, in the position they had assigned him.

He rejoiced to leave the chair of the Institute at a time of such remarkable prosperity in the Association. It never was more flourishing. There had been in attendance on the present session, a larger number of the original members than at any session in the last ten years. Delegates from, at least, seventeen different States had been with us, and a lively interest was manifested by all.

He congratulated the Institute on the choice of so able, worthy, and accomplished a successor as they had made, and doubted not that, under his guidance, it would continue to thrive and do good for many years yet to come.

In addressing the teachers, he took occasion to allude to some remarks made on the first day of the session, respecting position, which he should be sorry to see carried out in the school-room. He would not like to allow pupils to assume all imaginable positions. While there should be frequent change of position, a proper one should always be required. In all the schools with which he was acquainted, there was a sufficiently frequent change of position. He did not believe the statements which had been made in regard to the curvature of the spine among the ladies. He was sure that the cases as stated, were exaggerated in number and in frequency. He could not say how it

might be in fashionable society, where young ladies live in luxurious indolence, keeping late hours, turning day into night, &c., but he knew it was not true of the substantial class of society.

The best calisthenics or gymnastics, he said, were to be found in the domestic labor of the family. He believed this was the best means to prevent the curvature of the spine. He did not believe that the gentlemen who had made these remarks, would like to see the "rompings which they recommended, in the streets of New Haven, or in their own drawing-rooms. If they had private accommodations on their own premises, it might do. But we must pay some regard to publie opinion.

Mr. THAYER proceeded to give words of wholesome advice and encouragement to the younger portion of the teachers, and, in bidding them farewell, gave them a cordial welcome to Chauncy Hall School, over which he presided in Boston.

Mr. HUNTINGTON, Mr. BABCOCK, and Dr. HOOKER, responded on behalf of Connecticut and New Haven, and the meeting was closed with the Doxology, to the tune of "Old Hundred.”

The meeting was one of great interest throughout. It was gratifying to see so able a body of teachers, to the number of five or six hundred, assembled for the purpose of advancing the cause of education; and the high character of all the exercises must tend to elevate the teacher's profession in the estimation of the public.

OFFICERS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF INSTRUCTION, FOR THE YEARS 1853-4.

President. Thomas Sherwin, Boston.

Vice Presidents. John Kingsbury, Providence, R. I.; Samuel Pettes, Roxbury; Barnas Sears, Newton; Gideon F. Thayer, Boston; Horace Mann, Yellow Springs, O.; Geo. N. Briggs, Pittsfield; Benj. Greenleaf, Bradford; Dan'l Kimball, Needham; Wm. Russell, Lancaster; Henry Barnard, Hartford, Conn.; Wm. H. Wells, Newburyport; Dyer H. Sanborn, Hopkinton, N.H.; Alfred Greenleaf, Brooklyn, N. Y.; Cyrus Peirce, Waltham; Solomon Adams, Boston; Nathan Bishop, Boston; Wm. D. Swan, Boston; Charles Northend, Salem; Samuel S. Greene, Providence, R. I.; Roger S. Howard, Bangor, Me.; Benjamin Labaree, Middlebury, Vt.; Thomas Cushing, Jr., Boston; Rufus Putnam, Salem; Ariel Parish, Springfield; Leander Wetherell, Rochester, N. Y.; Ethan A. Andrews, New Britain, Ct.; Thomas Baker, Gloucester; John Batchelder, Lynn; Daniel Leach, Roxbury; Amos Perry, Providence, R. I.; Nathan Hedges, Newark, N. J.; Christopher T. Keith, Providence, R. I.; Lorin Andrews, Columbus, Ohio; John D. Philbrick, New Britain, Ct. ; Xenophon Heywood, Troy, N. Y. ¿

James F. Babcock, New Haven, Ct.; Thomas H. Burrowes, Lancaster, Pa.

Recording Secretary. D. B. Hagar, Jamaica Plain.

Corresponding Secretaries. George Allen, Jr., Boston; Charles J. Capen, Boston.

Treasurer. William D. Ticknor, Boston.

Curators. Nathan Metcalf, Boston; Jacob Batchelder, Lynn ; Samuel Swan, Boston.

Censors. William J. Adams, Boston; Joseph Hale, Boston; Joshua Bates, Jr., Boston.

Counsellors. Daniel Mansfield, Cambridge; Samuel W. King, Lynn; D. P. Galloup, Salem; A. A. Gamwell, Providence, R. I. ; Elbridge Smith, Cambridge; Solomon Jenner, New York; F. N. Blake, Barnstable; Charles Hutchins, Providence, R. I.; Leonard Hazletine, New York; David S. Rowe, Westfield; Samuel W. Bates, Boston; D. N. Camp, New Britain, Ct.

THE CAUSE IN CONNECTICUT.

AMONG the very pleasing elements of the meeting at New Haven, of which we give a full report this month, was the organization of a State Teachers' Association. The "live" teahers in that State are bestirring themselves in earnest, and they appear to have engraven "NO FAIL on their frontlets.

Eight years ago, in some of the counties there was not a single permanent teacher employed. Now they are found in all the counties of the State. Graded schools have been organized in all the cities and principal manufacturing villages, in which are employed men who intend to make teaching a profession. The salaries of teachers have risen more than fifty per cent. in the last five years. A large number. of beautiful and costly school houses have been erected, and measures taken to educate teachers for the same.

The State Normal School which was opened in New Britain three and a half years since, has received the warm commendation of the Governor in his annual messages, and at the last meeting of the Legislature was placed upon a substantial basis, by the appropriation of $4000 a year for five years. About six hundred teachers have already enjoyed the benefits of the institution. Teachers' Institutes have been held annually in every county during the last five years.

The last Legislature authorized the employment of convicts in the State Prison at Wethersfield to manufacture 'school apparatus, and sets are to be furnished to towns at half price.

The following individuals were elected officers of the State Teachers' Association, for the year ensuing:

President, E. B. Huntington, Waterbury; V. President, Wm. H. Russell, New Haven Co., N. P. Barrows, Hartford Co., G. Sherwood, Litchfield Co., E. A. Lawrence, Fairfield Co., S. Chase, Middlesex Co., L. S. Camp, New London Co., E. T. Fitch, S. Windham Co., E. F. Strong, Tolland Co.; Recording Secretary, D. N. Camp, New Britain; Corresponding Secretary, J. D. Philbrick, New Britain; Treasurer, F. C. Brownell, Wallingford.

The Association resolved to publish a periodical. Over three hundred dollars were pledged for its support, on the spot, and a fair list of subscribers obtained in addition. Macti pueri! May success attend you.

CONNECTICUT STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.

THIS body was organized several years since, but hitherto it has not been very efficient in its operations. At_the_recent meeting of the American Institute of Instruction at New Haven, efforts were made to revive it and to unite the teachers of Connecticut under its banner. A new board of officers was elected, and as Mr. Barnard had announced his determination to dissolve his connection with the Common School Journal for Connecticut, which he has so long and so ably conducted, it was determined to establish a "Teachers' Paper" for the State. The sum of four hundred dollars was pledged on the spot to sustain it one year. A board of editors was appointed, consisting of the following gentlemen; Henry Barnard, John D. Philbrick, David N. Camp, E. B. Huntington, T. W. T. Curtis, and E. A. Lawrence. They do not expect, however, to do without the Massachusetts Teacher.

The next annual meeting will be held some time in October. The precise time and place will be announced in due time.

TEACHERS' INSTITUTES IN CONNECTICUT FOR 1853.

During the month of October, one Institute will be held in each County of the State. The precise time of holding the several Institutes has not been fixed. The following are the places named: Southington, Branford, Middletown, Brookfield, Winsted, South Coventry, Plainfield, Mystic Bridge.

D. N. Camp, Professor in the State Normal School of Connecticut, received at the recent commencement of Yale College, the honorary degree of A. M.

M. T. Brown, Esq., who was for four years the principal of the North Grammar School in Manchester, N. H., from which place he was last spring called to the honorable and responsible post of Principal of the Model Department of the Connecticut State Normal School at New Britain, has lately been appointed Principal of the George Street Grammar School in New Haven, with the salary of $1200 a year. The people of New Haven have waked up to the importance of improving their system of public schools. They have commenced in the right way. They erected an excellent building and furnished it with the Boston school furniture. They then said, "We must have a first rate teacher, and we are willing to pay a first rate price." Mr. Brown has already earned a high reputation in New Hampshire. New Haven now stands next to Boston, in the salary paid to teachers of grammar schools.

At the recent commencement of Hamilton College the honorary degree of A. M. was conferred upon J. W. Bulkley, of Williamsburgh, N. Y. Mr. Bulkley has done much to make the profession of teaching respectable. He has been president of the N. Y. State Teachers' Association, and has been for some time principal of a very large public school in Williamsburg. Recently, he has been appointed Principal of the Normal School, about to be established in that city on a plan similar to that in the city of New. York.

The next annual meeting of the Connecticut State Teachers' Association will be held at Middletown, commencing on the evening of the 24th of October, and continuing through the 25th. Teachers from the neighboring States are cordially invited to attend.

CONNECTICUT STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.

Mr. J. W. Tuck, the late accomplished sub-master of the Washington School, Roxbury, has been appointed to one of the Professorships in the State Normal School, Conn. Mr. Vose, of Milton, succeeds Mr. Tuck,- Salary, $600.

PERSONAL ITEM.

Mr. L. L. Camp, a graduate of the Connecticut State Normal School, has been appointed principal of a Grammar School in New London, with the salary of $700.

The article which we promised to insert in this number of the Teacher, has been necessarily omitted, to make room for the report of the transactions of the American Institute of Instruction.