[No. LXXVIII. j THE TABLET. No. LXXVIII. " People never misapply their economy so muik t as when they make mean provision for the education oj children." THE essay, contained in this aild the two fol lowing numbers of the Tablet, points out foine of the most ui'ual defeats of country schools. It was written by ayoung gentleman, some years ago, who in travelling through the country saw, in a very forcible light, the evils he has describ ed. The author calls it one of his juvenile per formances ; but the remarks are judicious, and the expressions clear and pointed. It is hoped it will prove entertaining to the reader. " THOUGH man is faidtohold the lowest rank in the intellectual system, he is still supposed to have a foul, wbofe powers are susceptible of end less progressive improvement. We come into the world with minds totally unfurnilhed with ideas ; but, like white paper, capable of receiving and retaining any notions, good or bad, which edu cation or accident firft happens to impress. The perverse actions of men demonstrate the danger of imbibing wrong ideas and forming bad habits, and the difficulty of correcting or removing them afterwards. This consideration fliould make those who superintend the education of children, particularly cautious that their firft instruCtions fliould be the best. To cultivate the faculties of the human mind, and to enlarge and improve its powers has ever been considered, by the ci vilized parr of mankind, as an objed: of the ut inoft concern. The general institution of schools in this country is a full proof that its inhabitants are convinced of their utility and importance. But from fear of expence, from want of inter est, from careleflnefs, from ignorance, or from some other causes, it happens that most of the schools amongst us are under very defective re gulations. They are placed on so difadvan- a footing, that the design of parents, which is to give their children the best education with the least expence, is unfortunately defeat ed. Having attentively observed the defeats which attend the common method of education, and being fully convinced that much money is expended in that way to little effeCt, I am indu ced to make a few remarks on the fubjed. My observations are calculated more particularly for the common schools in the country. In the firft place, I would oblerve that the houses built tor fchoois are very inconvenient, very expenlive and ill adapted to answer the end for which they are intended. The design of an house seems to be to shelter us from the inclemen cy of the weather ; and one would think, that to ere«ft a building that would not answer this purpose, is to mifpend time and to lavish away money. But the school-houses in the country are, some of them at least, such wretched thin (hells, that in extreme weather, the largest fire that can be built in them will not render children com fortable, at any distance from it. Besides, the extraordinary quantity of wood, which inuft ne cefTarily be consumed, in such houses, is a consi deration that ought to have influence in a coun tjy, where wood is in so great demand. There is another ill confeqnence of more importance, though less attended to by people in general ; which is, that such schools are less beneficial to the children. If the master keeps thdni at their bu linefs, where they ought to be kept, at a distance from the fire, they fit shivering with cold and never look on a book ; and if he permits them to croud round the fire, they will puffi andabufe each other, and the master's ears will be ftnnned with the din of endless complaints. The molt that a master can do, at such a time, is to prevent andredrefs these petty injuries ; and he may think himfelf happy to do that to fatisfaCtion. In such an house, where a child has 110 higher ambition than to get warm, it is folly to expeCt he will re ceive much benefit. As parents fend their chil dren to school for some other purpose than mere ly to keep warm, the house should be so comfor table, that they can have 110 need to approach the fire. A master might than govern them with much less difficulty, and his instruCtions would be attended with better success. Brick houses are muchtobeprefered, not only as they are cooler in summer, and warmer in winter, but because they are less liable to accident and damage from mis chievous boys. Children fliould likewise be furnifhed with drawers, locks and keys, where they might lay their books and papers in fafety : Otherwise they will be obliged, as is too much the cafe, to throw them down upon a table or a bench, where they may be undefignedly bruflied off, trodden on, md tore to pieces. When I mention drawers, 1 A ] U K. D A Y January 9, 1790. iuppofe that children have books at i'chool ; for ihofe that have none will have no need of draw erS' . Sculling but the absolute impossibility of obtaining books will render negligence in this relpe." guardian's virtues, you forget, or pass unnoticed, loine of her molt remarkable achievements. This patro-theos, or tutelar faint, of yours, had well nigh wrested Independence from the States : They were floating,in atempeftuous sea, 011 the last plank of the wreck, and, to prevent finking, they were forced to solicit aid from their new alliance : By this aid, it is true, they were enabled to regain the rtiore of fafety ; but the re quisition left a foul stain* upon the States ; be cause, in the beginning, an army fufttcient for the great pili poses of the Union might have been rai led, and kept complete to the end of the war : But, it seems, this tender eyed guardian of our liberty could not behold a [landing army ! Such, Jealoufy,are thy mighty works i for which let the United States extol thy glorious name, and the inhabitants thereof obey thy wife commands ? From tliefe premises, then; this conclusion is clear, that jealousy is an excellent centinel, but a very bad commandant. Arm it, then, as a centinel ought to be armed, at all points ; but make it forever obedient to the orders of Reason, which the SU GREAT PREME hath been pleased to make Commander in Chief in the Republic of Man.— If you fupercede, or disobey great comman der, instead of laurels you will secure to your selves disgrace, perhaps ruin. In the delightful realms of Hymen, if Jealousy be ever admitted, it turns to bitternefa the choi cest sweets, poisons the delicious banquet, and revels in mifcliieflike a devil unchained : So like wise, in the world of politics, if it ever gain the ascendant, it throws every thing into a ferment, destroys mutual confidence, ana rages like Luci fer, with all his imps at his heels. The dignity, the order, the happiness, of such a government, are obvious ; and, if they enchant the wife and good, where lies the wonder ? But tho ill-founded jealousy, or jealousy con trary to reason, should be considered, as in fa(ft it is, the fruitful source of evil, yet it is by no means prudent or fafe to repose on the pillar of f'ecurity, when the ax is laid to the root. The advice of Apollo, " All extremes avoid,"f merits general adoption ; though filort, it is com* prehenlive,and applies to every cafe ; for all ex tremes are vicious, and there are certain boun daries on neither fide of which is it pollible to a - void error.f It is the region of Folly, and amidst the infinite variety of her slower-strewed paths there is not one in which the man of rectitude can walk. Such a country as this of Folly's, is that in which Jealousy reigns supreme : Yet this differ ence should be ■ bferveJ : In the suite of Folly, Malice is but rarely seen ; but, in the suite of Jea lousy, theie are numberless fpiritsas malicious as old Belzebub can make them. Scorn then, my countrymen, to commit your selves to such a ruler: Consult Reafen, and hear ken to the voice of Experience. A Conttitution all-perfedt and complete is not to be expecfted, and aLegiflature instantly reprobate toevery good work, for which it was created a Legislature, is not to be apprehended : Like the Lindamira In damora of Scriblerus, they are both "ov? of nature. But suppose the worlt, however improbable it may be ; suppose that, contiary to the usual pro gress in villainy, you should have a Legislature that shall violate their oaths as soon as taken, and pounce with the rapidity of an eagle upon your precious quarry, yet why despair of the Commonwealth ? Such conducfl might and should alarm you : But, if you will be but just to your selves, I mean, if you will be but true to your oath, much mifchief they cannot do to the States ; for, you being their political creators, you have in your own hands an effe&ual remedy : You can clap an extinguisher upon them, and put them out. A FEDERALIST. NOTES. * This remark applies only to the troop! of France : Her ships were essential ; for a naval force it was not in the power of the States to ejiablifh. A (landing army ! IVas there ever a more absurd idea conceived even by Folly ? It was to Hand only during the conflict, and that, every one knows, u ne cessary to in fur: success. f Medio tutiffimus ibis. Ovid. i. Eft modus in rebus. Suntctrti denique fines y !?c.