On the Formation of Character.

The

IT is observed by a very celebrated writer, “that the educator's care, above all things, should be, first, to lay in his charge the foundation of religion and virtue." If then this is the first care, how important is it to take the first opportunity of instilling such principles into infant minds, before they are overcharged with principles of an opposite nature. It has likewise been observed, and 'perhaps, with some truth, "that the human soul is never idle, that if the mind is not occupied with something good, it must needs employ itself about something evil.” chief end and design of an infant school, is to keep the mind employed about what is innocent and useful; and therefore teaching children to read, write, and so on, are regarded as secondary objects. Many have been taught to read and write well, and have had, what is usually called, a good education; but inasmuch as they have not been taught their duty to God, and to each other, they have frequently launched out into every species of vice, and their education has only served to render them more formidable and dangerous to the rest of the community.

If we inquire the cause why men have been so loose in their principles, and vicious

in their conduct, it seems to be, that in the places of education, of all ranks, until lately, too little attention has been paid to religious instruction. "Too many," says Dr. Fuller,

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are more careful to bestow wit on their children, rather than virtue, the art of speaking well, rather than doing well;" whereas, their morals ought to be the chief concern: to be prudent, honest, good, and virtuous, are infinitely higher accomplishments, than being learned, rhetorical, metaphysical, or, that which the world usually calls, great scholars and fine gentlemen. A virtuous education for children, is to them a better inheritance, than a great estate: and here I cannot help observing, that much good might be done by establishing Infant Schools in Ireland; ignorance and idleness are the forerunners of much mischief, and it is well known that the lower classes of the Irish people have been much neglected in their education. At a meeting of the “ Society for the promotion of Education in Scotland," at which one of the Royal Dukes presided, and who, likewise, took occasion to eulogize the Society, it was observed, that the effects of it were to be seen in the peaceable conduct of the poor in Scotland. Mr. H. in the course of the evening, said that about 100 years ago, the lower classes in Scotland were in the same ignorant and depraved condi

tion as that in which the corresponding classes of Ireland were now. The only remedy for the evil in Ireland was in spreading education amongst them. He had been in three quarters of the globe, and he never was on a spot in which he did not find a Scotchman established; but the Scotchman was always found by him in a situation of trust.

We find, by sad experience, that children often imbibe vicious principles; while in their cradle they will watch our motions and notice our actions, and be those actions good or bad, they will copy them, and manifest them, in their own conduct, as soon as they are able. How extremely cautious, then, ought we to be, in whatever we do or say before children; and how zealous ought we to be in checking the very first appearance of evil in the infant mind. But how can this be done, without taking them out of the streets? will the parents do it? many cannot the father goes to his daily labour in the morning, before the children are out of bed, and probably does not return until the children are in bed again at night. The mother, in many cases, goes out also, because the father's earnings will not support the family in this case, if they were ever so disposed to instruct their children, they cannot do it; what then is the consequence?

the children are intrusted to the care of some girl, whose parents, probably, are still poorer, and who are glad to let her earn something towards her support. I know numbers who go out in this way before they are twelve years old; those children are not qualified to check the first appearance of evil in their little charge: poor things! they have received no education themselves, but what they acquired in the streets, and this is readily taught those under their care, and it in general consists of deceit, lying, pilfering, and extreme filthiness. The parents are, perhaps, strangers to all these dangers to which their little ones are exposed; they inquire, when they come home, if the children have been good and quiet, and an answer in the affirmative is always ready. Let what will have happened during their absence, they will be kept in the dark concerning it, unless they are informed by some neighbour. I have known the children of such persons to be the pest of the whole neighbourhood. What kind of character can be expected from such tuition as this? Is it not a charity to take care of the children of such persons? most unquestionably it is.

There are other children, whose parents work at home, who are as bad off, if not worse; indeed, there are many children in the school, whose fathers are so lost to

every principle of duty and humanity, that as soon as they receive their wages, they will go and get drunk, and leave their wives and children starving at home. When they return home, they will curse and swear, and beat both wife and children. I know many of this description, who care not whether their children curse and swear, lie and steal, as long as they can enjoy their pot-companions. One family in particular, I know, where there are seven children, two of which are in the school, and four of them are supported entirely by the exertions of the mother, who has declared to me, that she has not received one shilling from the father for a month together; all the money that he gets, he keeps to himself, and his family may starve and go naked for what he cares. He is not only a great drunkard, but a reprobate, and he beats and ill uses the poor woman besides. Again, I say, what can be expected from the offspring, with such an example as this before them? -the brutes are far before such men.*

*This man has since been called into the eternal world, where he must give an account of the deeds done in the body. His death was such as might be expected from such a character: he would have given a world for that consolation and serenity which is experienced by the man of piety and virtue. What a dreadful sight to see such a man in his dying