or to extinct Sabeans. It is better that his mind should be enlarged by commerce with the men of his day, than warped by a half-taught pedagogue. It is better he should speak the language of men with whom he is to come in contact, than spend many years in acquiring what can never be used, save among the tombs of the mummies.

had amassed a considerable fortune by his traffic. | found that there is a fitness in all things-that dalHe had an only son, whom he desired to bring liance with harlots is not an incentive to virtue, nor up to his own business. When the boy came to the company of fools productive of a wise man. be six years of age, his father called a meet- Certain events can only be brought about by the ing of his kinsfolk and friends, to consult with operation of certain causes. Hadst thou intended them as to the course of his son's education. thy son to be a soldier, then thou shouldst teach Among the rest, there came a certain Mufti, who him the arts of horsemanship and to wield the spear. spoke, with an oracular voice, as follows: "My Hadst thou intended him for a Mufti, then the friend, thou sayest it is thy intention to make thy course now advised might have been the best. But, son a trader, now hear my advice. It is well because thou wilt have him a merchant, instruct known that the profession of a merchant requires him in the letters and arts of Arabia, let him learn great quickness of counsel, great promptitude of the courses of the stars that he may hereafter reaction, and an unflinching integrity. Our fathers, cognize his way across the desert. Put into his for some centuries past, have fixed on a prepara- hands the Koran, which shall guide him to virtue. tory course of instruction, well calculated to pro- Let him be taught the history and modes of life of duce these results. We their children are living the people among whom he is to procure his gold witnesses of the correctness of their judgment. It dust and ivory-the language of the men among is well known to you all, my friends, that about whom he has to traffic. He will never sell his three thousand years ago, there existed in those commodities to dead Egyptians, or to Chinese poets, regions where the Nile empties its waters into the great sea, a race of men skilled in all human wisdom and the divination of counsels,-from whom, as it is reported, we have received whatever it is desirable for us to know. Procure, therefore, for this boy, a man well skilled in the learning of that ancient people, who shall teach him to decypher their language, indoctrinate him into their customs, and initiate him into their religion. Now, although the gods of this people were guilty of certain excesses, it shall come to pass that the study of this very thing shall lead the boy to virtue, as also the reading of their curious hieroglyphs shall give him a correct knowledge of the dialect of Mecca. I would also have him taught the writings of the ancient Sabeans—a people residing in a remote period in Persia and by no means omit to translate ten thousand words of the poetry of Chinese, which But among the company were many who folwill give him a taste for beauty of composition, lowed only prescriptive opinion, and Hassan, the and doubtless enable him to write a fair commer-merchant, was induced that evening to hire a tutor cial hand. When he has completed about twelve for his son, who on the morrow began the study of years in these pursuits, I would let him journey to Egyptian literature. view the pyramids, or contemplate the cave of Elephanta,―objects which will expand his mind to a conception of the sublime and beautiful. This done, thy son shall then have his mind so sharpened, as to receive with avidity the secrets of the trading life, and shall prove a successful merchant. Ye have my words."

"And as to any refinement of mind that springs from the use of these antiquated studies-though amongst us Arabians such is said to be the caseyet in a long life I have never seen it. But on the other hand, I have uniformly observed, that those men who had spent all their days in these pursuits, and therefore had become possessed of all the advantages proposed, if any such exist, were uniformly men of indifferent taste and not calculated to bear the shocks of active life.”

Thus, sir, the course of education among us has originated in a cramped view of mankind. There is too much proneness among us, to regard ourselves and the things just around us as UNIVERSAL NATURE. It is a hard thing to cure a man of vanity. You write to me, that the barometer in your study rose yesterday in consequence of an easterly wind; There also was present, the partner of the boy's but it is far more probable, that your barometer father, a man of uncommanding appearance and was affected by atmospheric changes that had ocunready delivery, but who feeling much interest for curred in the remote regions of Central Africa, or the son of his friend, rose and spake: "Ye have even upon the steppes of Tartary, than by the wind heard what the learned Mufti hath said. I am a which whistled round your dwelling. As in the man slow of comprehension-that cannot understand physical, so also in the moral world, we perpetually what the learning of the Egyptians or the Chinese run into error for want of taking a general view of hath to do with us:-one that would suppose it things. Our whole course of study tends to this rebetter to learn Arabic by studying Arabic, than to sult-instead of considering the world as an unity, learn Arabic by studying hieroglyphics. In my we expand ourselves into the representatives of the youth I traversed many nations, and have seen world. We look upon ourselves as the favorites of men of many colors and many climates. I have Heaven; and emulating the example of the natives

of Athens, regard all the rest of mankind as bar- these acknowledge no conquest except that of exbarians. We forget, that there are millions beside termination. us, partakers of the pleasures of human happiness

From nations more advanced than themselves,

and the pangs of human agony-that in the eye of the Greeks freely confess that they drew many of Providence, we are all on a common level, and one their stores of learning. Even without the advancommon lot awaits us all-that there is a due tage of that confession, we should hardly rank them proportion of happiness and of misery poured into on a level with many oriental people. Their disthe cup of each individual, whether it be the camel- tinguishing characteristic was a correctness of taste. driver on the plains of Bagdat, or the QUEEN of the In scientific acquirements they were greatly beBRITISH EMPIRE: not recollecting the lesson taught neath the Hindoos. It is true they possessed the us by one of old, that there is no difference between Elements of Euclid, and gave birth to the Conics the Jew and the Greek; but that there is ONE who of Apollonius; but the Binomial theorem, and many sees us all, and whose kind hand supports us all—| of its far-reaching consequences, were known to the who maketh his sun to shine on the good and the Brahmins. evil-who sendeth his rain on the just, and on the unjust.

"Boy! bid the ruby liquid flow,
Nor let thy pensive heart be sad,
Whate'er the frowning zealots say,
Tell them---their Eden cannot show
A stream so clear as Rocnabad,

A bower so sweet as Mosselay."

The glory-and it is not a small one— of having chiselled the most beautiful statues, is theirs; but the mountains of Persia were rivals of It is feelings like these, arising from confined Parnassus-for the great Epic of FIRDAUSI, is said views, that has influenced our system of public not to shrink from a comparison with the ILIAD of education. In the course of life it has happened HOMER. In the softer and gayer effusions of the to me to see the result. How many of our edu-muse, even later degenerate Persia may give rivals cated young men, who have passed the routine of to ANACREON: her own HAFIZ shall vindicate her— college, and received college honors-how many have you known-who had learned so much as the name of TEMUJIN?-a man, who hardly half a dozen centuries ago, propagated at the point of the sword, one of the leading doctrines of the French revolution-who ruled over an empire of greater extent, and of vaster riches, than the Roman in its palmiest days-who put to death one-fortieth part of the whole human family-before whose greatness, as human greatness is measured, the fame of Pompey and Cæsar fades away. How many have you known, who could repeat the history of Timur?-whose empire was bounded on one side by the seas of China, and on the other extended into the heart of Europe. They have been told, that there was no battle like Pharsalia-no monarch like Augustus-no city like Rome. They have never known, that whilst the contemptible kings of Europe could not even write their names, there were monarchs in Asia, ruling over millions of men, skilled in the most difficult parts of human knowledge, and accomplishing conquests as much by their science as their arms. That whilst Europe was plunged in the most benighted ignorance, HuLACK, the royal grandson of Tamerlane, thought it more honorable to be accounted the first astronomer of his age, than the emperor of all Asia.

If you ask me, what people have contributed more to the advancement of the intellect of the world than the Greeks, I would point you at once to the Saracens. Who was it that dispelled the gloom of the dark ages?—the Saracens. Who was it that introduced into many parts of the world the learning of Greece itself?-the Saracens. Who taught us Algebra, that amazing engine of intellectuality?-the Saracens. Who was it, that on the sandy plains of Arabia determined the magnitude of this earth?-the Saracens. Who was it that brought experimental chemistry from the East?— the Saracens. Who was it that gave us the very first elements of our commonest knowledge?—who taught us the first principles of arithmetic?-the Saracens. The invention of the cypher, will hereafter be regarded as one of the most capital results that the wit and genius of man has ever produced : to ascribe to that little emblem so many curious properties-to combine them in so many harmonious ways, and from means apparently so slenFrom the Romans-a race distinguished from der-to convert arithmetic from one of the most the Etruscans, the former inhabitants of Italy, by obscure and most unintelligible, to the most perfect their neglect of the fine arts-by their conquests of of all the sciences, required a mind skilled in oriviolence-by one single glimmering of literature, ginal research, and stored with untold hoards of and by an inordinate ignorance-we turn to the in- knowledge. The old numerals in use among the habitants of Greece with far more pleasure. There Greeks and Romans, rendered it a matter of no we see a race characterized by that same love of small difficulty to perform the simplest operations freedom, which we admire so much in our own of numbers. Our merchants seldom think, that aboriginal natives-that cold courage, which having they owe all the facilities with which they arrange counted the cost, is prepared to barter life for li- their intricate accounts, and thereby accomplish all berty; but a race more effeminate than the red their manifold commercial speculations, to the gemen-for those were capable of enslavement, but nius of these Mohammedans. I can never give

either to Italy or Greece, that meed of unqualified hour. We need not the elephant of India to drag praise which is so lavishly bestowed by some, our ships ashore, our steam-engines give us poswhen I know that to other races must be ascribed session of power that is literally unbounded. We the invention of the cypher, and the beautiful game want not the Tartar with his swift Arab, for our of chess. Far be it from me to detract any thing electric telegraph can transmit our words from one from the nations of Southern Europe, which is ho- pole to the other, in the twenty-fifth part of a nestly theirs. I would freely give them, as they second. At our command the beams of the sun might deserve it, the honors that are due to power, become artists, and paint on the plates of Daguerre, to letters, or to science. I have gazed with trans-scenes which the pencil of Apelles could never port on the marbles of the Parthenon, and could have approached,-landscapes inimitably beyond look with the deepest emotion on the dying gladia- those that adorn the canvass of Claude Lorraine. tor; but I search in vain through the gorgeous range To send us to school to antiquity, is to degrade of Roman history, for a single proof of that beauti- us indeed. The prattle of children, is no instrucful talent that is displayed in that obscure but most tion to him that is bursting into manhood. perfect instrument, the potter's lathe; an invention Who can predict what the course of a few years of ancient Etruria. There are rights of mankind shall accomplish? The man who is grasping in as well as rights of nations; and just as one man his hand the agents with which it pleases the may not lawfully usurp the property of his neigh-Almighty to govern this world-who has made for bor, no nation has a right to embezzle the honors himself an eye that reaches into the deep abysses due to others. The human family is not so de-of space, and sees the circling of star around star, graded as it is fashionable to think. We do not in regions which the eye of an angel alone could owe all that makes us wise, or good, or powerful, pierce-whose splendid intellect compares together to the shores of the Mediterranean. Our whole the weights of those indivisible atoms-those last system of education is an insult to the dignity of particles of which the Creator has formed all matemankind. rial things, or places the sun in a balance;-the The nineteenth century cannot pass away, in this man, who, instead of indulging in chimerical speculand of free opinions, without witnessing a great lations about the structure of his own mind, of change in these respects. Men, who have been which he is in utter ignorance, is adding to himself accustomed to show perhaps, even in a blameable new senses which are unlike those that nature has excess, an utter disregard for the venerable appear-given him, and expanding his organs to the producance of antiquity, will not be slow to investigate what tion of results which his unassisted powers could we all feel to be the safeguard of this great repub-never have approached;-this is not the man who lic-the education of its youth. Men, who will existed five centuries ago. There is found in the have a plain reason rendered to them for every thing, will not be dull to perceive, nor slow to apply a remedy. The tokens of this are already among us. There are institutions now existing, that will show the way in this matter-that will quietly awaken public opinion, and shake off the nightmare that rides upon it.

bowels of the earth, as geologists say, abundant evidence of a continuous development of the tribes of organized life;—that those which first made their appearance, were of the lower and meaner kind;— that one after another has come into existence, each more elaborate, and each more intellectual, than its predecessors. The history of our own family teaches us the same thing; for there is not more difference between those animal races, than there is between the civilized man of this age, and the men of Europe five hundred years ago.

Do not misunderstand me. I contend not for the banishment of these studies from our systems of instruction. The forced state of society in which we live, has made them a part of perfect education. We are often compelled to tolerate what we may It is for these reasons that I object to the course be most eager to remove. But, sir, the mind of of education as it exists among us. If it were not man was never in that state of expansion in which for the danger of being misunderstood, I would go it now exists. The philosophy of Verulam has more at large into this matter. It is not a desire to created a new race of mortals;—a race utterly dif- limit instruction, but to enlarge it-to give it a ferent, both in physical power and in intellectual bent more suitable to the wants of the age. I am refinement, from all other animals on the face of not seeking to depreciate the value of any species the earth. Each year, as it passes, is rapidly of learning, but to point out what is most congenial increasing the difference. One after another, we to the present position of mankind. I am not seekare subjecting the imponderable and unseen agents ing to disparage the rights of any nation-to cast of Nature to our use-Heat, Electricity, Light. slight on any forms of study-but to find out ways Men that are thus arming themselves with the force for the more rapid and energetic development of of these elements, are not like the former inhabi- HUMAN THOUGHT, and to assert THE MAJESTY OF tants of the globe. We ask not the Egyptian for HUMAN INTELLECT. his fleetest dromedary, our locomotives run over If you read over the papers of the late Mr. a whole degree of the earth's surface in a single Smithson-of which you have published a list—

you will see there these same feelings in strong | nessed, during his repeated visits to the continent, relief. His fancy did not riot in scenes of mere the successive plans adopted by the French repubimagination, but took hold of things of practical lic for the rapid and perfect education of their utility. It was the spirit of the school of Bacon youth-their Central, their Normal, their Polytechthat was in him, that taught him to investigate nic schools; for Fourcroy, the chemist, who was with equal zeal, experimentally, the original forma- continually in the society that Mr. Smithson fretion of the earth, or the best method of burning an quented, was the main mover, if not the originator oil-lamp, or the mode of retaining the aroma in of these different plans, and was a member at the coffee. Through the course of a long life, he gave time of the National Convention and the Council these pursuits the preference; for, as he says, "he of Ancients. No one who contemplates the great was convinced that it is in his knowledge that man results at last obtained from these repeated trials, has found his greatness and his happiness-the and the impetus given to all departments of knowhigh superiority he holds over the other animals ledge, even the most difficult and sublime, will deny which inhabit the earth with him; and consequently that the schemes adopted were far superior to any that no ignorance is without loss to him-no error thing that had preceded them. without evil."

This brings me now to the main point of my letAn institution of the first class will, in process of ter. Partly because the funds allotted to this purtime, without doubt, exist in the United States. pose are limited-partly because great and sucThe wealth of the country could without difficulty cessful universities cannot spring up in a day, but procure extensive libraries and museums, minera- must be of slower growth-partly because it is logical cabinets, chemical laboratories, botanical uncertain whether Congress will give munificently, gardens, astronomical observatories, zoological me- or even give any thing to the cause-partly because nageries. These, and many more such things, are it is most suitable to the genius and character of essential requisites in a school of that stamp. But institutions now existing in the different stateswhere the means we possess are limited-and it is partly because the successful results which can be doubtful whether or not Congress is prepared to produced from it, will appeal at once to the undermake munificent grants-it is better so to shape standing of the whole people, and inevitably lead the action on Mr. Smithson's bequest that his insti- to the establishment either by the national councils, tute may be the germ, which, as time goes on, may or by patriotic individuals, of a great National Unidevelope itself and expand at last into a National versity; but chiefly, because I believe it to have University. been the intention of the testator-I would indicate, as the most appropriate disposal of these funds, the establishment of a Central School of NATURAL SCIENCE, in the City of Washington. Let us now examine this proposition in detail.

I have been connected with two different institutions, such as are here referred to, in different capacities, and have marked the course of events with them. Their funds at the outset have been lavished in erecting magnificent structures-em- The principal of these funds-whatever may be barrassment has followed; and because they had the action in the case-must be kept untouched: reckoned more upon striking the public eye with the interest alone is available. the splendor of their exterior, than with the excel- Each of the different States possesses learned lence of their fruit, they have ceased to be encour-institutions, under the form of colleges, seminaries, aged. Corinthian pillars and Gothic halls are the or universities; their object being to give instruction bane of literary institutions, which so surely as they to a certain extent, in what is regarded as essenare introduced take away from the working mate-tial to good scholarship. Accordingly, the plan rial. There are men who will read this, that will adopted for under-graduate study, is arranged under feelingly respond to it. The public is right;-uni- four heads: ancient languages, intellectual science, versities ought to learn, that they are held in esti- mathematics, and the physical sciences. As the mation only for the quality of the instruction they course of instruction is commonly arranged procan impart. The men who were raised in the spectively for four years, the pupil spends upon the French Polytechnic school, would have given a first of these departments a portion of three or four standing to any place, even though it had been built of years-upon the second, one or two years-upon brick. The effective part of a seminary of science, is not its walls and decorations; yet both in Europe and in America such institutions are to be seen, which remind one of a line-of-battle-ship, with its decks carpeted and no guns aboard.

That Mr. Smithson intended, when he gave this money in charge to the United States, to found an institution for the advancement and diffusion of science, there cannot be a doubt. His whole life is a commentary on his intentions. He had wit

the third, two or three years-and upon the last, one or two years;-the plan being somewhat dif ferent in different places, and ordinarily requiring him to be prosecuting three out of the four different departments at once. It is probable, that with the present views taken in society of the nature of public instruction, an institution which should depart to any extent from this programme, would not meet with good success. As it must depend almost entirely, especially at the outset, on support of a

local character, it cannot dare to control public a previous knowledge of the higher geometry. opinion, but can only work itself into existence by Mathematics have now become the porch of physiconformity with established customs.

The organization of a national establishment of this character, would, however, be attended with obstacles almost insuperable. Called into existence at once, not as the rival but as the head of all learned seminaries, and backed as it ought to be with the countenance and support of the government, it would have to sustain itself against the direct hostility of all the State institutions. They would soon begin to learn that it flourished at their expense; and, for such are the feelings of human nature, they would quickly regard it as a chartered monopoly of a vexatious and oppressive kind.

cal knowledge. Young men, at the commencement of college life, have commonly but an indifferent acquaintance with mathematics. It is as much as they can do, even in the course of four complete years, to gain a general insight into the principles of the Calculus. The leading institutions among us, do not profess to carry them beyond this. It is only then that they are ready to take hold of these subjects in a proper way, but it is also then that their term of education has expired, and instruction fails them.

Here therefore is the point on which the Smithsonian Institute can act with efficiency in aid of our established seminaries, without interfering with them in any wise. In this character, it will fulfil to the letter the wishes of its founder,—an institute for men, not boys. It will be operating in a work which he unquestionably thought of the deepest importance to the human race; and instead of acting in rivalship, it will be acting in unison and harmony with our established colleges.

These considerations, therefore, will show us that in moulding the character of Mr. Smithson's Institute, we must keep clear of every thing which might be regarded as trespassing on the bounds and rights of State Universities. That it may go into operation with the good will of all, it must be free from the suspicion of interfering with any. It must be so arranged as not to draw from them their pupils-nor to divert from them the channels I would therefore found it as a school of physiof their accustomed support. As its origin and cal science, giving an elaborate course of matheobjects are different from theirs, so there must be matical instruction. Commencing at the point impressed upon it a character perfectly distinct. where our higher universities close, I would give Instead of coming forward as a competitor with it a perfect apparatus, good cabinets, and gradually them in the sale of literary wares, it were better a respectable library. Proceeding in the work of for it to bring into the market articles which they expanding it slowly, it should as encouragement do not supply. was given, or opportunity served, be furnished with a botanical garden, an observatory, a zoological institute, or analogous means for prosecuting in a proper way the great sciences of astronomy and general physiology.

Of the four departments of study already indicated as entering into the plan of existing education, the ancient languages and intellectual sciences are generally pursued to a considerable extent. Requiring no great outlay for the purchase of li- Now mark, sir, the result of this. We are the braries or means of illustration, and there being an residents of a great continent, which is bursting into abundant supply of accomplished teachers, fur- life. Upon us, and our immediate descendants, nished from the ranks of professional life or has devolved the duty of developing on a scale brought up with these objects in view, a very hitherto unknown in this world, the resources of effective course of instruction can be given; and the giant empire-which is going to stretch from accordingly we find, that our classical scholars the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. The men are bear an advantageous comparison with those that now born, who will hear the loud snort of the locograduate in European schools. motive in the deserts beyond the Rocky MounBut in the more exact sciences it is not so. The tains. No system of education that has ever yet whole routine of instruction in natural and physical been tried, will meet our wants. We want means science, is attended at the beginning with such for the rapid development of all our powersheavy costs, and such a constant drain of expendi- means for the rapid development of all our resourture for repairs and consumption, that all institu- ces. The soil beneath us teems with wealth. tions among us find it necessary to restrict them- Our population is increasing beyond all example. selves here. Their means will not enable them to sustain complete courses of instruction, and they are necessarily driven to pass over these subjects in a superficial way, and allot to them only a brief space of time.

То а

We are men of enterprise and energy, living in a period of the earth's history unlike any that has preceded; when the force of intellect is fast supplanting all other powers, and under a government the constitution of which has no example. There is also another reason which renders their nation like us, ignorance is death;-the loss of virinstruction on these points inefficient a difficulty tue, annihilation. We are trying to unite inteinherent in their very constitution. The successful rests the most diverse and jarring, and to bind study of the higher departments of physical science, in one bond of union, the hot and fiery disposition whether natural philosophy or chemistry, requires of the man living within the tropic, with the cold