Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4172791

Comments

No comments yet.

Add New Comment

No corrections yet

ID

$ couvupr

FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 24,1837.

His Excellency the Lieutenant Go- vernor, and Lady Franklin, left this place by the steamer, on Tuesday morn- ing, for Richmond, where they visited Mr. Parramore, the Police Magistrate of that district, at whose residence the party remained till the following day, when they proceeded to Sorell and Pittwater, from which latter place His Excellency was to embark on board the Government biig Tamar y to visit the coal mine at Slopen

Main.

Sir John, and his party, will next pro-

ceed to the Penal Settlement at Port Ar- thur, and are expected to return to Go-

vernment-House to-morrow.

Thursday Night.

Since writing the above, we perceive, by a Government notice, that His Excel- lency intends to visit the district of Swan Port, for which purpose he has directed it to be notified, that he will arrive at Waterloo Point on the 1st of April, and will return on the 4th by Richmond, to meet the inhabitants of that district, with whom he was unable to become acquaint- ed on Tuesday last, unavoidable circum- stances having prevented His Excellency from giving the necessary notification of

his visit.

An Address, however, we understand, has been presented to His Excellency, by the inhabitants of Richmond, to which a Reply was made. Although, up to the late hour at which we write, we nave not been able to see copies of either.

Wc hope that Sir John will be able to collect, in the course of these little ti ¡ps, much information that may be rendered available to the advancement of the dif-

ferent and general interests of the Co- lony.

The subject of Education is so omni- present to oar mind, ' and involves so

much that affects the dearest-the most

permanent and important interests of the public-that we deem no apology re- quisite for recurring to it so soon.

Among the many and.perhaps itself the chief obstacle-Tto systematic im- provement in Education-is the hetero- geneous character of those who adopt the profession of teachers. We regard it as one of the most crying evils-that while the professions of Medicine and the

Church, have been rendered respectable ' by requiring specific qualifications in the candidates for either, no such security has been required from those who under- take an omeo no less important, than that, of forming the minds of those who are destined to he the subjects of free govern- ment and the heirs of an immortality of bliss or misery.

The profession of a Teacher has de-

generated-from this cause-into a, dernivr resort for every ruined trades- man or unfortunate gentleman-no mat- ter what his qualifications are-no matter how destitute of furniture his headpiece.

None but an inexperienced blockhead, or a weak and shallow thinker, will say that the qualifications of a competent preceptor are trifling or are easily made. Until-patience with obstinate stupidity -perseverance with the most utter, yet inattentive ignorance-command of tem- per in circumstances which would almost exhaust the spirit of Job-are shown to be common attributes of human nature ; let no man say, that the qualifications of an efficient teacher are trifling, or easily attained. Along with these, the man who undertakes to instruct youth, must possess an enlightened and liberal mind-not one merely acquainted with the rude elements of knowledge-this is not enough-for he is exposed to influ-

ences of the most detrimental and lower-

ing kind, against which the whole force of intellectual superiority must be brought

to bear.

The constant association with one

order of capacity or attainment, insensi- bly creates a standard by which the mind is apt to measure itself-and in a weak nature-superiority to its requirements, degenerates into a notion of superiority to the world around ; it is thus alone, that the prevalence of absurd pedantry in school-masters, of little experience in every day life, of limited association, and of narrow literary attainments, is explained.

It must be obvious that men who have

imbibed pedantry and lofty ideas of their own capacity and importance, must bo very inefficient instruments for impart- ing instruction to youth-one of the chief requisites of which is, to render smooth and agreeable what is otherwise dry and unentertaining.

We say then, that these disqualifying characteristics are the very ones which we meet every day in illiterate teachers. The enlightened teacher is unsusceptible of those impressions which leave pedan- try behind.

How are these disqualifications in men professing to instruct youth to here moved !-how are efficient teachers to be provided and their profession protected from interlopers ?

This difficulty we will endeavour to solve by fact, suggestion and argument.

In Prussia we are informed by Victor Cousin-the enlightened servant of the French government ; sent into that country to inquire into the system of education pursued there-Seminaries for instructors are established, the expense of which devolves upon the public treasury of the state, and what are called departmental school exchequers. Every department is required to possess such a seminary and annually sends out a compliment of young men, equal to the probable demand, who have previously been examined as to their attainments and found qualified. " The certificate, besides the moral char- acter of the candidate, states the com- parative degree of his qualifications eminently capable; sufficiently capable ; iust capable; and also specifies his adaptation to the higher or the lower department of primary instruction. Those found incompetent, aro either declared wholly incapable, or are remitted to their

studies. The others with indication of the degree of their certificate, are placed on the list of candidates for each de-

partment, and have a claim to be appoint- ed: but to accelerate this, the names, of those worthy of choice, are published twice a year in the official papers of f he departments, where the order of their

classification is that of their certificates."

Private instructors are not proscribed in Prussia, but satisfactory evidence is required by the state u of their moral and religious character ; their capacity is ascertained by examination; and the license which they obtain specifies what, and in what degree, they are found qualified to teach. Neither are private establishments of education emancipated from public inspection."

In Prussia education is regarded in its due importance, and its influence accord- ingly spreads itself through every rami- fication of society, the example which that country has set to the world in its zeal and energy is deserving of adoption, but, we mast acknowledge and state our objections to the policy adopted by it in

the whole.

With Adam Smith, we are averse to the existence of too intimate a connection

between the government of any country'

and the seminaries where the mind» of its population are to be formed. Parti- cular instances of brief duration, yet, may demonstrate benefits resulting from it, but as a principle of universal practice wc opine with him, that it is pernicious.

The human mind is formed for progres- sion.-Institutions regulated by its deci- sions progress in improvement with equal celerity but where they are tied down by the arbitrary influence of laws, their ad- vancement is impeded. Establishments

directed by the state decline in the course/ of time from their original support of inherent excellence, and lean wholly upon antiquity, fashion, or law. It may be the duty of a state, in some cases to assist in the formation and support of institutions tending to the public good but according to genoral experience where this assistance has been prolonged after infancy-the very evils it occasioned have cried out-that the duty of government is negative respecting what is prejudicial to society-that in reference to what is beneficial to it-society itself is the best

steward.

What then is our practical end in the remarks siîbmitted ?-What policy would we recommend for the Colony in which

we live?

It cannot be expected in the present state of the Colony-that a sufficient number of qualified person will immigrate as Teachers. We know indeed of some

highly fitted for the profession already engaged in it in Van Diemen's Land, but we mean that a supply equal to the necpsitics of the Colony can scarcely be looked for yet. The colony is distant from England from whence alone this supply can come, those who are qualified will not come, for we know on the best authority that for such, there is sufficient employment at home-besides, a man will scarcely quit his native country for a distant settlement in order to adopt or pursue a profession which entails on him drudgery without affording him more than a precarious recompense. And even, were the island inundated with a ship load of efficient , teachers, this woul'l only be a temporary provision for a ne- cessity which extends to generations.

Our policy, founded on these facts,

would be as follows.

Some time since, it was proposed to established a University in Hobart Town. In furtherance of this purpose-a com-

mittee-a treasurer and other officers

were appointed, and a grant was made by the Colonial government, when the opinion of one man put a stop to the design, and the whole has ever since remained in oblivion. Circumstances have arisen in the meantime, which bid more favourably to the project, we trust the public will avail itself of them, in order to secure its being carried into effect. We can easily anticipate objec- tions being made to the formation of a University by some persons, and wo can guess the nature of some of these ob- jections, but we trust sober well grounded judgment will prevail over opinion and

to all who wish the same we now address ourselves.

It will be objected that Van Diemen's Land is not prepared-is not ripe enough for a University. To this we reply. Imprudence may hurry on too fast, or extravagance may waste the funds, ob- tained for that purpose by adopting too extensive plans, and thus defeat the project altogether, but, if in the measures adopted in the outset, prudence and economy bo attended to ; this colony is not unprepared for the boon spoken of. Let the steps taken in the formation. Let the objects intended to be itttained by the institution, and for which pro- vision is made-not anticipate the ne- cessities and capacity of the colony, but simply keep pace with f*em, and the best security is given for its being founded and answering the ends designed by it. The absurd notion-(a notion floating in the brain of many but which a fool only would express)-with which one has to contend in urging the advantages of a Colonial University-is, that the name of University implies nothing less than a Cambridge or an Oxford.

We urge no such mad scheme, the uniform and perpetual obstacle to the success of every plan founded on prin- ciples of philanthrophy or wisdom is the magnified view which persons take of its difficulty-a prudent man will certainly

not leave this out of account-but no traveller ever attained the summit of a mountain by staring upon it from the valley beneath, the very greatest diffi- culty it encounters,-frequently the de- stroyer of beneficent enterprise-is the imagination of the vulgar and the over-

cautious.

We advise a middle course between

the extreme of timidity which prevents

-and the other extreme of rashness

which destroys-good begun. A Uni- versity, however humbly endowed, will by a certain law-progress. Mind, if it obtain but ft mean apartment in which to pour forth its stores, possesses in itself such power, and so works with it upon the minds and dis- positions of others, that the rude apart- ments, of a mean house will in .time give plaeeto the lofty rooms of a noble Uni- versity. But "we must draw to an end what effects would a University produce.

Not to mention that in the course of

time, those who are sent all the way to England to obtain education from India, and the colony itself, would receive it here, and thus, materially promote our trading interest.

A University would qualify preceptors for their office and secure efficient edu- cation throughout the colony, by the government disqualifying any person from undertaking that profession without a certificate from ita professors. The profession of medicine would not be do pendent on foreign places, at the same time education would be given to those

adopting that profession who are natives of the colony, without the expensive and dangerous necessity of their going to England; finally, by providing instruc- tion in the higher departments of litera- ture, independently of a professional -kind, that character would be given to the wealthier class.es of the colonists, without which, rank is intolerable, and theinfluence of the wealthy pernicious.

PUBLIC EXECUTIONS.-Although we were not spectators of it ourselves, the following observations are suggested by the execution of the 'unhappy murderer, which took place last week. We have always considered that the public admin- istration of extreme punishments tended rather to deaden the feelings, than to operate as wholesome example upon the minds of the spectators-the object of wise legislation would be, to provide the latter, without weakening or destroying the former. We know, that, in the case of a murderer, no man could be offended by the fact of his suffering, or commis serate with him. We admit, that no man would question the justice-but we are at a loss to know what good the people can derive from the publicity of his punishment, whereas we can detect great evils.

It is proverbially true-it is a truth

which the artist has illustrated in his

way-that the very time in which the

condemned criminal from the scaffold at

Newgate, is taking his farewell of the world, the spectators-chiefly the most abandoned of both sexes-are busily pursuing their unhallowed vocations the pickpocket enjoying a harvest, the looks and gestures of the culprit on the scaffold, from the distance, easily de- ceive the lookers on, and according to their wishes, they generally set him down as having ' died game,'-they aro conse- quently emboldened, in criminality. So much for example. We say no more on

this head.

Were the culprit, instead of being made the subject of public execution, to pass from the Court in which he receives his sentence, to the place of confinement, never to return in life again, his fate would operate far more powerfully and permanently on the popular mind, with- out mortifying or disgusting those feel- ings of our nature, which ought to be cherished; or hazarding the evil influ- ence on the criminal mind, which a bold and careless exit produces. Sufficient caution might be taken, by the presence of official parties, for the proper execu- tion of the law, without encouraging a brutal curiosity.

We are not ignorant in offering these remarks, how little direct influence they can exercise, but every opinion, morally just and good, being made known, by a slow, but sure, influence, eventually leads to practical realization, which is a suffi- cient reason why none that are the re- sult of cairn reflection, and based on these principles, ought to be withheld.

LOCAL.

Literary Institution.-Wc have had several inquiries, personal and by letter, on this subject, but press of matter pre- vents our saying moie on it at present than that gentlemen, devoted to the object in view, are on the move, and we expect a meeting will be called shortly to adopt some steps in it.

We are able to insert only one of the many communications we have received, in reference to the objects of our last week's leading article, our correspon- dents must excuse non-insertion; but that their interests, no less than our own, desire the existence of a Literary Institution will not be lost sight of they may rest assured.

Ann Wise.-Fears begin to be enter tertained of the safety of this vessel. She left London about a month before the ' Derwent,' with cargo, and one or two passengers-was obliged to put in some- where for repairs, and was detained in consequence about three weeks and has not since been heard of. The time the

Ann Wise has been out, although long from the circumstance of her detention, is not sufficiently so to excite any great alarm yet. We trust that she will be

heard of soon.

Aborigines tuithin 30 miles from Ho- bart Town.-We are indebted to Mr. Kerr, for' the information of two natives having been seen on Sunday last. They speared a favourite mare of Mr. Kerrs, and afterwards cut rump steaks off, which they ate. They were seen by a consta ble, who was afraid to approach them, being alone, and according to whom, they were armed with spears, followed by three or four dogs. At present, they are behind Bushy Park. We "believe, that it is now nearly two years, since any others have been seen in the Island.

'jRev. Mr. Miller_This much loved and respected Pastor of the Independent church-who was reported some time since as intending to return to England for the benefit of his health, we under- stand, has altered his resolution, influ- enced by a pious solicitude for his flock, who would by his absence, have been destitute of a head. We wish him a speedy return of the health he has lost in a service-in which his loss here will be gain hereafier.

We beg to call the attention of our readers, io the advertisement, relating to the annual meeting of the Auxiliary Bible Society, in the Court House, on Tuesday next. Wc arc happy to find, that the Institution will receive the coun- tenance and support of Sir John Frank- lin, who will preside on that occasion.

Wesleyan Missio?mry Auxiliary So- ciety-The Thirteenth Report,, of the

Hobart Town Auxiliary Society has just been published, it affords the most grati- fying statement of the religious progress and character of the community, and when once perused, must secure the earnest co-operation of every friends to the preserit well being in society arid'the eternal interest of souls. Thècofrmîit tee of the Parent Society-we find in the report " have not only allowed the appropriation within the colonies, of all monies raised by auxiliary Societies, but have, during a course of more than twenty years, generously met all defi- ciencies from the general fund of the society." The schools of connection with this society are well calculated, and have already been, productive of infinite good. ' " In these schools about one thousand one hundred and fifty children and adults are receiving a scriptural education ; which number is an increase during the past year of more than three hundred and sixty." These facts are a sufficient recommendation of the society without any commentary. We deshe that it may receive the blessing of God under which its prosperity will ever be great. ;1

We beg to refer our readers to the

very important Government Notice' trj^ir columns, respecting the payment of, )an.ds disposed of in this Colony, by the Crown. It reflects somewhat on the conductiof the Survey Department, by whom " the

true measurements of the lands sold have not been furnished at the proper periods," in consequence of whicVjx. the Government has not " been enak<jgCS,D require the purchasers to complécJ ttîeir payments." We withhold any observa- tions we might be induced to make upon the document in question, for the pre- sent Our readers will observe, that it is peremptory-but it is a duty abso- lutely devolving upon His Excellency, as the representative of the Crown, that it

should be so.

THEATRE.-This place of public a« musement has been pretty fashionably attended since it was opened, and the acting retains its character. If Tragedy could be introduced occasionally without making it Comedy, it would be well.

Comedy often repeated, tires and dis- ¡ gusts-besides, sceptics at all times, to j the moral advantages said to be derived j from Theatricals-it is our positive opi

nion, of most comedies, that they tend ¡ rather to weaken than enforce just maxims

of conduct, by the deceiving veil of' wit I which they throw over actions the inost I reprehensible, and allusions the most ' lewd and licentious-whereas-it may be urged in favour of tragedy-that it illus- trates what is grand, or awful, in human passion, and leaves the practical lesson behind it in all its strength. That it af- fords that knowledge of events which the mere pen of the historian cannot give, by a material and obvious* demonstration, as well as familiarly acquaints us wtyh the motives and characters of j their agents. "\, , «

The New Town Races, which occurred last week, were very scantily attended ; while the racing itself was meagre and spiritless. Never before, we believe, was the attendance so thin, although the weather was certainly fine and favour- able. One cause for this was, un- doubtedly, the want of money - a want universally experienced, and by no class more severely, than that which usually patronizes amusements of this descrip- tion ; but there is another cause, which, although operating less conspicuously, yet has influenced a large portion of the people. We allude to the steady pro- gress of religion and morality amongst us, encouraged, no less, by the precept oT pastors and teachers, than by tHe ex- ample of our rulers. We are neither bigots nor ascetics ; but we cannot con- ceal our pleasure, at the observance of the progress to which we allude : it is advancing silently, perhaps, but not the less surely ; and we know of nothing

more gratifying for reflection, tho^he great influence, which such a feeling ïàV&t eventually produce, amongst the people of this Colony.

Of all rational amusements and* pas- times, we are the strenuous advocates, and, especially, for the working cjasses ; but we question, whether the advantages to be derived from horse-racing, ?n''¡njn proving and encouraging the breed^rpf horses, are, (particularlyin this Cpîoink,) commensurate with the customary con- comitant evils arising therefrom. Upon the present occasion, there was the usual quantity of accidents, contentions, low debauchery, and quarrelling; a fracas between the mobility and military ; two, or three people-a man, woman,' and boy run over, (the latter of whom wa% severely injured) ; while the attendance of assigned sevants was sufficiently nu"-1 merous, to cause (with inconvenience ' to themselves) very great annoyance to their several masters and employers.

Zoom

plus
thumb
minus
left
thumb
right
up
thumb
down