NOTICE.

THE frequent demand for the volumes of Lectures delivered before the American Institute of Instruction prior to 1840, from Superintendents, Teachers and others, has induced the subscribers to commence the republication of these volumes, commencing with 1830. They will be issued in a condensed form, each volume containing some three volumes of the first edition, so that they may be furnished at the lowest possible price. They are among the most valuable books that have been issued on Popular Education, and should be in every District Library in the country.

TICKNOR AND FIELDS,

135 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON.

1

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, by

TICKNOR AND FIELDS,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

CAMBRIDGE:

THURSTON AND TORRY, PRINTERS.

INTRODUCTORY LECTURE.

LADIES AND Gentlemen:

TWENTY-FIVE years since, on the first anniversary of the American Institute of Instruction, I had the honor to appear before you on an occasion like the present. Little did I then suppose, that after the lapse of a quarter of a century, my services would again be required. It would have been better for you had this duty been devolved upon some teacher whose labors, during this long interval, have been attended with greater success than my own. When invited to address you, however, I could not deny myself the pleasure of tendering to my fellow laborers in the work of instruction the welcome of the citizens of Providence, who are always ready to foster any effort which has for its object the well being of humanity, and whose schools bear honorable testimony specially to their zeal in the cause of education. It is their earnest hope that your visit may be as pleasant to you as it will be profitable to them. May a kind Providence