with a schoolmaster, or schoolmasters, as above described, to instruct children in the English language, for such term of time as shall be equivalent to twelve months for one school in each year. And every town or district containing two hundred families, or householders, shall be provided with a grammar schoolmaster, of good morals, well instructed in the Latin, Greek and English languages; and shall, in addition thereto, be provided with a schoolmaster or schoolmasters, as above described, to instruct children in the English language, for such term of time as shall be equivalent to twelve months for each of said schools in each year.'

Sect. 4. "Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That it shall be and it is hereby made the duty of the president, professor and tutors of the Uuiversity of Cambridge, preceptors and teachers of academies, and all other instructors of youth, to take diligent care, and to exert their best endeavours to impress on the minds of children and youth committed to their care and instruction, the principles of piety, justice, and a sacred regard to truth, love to their country, humanity, and universal benevolence sobriety, industry and frugality, chastity, moderation and temperance, and those other virtues which are the ornament of human society, and the basis upon which the republican constitution is structured. And it shall be the duty of such instructors to endeavour to lead those under their care (as their ages and capacities will. admit) into a particular under

standing of the tendency of the beforement virtues, to preserve and perfect a republican c tution, and to secure the blessings of liberty, a as to promote their future happiness; and the te cy of the opposite vices to slavery and ruin.

And to the end that improper persons may n employed in the important offices before mentio

Sect. 5. Be it further enacted by the aut aforesaid, That no person shall be employed school master aforesaid, unless he shall have re ed an education at some College or University before entering on the said business, shall pr satisfactory evidence thereof, or unless the pers be employed as aforesaid shall produce a certi from a learned minister, well skilled in the and Latin languages, settled in the town or where the school is proposed to be kept, or two er such ministers in the vicinity thereof, that have reason to believe that he is well qualifie discharge the duties devolved upon such school ter by this Act; and, in addition thereto, if grammar school, "that he is of competent skill i Greek and Latin languages, for the said purp And the candidate of either of the descriptions a said shall moreover produce a certificate from a tled minister of the town, district, parish or p to which such candidate belongs, or from the s men of such town or district, or committee of parish or place, "That to the best of his or knowledge, he sustains a good moral charac

Provided nevertheless, This last certificate respecting morals, shall not be deemed necessary where the candidate for such school belongs to the place where the same is proposed to be actually kept; it shall however be the duty of such selectmen or committee who may be authorized to hire such school master, specially to attend to his morals.

Sect, 7. And it shall be the duty of the minister or ministers of the Gospel and the selectmen (or such other persons as shall be specially chosen by each town or district for that purpose) of the several towns or districts, to use their influence, and best endeavours, that the youth of their respective towns and districts do regularly attend the schools appointed and supported as aforesaid, for their instruction; and once in every six months at least, and as much oftener as they shall determine it necessary, to visit and inspect the several schools in their respective towns or districts, and shall inquire into the regulation and discipline thereof, and the proficiency of the scholars therein, giving reasonable notice of the time of their visitation."*

This law, you will perceive, is a most alarming relaxation of the laws under the Province Charter. The provision under the coloy charter, that towns of more than five hundred families should support two grammar schools, and two writing schools, had been sunk under the Province Charter. By the statute of the "Commonwealth," towns of fifty

* Laws Mass. 1789. Chap. 19.

families are obliged to support a school for reading, writing, &c. only six months of the year, instead of constantly, as before; and towns of two hundred families are obliged to be provided with a grammar school-master, instead of towns of only one hundred families, as under the Province law. The State was under some temporary embarrassments, soon after the close of the revolution, which is the only reason that occurs for such a departure from the policy, which had been pursued in regard to schools, from the earliest settlement of the country. The resources of the people were certainly much more adequate to the support of schools, after the establishment of a government among themselves, than while they were kept in duress by colonial dependance; or while they were sacrificing every thing to achieve their independance. But the effect of a law, so comprehensive in the detail as the school law of 1789, cannot be estimated with great precision, without taking into account the character of the people for whom it is intended. If the law is intended to force a reluctant people to exertions much beyond their inclination and ability, it will probably be explained away and evaded, till it is reduced, in some good degree, to their wishes. But on the other hand, if the law indulges a relaxation from exertions, which the people have been accustomed to make, and which they have made cheerfully, realizing a full equivalent in their own condition, they will execute the law upon a construction even beyond its intention. This

was the fact in the case of the school law. What the law neglected to provide for, was supplied in some degree by the exertions of individuals. The laws for the support of the primary free schools have never been executed upon a niggardly and parsimonious construction. The public mind upon this subject has gone much before the laws. They have followed at a large distance, rather than stimulated and controlled any interest. interest. The towns have, in many instances made appropriations for the primary schools, of twice the sums of money necessary to answer the letter of the law. The schools provided for in the above law, are open to children of all classes, and the expense is paid by a tax on the people. Each town is made responsible for the execution of the laws within its jurisdiction. And, to give interest and efficacy to the system, it is made the duty of the minister and selectmen, or a committee appointed for the purpose, to overlook the schools,-to visit them, at least, once in six months,—to employ and approve the instructers, and direct in the selection of school books. Although there are some instances of negligence and indifference, this duty is generally performed with cheerfulness and fidelity.

New England possesses some peculiar advantages for carrying into effect its system of education. It is divided into small townships or separate corporations of from five to seven miles square. The responsibility of these small corporations is more likely to ensure a more vigilant discharge of their duty,