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Lyceums at the South

ploy those funds for that object, with the approbation of the Executive Committee.

The following persons were appointed to form that committee:Messrs. Dwight, Rankin and Kinney.

A communication having been made on the subject, it was

Resolved, That the American Lyceum have heard with satisfaction of the means used in South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and other states, to multiply Lyceums; and cordially invite them to co-operate with each other, and with this society, for the promotion of knowledge.

Resolved, That a committee be appointed to correspond with the friends of Lyceums in the South, and to propose a meeting of the American Lyceum this year, at such time as may be approved.

Resolved, That the Executive Committee be authorized to invite a special meeting of the American Lyceum, at such time this year, as they may judge most convenient to the friends of Lyceums at the South."

The following resolutions were then moved and adopted :

Resolved, That the American Lyceum highly approve of the operations of the American Institute of Instruction, and cordially wish it success.

Resolved, That Professor Dewey, Theodore Dwight, Jr., Robert G. Rankin and William B. Kinney, be a committee to attend the annual meeting of that Society in August next, to communicate to it the sentiments of the above resolution.

A Vocabulary of the language of the Uniapa, was presented by a member of the Executive Committee, accompanied by a paper, giving a brief account of a group of Islands in the Pacific, supposed to have been never visited by any white man, which was read.

Mr. Oscanean, an Armenian gentleman, read an Essay on the history and condition of education among his countrymen; whereupon, on motion of Judge Radcliff, it was

Resolved, That the thanks of the Lyceum be presented to Mr. Oscanean for his essay.

Resolved, That the Executive Committee enter into a Correspondence with such persons or institutions among the Armenians, as they, on consultation with Mr. Oscanean, may ascertain to be most expedient, concerning the general interests of education among that interesting people.

The Corresponding Secretary then read a letter from Mr. Holbrook, a Report of the history and effects of Essex County

Essays on the Fine Arts.

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Teachers' Association, (Mass.) by Rev. Gardner B. Perry, of Bradford, dated May 2d, a letter from Mr. Elisha Loomis, at Rushville, N. Y., with remarks on his Ogipue, (Chippewa) Spelling book, a copy of which accompanied the letter, and from Mr. D. Prentice, dated Utica, May 2d, proposing to the Lyceum to take measures to procure uniformity in making meteorological observations in the United States.

It was then moved, that Mr. Prentice be requested to prepare an Essay on this subject, to be communicated to this Lyceum, which was seconded by Mr. Dewey in a speech, and adopted, after some remarks in its favor, by Mr. Rodman.

Mr. Emerson communicated some interesting information concerning the Massachusetts Lyceum, the Institute of Instruction, and the public schools of Boston.

Mr. Wells made some statements concerning the Boston Ly

ceum.

Dr. Congar reported the condition of the Newark Young Men's Association, and the Newark Mechanics' Institute and Lyceum. Mr. Kinney made some statements concerning the Orange Lyceum and the New Jersey Lyceum.

The Lyceum then adjourned.

Afternoon Session, Monday, May 11th.

The Lyceum met, Mr. Eames in the chair.

The following preamble and resolutions, which were submitted in the morning by Mr. Dewey, were moved and adopted.

Whereas, the Anierican Lyceum has received from Charles Frazer, Esq., of Charleston, S. C., an Essay on the Condition and Prospects of Painting in the U. States of America; and from William Dunlap, Esq., of N. York, an Essay On the Influence of the Arts of Design, and the true mode of encouraging them; and from Thomas Cole, Esq., of this city, also, an Essay on American Scenery,

Resolved, That the Lyceum present to the above named gen. tlemen their bigh acknowledgments for the liberality and energy with which they have complied with the request of the Executive Committee; and which has resulted in the elaborate essays on the subjects mentioned.

The following resolutions, submitted at the request of Mr. Radcliff, were then moved and adopted.

Resolved, That the American Lyceum have learnt, with satisfaction, the formation, plan and prospects of the New York City Lyceum,

Resolved, That Lyceums are well adapted to large cities; and that it be recommended to the friends of knowledge in the city of New York, to form them in the different wards or districts.

Resolved, That the Executive Committee of the American Lyceum be instructed to promote their formation and support, so far as their aid may be desired.

Resolved, That, according to abundant evidence in the possession of this Society, Lyceums are calculated to afford a cheap and agreeable means of intellectual and moral improvement, in the various forms of which they are susceptible; that they offer means for the development of latent talents, and tend to cultivate taste, and the useful arts.

Resolved, That the investment of money for the establishment of Lyceums has proved of solid advantage to the wealth, as well as the habits and enjoyments of communities and neighborhoods.

The election of officers of the Lyceum for the ensuing year, was then held; when all the surviving officers were re-elected.

It was stated, with regret, that a vacancy was to be supplied, caused by the death of one of the most esteemed and useful vice presidents, the Hon. Thomas S. Grimke, of S. Carolina.

The Hon. Peter W. Radcliff, of Brooklyn, was then appointed in his place.

The Lyceum then adjourned till 7 P. M.

Evening Session, Monday, May 11th.

The Lyceum met after the close of Mr. Dunlap's Lecture. Mr. Dwight took the chair, and Mr. Rankin acted as Secretary. Resolved, That the thanks of the Lyceum be presented to Professor Dewey, for the Essay he has been so kind as to prepare for the Fifth Annual Meeting, on a subject so interesting to agriculture and science, and so appropriately assigned to him.

Resolved, That Professor Dewey be respectfully requested to read his Essay before a public audience in this city, to be invited in the name of the Lyceum; or, if not convenient, to leave it with the Executive Committee for that purpose.

Resolved, That he be requested to allow its publication among the Transactions of the Lyceum.

On motion, Resolved, That the Executive Committee appoint the Committee constituted by the resolutions relating to a special meeting of the Lyceum.

On motion, it was also Resolved, That the thanks of the Lyceum be presented to Judge Betts for the use of the District Court

On the Education of Female Teachers.

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Room of the United States during the present session of the Lyceum.

On motion, Resolved, That the Executive Committee be instructed to invite a Convention of Teachers in this city, for such specified objects, and at such time as they may determine, provided such a measure shall appear to them advisable.

The minutes of the Lyceum at its fifth annual meeting having been approved, the Lyceum then adjourned.

MISS BEECHER'S ESSAY ON THE EDUCATION OF FEMALE TEACHERS.

An Essay on the Education of Female Teachers-written at the request of the American Lyceum, and communicated at their annual meeting, NewYork, May 8, 1835-by CATHERINE E. BEECHER. Published at the desire of a meeting of ladies of New York. New York: Van Nortrand & Dwight, 1835. 8vo. pp. 22.

It is well known that Miss Beecher has been for many years devoted to the cause of female education, with great zeal and success. At the request of the American Lyceum, as will be perceived from their minutes, she prepared for the last annual meeting, the able essay before us, 'On the education of Female Teachers for the United States.' It was deemed so important that it was first communicated to an assemblage of ladies, and such was the interest excited, that measures were immediately taken to secure the publication of several thousand copies by subscription. We rejoice, both in the appearance of the essay, and in the interest it has excited; and we trust it will prove the means of rousing a new spirit on this subject.

The essay commences with a statement of the difficulties existing in regard to female education. One of the prominent evils is a want of permanency in female institutions, and of a fixed standard for their education. They are left dependent on private exertion, and the caprice of parents, and the course and extent of studies is regulated by no fixed principles. The obvious remedies for these evils, are the establishment of permanent female institutions, under proper superintendence, and an agreement among the leading female schools, for a uniform course of education. We are glad, however, to perceive that Miss Beecher considers the bestowment of titular degrees on females, (which

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Object in Female Education.

common sense does not quite approve even in the other sex,) as of questionable propriety, and certainly in very bad taste,' calculated to provoke needless ridicule, and painful notoriety." It seems to us to betray sad ignorance, or forgetfulness, of that characteristic shrinking from publicity and observation which the Creator has enstamped upon females, and the domestic station to which Divine Wisdom has assigned them, to attempt thus to unsex them.

Miss Beecher next insists upon a point often adverted to in this work, that the course of education should be such as to fit woman for her peculiar duties'—the care of the health, and the formation of the character of the future citizens of this great nation.'

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For this purpose, it is obvious that she must acquire a knowledge of those domestic duties and employments to which she will be called. But Miss B. urges that it is equally important that she should pursue such a course of study, as shall give her habits of reflection and reasoning, enlargement of mind, and an amount of knowledge which shall secure and direct her influence in her family and in society, and enable her, in some degree, to watch over the progress of her children. For this purpose, it is necessary that additional provision should be made for instructors, and for apparatus in the various branches of science, with a liberality somewhat corresponding to that which is adopted for the other sex. We would suggest that the duties of housekeeping require a distinct professor in a female school, no less than the practice of medicine, in a medical institution. The health and cheerfulness of many a man would be saved, if the humble, but rare art, of making good bread could be thoroughly taught to the guardians of our tables. We have been in more than one family, where we were confident this one defect would account for constant suffering, and its attendant irritability.

Miss Beecher next presents, at some length, the importance of making education something more than instruction-of aiming, not at the mere cultivation of intellect, but at the formation of character, by a course of moral discipline and religious instruction. She adverts to the practical neglect of this point, so universally conceded, and asks, how often school committees inquire concerning the improvement of temper, or the increase of good dispositions in the pupils. She alludes to the unsuccessful experiment now going on in England, of improving society by mere intellectual light, and the abandonment of this principle as utterly useless, by the philosophers of France.

She then contrasts the example of Prussia, which annually furnishes a large number of teachers, to supply every child in the