finish the usual course of a liberal education. And whenever a vacancy takes place among the pupils of either description, let it be filled as early as a suitable candidate can be found, and as the state of the fund, liable as it must be to some unforeseen fluctuations, will admit.

What a monument would thus be erected to the memory of the Old Bachelor! A monument like this, I trust, he would esteem far more honourable than statues of marble elevated upon the ruins of desolated nations. The benefits likely to be produced by such a scheme are incalculable. As a stone cast upon the waters forms multiplied waves, id extends them indefinitely all around; so young men of talents, brought in this manner upon the theatre of life, would diffuse through wide circles the fruits of that training which had been bestowed on them. To preserve our civii and religious liberties inviolate, and to transmit them down to posterity unsullied, is allowed by all to be an object of the last importance. In order to this, the people must be at once virtuous and enlightened. But unfortunately many lack the necessary means of improvement. Hundreds are groping in mental darkness for the want of pecuniary aid, in whose minds lie the latent sparks of that genius which might be enkindled. into a blaze, and by its genial influence warm and enliven the whole mass of society. Many a brilliant diamond lies buried in the earth. Many a soul which might claim kindred with that of a Bacon, a Newton, or a Locke, remains inactive and useless, because it has never received proper cultivation. Here then is a project richly worthy of your correspondent's attention. Let him appropriate his money to the attain ment of it; and I venture to say that he will be performing a work of the highest dignity, and will be held in grateful remembrance by his country long after his body has mouldered into dust. And if, instead of making it a testamentary and posthumous affair, he will commence this benevolent institution immediately

that thick and distressing darkness which now bounds his vision will be the more effectually dissipated, and his mind the more cheered with the bright prospect of advancing the happiness of ages yet to come.

But let me caution him not to deceive himself with the fancy that the dedication of his golden stores to charitable purposes will, of itself, secure his peace with the great Judge of all. No; while he furnishes his earthly substance for the advantage of his fellow let him humbly and thankfully embrace the gospel of divine mercy, and be careful to give himself to God, "a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, which is his reasonable service.'

So shall his sun in smiles decline,

And bring a pleasant night."

men,

These reflections are respectfully submitted to the Old Bachelor; while I pray for him that he may be directed by the best counsel, even that which cannot lead him astray.

SIR,

No. 52. MAY 16, 1816.

Disorderly Behaviour at a Singing School.

TO THE MOUNTAINEER.

THOUGH I am almost a stranger in your delightful valley, I have already met with a grievance here which calls for your monitorial animadversion. I will therefore lay it before you.

I am a Connecticut man, endeavouring to make an honest livelihood by teaching your young people the art of psalmody. As my voice and skill in this business are undisputed, and my price for tuition is not complained of, I find among you a sufficient readiness to furnish me scholars; and have, at this early stage, three large schools under my care. And most cheerfully am I willing to do justice to the capacities of the

Virginian youth for learning vocal music: I have never elsewhere discovered talents more prompt or more adequate to the pleasing task. Thus far all is well. But now comes the impediment, the unkind interference with my proceedings, of which I am to complain to you.

But

I dare say, sir, you know enough of schools to be sensible that without strict order nothing can be done in any sort of school to good purpose. My rules; founded on this principle, and allowing a reasonable portion of time for relaxation, were received at the commencement without the least objection. And I believe I should get along with my pupils tolerably well, were we left to ourselves. But this is not the case. Almost every singing day, there comes to our school a squad of inconsiderate, foppish young fellows; sometimes bringing with them a bevy of light, airy girls, just suited to help forward the mischief. These take their seats near our benches, in order, as they pretend, to have the pleasure of hearing us sing. presently they let themselves loose to loud whispering, tittering, and even open laughter. They step and hop noisily about the floor without a grain of ceremony. Very frequently a little party of them, and at times the whole troop, rush out of the house, and again into it, with a wild racket quite stunning to our ears. And besides all this, they contrive, by nods, winks, and grimaces, to put my scholars out of their lessons, and seduce them into a levity altogether incompatible with my rules. Were I to express the indignation which these various annoyances constrain me to feel, I should use strong and sharp words indeed; but as I have more tenderness for the sensibility of these disturbers than they have for mine, I will ask your leave to expostulate calmly with them upon their behaviour.

In the first place, then, it is palpably injurious to us. By distracting the thoughts of my pupils, and checking their exertions, these persecutors greatly retard their progress in the art which they are striving to

fearn. It is obvious, in fact, that but few can be expected to make a good proficiency amidst so many things calculated to defeat the best instructions. And as I know how apt mankind are to judge with haste and prejudice, I am not without apprehensions of losing my reputation as a teacher, and being branded as an idler, and perhaps an ignoramus in my profession. Such reproaches, my conscience tells me, would be as unmerited as disagreeable. Do these giddy youngsters, who frequent my school room with no better view than that of trifling time away in each other's company, do they ever consider what pernicious effects their sport may produce? They ought, and I in-. dulge some hope that they will consider it.

In the next place, such conduct is highly indecorous. In the hours allotted to study, I want the undivided attention of my scholars. Every upright teacher wishes and has a right to such attention. To break in upon it with noise and nonsense; to seek amusement in captivating the minds of my young people with silly merriment and frivolity, and even inspiring them with contempt for their instructor; I will appeal to the persons concerned to judge whether such doings are consistent with the delicacy of a gentleman or a lady. In the case of a singing school, these things are peculiarly impolite. We are engaged in the practice as well as the science of sweet sounds. We do the best we can to entertain all who may hear our performance. And as it is the most soothing respect which we can desire, that they listen to us with a willingness to be pleased; so it is a mortification uncommonly trying to find our best efforts to charm the ear disregarded; unless we avoid this mortification by the exercise of sovereign contempt for our unfeeling auditors. Did we chain people down beside us, and compel them to hear, they would have some reason for expressing their impatience. But. when they come and stay voluntarily, such treatment of us as I have described is in reality nothing short of wanton insult, and utterly incapable of being excused, R

Once more, there is in this kind of behaviour a deep tinge of profaneness. A school of sacred, vocal music has so far a resemblance to the house of God, that it is a scene from which all levity should be banished far away. During a great part of the time spent in our employment, we are singing words of the most solemn and devotional import. And is such an avocation to be contemplated as a mere unmeaning form, or to be trifled with as a despicable jest? It is impossible, if the heart possesses any reverence for God and religion. All decent people admit that a light carriage in the church deserves severe rebuke; and for my part, I cannot see that much less reprehension is due to the same carriage in a school of psalmody.

If, sir, you think on this subject as I do, let me beg your aid in attempting to remove the evils which I have delineated.

Yours,

MARTIN MINIM.

Mr. Minim has left me little to add to his remon strance. Lagree with him entirely; and have often felt much disgust at witnessing the vulgar rudeness of which he complains. I do not choose to soften a single expression in his letter. To have no ear, no more relish than a block of marble, for the beauties of harmony, is a defect which those who labour under it should cer tainly not be forward to betray. We can, at best, only think of it with compassion. But when a stupid con tempt of music obtrudes itself upon us, with the additional deformities of injustice, bad breeding, and the scorn of sacred things, we are tempted to pour upon it the utmost severity of censure.