pursuit of the flame, his only safety, enter, unless his salutation is returned. consists in propagating the same evil Nay, when the door is thus slightly before, by which he is menaced behind; closed, a woman, by pronouncing the and, in trudging on amidst the fiery word Mooradee (I am busy), can prehyphen, multiplying destruction in vent her husband from entering, even order to avoid it. The Foolahs, who though he is assured she is entertaining seem to have made the greatest ad- her gallant. His only remedy is to vances in agriculture, are, however, still wait for their coming out. ignorant of the use of the plough, The explanation of these insulated though Dr. Winterbottom is quite per-pieces of superlative refinement among suaded they might easily be taught to savages, frequently is, that they are use cattle for that purpose. not mere ceremonies, but religious observances; for the faith of barbarous people commonly regulates all the frivolous minutiae of life, as well as its important duties: indeed, generally considers the first as of greater consequence than the last. And it must be a general fact, at all times, that gross ignorance more tenaciously adheres to a custom once adopted, because it respects that custom as an ultimate rule, and does not discern cases of exception by appealing to any higher rule upon which the first is found. “There came, (says the Doctor) during my residence at the colony, a chief of considerable importance, from the river Gambia, attracted by curiosity, and a desire of information. The man, whose appearance instantly announced a mind of no common cast, was so much struck with what he saw there, that before he went away he engaged in his service two of the most ingenious Report of the Directors of the Sierra Leone The Africans are very litigious; and display, in their law-suits or palavers, a most forensic exuberance of images, It is curious to remark, that where and loquacity of speech. Their criany instance of civilisation and refine-minal causes are frequently terminated ment is discovered in the manners of a by selling one of the parties into slabarbarous people, it exists in a much very; and the Christians are always higher degree than the same virtue in ready to purchase either the plaintiff nations generally refined. There are or defendant, or both; together with many single points of barbarous cour- all the witnesses, and any other human tesy much more rigidly adhered to than creature who is of a dusky colour, and the rules of European politeness would worships the great idol Boo-Boo-Boo, require. We have often remarked this with eleven heads. in the voyages of Captain Cook, among No great division of labour can of the islands of the Indian Archipelago; course be expected in such a state of and there is a very remarkable instance society. Every man is a city in himof it among the natives of this coast. self, and is his own tailor, hairdresser, The houses (says Dr. Winterbottom) shoemaker, and everything else. Among have seldom any other opening than the Foolahs, however, some progress the door, of which there are usually has been made in the division of emtwo opposite to each other. These serve the purpose of keeping up a current of air; they also admit the light; and afford an exit to the smoke of the fire, which is made in the middle of the floor. The entrance of a house is seldom closed by anything but a mat, which is occasionally let down, and is a sufficient barrier against all intruders. The most intimate friend will not presume to lift the mat and ployments. The tanner and the blacksmith are distinct trades; and the ingenuity which they evince in overcoming obstacles, by means so inadequate to those which Europeans possess, may convince us what a stock of good qualities human nature has in store for cases of emergency. They put to sea canoes of ten tons' burthen hollowed from a single tree; and although they are ignorant of the use of the potter's wheel, make earthen pots | cence by submitting to an ordeal. If he is burnt by red-hot iron, or scalded by boiling oil, he is immediately hurried to the gallows, with a zeal proportioned to the force and perspicuity of the evidence. In the neighbourhood of Sierra Leone, a curious species of pharmaceutical tyranny is resorted to for the purpose of ordeal. The bark of a particular tree, of purgative and emetic qualities, is infused into a large quantity of water, of which the pri it evince a disposition to descend, all opportunity of changing its line of egress is prevented, by the immediate elevation of the accused person to the gibbet. fit for every domestic use. Dr. Winterbottom thinks they may have learnt their pottery from Europeans; but if this is true, it is rather singular they were not instructed by the same masters in the use of the potter's most convenient and most prominent instrument. The common dress of the men consists in a shirt, trowsers, woollen cap or hat, which they buy of Europeans. Those who can afford it, are fond of decorating themselves in all the second-soner is to drink about six calabashes hand splendour they can purchase at quite full. If this judicial and inquisithe same market; and Monmouth tive drink take a superior direction, Street embarks its decayed finery for and return by the aperture through the coast of Africa, where Soosoo rakes which it is admitted, all is well; but if and loungers are joyfully vested in the the least honourable and elegant of its habiliments of their Bond Street pre-powers predominate over the other, and decessors. The dress of the Pagan African is never thought complete, unless a variety of greegrees, or amulets, be superadded; these are to guard against every possible accident; but, as Dr. Winterbottom observes, are such The desire of penetrating into futuvery cumbersome protectors, that in all rity, and the belief that some persons real dangers they are commonly thrown are capable of doing it, is as difficult away. The Mahommedan religion is to eradicate from the human mind, as inimical to dancing, singing, and all the is the belief in an immediate Providence; lighter species of amusement. Riding and consequently, the Africans not only on horseback is the only exercise of have their ordeal, but their conjurors those Africans who have adopted this and magicians, who are appealed to in dull faith. Sedentary amusements, all the difficulties and uncertainties of such as reading and writing, which life, and who always, of course, preserve flatter the literary pride with which their authority, though they are perthey are puffed up, are most congenial petually showing, by the clearest evito their habits. The collation of manu- dence of facts, upon what sort of founscripts, which they perform with indus-dation it rests. But the most singular try and accuracy, takes up much of circumstance in the history of barbarians their time. The Pagan African, on is, that tendency to form interior sothe contrary, is commonly a merry, cieties, comprehending a vast number dancing animal, given to every species of members, and rivalling the governof antic and apish amusement; and as ment in their influence upon public he is unacquainted with the future and opinion. Such is the Areoy Society promised delights of the Arabian pro- at Otaheite, and such the Society of phet, he enjoys the bad music, and im- the Purra in Africa. Every person, perfect beauty of this world, with a on entering into this Society, lays aside most eager and undisturbed relish. his former name, and takes a new one. There is something so natural, and They have a superior, whose commands so closely derived from human govern- are received with the most profound ments, in the notion of the immediate veneration. When the Purra comes interference of Providence, that man-into a town, which is always at night, kind are only weaned from it by centuries of contradiction and discussion. In all cases, where crime is alleged, the accused is obliged to prove his inno it is accompanied with the most horrid screams, howlings, and every kind of awful noise. The inhabitants, who are not members, are obliged to secure TRIMMER AND LANCASTER.* (E. REVIEW, 1806.) A Comparative view of the New Plan of Education promulgated by Mr. Joseph Lancaster, in his Tracts concerning the Instruction of the Children of the Labouring Part of the Community; and of the System of Christian Education founded by our pious Forefathers for the Initiation of the Young Members of the Established Church in the Principles of the Reformed Religion. By Mrs. Trimmer. 1805. themselves within doors. Should any one be discovered without, or peeping to see what was going forwards, he would infallibly be put to death. Mere seclusion of females is not considered by the Society as a sufficient guarantee against their curiosity; but all the time the Purra remains in town, the women are obliged to clap their hands, to show they are not attempting any private indulgence of espionnage. Like the Secret Tribunal which formerly existed in Germany, it punishes the guilty and disobedient, in so secret a manner, that the perpetrators are never known, and, from the dread of the Tribunal, not often inquired for.-The natives about Sierra Leone speak of the Purra men with horror, and firmly believe that they have all strict and incessant intercourse with the devil. This account of Africa is terminated by a single chapter on Sierra Leone; a subject on which we cannot help regretting that Dr. Winterbottom has not been a little more diffuse. It would derive a peculiar interest from the present state of St. Domingo, as the perils with which West India property is now threatened must naturally augment curiosity respecting the possibility of a pacific change of that system; and we should have read with pleasure and THIS is a book written by a lady who has gained considerable reputation at the corner of St. Paul's Churchyard; who flames in the van of Mr. Newberry's shop; and is, upon the whole, dearer to mothers and aunts than any other author who pours the milk of science into the mouths of babes and sucklings. Tired at last of scribbling for children, and getting ripe in ambition, she has now written a book for grown-up people, and selected for her antagonist as stiff a controversialist as the whole field of dispute could well have supplied. Her opponent is Mr. Lancaster, a Quaker, who has lately given to the world new and striking lights upon the subject of notice of his country by spreading Education, and come forward to the order, knowledge, and innocence among the lowest of mankind. Mr. Lancaster, she says, wants method in his book; and therefore her answer to him is without any arrangement. The same excuse must suffice for the desultory observations we shall make upon this lady's publication. instruction the observations of so intelligent and entertaining a writer as Dr. Winterbottom, who is extensively acquainted with the subjects on which he writes, and has a talent of selecting important matter, and adorning it. Dr. Winterbottom says he has been in Africa some years, and we do not doubt the fact; he might, however, have The first sensation of disgust we exwritten this book without giving himself that trouble; and the only diffe-perienced at Mrs. Trimmer's book, was air with which she speaks of some small from the patronising and protecting part of Mr. Lancaster's plan. seems to suppose, because she has dedi rence between him and a mere compiler is, that he sanctions his quotations by authority, and embellishes them by his ingenuity. The medical volume we have not yet seen, but this first volume may be safely purchased. She * Lancaster invented the new method of education. The Church was sorely vexed at its success, endeavoured to set up Dr. Bell as the discoverer, and to run down poor Lancaster. George the Third was irritated by this shabby conduct, and always protected Lancaster. He was delighted with this Review, and made Sir Herbert Taylor read it a second time to him. Mr. Lancaster has the very high merit of calling the public attention to this evil, and of calling it in the best way, by new and active remedies; and this uncandid and feeble lady, instead of using the influence she has obtained over the anility of these realms, to join that useful remonstrance which Mr. Lancaster has begun, pretends to deny that the evil exists; and when you ask where are the schools, rods, pedagogues, primers, histories of Jack the Giantkiller, and all the usual apparatus for education, the only things she can produce is the Act of Uniformity and Common Prayer. cated her mind to the subject, that her | tion of the poor has been so grossly and opinion must necessarily be valuable infamously neglected as in England. upon it; forgetting it to be barely possible, that her application may have made her more wrong, instead of more right. If she can make out her case,that Mr. Lancaster is doing mischief in so important a point as that of national education, — she has a right, in common with every one else, to lay her complaint before the public; but a right to publish praises must be earned by something more difficult than the writing sixpenny books for children. They may be very good; though we never remember to have seen any one of them; but if they be no more remarkable for judgment and discretion than parts of the work before us, there 2. The Principles on which Mr. Lanare many thriving children quite capable caster's Institution is conducted.. of repaying the obligations they owe" Happily for mankind," says Mr. to their amiable instructress, and of Lancaster, "it is possible to combine teaching, with grateful retaliation, "the precept and practice together in the old idea how to shoot." education of youth: that public spirit, or general opinion, which gives such strength to vice, may be rendered serviceable to the cause of virtue; and in thus directing it, the whole secret, the beauty and simplicity of national education consists. Suppose, for instance, it be required to train a youth to strict veracity. He has learnt to read at school: he there reads the declaration of the Divine will respecting liars; he is there informed of the pernicious effects that practice produces on society at large: and he is enjoined, for the fear of God, for the approbation of his friends, and for the good of his schoolfellows, never to tell an untruth. This is a most excellent precept; but let it be taught, and yet, if the contrary practice be treated with indifference by parents, teachers, or associates, it will either weaken or destroy all the good that can be derived from it. But if the parents or teachers tenderly nip the rising shoots of vice; if the associates of youth pour contempt on the liar; he will soon hide his head with shame, and most likely leave off the practice." (pp. 24, 25.) In remarking upon the work before us, we shall exactly follow the plan of the authoress, and prefix, as she does, the titles of those subjects on which her observations are made; doing her the justice to presume, that her quotations are fairly taken from Mr. Lancaster's book. 1. Mr. Lancaster's Preface. Mrs. Trimmer here contends, in opposition to Mr. Lancaster, that ever since the establishment of the Protestant Church, the education of the poor has been a national concern in this country; and the only argument she produces in support of this extravagant assertion, is an appeal to the Act of Uniformity. If there are millions of Englishmen who cannot spell their own names, or read a sign-post which bids them turn to the right or left, is it any answer to this deplorable ignorance to say, there is an Act of Parliament for public instruction? -to show the very line and chapter where the King, Lords, and Commons, in Parliament assembled, ordained the universality of reading and writing, when, centuries afterwards, the ploughman is no more capable of the one or the other than the beast which he drives? In point of fact, there is no Protestant country in the world where the educa The objection which Mrs. Trimmer makes to this passage is, that it is exalting the fear of man above the fear of God. This observation is as mis cence.' These lads thought themselves very but on a sudden they were seized and overhappy at play with their new associates; come by numbers, were brought into school chievous as it is unfounded. Un-tops, balls, races, or what best suits their doubtedly, the fear of God ought to be inclination or the season of the year; but the paramount principle from the very with this charge, 'Let all be kept in innobeginning of life, if it were possible to make it so; but it is a feeling which can only be built up by degrees. The awe and respect which a child enter-just as people in the street would seize a tains for its parent and instructor, is pickpocket, and bring him to the police the first scaffolding upon which the office. Happening at that time to be within, sacred edifice of religion is reared. A inquired, 'Well, boys, what is all this bustle about?'-'Why, Sir,' was the general This was announced with as much emphasis reply, these lads have been swearing.' and solemnity as a judge would use in passing sentence upon a criminal. The culprits were, as may be supposed, in much terror. After the examination of witnesses and proof of the facts, they received admonition as to the offence; and, on promise of better behaviour, were dismissed. it was observable, that they were better more was ever heard of their swearing; yet acquainted with the theory of Christianity, and could give a more rational answer to questions from the Scripture, than several of the boys who had thus treated them, on comparison, as constables would do a thief. religious instruction, and could, if needful, I call this," adds Mr. Lancaster, "practical give many such anecdotes.”—(pp. 26, 27.). childs begins to pray, to act, and to Schools, recommended several lads to me No All that Mrs. Trimmer has to observe against this very striking illustration of Mr. Lancaster's doctrine is, that the monitors behaved to the swearers in a very rude and unchristianlike manner. She begins with being cruel, and ends with being silly. Her first observation is calculated to raise the posse comitatus against Mr. Lancaster,- to get him stoned for impiety; and then, when he produces the most forcible example of the effect of opinion to encourage religious precept, she says such a method of preventing swearing is too rude for the Gospel. True, modest, unobtrusive religion — charitable, forgiving, indulgent Christianity, is the greatest ornament and the greatest blessing that can dwell in the mind of man. But if there be one character more base, more infamous, and more shocking than another, it is he who, for the sake of some paltry distinction in the world, is ever ready “A benevolent friend of mine (says he), who resides at a village near London, where he has a school of the class called Sunday for education. He is a pious man, and these children had the advantage of good precepts under his instruction in an eminent degree, but had reduced them to very little practice. As they came to my school from some distance, they were permitted to bring their dinners; and, in the interval between the morning and afternoon school hours, spent their time with a number of lads under to accuse conspicuous persons of irre. similar circumstances, in a play-ground ad-ligion to turn common informer for joining the school-room. In this play-ground the Church - and to convert the most the boys usually enjoy an hour's recreation; beautiful feelings of the human heart |