The effect of this fund upon the state of the schools, has not been such as might have been anticipated. Notwithstanding such ample means are afforded, exclusively for the benefit of the common or primary schools, it is questionable whether they are in any better, if in so good a state, as the same class of schools in Massachusetts. The vigilance of the people in appropriating their school money is not quickened, by laying their purses under immediate contribution; and means brought to their door, without any exertion on their part, are suffered to pass but half improved. Among other perversions of "the fund," ignorant and indifferent instructers are allowed to absorb a portion of it, which, under better management, could not fail of a great and a happy effect. But when the only object of this large appropriation shall be kept more steadily in view, and when the same attention and ability shall be paid to the judicious expenditure of the money, which has been paid to the accumulation of it, this State will possess advantages for educating, to a certain degree, the whole mass of the people, beyond those of any other State in the Union.

LETTER III.*

THE Constitution of Massachusetts, adopted in 1780, recognises the importance of education in the following words:

"Wisdom and knowledge, as well as virtue, diffused generally among the body of the people, being necessary for the preservation of their rights and liberties; and as these depend on spreading the opportunities and advantages of education in the various parts of the country, and among the different orders of the people, it shall be the duty of Legislatures and Magistrates, in all future periods of this Commonwealth, to cherish the interests of literature and the sciences, and all seminaries of them; especially the University at Cambridge, public schools, and grammar schools in the towns."

With such a clause in the constitution, we should have anticipated some legislative provisions for education, sooner than at the end of nine years. But the institutions and system of schools, which had obtained under the Province charter, together with the exertions of individuals, were all the means en

*The remarks in the succeeding letters are made with more particular reference to the schools of Massachusetts, though it is presumed, that with little variation they would be equally applicable to the schools of any of the New England States.

joyed for the diffusion of knowledge before the year 1789. In this year the legislature passed the following "act to provide for the instruction of youth, and for the promotion of good education.'

"Whereas the Constitution of the Commonwealth hath declared it to be the duty of the General Court to provide for the education of youth; and whereas a general dissemination of knowledge and virtue is necessary to the prosperity of every State, and the very existence of a Commonwealth :

"Sect. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That every town or district within this Commonwealth, containing fifty families, or householders, shall be provided with a school master or school masters, of good morals, to teach children to read and write, and to instruct them in the English language, as well as in arithmetick, orthography, and decent behaviour, for such term of time as shall be equivalent to six months for one school in each year. And every town or district containing one hundred families, or householders, shall be provided with such school master or school masters, for such term of time as shall be equivalent to twelve months for one school in each year. And every town or district containing one hundred and fifty families, or householders, shall be provided with such school master, or school masters, for such term of time as shall be equivalent to six months in each year; 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 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 beforementioned virtues, to preserve and perfect a republican constitution, and to secure the blessings of liberty, as well as to promote their future happiness; and the tendeney of the opposite vices to slavery and ruin.

And to the end that improper persons may not be employed in the important offices before mentioned:

Sect. 5. Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That no person shall be employed as a school master aforesaid, unless he shall have received an education at some College or University, and before entering on the said business, shall produce satisfactory evidence thereof, or unless the person to be employed as aforesaid shall produce a certificate from a learned minister, well skilled in the Greek and Latin languages, settled in the town or place where the school is proposed to be kept, or two other such ministers in the vicinity thereof, that they have reason to believe that he is well qualified to discharge the duties devolved upon such school master by this Act; and, in addition thereto, if for a grammar school," that he is of competent skill in the Greek and Latin languages, for the said purpose." And the candidate of either of the descriptions aforesaid shall moreover produce a certificate from a settled minister of the town, district, parish or place, to which such candidate belongs, or from the selectmen of such town or district, or committee of such parish or place, "That to the best of his or their knowledge, he sustains a good moral character."