berte, Leonardo da Vinci, Michael Angelo Buonarotti, Benvenuto, Cellini, and Guido d'Arrezo. There are also statutes of the navigator Amerigo -Vespucci, the archbishop Antonius, Cosmo the elder, and Laurent de Medicis; and four eminent citizens of Florence, Farinata degli Uberte, who pretected the city in a great emergency; Capponi, who defended it against the French; Giovanni delle Bande Nere, the general of the Medicis faction; and Ferruccio, the last general of the republic, who perished with it.... Count Abel Hugo, brother of the renowned Victor, has just died in Paris, aged 57. He was the compiler of two esteemed works, "La France Pittoresque," and "La France Militaire," and was the author of several dramatic pieces and numerous pamphlets. Another French Author named Delbare, has also just died. He was more industrious than famous, but he had the honor of having assisted Michaud in his History of the Crusades."....It is stated in a letter from Bohemia, that a Dr. Herzog has just discovered in the archives of the town hall of Zwickan, twelve folio manuscript volumes, containing the poetical works of Hana Sachs, a celebrated German troubadour, who was born in 1494.

OBSERVATION OF THE LUNAR ECLIPSE OF MAY 1. 1855.

The evening of Tuesday, May the first, was remarkably fine and the opportunity of examining this beautiful phenomenon very favorable. The day had been brilliantly clear, and only slight hazy clouds obscured the moon partially, but did not prevent the observation. The moon became visible from behind some low clouds at 7h. 15m., and had reached an altitude of some 35°, when, at the moment predicted by the beautiful science of Astronomy, it was seen to become touched as it were by a dark substance which slowly enveloped it from the S. E. lower limb and making towards the N. E. limb, which it finally reached at 9h. 55m. 30s. p. m. The appearance at this time and a little later was very interesting, as though the moon was evidently in the shadow, still the form of the greater part was distinctly visible. This was due to the effect of the atmosphere of our earth, which beset or refracted the rays of the sun and partially illumined the moon's disc. This effect was so great that the absolute or total obscuration was very brief indeed, and very shortly after 10h. 43m., the centre of the eclipse, a faint glimmer of light could be perceived on the S. E. limb which had been first enveloped. The great size of the earth's shadow was remarkable and rendered this eclipse so perfect that it subtended 37 min. 30 sec. of the heaven, or was 2 1-5th the moon's diameter, and as she moves at about double her own diameter in her orbit in the hour, it took her just 96 minutes of time to traverse from one edge to the other. Some time before she touched the N. E. limit of the shadow, the stars of the 4th and 5th magnitude which had become visible for a few minutes began to grow indistinct, and she appeared shortly after to assume her preeminence and shine supreme as Queen of the heavens attended only by the larger stars which she seemed to permit to accompany her. A more splendid eclipse it has seldom been our fortune to witness, and the words of the poet came forcibly to our recollection:

"Queen of the silver bow, by thy pale light,
Alone and pensive I delight to stray,

To watch thy moon-beams trembling on the wave,
Or mark the floating clouds which cross thy ray;
And while I gaze, thy mild and placid light,
Sheds a soft calm upon the troubled breast,
And oft I think, fair planet of the night,
That in the orb the wretched may find rest;
The wanderers of this earth perhaps may go,
Released by death to thy benignant sphere,
And the sad children of despair and woe,
Forget in thee their cup of sorrow here,
Oh! that I soon may join thy world serene,
Poor weary pilgrim in this troubled scene.

Woodstock U. C., May 2, 1855.

STONE QUARRIES UNDER JERUSALEM.

W. G. T.

A party who had explored these remarkable quaries, (which had been accidentally discovered by a dog while in pursuit of an animal) says:

Upon comparing a subsequent measurement of our guiding line, and the time spent in returning from the extreme end, we judged the length of the quarry to be rather more than a quarter of a mile, and its greatest breadth less than half that distance.

There had been some doubt expressed by one or two of the party, who had made a previous visit, as to its being a quarry; but we all agreed that though it might originally have been a grotto, it had been worked, and then the question arose, "By whom?" The answer was, "Kin: Solomon," and for this opinion there seemed to be many reasons. The stone is the same as that of the portions of the temple wall still remaining, and referred to by Dr. Robinson to the period of the first building. The mouth of the quarry is but little below the level of the platform on which the temple stood, making the transportation of the immense blocks of stone a comparatively easy task.

The heaps of chippings which lie about show that the stone was dressed on the spot, which accords with the account of the building of the temple: "And the house, when it was in the building, was built of stone, made ready before it was brought thither; so that there was neither hammer, nor axe, nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was building." The extent of the quarry, the amount of stone which must have been worked out there, and the size of some of the blocks themselves. The extreme age of the part which has been exposed to the action of the elements, and which dates back in legends and traditions to the time of Jeremiah. The fact that there are no other quarries of any great size near the city, and especially the fact that in the reign of Solomon this quarry in the whole extent was without the limits of the city.

PUBLIC MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES IN IRELAND.

Mr. Ewart, Mr. G. A. Hamilton, and Mr. Kirk have introduced a bill for further promoting the establishment of free publi; libraries and museums in Ireland. It repeals the 16 and 17 Victoria, cap. 101, and the 99th section of 17 and 18 Victoria, cap. 103, and provides for the adoption of the act in any incorporated borough, or any town, the population of which shall exceed 5,000 persons, the adoption to be determined by the votes of twothirds of the householders. The expenses of carrying the act into execution are to be defrayed out of the borough or town fund. Accounts are to be audited, and a copy thereof sent to the Lord-Lieutenant. The amount of the rate to be levied for the purposes of the act is not to exceed 1d. in the pound in any one year. The councils or boards of any borough and the town commissioners of any town are empowered to appropriate lands, and to sell and exchange the same for the purposes of this act. The general management of the libraries and museums is to be vested in the borough councils and town-commissioners, who are "to purchase and provide the necessary fụel, lighting, and other similar matters,--books, newspapers, maps, and specimens of art and science," &c. The property of the library and all lands and buildings will be vested in the managers. A decision against the adoption of this act will be valid for one year. Museums and libraries established under this act will be open to the public free of all charge.

ANNUAL RISING OF RIVERS.

The Nile begins to rise in June, and attains 24 to 28 feet of elevation in tne middle of August, and then floods the valley of Egypt, 12 miles wide. The Ges rises from April to August 32 feet deep, and then creates a flood 100 miles wide. The Euphrates rises between March and June 12 feet, and covers the Babylonian plains.

INTERIOR OF AFRICA.

The recent naval expedition into the interior of Africa is a notable event in African exploration; and affords a fresh starting point for the future. It is known that in the spring of last year the expedition left Liverpool in the screw steamer Pleiad, built, we believe, expressly for the purpose by Mr. Macgregor Laird. The government share in the expedition was limited to a money contribution and the appointment of certain officers, among others, of Dr. Raikie, of the Royal Navy. The report of that gentleman to Lord Clarendon on the result of the expedition was read at the meeting of the Royal Geographical Society on Monday, and it is in every way satisfactory. The expedition started from the island of Fernando Po, and entered the Kwora from the sea on the 12th July. On the 4th August the Pleiad reached the confluence of the Chadda and the Kwora, passed Dagboh, the furthest point hitherto reached, on the 18th, and steamed nearly 200 miles further up the river. On the 30th September the Pleiad turned westward once more, with the falling of the waters, and reached Fernando Po on the 7th November. For the present we shall not dwell on the details of this expedition. The most remarkable fact in its history is, that it voyaged far up a river hitherto so destructive to human life, and returned without the

loss of a single man. This alone, quite apart from the extent of the explora tion' and the information collected by the explorers, is sufficient to give it a distinct place in the progress of African research. It is now established that the river is navigable in the rainy season with perfect security; and the explorers testify to the willingness of the natives along its banks to trade with Europeans. It is obvious that the civilisation of Africa can only be accomplished by the extension of commerce, and that commerce can only be extended by an accurate survey of the resources of the country within the reach of our marine. The great rivers are the highroad of trade in all countries; and now that it has been proved that steam and the screw can carry us safely along the waterways of Africa, we trust that the example will be followed up by still more energetic exertions. Much credit is due to Mr. Laird for his spirited share in the Chadda expeditiou, and to him its success ful prosecution is in a great measure due.-London Globe.

Departmental Notices.

PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARIES.

To Municipal and School Corporations in Upper Canada. Until further notice, the Chief Superintendent of Schools will apportion one hundred per cent. upon all sums which shall be raised from local sources by Municipal Councils and School Corporations, for the establishment or increase of Public Libraries in Upper Canada, under the regulations provided according to law.

In selecting from the General and Supplementary Catalogues, parties will be particular to give merely the catalogue number of the book required, and the department from which it is selected. To give the names of books without their number and department, (as is frequently done,) causes great delay in the selection and despatch of a library. The list should be on a distinct sheet of paper from the letter.

SCHOOL MAPS AND APPARATUS.

The Legislature having granted annually, from the commence. ment of the current year, a sufficient sum of money' to enable this Department to supply Maps and Apparatus (not text-books) to Grammar and Common Schools, upon the same terms as Library Books are now supplied to Trustees and Municipalities, the Chief Superintendent of Schools will be happy to add one hundred cent. to any sum or sums, not less than five dollars, per transmitted to the Department, and to forward Maps, Apparatus, Charts and Diagrams to the value of the amount thus augmented, upon receiving a list of the articles required by the

Trustees.

EDUCATION OFFICE,

Toronto, 18th June, 1855.

EXAMINATION OF COMMON SCHOOL TEACHERS FOR THE COUNTY OF YORK.

THE BOARD OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION for the County of YORK, hereby

Committee satisfactory proof of good moral character, such proof to consist of the Certificate of the Clergyman whose ministration the Candidate attended, and in case the party has taught in a Common School, the Certificate of the Trustees of the School Section will be required. Each Candidate is required, if possible, to attend the Examination in his own School Circuit.

The BOARD will meet at the COURT HOUSE, on TUESDAY, the 25th of SEPTEMBER next, at NOON, for the purpose of receiving the Reports of the several Examining Committees, Licensing Teachers, and for other business. JOHN JENNINGS,

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO.- MATRICULATION.
HE ANNUAL EXAMINATIONS will commence on the 24th day of
SEPTEMBER.

The following SCHOLARSHIPS, will be offered for competition amongst candidates for admission, viz:

In Law seven of the value of £30 per annum each (Three amongst Candidates for admission in Law and Arts simultaneously, who purpose entering on a course of study in Law, extending over five years; and four amongst Candidates for admission in Law and Arts simultaneously, and Bachelors of Arts, who purpose entering on a course of study in Law, extending over three years.)

In Medicine, three of the value of £30 per annum each.
In Arts, fitteen of the value of £30 per annum each.

In Civil Engineering three of the value of £30 per annum each.
In Agriculture three of the value of £30 per annum each.

At the same period undergraduates and Canditates for Degrees in Law and Medicine; Students of the standing of one or two years from Matriculation, and Candidates for Diplomas, in Civil Engineering, or Agriculture, are required to present themselves.

The following Scholarships will then be offered for competition, viz:(1.) Amongst Students of the standing of one Matriculation.: In Law three of the value of £30 per annum each.

In Medicine, three of the value of £30 per annum each.
In Civil Engineering, two of the value of £30 per annum each.
In Agriculture, two of the value of £30 per annum each.

(2.) Amongst Students of the standing of two years from Matriculation :

In Medicine two of the value of £30 per annum each.

(3.) Amongst students of the standing of three years from Matriculations : In Medicine two of the value of £30 per annum each.

Each of the Scholarships, established in this University, is tenable for one year, but the Scholars of each year are eligible for the Scholarships of the succeeding year.

Graduates or Undergraduates of any University in her Majesty's dominions are admissible ad eundem, but are required to produce satisfactory Certifi cates of good conduct, and of their standing in their respective Universities, Attendance on Lectures is not required, as a qualification by this University, except for Students in Medicine.

of the above mentioned periods, are required to transmit the necessary CerCandidates who purpose presenting themselves for Examination at either tificates to the Registrar, at his office in the Parliament Buildings, at least four weeks before the first day of Examination.

Further information as to subjects of Examination and other particulars, can be obtained on application to the Registrar. Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Toronto, June 30th, 1855.

ERS take place in the Localities hereinafter mentioned, viz. :

At the NEW COURT HOUSE, CITY OF TORONTO, on WEDNESDAY,

the First day of AUGUST next, at 9, A.M.

Examining Committee:-Rev. J. JENNINGS, H. J. Grasett, J. BARCLAY, Messrs. MCMURRICH, HAYES, CATHCART, G. A. BARBER, Rev. W. BELT, A. WICKSON.

RICHMOND HILL.-THURSDAY, 2nd AUGUST next, at 9, A. M. Examining Committee:-Rev. J. G. ARMSTRONG, Dr. BLAKE, J. DICK, Messrs. A. WRIGHT, G. P. DICKSON, D. BRIDGFORD and Rev. G. S. HILL. NEWMARKET.-TUESDAY, 31st JULY, inst., at 9, A. M. Examining Committee:-Rev. T. BAKER, Jos. HARTMAN, Esq., Warden; R. H. SMITH, T. NIXON, J. E. MAXWELL, Dr. PYNE and H. MOORE.

All Teachers and others, presenting themselves for Examination, will be required to select the particular class in which they propose to pass, and previous to being admitted for Examination, must furnish to the Examining

Application will be received from Teachers holding a FIRST CLASS CERTIFICATE for the above situation, by the undersigned, up to the 1st day of SEPTEMBER, next. Applicants to apply personally, with their credentials, to WILLIAM DAVIDSON, Secretary Board of School Trustees.-Berlin, 9th July, 1855.

ADVERTISEMENTS inserted in the Journal of Education for one halfpenny per word, which may be remitted in postage stamps, or otherwise. TERMS: For a single copy of the Journal of Education, 5s. per annum; back vols, neatly stitched, supplied on the same terms. All subscriptions to commence with the January number, and payment in advance must in all cases accompany the order. Single numbers, 74d. each.

All communications to be addressed to Mr. J. GEORGE Hodgins, Education Office, Toronto. TORONTO: Printed by LOVELL & GIBSON, Corner of Yonge and Melinda Streets.

than a solemn trifling with the question, to say that men should be taught to labor from higher inducements than a hope of advancement or reward. Granting the abstract truth of the principle, we must, notwithstanding, allow that the hope of reward and the desire of praise is universally implanted in the human breast. We must deal with man as we find him. I propose to myself to prove that a system of general examination would be the most powerful instrument we could employ to promote a true national education. There is nothing new however in the principle, whatever there may be in its applications.It is the principle on which our universities, without any external supervision or control, continue to provide an admirable training for the minds of those committed to their charge. Experience has forced it on our older universities: it is exclusively the system of the university of London. It was no part of the original university system The professional element was the original feature. The tutorial was afterwards introduced, and has practically superseded the former. But it is not in the universities alone that examination is used as an instrument to promote education. In the learned professions, as they are called, with the exception of the bar (which is, indeed, no longer an exception, and which might continue an exception without much practical injury, for practice at the bar is nothing less than an arduous and continuous public examination), in the royal navy, and lately in the army and in our commercial marine, and still more recently in the East India Company, examination has been used as the great instrument for promoting and testing proficiency in the acquisition of knowledge.

But by far the most important move in this direction is the proposal on the part of the Government, which has been formally recommended in the speech from the throne at the commencement of the present session, to throw open to public competition the appointments which are now the private patronage of the ministers of the crown. Although this measure has been advocated by its great promoters, Sir Charles Trevelyan and Sir Stafford Northcote, solely on the ground of its tendency to improve the education, and thus to increase the efficiency of those employed in the public offices, yet I will boldly assert that no measure, however popular, could be devised, no grant of money, however large, could be voted, which would at ail to the same extent, or in any like degree, promote the education of every class in the community. Such a measure as this, voluntarily proposed by a government, not with a view to escape from external pressure, nor to conciliate popular support, bears unimpeachable testimony to the disinterested spirit of public men at the present day.

In no respect would the operation of such a plan be more beneficial than in stimulating voluntary exertions, the building of schools, the appointment of masters, the adjustment of salaries, the choice of plans of instruction; while the religious teaching would continue in the hands of the local promoters, it should be the duty of some recognized established authority to pronounce whether the provision made in any locality was adequate or otherwise, the progress of education satisfactory or the opposite.

If the effect of such examinations on the character of school teaching would be so manifestly beneficial, much more important would be their influences over the pupils themselves. As matters now stand, for the youth not intended for college, incentives to exertion are as few as they are feeble. There is but little to stimulate him to exertion. He knows that he must remain at school until he is old enough to proceed to business, but he cannot see why he should weary himself with study. Now were he certain that on leaving school he must go before an impartial examiner, be subjected to a searching examination, be compared with boys from other schools, that he would have his attainments and deficiencies brought out clearly before his neighbors and friends, what motives to exertion would not be at once supplied? What habits of industry and perseverance would not be encouraged? Above all, the practice of self-instruction would be strengthened, a habit far more valuable than any amount of school acquirements. The latter will gradually drop out of the mind or be crushed out by the business of life, but the habit will remain, ready to be applied to any subject which may require patient investigation or continued attention. Schools and schoolmasters, lectures and examinations, prizes and certificates, are useful so far as they promote this; it is the necessary adjunct, and, I may say, also the necessary condition of intellectual developemnt.

If, then, the formation of habits of patient study and of persevering application are among the primary objects of a wise education when applied even to the highest, so should they, in an especial manner, be looked upon as such in the education of the poor. On those whose education extends over no inconsiderable portion of their lives, such habits will, from the very nature of things, force themselves imper ceptibly into vigour; they will grow with their growth and strengthen with their strength, and this too whether much or little external pains be taken; but with the children of the poor the case is different. They cannot wait for the slow development of good habits; they must be forced into maturity. As the stay of the poor at school must, under

the most favorable circumstances, be short, it is of incomparable importance to them to be taught to exercise their faculties, to form habits of self labor, assiduous perseverance, and voluntary application. In truth, the amount of facts committed to memory at school is of very inferior value indeed, when compared with the habits which may be formed by their acquisition. When a boy, in whom habits of selfinstruction and industry are thoroughly formed, leaves school, they stick to him with all their characteristic adhesiveness. He is qua'ified by his acquired habits to turn his mind with effect to any subject of study for which he can find time and has the inclination; while another lad we shall suppose of equal natural ability, and with a far more varied stock of facts, is quite helpless. He has been taught everything he knows by others and has learned nothing by himse fwhen his corks are removed and he is cut adrift, at first he probably endeavors to add to the little stock of knowledge which he had so easily acquired. But not knowing how to set about it, unskilled in the use of his faculties, looking always for help from some one or other, he flounders on, until at last he gives up all hope of learning-he becomes disgusted with reading, and sinks at last into a state of ignorance little removed from what we may suppose it would have been, has he never received an hour's instruction. How often may one hear the laborer saying, "I was teached all these things when I went to school, but somehow I have forgotten them all." To what cause, other than this, was it owing that the old grammar schools, with all their antiquated absurdities, so often sent out men of energy, learning, and talent; for while the matter learned was often worthless, the habits formed during its acquisition were invaluable. Habits well set, so to speak, would be of more value to a youth leaving school, than if he had been crainmned with all the facts contained in all our popular compendiums of useful knowledge. It is, it must be granted quite true, that little can be done without earnest and zealous teachers, carefully and systematically instructed in the duties of their calling. I say systematically instructed, because it would be as hopeless to expect to train efficient schoolmasters without the aid of normal institutions, as it would be to teach the art of healing without hospitals or theatres of anatomy. It is, however, true that the schoolmaster cannot accomplish every thing-the hearty co-operation of the pupil is, at least, as equally essential to success.Another great advantage would result from the adoption of a plan like this,-boys would be induced to remain longer at school, and not to leave it as they now do, when not more than twcive or thirteen years of age, in a half educated state, without a single valuable habit formed, or any useful acquirement made. Of all the evils whi h bese: the education of the middle and lower classes, this is perhaps the greatest; unless this be amended, other reforms are comparatively valueless.What is the use, for example, of providing new schools, or a better class of teachers, or improved apparatus for those who will not use them? Now, for this admitted and deprecated evil, the plan proposed would supply a thorough, prompt, and universal remedy. Though a parent might despise education and deny its utility, though he might nake little of learning, and look with suspicion and dislike on the public examinations, yet the cons deration that the future progress in life of his son might depend on his obtaining the royal certificate, would compel him to leave his son at school that he might qualify himself to secure it.

Influenced by views not very different from those which I have now placed before you, the Council of the Society of Arts appointed a committee of i s own members, in the early part of last year, to investigate the subject of industrial instruction, and to report thereon to the council. The committee took the opinions of the most eminent manufacturers in the kingdom, of the principal engineers, of the great employers of labor, of the head-masters of the g ammar schools, of those engaged in the duties of instruction generally, and of the best known friends of education. In reply to their inquiries, which they divided under eight heads, they received a very large amount of the most valuable correspondence, hailing almost without a single exception the advent of reform, or even of change in the present state of things.

The committee embodied a large portion of this correspondence in an appendix which they added to their report, presented to the council a little more than twelve months ago. Among other points referred to, the question of examination was discussed at much length, and the strength of public opinion in its favor shown. More recently, the question has been noticed in the address from the chair at the opening of the last session-it now remains to be seen whether the proposal of the Council of the Society of Arts to appoint a board of examiners, will receive that amount of public sympathy and general support which would justify them, in the eyes of society at large, in proceeding with the development of so important a measure. With regard to the moral character of the candidates, and their state of religious knowledge, it is obvious the examiners could make no direct investigation. This, however, is but little to be regretted, because it is precisely the point on which examination is least efficacious; for however valuable a searching examination may be to test a candidate's critical knowledge and intellectual apprehension of the truths of revelation or of the