Intelligence of Our Puritan Ancestors. THE Puritans of New England were an intelligent people. There own minds were cultivated and they placed the highest value upon mental culture. Those men, wherever found, who contend for a simple and pure worship of the only true God, will always be found upon the side of intelligence and education: and those who had acquired the name of Puritans were men who improved every opportunity to acquire knowledge themselves and to transmit it to posterity. They had a respectable number of highly educated and talented men, and an unusual degree of general intelligeuce was diffused throughout the mass. "Nor heed the puny skeptic's hand, While near the school the church spire stands; Nor fear the bloody bigot's rule, While near the church spire stands the school." For all our boasted intelligence, for our unequalled system of public schools, for the early foundation of our colleges and universities, for the general diffusion of knowledge throughout the masses, which constitutes the great difference between American and European society, we are indebted to our Puritan ancestors. Lyceum Lectures. MANY of our friends are now busy in aranging for a course of lectures for the ensuing season. "Among the Separatists in England," says Mr. Everett, "there was a fair share of the edu- For their information, and to aid in disseminating cation and learning of the time." And the Pu- knowledge, we would give notice that Henry L. ritans who came here before separating from the Bowen, Esq., of this city, has prepared a lecture English Church, were equally well educated with of much interest, on the "Life and Character of the Separatists, if not superior to them in intelli-Tristam Burgess," which he will deliver during gence. A distinction should be made between the historic meaning of Puritan and Pilgrim, but in speaking of the Puritans of New England we shall include the Pilgrims in accordance with popular usage. the coming winter in Rhode Island and elsewhere. Rev. Wm. Bates, of Northbridge Mass., an earnest scholar, a ready writer, and a popular speaker, has several lectures, which have already been given with marked success, and which he would repeat before lyceums this winter. There were, then, among the settlers of New England a large number of highly educated A lecture on "The Jesuits," a lecture on the men; and so much importance did they attach "Puritans," and a lecture on "Intellectual Into educated men, that only ten years after the dependence," have just been prepared with spefirst settlement of the Massachusetts colony,cial reference to the coming season of popular Harvard College was founded. The historical lectures, by a gentleman of this city, a graduate works of Winthrop, Morton and Bradford, give abundant attestation to the learning of the Puritans; and the names of Winthrop, and Winslow, and Carver; of Bradford, and Brewster, and Cotton, and Hooker will live as long as friends of enlightened Christian literature are found, and the English language is spoken or read. Let all New England,-nay, even our great republic and the world remember that what is seen to-day in the intelligence of the sons of New England-wherever found-is due to the great and fundamental principle here first established by our Puritan ancestors, that "the money of a people must educate the children of the people;" that all the property of a state must be taxed to educate the children of the state. They planted the church and the school side by side, where they have to this day remained, the lasting memorials of the character of the New England Puritans, and truthful indices of New England society. The principle, since expressed by a New England poet in these words, was eminently theirs ; of Brown University. Either of these lectures the author would consent to give if desired. Address "Lecturer," Box 515, Providence. We would cheerfully recommend the above to those who wish to secure lecturers of a high order. This we do from a personal knowledge of the lecturers and the lectures, on our own responsibility, and without the knowledge of the persons above mentioned. To our Subscribers. If any of our subscribers fail to receive the Schoolmaster, or have not received every number, we hope they will inform us immediately. If the direction by which the book is forwarded be wrong, we would like to be informed of it. If any error be made, we wish to be made acquainted with it forthwith and we will endeavor to rectify it. We shall send bills to all whose names stand on our books, with the subscription unpaid. We have no other means of knowing who have paid the right, and promptly condemn the wrong is their subscription and who have not. no easy task. Do we honor Washington more for his bravery in battle, or for his strict, moral rectitude and steadfastness to the best interests When of his country under all circumstances? If we send bills to any who have already paid, the fault is not ours, since their names stand on the unpaid lists in the subscription books, as we received them from the late publisher. If any the boy dares his fellow to fight, he is the true one, however, should receive a bill which has been paid, on reception of information to that effect, we will send them a receipt with pleasure. True Courage. hero who dares to resist the temptation, or when the offended politician challenges his opponent to the deadly contest, the courageous man refuses to comply. Yet if the cause of humanity, of right, requires him to peril his life, he would be a mean, despicable coward, should he refuse. When Luther was summoned to the diet at There is an element in man which all praise, Worms, he was strongly urged by his friends not the opposite of which all condemn, which is so indifferently understood, that often its opposite is approved and the element condemned. The man whom the historian calls brave, is respected; he, of whom it is said, "he fears not," is honored; but alas, too often, the courageous man is a coward, and the so called coward is a truly brave man. You ask "why is this?" Simply because there is a false courage passing currently among us, which bears the name of the true element. When Shakspeare makes Macbeth use the following, he gives to posterity a true definition of courage. "I dare do all that may become a man, Who dares do more is not one." Or when we take the definition given by an eminent divine, "Dare do your whole duty; this makes the true hero," we can then appreciate the noble language of a recent member of Congress, when he says, "It requires far more courage to resist the war-cry than to yield before it. It requires more moral firmness, and greater qualities of mind, to withstand the first outbursts of of popular fury, and calmly to appeal to the sober second thought of a reflecting people, than to be the hero of a hundred battle-fields." Then it is that we see the force of the proverb; "It is a noble courage to know how to yield." To oppose every thing we meet, is by no means courage, but to approve before men what approves itself to conscience, and to condemn before the world, what conscience condemns, is the height and breadth of true manly courageous dignity. True courage fears nothing but to err, and no man can be called courageous who does not fear to do wrong. This high quality of mind is essential to the snccess of the teacher. It is an easy thing to be popular, to float along with the current, to shift with every passing breeze, or, on the other hand to be what some call courageous, and lift your hand against every man, aud feel that every man's hand is lifted against you; but to approve to venture there, inasmuch as his enemies were so strong and so much incensed against him that they would surely take his life. Martin Luther was not the man to be terrified thus. He returned the answer,-"Christ lives, and I shall enter Worms, in spite of all the gates of hell and the powers of the air." This was true courage, but no more so than a refusal would have been, had it not been his duty to go. The contrast between the brave man and the coward,-taking this view of the subject,— is striking indeed. The one is firm and dignified, actuated by fixed principle. The other weak and puny, destitute of confidence in himself, and without the confidence of others. These two characters are most admirably set forth by a recent writer, who, speaking of one class, says: "This class of minds seem to have about the consistency of wax, and are fit for little else than to receive the impressions of others. They are easily moulded into any desired form, and will retain the image until they are met by another influence. The modest, bashful man, who bows submissively to every aspirant, and takes the lowest place, who hesitates to assert his claim to respect, and esteems himself incapable of coping with his neighbor, will usually find no difficulty in passing as a cypher." But of the brave man he says: "We can place reliance on such an one. He inspires confidence. He is like a mountain of rocks. Gibralter-like, a hurricane might howl around with the same effect as a zephyr's breath; an ocean might roll its surges against the base, but we know where he was, and is, and will remain." Let him who wishes to be accounted brave, manfully discharge his duty, regardless of consequences. "If the path of duty be strewn with flowers, tread it and bless God; but, if it be sown with thorns, tread it still." INTELLIGENCE. AGASSIZ'S NEW WORK.-The first two parts of Prof. Agassiz's "Contributions to the Natural History of the United States of North America," have appeared, and it is very creditable to the country that the distinguished author is enabled to state the following particulars regarding its support, which we take from the Preface: been of the utmost assistance in the progress of the work."-Am. Pub. Circular. fairy tales. The beauty of his style, his powers of delivery and his vivacity of expression gave these entertainments an indescribable charm. Anderson's most recent contribution to literature is a novel in three volumes entitled, "To Be, or Not to Be." CURIOUS DISCOVERY. A copper kettle has been found seventeen feet below the surface, near Alton, Illinois, imbedded in a vein of coal. It was found on Buffalo Rock, on the Illinois river. Some of the citizens think it was brought there by some of the early French missionaries, over two hundred years ago; others give it a much earlier date. All ask, how could it come into a solid bed of coal? This question none can answer. HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN, the Danish poet, is another visitor who has, as usual, made Dresden his summer residence. He arrived from England, where he had been making a delightful visit with Charles Dickens and his family, at "It is now two years, since, in conversation their country seat in North Kent. In Dresden, with Mr. Francis C. Gray, of Boston,-now no Anderson was the guest of Major Serre, who is longer living to see the result of his disinterested well known for his hospitality to those who rank and generous efforts in behalf of science,-I men-high in the arts and sciences. Andersen delighttioned to him the numerous preparations which ed many private circles by the recitations of his I had made to illustrate the Natural History of North America, and my regret that the costliness of such works must prevent the publication of the materials I had collected. He entered at once into the matter with an energy and hopefulness which were most inspiring; spent some time in examining my manuscripts; and having satisfied himself of the feasibility of their publication, set on foot a subcription, of which he took the whole direction himself, awakening attention to it by personal application to his friends and acquaintances, by his own liberal subscription, by letters, by articles in the journals, and by every means which the warmest friendship and the most genuine interest in science could suggest. He was rewarded beyond his utmost hope or mine, by the generous response of the public to whom he appealed. We had fixed upon five hundred subscribers as the number necessary, to enter upon the publication with safety; and we LAMARTINE is at present at his chateau, Saint had hoped that the list might perhaps be increas-Point, having recently finished his work on Beed to seven or eight hundred. At this moment it stands at twenty-five hundred; a support such as was never before offered to any scientific man for purely scientific ends, without any reference to government objects or direct practical aims, although I believe no scientific investigations, however abstruse are withouf practical results. My generous friend did not live to witness the completion of the first volume of the series, which without his assistance could not have appeared, but he followed with the deepest interest every step in its progress, to the day of his death; he did live, however, to hear the echo which answered his appeal to the nation, in whose love of culture and liberality towards all intellectual objects he had felt so much confidence. From all the principal cities, and from towns and villages in the West, which a few years since did not exist; from California, from every corner of the United States,-came not only names, but proffers of assistance in the way of collections, and information respecting the distribution and habits of animals, which have if not with vanity, of the days of his political eleranger. It is said that he still thinks with pride, vation. He shows to his guests the oaks under which he wrote his "Jorcelyn," and also the horse on which he was mounted in February, 1848, when he rode among the excited populace and quieted them with his words. MR. BABINET of the Institute, has read a memoir at the Academy of Sciences in which he states that France will be for several years exempted from the long rains and inundations, which it has of late experienced in consequence of a change which he ascribes to the sudden return of the currents of hot westerly winds which had deviated to the north; now that they have resumed their former direction things will re turn to their normal state. THERE are 2,600 sugar plantations in the U. S., yielding the South $12,000,000. At the close of the Teachers' Institute at Woonsocket the following resolutions were unanimously adopted; Resolved-That we, as professional Teachers, recognize our Teachers' Institutes as one of the most efficient means, furnished by the State, for the improvement of teachers and the elevation of their profession; that we consider them as an established institution, and essential to the proper improvement and efficiency of the schools of the State; that we especially appreciate and acknowledge their progressive tendency, the tone and character of instruction adapting itself, as it does, to the advancing and improving character of the teachers, which the public now demand. Resolved-That our cordial thanks as members of this institute, be tendered to the citizens of Woonsocket, for the kindness with which they have welcomed us to the hospitalities of their homes, and especially to Rev. J. B. Breed, for his indefatigable exertions in providing us with pleasant places of abode. Resolved-That our thanks are due to the Trustees, for the use of the commodious apartments in the High School building, and to Mr. Pierce, the Principal, and his Assistants, for their many good offices. Resolved-That as teachers, we are proud of the position which our State journal "The Schoolmaster," has attained in the educational world; that we have full confidence in its present Editor, Wm. A Mowry, Esq., and that we pledge him our cordial support. Resolved:-That we tender our unanimous thanks to the very able instructors who have labored with us during this Institute, and also that we as teachers will return to our various spheres of labor encouraged and benefitted by the important lessons we have here received. Resolved:-That we deeply regret the loss of our late efficient and popular School Commissioner, Rev. Robert Allyn; and that we congratulate the friends of education upon the recent appointment to this office of the present able and worthy incumbent, John Kingsbury, Esq. Resolved-That these Resolutions be printed in the Woonsocket Patriot and Rhode Island Schoolmaster. In behalf of the Committee, HORACE H. THOMAS, Chairman. A LETTER from Brownsville, Texas, states that a silver mine, worked by Judge Watson, in that vicinity, has proved to be very valuable. Sixty men have been employed in taking out the ore, and the force is to be doubled. Specimens of the virgin metal have been sent to the north, and it is not doubted that millions will be extracted. PARTS OF SPEECH.-It is asserted that, in the English languege proper, apart from technical and scientific terms, there are 10,500 nouns, 40 pronouns, 7,200 adjectives, 8,000 verbs, 2,000 adverbs, 60 prepositions, 19 conjunctions, 68 interjections, and two articles. According to Webster's Dictionary, there are 100,000 words in the language. THERE is no such thing known among the Burmese as a drunkard. A Burman knows that to be guilty of intoxication is to be punished with death; for the Government inflicts this punishment for drunkeness as rigidly as it does for murder. THE P. M. GENERAL has recently decided that if the Post-Masters do not give publishers of newspapers notice when their papers remain in Post-Office without being taken out by the subscribers within five weeks, they are liable for the pay. "NOTHING TO WEAR" has been published in the Sandwich Island newspapers. They go in for such doctrine in that land of cakes, and the fashion dates back with the inhabitants to very primitive times. A STEAM carriage was lately seen in New York proceeding down Broadway on an experimental trip with three passengers. Its speed was about equal to that of an omnibus. R. BABINET, the astronomer, has announced to the Institute of Paris, that in consequence of a favorable change in the currents of the ocean, a series of years of heat has been entered on. THE drouth having cut off the corn crop on the Texas frontier, the squirrels are emigrating to Arkansas, swimming the Red river by thou sands. IN Wolverhampton, the head-quarters of the iron manufacturing of England, the weekly transactions in that metal average above $6,000,000. THE present population of Spain is near 17,000,000, an increase of about 3,000,000 since 1849. BAYARD TAYLOR's wedding day was appoint. ed for Tuesday, October 27, at Gotha, Germany. SCHOOL EXERCISES. FROM none of our readers have we received solutions to the questions in the last number; consequently we shall retain the answers until next month. Meanwhile, we hope our friends, who are mathematically inclined, will forward to us the solutions. Teachers and scholars, do not fail to work out these questions, and send us the answers. It will do you no harm to exercise yourselves a little in mathematics. When we have heard from you, we will give you another lessson. York to Dubuque, Iowa ?-What river would you ascend, to go thence to St. Paul? Name the States you would cross, and the principal places through which you would pass, going by railroad from Charleston to Memphis. -What States must be crossed by the Northern Railroad from New Orleans to join the Central Railroad of Illinois at Cairo ? MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS. situated among the mountains?-Why are the Questions taken from Warren's Common of Peru and Bolivia so dry? An interesting and profitable exercise may be given, occasionally, in geography by describing imaginary travels, like the following. Ship a cargo of goods from Para to New York; what articles would be sent, and across what ocean?-From Rio Janeiro to Baltimore ?-From Chincha and Lobos Islands to Philadelphia ?From Valparaiso to San Francisco? From what ports in South America, would tin and copper be exported ?-Diamonds ?-Hides? Coffee Cocoa ?-Rum ?-Sugar and molasses? Peruvian bark?-From what country is Yerba Maté obtained ?-Where is it principally consum ed? A party in Cleaveland chartered a steamboat to visit the Pictured Rocks of Lake Superior name the bodies of water through which they passed.—What is the route of a person who goes by water from Chicago to the copper region of Lake Superior?-On what rivers will you sail, to go from Cincinnati to the Falls of St. Anthony? A party in St. Louis wish to visit the Mammoth Cave: what route shall they take ?-What rivers will you ascend, to go from St. Louis to Council Bluffs?-What lake is very near Lake Travers? —After a heavy rain, the country between these lakes is often overflowed, so that boats can pass-Why? from one to other; then an Indian with his canoe might make the passage from Hudson's Bay to the Gulf of Mexico: name all the lakes and rivers he must navigate in his journey. seilles (in France): throngh what waters must Ship a cargo of wheat from Odessa to Maryou pass ?-With what articles would you load a vessel at Riga for London ?-Through what waters must the vessel pass?-Would the people of Norway or Russsa be likely to exchange timber? To what ports, those on the Baltic or Mediterranean Seas, would a merchant go to purchase sweet oil, silk and fruit ?-Freight a vessel with The water shed between the St. Lawrence and wine and grain at Trieste for London: through what waters will she pass?-Some German wine Mississippi Basins is, in general, a very slight elevation of ground, and there are houses so sit-growers wish to emigrate to Ohio, and agree to uated that the rain which falls on one side of the meet at Hamburg: describe their entire route thence to Cincinnati. roof is drained into the St Lawrence, and that on the other is drained into the Mississippi: suppose a house to be so located between the Fox River of Wisconin, and Rock River, and follow the course of the drops of rain which fall on each side of the roof, to the ocean. Name the principal places through which you would pass, going by railroad from Portland to Chicago, through Canada.—Select a route for a party of emigrants from Boston to Kansas: to what place may they go by railroad?-By what river can they travel the remainder of the dis tance? Across what States, and through what principal places, would you pass, in going from New Freight a vessel at Canton for New York, and tell the articles you would ship.-Name the bodies of water on which you would sail, to go from Suez to Bombay.-In what country in Asia are people divided into castes ?-Where is the Great Desert of Cobi ? In what Country does the Grand Lama reside? What two Empires of Asia are very jealous of the Europeans?-Which is the holy city of the Mahomedans?-With what would you freight a a vessel at Mocha for Philadelphia ?—At Smyrna for Boston?-Can you name any places in Asia where an extensive trade is carried on without the use of money? |