the few, very few individuals of our sect who ever appeared among them.

Allow me, in conclusion, to express my hopes, that your Non Con correspondent is not quite decided in his opinion respecting the impropriety of uniting Dissenters and Churchmen in the good work of sending abroad the word of life. Many sterling principles, much rectitude of heart, may be lost and frittered away in those circles of dissipation where the Dissenter is daily shamed or invited into alliances which conscience forbids. But I feel infinitely less suspicious of the human heart where it is under a religious influence, and can hardly be lieve conformity to establishments is the necessary result of an awakened attention to the duty of disseminating the Scriptures. It is fair, in general, to conclude that the Christian who is serious on one point is not careless and conscienceless on any; he may, doubtless, deceive us and himself too; but "to his own master he standeth or falleth." Meanwhile, though we are forbidden to do "evil that good may come," it is no where said that we are to abstain from doing visible good because there is the possibility that evil may ensue. Non Con carries his dislike to establishments far indeed if he will not allow Churchmen and Dissenters to join together in giving a Bible.

SIR,

YOUR

Leeds,

Q.

May 7, 1822. OUR publication for January last has just been put into my hands, and Dr. Morell's letter on Mr. Owen's System of Education (pp. 6-8) pointed out to my notice. Without entering into any discussion on the doctrine of hereditary depravity in the human species, or any speculations upon divine revelation, I cheerfully communicate, through the medium of your Repository, the substance of what particularly struck me in that branch of Mr. Owen's Establishment, which is employed in the education of the children; and perhaps I cannot do this in a better manner than by making extracts from the letters which I transmitted from Lanark to Leeds, when the scenes were fresh in my sight. It will be recollected that these observations were made in 1819.

From a conversation I had with Mr. Owen in Leeds, some few weeks since, he gave me to understand that a great improvement has taken place in the minds, learning and general deportment of the children since my visit in 1819.

Being deputed, along with Mr. Oastler and Mr. Baines, by the Guardians of the Poor of the township of Leeds, to visit the Establishment in New Lanark, we arrived there in the evening of the 28th of August, 1819. On the next morning

"The three years' old children's school was our first object; and a more pleasing sight to the philanthropist is not to be seen from Johnny Groat's House to the Land's End. An innocent glow of health, pleasure and unabased childish freedoin mantled on their pretty countenances: this melting sight gave me a pleasure which amply repaid the toils of the journey.

"We then went into the upper school-a school, for cleanliness, utility and neatness, I should not suppose surpassed in the kingdom. This was Sunday; they were just commencing, which was by singing a psalm, then the master went to prayer, and afterwards read a chapter. The girls and boys, being placed on the opposite sides of the room, then read in the New Testament; a boy read three verses, then a girl three, then a different boy other three, then a girl, &c. alternately. In another part of the room a person was hearing the boys and girls the Assembly's Cate chism. Old Lanark is improving in morals, as any child who is willing to walk down from the Old Town to the New may have instruction gratis."

Next morning,

"After calling upon Mr. Owen at Braxfield-House, we walked down to the village, and entered the small children's play-ground. God bless their little faces, I see them now; there were some bowling hoops, some drumming on two sticks, all engaged in some infantine amusement or other; not a tear, not a wrangle-innocent peace ran through the group. As soon as they saw us, curtseys and bows teemed about us. Mr. Owen seemed here to be among his own imaginary improved state of society.

You know that his creed supposes that all human beings are the creatures of circumstances; hence he contends, that if he had a colony of infants, by suppressing all erroneous reasoning and conclusions upon all subjects, and by substituting truth, which is, that of being taught to make no conclusion but what is thoroughly understood, he could make man to set at naught the things upon which he now places the most value, and unite in a community of interests that would have the effect of producing brotherly love and unity throughout the world. Nay, he carries this idea so far, that he supposes the highest ranks in society will find it the greatest source of recreation to visit the establishments of their neighbours, and perform a few hours' labour at something that will pay for their entertainment. These results, and many others, which I have not time to mention, Mr. O. will have that he can bring about in society, by means of children. Then, is it to be wondered at, that his character assumes the highest traits of benevolent and overflowing pleasure, when he mixes among these germs of future men and women? "From the play-ground we entered a large room for the purpose of play and amusement when the weather will not permit them to be out of doors. Here the most unrestrained liberty is given for noise or amusement. On each side of this room are schools for this class, which runs from two years old to six. Some are taken to the upper school at four, having attained the learning necessary for their advancement.

"From these schools we went up into the large room for dancing, marching, &c., when soon the shrill fife echoed up the broad staircase. Six boys, in Highland plaids and caps, entered, playing a quick march until all the boys and girls (for girls march here) entered the room: they were followed by other six fifers; the whole as they entered formed a square. After this, the word of command was given, right face, left face, &c. They then passed in review, marching round the room in slow and quick time. After marching, the boys and girls destined to sing, at the word of command, ran in a kind of dance, and formed two

lines in the centre of the square. They then sang, When first this humble roof I knew,' accompanied by a clarionet; then The Banks of Aberfeldy, then The Banks and Braes of bonny Doon; then Auld Lang Syne.' There were fifty singers. After this, they then again formed a square; and the word of command was given for the dancers, who immediately came into the centre as the singers had done. Two or three dances were then given in a style which would not have disgraced some of our assemblies. After dancing they marched again once or twice: six fifers then led them down stairs, the other six remained playing, and all kept beating time until the whole deployed out of the room. These interesting beings were all barefoot, but gracefulness was in their steps.

"Next we entered the large school on the same floor, capable of holding 400 writers and accompters. There is a pulpit at one end, and it is neatly galleried, and will hold a congregation of 1200. There were boys and girls from four to twelve years old busily employed in reading, writing and accounts, plain sewing, marking, &c. The greatest regularity and decorum prevailed. Heard children of four years old read well in the Testament; others of five read, and that well, historical pieces from various authors. The writers and accompters industrious; the writing a good style. The ladies who were with us, said the sewing and marking was very good. We next went and stood in a gallery in the room where the singers, &c. had been, and saw below us a professional man from Edinburgh, teaching four barefooted girls and four boys the different steps, bows and curtsies and dancing. It was delighful to see the gracefulness and ease with which these rustic sons and daughters of the working classes made the obeisant compliment, or tripped on the light fantastic toe. They have two violin players, who are also professional men.

"After tea we went down to the village, and found the large schoolroom (which is capable of holding 1200 persons) about two-thirds full: it was concert night. Concert night!

concert! what, for the amusement of the labourers in a cotton factory! Yes; it was truly concert night, and they are blessed with one once a week. How drivelling dost thou look, world in which I have been accustomed to live, when placed in comparison with this community! Here, the labourer of two shillings per week can go to concert every week, and the fastidious souls of a town like Leeds, wallowing in unenjoyed wealth, can scarcely raise one, once in half a year. But here too they are taught music, and, of consequence, enjoy the captivating sweets of sound. The band was military, although they have violins, and consisted of two horns, one trumpet, three bassoons, one serpent, five clarionets, flutes and fifes.

"Whilst standing in the buildings appropriated for the schools and amusements, with the magical sight before me, (for at this place almost all is wonderous and astonishing,) and contemplating the enormous expense which must have been incurred to provide these buildings, teachers and every other thing to move this comparatively vast machine, produced from the fluctuating sources of manufacture,-my ideas were enchanted with anticipation in the prospect of that pleasure and profit which might be produced from the combined powers of a number of villages united in a community of interests. Who can say with how little Jabour their wants might be supplied; and who can tell the happiness which would accrue from the want of temptation to covetousness, and all the other deadly evils attendant upon man suffering from want? The temptation -to do evil would be removed, and brotherly love be the bond of union. No one with half the senses of a man, but what can see this, in walking through the precincts of New Lanark. There is not a nobleman in England that is giving so much comfort to so many human beings as Mr. Owen is, and the very proudest of them would be astonished and confounded were they to spend one evening in this place."

In the education of the children, -the thing that is most remarkable, is the general spirit of kindness and affection which is shewn towards them. In this they appear like one

well-regulated family united together by ties of the closest affection. We heard no quarrels from the youngest to the eldest, and so strongly impressed are they with the conviction that their interest and duty are the same, and that to be happy themselves it is necessary to make those happy by whom they they are surrounded; that they had no strife but in offices of kindness. With such dispositions, and with their young minds well stored with useful knowledge, it appeared to us that if it should be their destiny to go out to service or to be apprenticed, the families in which they were fixed would find them an acquisition instead of a burthen; and we could not avoid the expression of a wish, that the orphan children in our workhouses had the same advantage of moral and religious instruction, and the same prospect of being happy themselves and useful to the families in which they may be placed.

On the return of the deputation to Leeds, the committee of the Leeds Workhouse entered fully into the desires of the delegates upon this subject, and a new code of regulations was adopted for the management of the children, which, I am happy to say, has already proved of essential service to these sons and daughters of poverty; which code I subjoin to these remarks.

JOHN CAWOOD.

Education and Employment of the Children.

1. That the boys and girls be kept in a state of separation from the adult part of the inhabitants of the House.

2. That a separate room be devoted solely to the girls, and fitted up for their school-room and sitting-room.

3. Every day in the week (Sunday excepted) the girls shall be employed in learning to read and write, from half-past eight o'clock in the morning till twelve o'clock at noon, under the superintendence and instruction of a proper master; that from twelve to half-past one they shall have dinner, with the remaining time for recreation. And that from half-past one to six o'clock, they shall be employed in knitting, sewing, &c., under the superintendence and instruction of a

suitable mistress. And that, in order to accustom them to domestic service, two of the senior girls, in rotation, shall be kept in the kitchen for one month at a time, and be then employed in such work as the mistress of the house shall direct.

4. The boys shall be employed in the card-room from eight o'clock in the morning until twelve at noon; that, from twelve to half-past one, they shall have their dinners, with the remaining time for recreation; and from half-past one until six in the evening, they shall be instructed (in a room solely appropriated for that purpose) in reading and writing by the school

master.

5. In these arrangements the great est frugality should be united to the most persevering endeavours, to render these orphan children useful members of society. This cannot be more effectually accomplished than by re moving from their observation every thing that is likely to give them bad habits, and placing before them every thing which is calculated to inspire them with good ones. These recommendations duly followed, will in time make these children of poverty rather sought after as apprentices in the town, than despised and considered a tax; and instead of rising into manhood and relying upon a parish all the days of their future life for a portion of their support, they will feel an ambition and a capacity to maintain themselves.

a place of worship large enough to accommodate all the slaves belonging to the property; but this design was abandoned, on its being found that the overseer could permit us to employ the boiling-house (the house in which the cane juice is boiled into syrup) during that part of the year in which alone we had any opportunity of meeting for religious purposes. This edifice answered our purpose sufficiently well, as long as the undertaking was regarded simply in the light of an experiment: but had it been determined to render it permanent, a more convenient place would have been found necessary.

The Negroes usually quit the field, for dinner, about one o'clock, to which they never return till the end of two hours; but it was understood, between the overseer and myself, that on the days on which they should have liberty to attend me in the boiling-house, they should not retire till nearly two, so that the estate might be put to as little inconvenience as possible. This being the case, they were never ready for me before four, and sometimes not even till five in the afternoon; a circumstance which, however, I never regretted, not deeming it necessary, or even desirable, to detain thein above two hours at a time. But had they been disposed to submit to a little extra exertion, they most certainly might, notwithstanding this, have been with me by three, or very soon after; but they had no idea of devoting the sinallest portion of their own time to So far, indeed, from this, it was found the work of spiritual improvement. to be a matter of some little difficulty to secure their attendance, even in their master's time. And, before the attempt was made, some individuals, well acquainted with the Negro characvery

that it would be found necessary to employ coercive measures with them in this as well as in other cases: yet the inhuman and unchristian idea of driving the poor creatures to a place of worship by force, could not be endured for a moment. It was, therefore, determined, without hesitation, not to resort to it, but to meet them on the following terms; which, it will be perceived, reduced the business, in a great measure, to a matter of their own free choice.