Published on the first and fifteenth day of every month, by Cummings, Hilliard, & Co. No. 1 Cornhill, Boston.Terms, $5 per annum, payable in July. VOL. I.

PROSPECTUS.

We have determined to publish a new periodical work, and as many are now published in this country, and many more have been attempted and abandoned, we shall endeavour to state at some length, our purposes in commencing another.

We are perfectly aware how difficult it must be to overcome the indifference, works like that we propose, encounter at their outset. We do, however, expect success, because we are confident of our ability to make a Literary Gazette, which shall be highly useful to the reading public of this country, and to all who are interested in matters relative to literature, either in the way of business or amusement. We have long seen and felt the want of such a work; we hope to supply an existing demand; to offer to a large portion of this community, a gratification suited to their tastes and not now provided for them.

We shall endeavour to give to the United States Literary Gazette, a strictly national character. If we do not fail in executing our intentions, it will communicate a distinct and accurate impression of the literary and intellectual condition and progress of this country. A large proportion of our pages will be filled with reviews of works published here, either of domestic or foreign origin; every book which issues from the press of this country, and comes within our reach, shall receive from us such notice as its character and pretensions deserve. We shall also publish whatever interesting information we can gather, concerning our national literature, education, and public opinions.

Books intended to subserve the purposes of education, have, within a few years, been greatly improved and multiplied. Much of the best talent and skill of this age has been employed upon mere school books; and histories, travels, tales, &c. calculated for the tastes and requirements of youth, have been written with great power, printed in the cheapest forms, and circulated throughout the community with strenuous industry. Such works must exert a powerful influence, either of good or evil; we think they have not received due attention from the journals professedly devoted to reviewing the current literature of the age; and shall endeavour to supply this deficiency by making our readers acquainted with the true character of all books, written to aid them in a work of such importance as the education of their children.

BOSTON, APRIL 1, 1824.

occasionally inserted. In freely admitting
prose or poetry of a miscellaneous charac-
ter, we shall not depart from our leading
principle of making the Gazette a national
work, because, we may thus assist the de-
velopment and cultivation of domestic tal-
ent, and the articles we publish will give
some indication of the strength and charac-
ter of the intellectual power already exist-
ing and exerted amongst us.

We shall not aim at giving a value to our
Gazette by profound researches into science
and philosophy, or by lengthened and intri-
cate speculations. Our numbers shall not
be filled with literary gossip; neither shall
they be composed of articles which are not
to be understood and appreciated but with
a degree of labor almost equal to that re-
quired for their composition, and cannot be
enjoyed without a singularity of taste and
mental habits. We shall endeavour to avoid
with equal care both these extremes, and
we now offer our first number to the public,
that by it they may judge of our plan, and
of the means we have provided for its exe-
cution. We however ask, what in common
equity must be granted, that the difficulties
of making a beginning should be duly con-
sidered. Many gentlemen have engaged
to contribute to our pages, and in justice to
them it is proper for us to say, that among
them are minds as highly gifted by nature,
and as well nurtured and disciplined by
habits of study and composition, as those
employed in the support of any periodical
work in this land.

Some pages of each number will be filled with Literary and Scientific Intelligence. Great care and assiduity will be used to ensure to this department of the Gazette, interest and value. It may be well to remark, that our extensive connexion with booksellers, at home and abroad, will enable us to supply our editors and contributors promptly, with almost every new publication of every kind.

No. 1.

THE editor of this paper is perfectly sensible of his inability to sustain alone the burthen of such a work as, it is hoped, this will become. But his extensive and very satisfactory arrangements with gentlemen who stand high among the scholars and writers of our country, encourage him to believe, that the Literary Gazette, he is about to conduct, will be a valuable addition to our periodical literature.

No existing journal, at least none in this country, actually performs the uses of a General Review; and it will be a leading principle in the conduct of the Gazette, to maintain this character. It is obviously impossible that any individual should criticise justly books of every sort; the editor certainly would not think of undertaking a task so far beyond his ability; but he has to thank many who honour him with their friendship, for the kindness, which has promised to this work the assistance of such a variety and extent of talent and knowledge, as may almost ensure to all the classes of the reading community a just account of every work, which is offered to them and is important enough to deserve any notice.

REVIEWS.

T. P.

Course of Instruction in the Public Schools No injury to the established Journals, can in Boston. Boston, 1823. 8vo. be involved in the success of our proposed THIS pamphlet is filled with valuable inwork; many of them are useful and hon- formation. The public instruction providorable to the literature of this country, and ed by the city of Boston for all her citiwe should deeply regret to impede their zens, who are disposed to avail themselves usefulness or lessen its rewards. We be- of it, is an almost unexampled instance of long to the same class of literary works, that true wisdom which is one with just libbut our paths lie in different directions; erality. It is not the effort of individuals and it cannot be doubted, that literary pub- to build an asylum for resourceless poverty, lications profit each other, by increasing or to establish permanent relief for the and confirming the appetite which demands wretched;-but it is a magnanimous deterand enjoys them. A successful work, al- mination and endeavour of a body politic, most of necessity, enlarges the circle of to prevent the severest evils which embitter those, who are prepared to read with pleas-life and render it useless; to remove the Notices of foreign works, which lead toure another work of a similar character. efficient and fertile sources of misery and topics or considerations applicable to the The United States Literary Gazette will sin, by substituting the unspeakable good of affairs or interests of this country, will be be published on the first and fifteenth day education, for a childhood and youth of un

There

taught, unreclaimed, and unsubdued igno- child. In these schools the children are tinct school, of the system of mutual intrucrance and wilfulness. taught to read and spell correctly, and thus tion with very satisfactory success. One The attention paid to education in most to fit themselves effectually for the higher hundred and sixty children, who were too parts of the civilized world, is a striking schools. Pupils are first received at four old for the primary schools and unqualified characteristic of this age, and a proof that years of age, which is quite as soon as the to enter the grammar schools, were receivman is beginning to be blessed with a bet-discipline and instruction of a school can ed and instructed in the same branches as ter discernment of the true end and uses of be applied to advantage. These schools are taught in the other schools by one maslife, and a greater willingness to regard are numerous, because experiment has prov-ter at a much less expense. moral and intellectual good, as more valua-ed that fifty or sixty children are as many The English Classical School was estabble than any thing beside. In England the as one mistress can successfully instruct, and lished for the admirable purpose of providefforts of many prominent men, to institute because it is important that the schools ing for lads intending to become merchants a system of general education, are well should be as near as possible to the homes or mechanics, means of more extended and known. The discoveries of Lancaster and of the infant pupils. Their object and effect complete instruction than they could obtain Bell have applied to the work of instruc- is to bring the first rudiments of education at any of the other public schools. tion, principles of great efficacy. In the near to the doors of all who are wise enough are four instructers, and no scholars are adbest parts of Europe schools of various and kind enough to their children to avail mitted under twelve years of age. The kinds have been established, which in most themselves of them. All the Primary Schools course continues during three years, but instances are supported by the strength of are under the immediate care of a board, the branches of most importance are made public opinion, and, in many, also receive consisting of fifty members, who are divid- to fall within the first year, as many of the princely or royal patronage. Of some of ed and subdivided into various committees, scholars are unable to remain in the school. these institutions, the object is to give to armed with proper powers and charged with after they are old enough to do something the highest ranks suitable education; of corresponding responsibilities. The great- for their own support. The studies in this others, to reclaim the lower classes from est care is taken to secure, by mutual, school embrace Intellectual and Written reckless and irregular habits, by the power ceaseless, and exact report and supervision, Arithmetic, Geography and the use of the of discipline, and to give them useful knowl- a faithful and efficient execution of this well globes, Grammar, History, Book-keeping, edge for utter ignorance. These indica- organized system. The monthly, quarterly, Elements of some Arts and Sciences, Comtions may be fallacious, they may promise and semi-annual written reports are made position and Declamation, Geometry, Algeless than we think they do,-this progress every year with unvarying regularity and bra, Trigonometry, Natural Philosophy and and tendency, if it exist, may be checked or equal in quantity more than a thousand pages. History, Chemistry, Moral Philosophy, Natmade to retrograde ;-but assuredly it is Each child is faithfully examined at least ural Theology, Rhetoric, Evidences of Chrisright for us to rejoice in an unquestionable twelve times a year, and many, much of- tianity, Intellectual Philosophy, Political growth and improvement of important hu- tener. Economy, Logic, and the French Lanman institutions, and to expect therefrom guage. extensive and valuable influence upon human character.

From these schools, scholars who are properly prepared, go to the English Grammar The Latin School is the last which we and Writing Schools, which are in two rooms; shall have occasion to notice, as it comIn this improvement the city of Boston the two branches being kept entirely dis-pletes the course of public instruction. Our takes the lead; we are justified in saying tinct. Each room has a master and assistant, limits will not allow us to speak of this so, because nowhere else has a large city and accommodates three hundred children. school at much length. The Grammars are made an universal and strenuous effort to From the middle of April to the middle of first thoroughly learned, and the course of awaken in her youth a love of knowledge, October girls attend these schools, spend- study makes the scholars familiar with seand to fix in them habits of order at that peri-ing half the day in the reading and half in lected parts of Cicero, Horace, Juvenal od of life, when those impressions are receivand Persius, Xenophon, Homer, Wittened, of which the successive development in bach's Greek Historians, and the Greek some sort constitutes the character. The Testament, together with Geography, Arithwork is begun as soon as it can be with any metic, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Algeprospect of advantage, and is continued unbra. Very considerable portions of the til that age when the education of schools best Latin and Greek poets are committed must give way to the business of active to memory. life. The system of public and universal instruction, in operation in this city, has been gradually improved as experience and the sagacity of the directors suggested alterations. It is now in most successful operation, and a pamphlet has been printed for the purpose of presenting to the consideration of the public the various parts of this system, connected as they are into one orderly and admirable whole. We shall make a brief extract of the information this pamphlet contains, certain that, while many even in Boston are ignorant of the great good that is among them, to residents of other towns these facts must be new, and to all, everywhere, interesting.

The Primary Schools, instructed by women, receive all children of either sex between four and seven years of age. In 1823 there were forty such schools for the white and two for the coloured population, and the whole number enrolled was 2,205, giving an average of 52 to each school, and an average of expense to the public of $4.72 per annum for the instruction of each

the writing room, and alternating with the
boys. It is supposed girls would not attend
during the inclement season, and in the
half year in which they are excluded, the
boys are divided between the rooms; the
first and lowest classes being separated
from the intermediate classes. The read-
ing schools are subdivided into four classes, One very useful, valuable, and, we be-
of which the upper two are peculiarly un- lieve, rather peculiar improvement, is adopt-
der the master's care, but he is strictly re-ed in this and in the English Classical
sponsible for the whole. Geography is School. Every one who has had any con-
taught only to the highest class, but less is cern with a school, either as a scholar or
effected in this study than might be with master, is perfectly aware of the great
more apparatus and greater facilities. A hindrance arising from the classification of
selection is annually made from the best boys according to the studies they pursue,
boys of the first class, who are transferred to and not according to their disposition and
the English Classical or to the Latin Gram- capacity for making progress in them. The
mar School, to perfect the studies which they intelligent and quick are thus made lazy by
have begun or to pursue those of a higher the necessity of imposing only such tasks as
character. In the writing schools the ex- the dull can learn, and the few who aremost
ercises are few and simple, and a very ju- | industrious are retarded by the indolent
dicious use is made of the system of mutual many. In these schools this difficulty is al-
instruction. In July, 1823, the average most wholly obviated. As the boys reach
number of boys in each school exceeded two the top of the class they are taken off by
hundred, and of the girls, one hundred and ten or twelve and formed into a distinct
seventy.
The salary of the master is $1200 class by themselves. As scholars are ad-
and that of the assistant $600; the expense mitted but once a year, they soon get sorted
of tuition is about nine dollars for each in this way with great accuracy; those
scholar; there are in this city seven schools boys finding themselves together who are
of this description, besides one in South | able to learn about the same lesson.
Boston and one for the coloured population. All the schools-excepting the primary
In 1821 an experiment was made, in a dis-schools-are under the superintendance of