tended the daily school, should pay twopence, and the Sunday school one penny per week. This has been very productive, and has enabled the governors to extend their views for their advancement.

The entire of the schools, Sunday and Daily, are under the care of an officer called the Superintendent, whose duty it is to admit the scholars, dismiss the bad attenders, and generally to take care that all the orders of the committee are carried into execution. It is but proper to acknowledge that the schools have reaped great advantage from his exertions. The Lancasterian plan has been introduced into the Sunday schools in the spelling and reading classes, but it has not been thought adviseable to introduce it into those more advanced.*

The male daily school is, besides the Superintendent, under the care of two masters; and the female school, two mistresses, one to teach spelling, reading, writing and cyphering, and the other, sewing and knit

• While considerable merit is acknow. ledged to be due to Joseph Lancaster for his plan of education, which is very excellent in many respects, it must be observed by all who have the management of schools on the Lancasterian plan, that the system is too superficial. It gives the children the appearance of knowledge without the r.ality, and it has been found necessary in some instances to procure common schoolbooks to prevent the children from being superficial. Although Lancaster's system of Arithmetic is in some respects excellent, yet the mere mechanical knowledge of the four first rules is not sufficient. The reading lessons are too difficult for learners; and the spelling lessons are very defective. Some spellingand reading lessons have been published in Dublin, which are much better adapted to the capacities of children.

Editor.

It is recommended to ladies who have the management of poor schools for females, to peruse a book lately published by Joseph Lancaster, in which a plan is de

Instead of giving pictures, tops, balls, &c. for premiums, useful articles of clothing have been distributed with advantage in some schools, to children who have distinguished themselves by a proficiency in learning. It cannot be expected that the poor can have their children as neat and clean as could be wished: some may be prevented by carelessness, but many by poverty. By means of giving the children useful articles of clothing, as premiums, more attention can be paid to cleanliness, than if the premiums were mere useless toys. Books are not well calculated for premiums, as the poor seldom prize books which they get gratuitously. They are either given to a child instead of a toy, or their fragments employed to light a pipe, It is much better to lend books, as care is then taken to keep them clean, lest they may be prohibited from getting books in future,

Editors

the numerous authorities which have established the policy and benefit of such schools, the testimony which so many years' experience enables us to give, and to express our firm convic. tion that were they universally established throughout this country, we should find the lower classes increasing in respectability, and advancing rapidly in all the arts of civilized society; we should find that knowledge which alone exalteth a people, diffusing itself far and wide throughout our land, producing as its never failing effects the peaceful fruits of order, regularity, and decency, while honest industry, and domestic comfort would combine to bless the poor man's dwelling, producing that contentment and happiness which truly enrich and adorn a country. We would also hold out the history of this one establishment, as an encouragement to persevering and vigorous exertion; as since its foundation, at various times, discouraging circumstances have contributed to raise fears and doubts in the minds

of the governors, as to their ability to carry it on; but supported on the firm basis of public utility, and fos tered by the guidance and guardi n care of Providence, this establishment has flourished to this hour, manifesting its happy effects in giving knowledge to the ignorant, and training up the youth in the way in which they should go. There is perhaps no circumstance which has been the means of giving to this institution more permanency and popuJarity than the fundamental principles en which the school has been conducted.

Considering the manner in which this country is unhappily divided, with respect to religious opinions, the governors of these schools have laid it down as an invariable rule, that the Scriptures should be the only religious book introduced into

them, and that no catechism or book of controversy should be allowed. The governors do not inquire the religion of the child on its admission, and while they endeavour that the contending sects should conciliate one another, they trust that the pure principles which they endeavour to inculcate, will bend the minds of the scholars to piety and virtue. Many instances have occurred where this plan has introduced unanimity and concord, between persons belonging to parties the most hostile to each other, while all persuasions have concurred in a feeling of confidence towards the institution, and a wish for its prosperity.

Such have been a few of the many benefits which have resulted to society from this establishment; many more, we are certain, could be mentioned, were our observations

more extended.

Annexed is a copy of the general rules by which the schools are conducted.

General Rules for conducting the

Weekly and Daily Schools, held in the Dublin Free School House, School-street.

1.-The schools are supported by annual subscriptions and donations; also by a small weekly payment from each scholar.

2. All persons subscribing ten guineas at one time, shall be governors for life; and those subscribing one guinea annually, governor for the year.

3.The governors shall annually appoint a treasurer, and a committee of twenty-one subscribers, who shail have the particular care of the school, the appointment of the Superintendent, teachers, and servants, and shall be accountable to the general meeting of governors. The committee shall meet once a month,

and adjourn as they shall see occasion; three to be a quorum. Two members may at any time call a meeting of the committee. The committee may appoint visitors, and make such bye rules as they think necessary, not being inconsistent with the general rules.

4-Although the weekly and daily schools shall be under the management of the same committee, and shall have one common fund, yet the registry of the scholars, and the account of expenditure shall be kept separate.

5.-A person shall be appointed by the committee who shall keep the accounts, collect the subscrip tions, register the admission of scholars, and have a general superintendence of both the schools.

6.-The Superintendent shall enter daily the number of scholars in each class, and the numbers present as received from the teachers; he shall also see that the teachers, &c. attend at the appointed hours; and if any irregularity appear, enter it, with the return, and such other remarks as he may think necessary, which shall be laid before the com mittee.

7. The Superintendent may suspend a scholar for improper conduct, reporting the case to the com mittee at their next meeting, and if the committee determine on his dismissal, he shall not be re-admitted but by their order.

8. The Superintendent shall enter in a book provided for the purpose, the names of the scholars, their place of abode, by whom recommended, what books they received, when they leave the school, and other particulars respecting them.

9. The Treasurer is not to pay any money on account of the institution, without an order from the committee, signed by three members, by direction thereof; his ac

count to be examined once in the year, at least, at a general meeting of the governors, to be summoned for the purpose.

16. A general meeting of the governors shall be held annually, which shall examine the treasurer's accounts, inspect the proceedings of the committee, inquire into the state of the schools, and publish a report of the state of the funds, with such other information as may appear proper to communicate to the subscribers.

11. The committee may call general meetings of governors when occasion requires. General meetings may be called at the requisition of five governors, directed to the Superintendent. All general meetings are to be convened by public advertisement, in one or more newspapers, or by individual summons.

12-No alteration in the general rules, nor new ones to be adopted unless with the approbation of two general meetings, to be held at least one month asuuder, and the notice for the latter must express the purpose of the meeting.

Weekly Schools.

pay

1.-None to be admitted scholars unless recommended by a subscriber, who shall be accountable for the books; each scholar to one penny per week, and to be provided with books, paper, slates, pens and ink, at the expense of the institution.

2. The scholars are to be taught spelling, reading, writing, and arithmetic; to be divided into classes, according to their proficiency in learning, and removed from one class to another, as may appear suitable. They will be permitted to take home their spelling and reading books, but not their copies or slates; the latter shall be taken care of by the teachers. The cyphering

teachers to have a sufficient number of slates and Arithmetics under their care, for which they are to be accountable. The Scriptures are to be read in the schools, but neither catechisms, nor books of religious controversy to be admitted.

3.-Each class to be under the care of one or more teachers, who are to go to the places of abode of such of their scholars as absent themselves, inquire the cause thereof, and report to the Superintendent as they see occasion; and if they continue to be absent four weeks, without a sufficient cause being assigned, an order is to be given by the Superintendent for the books such scholars have received in the school; they are then considered as dismissed, but if the books cannot be obtained, the order to be return ed, and one given on the recommender of each absentee, for their amount. Scholars dismissed

shall not be re-admitted, unless recommended by two subscribers, and if again dismissed, not re-admitted but by an order of the committee. 4.-Monitors and monitresses to be chosen quarterly, to assist the teach ers, from amongst those scholars who are judged best qualified.*

5. The masters to be paid two shillings and six pence; the mistresses two shillings, and monitors and monitresses one shilling each per week.

6. The school to open at eight o'clock in the morning, and continue

* Great care should be taken in having a constant oversight of the monitors. The possession of power is frequently dan-. gerous to the young and unreflecting mind; in some instances moniters have been induced to favour some children in their class more than others, and it requires persons who have the management of schools to be particularly attentive to the conduct of the monitors.

Editor.

till eleven; and to open at four in the afternoon, and continue till eight. Daily Schools.

1. None to be admitted scholars, unless recommended by a governor, who shall be accountable for the books, and each scholar to pay two-pence per week. He shall be provided with books, paper, slates, pens and ink, at the expense of the institution.

2. Two masters to be appointed to the male-school, at salaries of forty pounds per annum; and two mistresses to the female school, one to have the general charge of their education, at a salary of thirty-five pounds, and the other to teach sewing, knitting, &c. at a salary of thirty pounds per annum.

ling, reading, writing, and arith 3. The boys to be taught spelmetic, and the girls the same, together with sewing and knitting.

4. The scholars to be permitted to take home their spelling and reading books, but not their copies or slates.-The Scriptures to be read in the schools, but no cathechism, or book of religious controversy, to be admitted.

5. The school to be open from 1st of March to 30th September inclusive, from nine o'clock in the morning to one, and from three in the afternoon to six; and from first of October to last of February, from 9 o'clock in the morning till 3 in the afternoon

The following rules for the conduct of

Monitors, are sele ted from the particular laws of the school, which are read to the scholars every week, to impress them on their memory. The rules, if properly attended to, contain excellent instruction.

Question. WHAT are the particular rules for monitors?

Answer. They are these following: At a proper time in the morning, wash your hands and face clean, comb your hair, brush your clothes, and then make haste to school. Come into school quietly and orderly. All monitors, while in school, must be very silent, and obedient to the school laws. Take great care of your classes, and never allow them to be disorder. ly. The monitors belonging to this school shall keep their hats slung, and they shall order their classes to do so too. All classes found otherwise, shall be fined, and the fine shall fall on the monitor.

The monitors of classes shall give strict orders not to allow any boy to make a noise while reading, only the boy whose turn it is to read. Never take bribes from the children under your care; never quarrel with any person; never tell lies; never swear, and never use bad words.

Q. Why are these rules made for us?

A. That, by observing them, we may know how to keep our classes always in good order.

Q. What is the 7th particular rule against?

to your classes, see that they are obeyed, and if they are not, you shall report the names of those who do not obey them. When visitors are in the school, do not stare at them, but keep your classes quiet. You shall receive all the orders of the school with cheerfulness, and obey them to the best of your power; and you shall be obedient to the lawful commands given by the monitor-general.

No monitor shall tell a lie, nor swear, nor make use of bad words, neither shall he listen to another monitor doing so, without reporting him to the monitor-general.

Behave yourselves always in a gentle, obliging manner to your schoolfellows; never strive to provoke one another, nor contend about trifles, but always make use of kind expres sions one to another.

Q. Is it not an honour to a monitor to do his duty?

A. It is, and he shall be rewarded for doing so.

Never let your own voice be heard in the street, for fear that the boys of your classes should follow your bad example. Be not forward to speak of any thing that passes in school, nor to mock, nor make game of any of school-fellows your for being corrected, it is unkind, and may happen to be your own case.

Q. If monitors do not mind their duty, what will be done to them?

A. They will be punished for disobedience.

For the Belfast Monthly Magazine.

LAWS OF THE DUBLIN INSTITUTION.

SECTION I.
General Laws.

HIS society shall be called the DUBLIN INSTITUTION, for