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prived. Furthermore, it procured me a prosperous school, and an American lady for my wife. My scholars have been regularly increasing, since I first commenced, which is six years ago, and I have now seventy pupils."

"I suppose you save," said I, "several hundreds of pounds every year, by your profession."

"You must not suppose," he replied, "that it is all gold which glitters. I do not save one hundred yearly. Indeed, to speak the truth, this is the first year, in which my riches have increased by teaching. House rent is very high; and I am obliged to rent two rooms, one for boys, and another for girls."

"Have you a mixed school of boys and girls?" I inquired. "Yes," replied he; "and two rooms for them; or, more properly speaking, one large room, which I have made into two, by suspending a curtain across the middle of it. I have been at a great expense in fitting up my school with forms and tables, so that hitherto my savings have been trifling. I now have hopes, that the up-hill part of my life is already past; and look forward to the future with brightening expectations."

"But how is it," observed I, "that nothing is saved, from so large a school?"

"I have told you," he replied, "that house rent is excessive. My expenses, also, in fitting up, have been great. And besides all this, no person in America, in any kind of business, expects to obtain all his dues. Many parents never pay at all; and the bills of others I am often obliged to take out in shop goods, with perhaps some addition to ready money prices laid on them. In short, I get paid as I can. But I do not complain of this; for my success, in this respect, equals that of most people. But there is one very remarkable circumstance, which befalls all English people who settle here. I do not recollect a single instance, of any Englishman succeeding in the States, who had not first been freed from all his English money. There is a kind of pride about persons from the old country,' which prevents their stooping to the practices of this, till compelled to do so

by absolute want. When they have found, that either compliance, or starvation, is the consequence, they prefer the less of two evils, and turn Americans in self defence. And indeed we often find them lending their endeavours, in their turn, to assist such as come with money in their pockets, to become Americans as soon as possible."

With this intelligent teacher I had a long conversatioion; which ended in convincing me, that a common school would never serve my purpose. He confirmed every thing I had heard, respecting the insubordination of children in America, and the impossibility of instructing them in any thing, to which their own inclinations were adverse, His experience led him to believe, that every family is a republic. The children are independent of parental control, and the helps are independent of their employers. But yet he had become reconciled to American manners, and looked forward to comfort in his family. To save much he believed, was impossible. "Do you find the life of a schoolmaster very laborious?" I asked.

"A teacher,” he replied, "is not, in America, so great a slave as in England. We begin our labours at nine in the morning, and end them at three in the afternoon; after which hour, the business of the day is over. We have no trouble with the boys, out of school hours; so that we are better paid, perhaps for our time and exertions, than persons of the same profession in England." "Do you find," said I, "that the boys make much progress, by having so much leisure time?"

"It pleases the parents," he said, "and it pleases the scholars; and you must know, that where this can be accomplished, the battle is won. Indeed, it is more to the interest of a master, to keep on good terms with the boys, than with their parents; for, instances are not few, in which boys have left one master, and gone to another, without consulting their natural guardians. A boy, in this country, who has acted in this manner, when the thing comes to his parents ears, will generally carry his point, and compel them to sanction his choice. All

children in New-York are taught to read and write, and keep accounts. This is all that is absolutely necessary. And even those who go to Columbia College, or who receive the best education, are not instructed like boys in England. But education is perceptibly improving.

Will you do me the favour," said I, "to allow me the sight of your book?" for a strong desire had entered my mind, of inspecting that wonderful volume, which had performed the double purpose, of replenishing his coffers with money, and filling the minds of Americans with useful knowledge."

swer.

"I have not brought a copy with me," was the an"But I shall be very happy, if you will do me the pleasure of calling at my house. Here is the list of my terms, and of the classes of my school. It will also direct you to both my school and residence. When you call, I will present you with a copy of my book. It is a poor performance; but the sight of it may afford you some amusement." He then wished me a good night; and I never had an opportunity to call on him, or to speak with him again.

This little adventure was not without some useful effects. It afforded me an insight into American teaching, and the modes of being remunerated for the same. It also exemplified the necessity, under which every emigrant must find himself, of bending to the prejudices, and flattering the vanity, of the American public, if he have any well directed prospects of success. It moreover showed me, what I had antecedently learned from many other sources, that an honorable Englishman has no business in the States, except as an eye and ear-witness; and can only arrive at a knowledge of the real nature of things there, by mixing in some measure with all classes of society, and comparing their statements with each other. The schoolmaster, of whom I have been speaking, possessed evidently considerable talent; and was, I am sure, a worthy and useful man. There was about him something so lively and interesting, that my feelings were entirely engrossed in his descriptions;

E*

and when, on departing, he called his book a poor performance, his modesty brought to my recollection an anecdote related to me by a gentleman who called on Mr. Abernethy to consult him.

"Mr. Abernethy," said he, addressing the eccentric philosopher "being from Scotland, and feeling honoured in so illustrious a countryman, I have paid myself the compliment of calling on you, to avail myself of your skill." "Sir," replied the surgeon, "some people are pleased to esteem me skilful; but yet I assure you, that I am no great proficient after all." His prescription, however, proved invaluable; and this, contrasted with his modesty, forms the moral of the anecdote.

A young man, with whom I had been well acquainted in England, arrived in New-York a few weeks after us. He had been employed in England as teacher, first in a highly respectable school belonging to another person, and afterwards in an establishment of his own. He accepted a similar situation in New-York; and an adventure which befel him will illustrate my statements.

An elderly person in the city, who had long conducted a day school, had received intelligence of some property bequeathed to him in England; and became desirous, in consequence of this addition to his income, of meeting with some one, to whom he could,-for twelve months at least, and perhaps finally,-intrust his pupils. My friend received, through some channel, timely intimation of this matter, and lost no time in attending on the schoolmaster. He was approved of; and entered almost immediately on his duties. He called at our apartments the following day, and announced his good fortune. "He had at last," he said, "been favoured with genial zephyrs and prosperous gales; and had reached the mooring ground, where he desired to anchor. He loved America. He loved its people. Their kindness to him was unbounded. He had never before witnessed so great civility, nor met with such encouragement.' In short, he seemed to be transported from his wonted feelings, as far as he was from his native country, and to be in raptures with his prospects. How gay and

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charming, thought I, is the fickle goddess, when she displays before us her glittering pinions! I congratulated him sincerely on his flattering prospects, and expressed my wish, that his anticipations might be fully realized. A few days after, he called again, with unabated expectations. He had obtained employment, which he conceived would yield him a handsome income; and he found his school was increasing. His predecessor still attended, for the purpose of establishing him in the good graces of his pupils; whom he found, indeed, very noisy; but this he conceived to arise from the circumstance of their seeing two masters instead of one, and that the noise would gradually subside. "My predecessor," he observed, "has plainly told me, that his scholars are so tractable and well behaved, as to need no correction. And I certainly believe him; although I confess I have never before witnessed such proceedings in a school. However," continued he, "I am credibly informed, that Americans have a law, which forbids the correction of horses; and that the horses themselves are sensible of this; and evince their acknowledgements, by performing as much labor, and being as obedient as any horses in any part of the world. And from what I see of the Americans, I believe them to be as sensible, and as well behaved as their horses. I have no doubt, therefore, of finding scholars here do more without, than in other countries with, the chastisement of stripes." "You enter on the performance of your duties," said I, "with high opinions of your pupils. May your present sentiments be fully justified. Go on and prosper."

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"I have not, yet," resumed he, "told you all my errand. There is a school vacant on Long Island; and also one in New-York, the master of which is enfeebled by illness, and wishes to resign. Either of these, it is my opinion, you might obtain on application."

"I shall take great interest," said I, "in watching the progress of your school, and the confirmation of your fortunes; and if these prove satisfactory, I may afterwards apply."

A few days after this, he paid us another visit; but