This

close our eyes to the fact that there are others wholly incompetent for the occupation they have undertaken. A profession is needed-no other career seems open, and the high and arduous duties of an instructor are unhesitatingly assumed. With all the fearlessness of ignorance the individual enters on his office utterly unconscious that any particular skill is requisite-without any decided intention of devoting his energies to the welfare of his pupils-sometimes without possessing a single disposition of mind suitable in an instructor. may seem harsh, and we would not desire to speak harshly-the assertion is, however, we fear but too true. Those of whom we are thus venturing to make mention may be amiable and excellent-what we contend for is that they are incompetent, unqualified persons for the work of educating the young, and fervently do I hope that the time is not far distant when the children of our beloved England will be placed in abler hands and governed by warmer hearts. It has been truly said that an educator can but reproduce his own image. What office then requires more qualifications than that of an instructor of the young Ꭾ Are there not other qualities needed beside talent? There should, doubtless, be an ability to teach, for it is impossible clearly and simply to explain to others any thing with which we are ourselves unacquainted. There should also be an aptness to teach-a peculiar tact in the occupation of training the youthful intellect--the happy faculty of imparting to others what we know ourselves; but should there not likewise be gentleness, meekness, sympathy, and love? Should there not be that intimate and kindly intercourse between the teacher and the taught, without which the confidence of the young cannot be obtained, a thorough knowledge of their real character and disposition cannot possibly be acquired. Should there not be that sincere, and earnest, and benevolent manner which wins and subdues the youthful heart, and binds it with the golden cord of love?—that enthusiastic affection for children which can not only bend to and engage in their amusements and pursuits, but which can take delight in doing so? Should not the young find in their instructor a friend whom they could love as well as respect-one whose presence would be a source of joy-whose society would impart a feeling of pleasure to the youthful beings around? And cannot this be accomplished without any disregard to the cultivation of a proper spirit of subordination? Let the instructor remember the position which he occupies the young will not very frequently be the first to forget the respect which is due to the individual under whose care they are placed, and whom it is their duty to obey. Oh! let not the instructors of youth make such a mistake as to imagine that their authority cannot be maintained by other means than a chilling reserve, a repuĺsive harshness, and a spirit of incessant fault-finding. "Good humour on our part towards those whom we wish to influence," says Captain Basil Hall, "is the best possible coadjutor to our schemes of management, whatever these may be." His description of the effects produced on board ship by two different modes of government adopted by two different commanders, will doubtless be remembered by many of our readers. Captain Hall says, "Whenever one of these officers came on board the

ship, his constant habit was to cast his eye about him, in order to discover what was wrong; to detect the smallest thing that was out of its place; in a word, to find as many grounds for censure as possible. This constituted, in his opinion, the best preventive to neglect on the part of those under his command, and he acted in this severe way on principle. The attention of the other officer, on the contrary, appeared to be directed chiefly to those points which he could approve of. One of these captains would remark to the first lieutenant, as he walked along, How white and clean you have got the decks to-day! I think you must have been at them all the morning to have got them into such order.' The other, in similar circumstances, but eager to, find fault, would say, even if the decks were as white as drifted snow, I wish, sir, you would teach these sweepers to clear away that bundle of shakings!' pointing to a bit of rope-yarn, not half an inch long, left under the truck of a gun. It seemed, in short, as if nothing was more vexatious to one of these officers than to discover things so correct as to afford him no good opportunity for finding fault; while, to the other, the necessity of censuring really appeared a punishment to himself. Under the one, accordingly, we, all worked with cheerfulness, from a conviction that nothing we did in a proper way would miss approbation. But our duty under the other being performed in fear, seldom went on with much spirit." Yes, there is indeed a difference between the cold obedience which is constrained by fear, and the cheerful, willing obedience which is constrained by love. I feel warmly on this point, and I trust I shall be pardoned for dwelling yet a few moments on the subject which we are thus briefly considering, for I do believe that if an instructor possessed every other qualification and failed in attaining that which I conceive to be a vital one-namely, a cordial sympathy between himself and his pupils, such a failure would operate most injuriously both as regards mind and manner. Whatever may be in other respects the talents of the teacher if he cannot obtain the confidence and affection of his charge he is incompetent to act as their instructor' If he cannot secure an efficient hold on the ardent feelings of the youthful heart we may venture to pronounce him useless as a moral governor of the young. Instructors of youth! you, who being really qualified for the work, have devoted yourselves to the responsible but happy employment of cultivating minds, act only in the spirit of love, and you shall have a rich reward-the youthful objects of your solicitude will not fail to love you in return-the sweet waters of affection shall rush towards you cheering and refreshing you in your arduous and important duties; and fear not even when obliged to rebuke. It will still hold true that “ many waters can not quench love"-your calm and temperate reproof will never alienate in the smallest degree the affections of your charge-those who suffer from your decisions will be ready to acknowledge the pain you inflict to be of necessity and not of choice; and you will soon perceive that those are the effectual admonitions which fall from the lips of a tender and familiar friend. Be firm as you please in measures, but, as you value that influence over the young which you may and ought to obtain, let your manner and language towards them be gentle,

and familiar, and kind. In short love them, and as we have already remarked, they will soon love you. You must not only appear to feel but you must in reality feel a deep concern for their happiness-—you must take a strong interest in their pursuits and their enjoyments-you must feel the warmest pleasure in their society-under all circumstances you must be their friend. There must be the soft language of entreaty rather than the stern voice of authority-the mild persuasive tone, and the gentle, loving words-the heart must overflow with affection for the young and oftentimes erring being who is placed under the controul of your superior and more matured mind. And underneath this gentleness and love there must be authority the most unlimited-the calm, decided, unbending determination to enforce that obedience which the wellqualified instructor will indeed ordinarily cause to be a cheerful obedience, but which must be obtained if we would hope for the present or future well-being of the child. The whole language of the Bible is Obey," and therefore that system of education which is not founded on obedience cannot but be a very defective system. There must be firmness the most unwavering, there must also be truth the most perfect,-justice the most exact,-vigilance the most unceasing, patience the most unwearied, rising far above the troubled waters of irritation, and only seeing in the waywardness and misapprehensions of childhood fresh cause for the exercise of the most tender forbearance.-And here I pause. More might be added, for more, much more than all this is requisite in those to whom we entrust the moral, and religious and intellectual training of the young. And who is sufficient for these things? Oh! when the conscientious teacher, how skilful and talented soever he may be, reflects on the duties he has to perform-when he recollects the power he possesses in the formation of character, second only I am persuaded to that of the parent himself-would he not be cast down under the weight of responsibility inseparable from his office if he did not remember there is One who has said " My grace is sufficient for thee." Our great Example commanded with authority, and yet was meek and lowly, patient and forgiving. He has promised to them that seek it His own blessed Spirit of gentleness, firmness, humility and love, and if God be for us, who or what can be against us? M. P. H,

CHIMNEY SWEEPING.

BY JOSEPH GLASS.

CHIMNEY Sweeping is an indispensable process to clear flues from the soot which is constantly accumulating, and it has been the sad practice to employ boys to climb them for this purpose, which is done in the following manner:

After fixing the chimney-cloth, the boy draws a thick coarse cap over his head, nose and mouth, and takes his brush and passes behind the chimney-cloth, and commences his task of climbing, by placing the soles of his feet and his back against the side of the flue behind him, his knees on the side of the flue before him, and with his elbows on each side, he propels or hitches himself to the top, when he rattles the

chimney-pot with his brush, to intimate to the parties below that he has accomplished his task, and he then gradually slides down to the bottom. It will be seen that in his right hand he holds a brush, which he can only use in a whirling direction, which is by no means effectual.

It has sometimes occurred, that boys who are small and inexperienced have stuck fast in flues that are larger than usual, by having got into the form of nose and knees together, from this position they cannot extricate themselves, and various means have been resorted to by others to effect this purpose, sometimes by a rope being let down from the top of the chimney to the boy, when the person attempts to raise him up, but this can seldom be done; in some cases, a rope is secured to the boy's feet, but this rarely succeeds; and after much dragging, which occasions great pain to the boy, he is at last cut out of the flue.

Several instances have occurred of boys falling from the tops of chimneys, which generally arises from the decayed state of the brickwork. One of these accidents occurred at No. 60, Minories. To cure a smoky chimney, a bricklayer raised the flue several feet, and formed an elbow in it; while the boy was forcing himself past the bend, the whole of it fell, with part of the stack of chimneys on which it rested: the boy's head came in contact with the parapet, and his death was instantaneous.

Flues that are partly horizontal, at the end of which is a right angle, are very dangerous to children thus employed; the angle, which is directly under the upright part of the flue, and which upright part is, in some cases, fifty or sixty feet high, becomes completely filled up with the soot, which falls as the boy ascends the flue, and, in coming down, he finds the angle choked up, he uses his utmost effort to get through, but in many cases he fails in doing this, he then attempts to return, this is impossible; the upper angle of the flue pressing so hard on his back and shoulders that he cannot rise, and being so completely embedded in soot that he cannot breathe-suffocation then takes place.

Twenty-two boys have been thus suffocated since the year 1800, in addition to which, six have been burnt to death in chimneys; four have fallen from the tops of chimneys and been killed; one killed in coring a chimney by the rubbish falling on him; one having stuck fast in a flue was killed in an unsuccessful attempt to drag him out by a rope; one was frozen to death early in the morning, after having swept two chimneys; five have died from cruel treatment; added to which there are many cases of chimney sweepers having suffered from broken limbs and severe contusions, and those who arrive at years of maturity have much to endure from want of employment. In addition to all this, see the Society's Reports.

In order to put an end to such a complication of evils, which invariably fall upon defenceless orphan children, consigned to a workhouse, or the children of parents destitute of the common feelings of humanity; a Society was formed in London, many years since, for the purpose of superseding the use of climbing boys in the process of chimney sweeping by substituting a machine. The Society has had to contend against much opposition, arising from various causes, but by perseverance it has succeeded in establishing the use of the machine in sweeping the chim

neys of the Bank of England, East India House, Custom House, Excise Office, Post Office, Somerset House, Tower, and other Government Buildings, and nearly all the Fire Insurance Offices, Hospitals, Prisons, &c. The machine, through the exertions of the Society, is also exten sively used in the Houses of the Nobility, both in town and country.

The machine for sweeping chimneys that is now in general use, was invented in 1827, and is formed of stout solid canes, connected with brass screws; it has two requisite qualities, strength and pliability, and will adapt itself to angular flues; the brushes are from eighteen to twenty-two inches in diameter, which of course is calculated to fill a flue, measuring 14 in. by 9 in., the brush will be brought in contact with the angles of the flue, as well as the sides; the brush is worked up and down, as every rod is detached. On the top of the brush a roller is permanently fixed, which is useful in wheeling the brush past an angle, and it can always be brought to a right position, by slightly twisting the machine at the grate. The chimney cloth is adapted to the machine by having a sleeve in the centre, and it can be fixed to the mantle-piece by a slide and case, by which means forks are dispensed with. (To be continued.)

We have received the following little narrative from a correspondent whose contributions we are always pleased to insert. It has one recommendation of a very powerful nature, that it is a fact. It is, however, only one of those facts which are continually coming before us, that many date their ruin to Chester Races. We have no wish to judge any of our fellow citizens, or to speak unkindly or uncourteously against any one; but we have a right to an opinion, and we have better opportunities than most persons of forming one on the actual effect of the Chester Races. We have the testimony of many in the higher and the lower classes of the very place, as to the effect of these races upon themselves, at the time they were accustomed to attend them. We have heard the higher classes deplore the betting and the gambling into which they have been drawn only on that occasion during the year, and declare their hearty disapproval of the whole things from their own personal experience of its inconsistency with their common profession as Christians. And as for the lower classes, there seems but one opinion among those who have began to think seriously about their best interests. They speak positively of the races as leading to every kind of immorality and iniquity, and do not seem to think that there can be a question or a doubt on the subject. As to the argument, or rather protest in their favour, that they are good for the trade of the place, we look upon it as one of the most melancholy proofs of that state of delusion which the god of this world is ever seeking to lead us ;that men, who in their inward conscience disapprove a practice, should allow and countenance it on the plea that it would hurt their worldly interest to forbid it. Surely those who have heard this solemn question as asked by the lips of Jesus Christ Himself, “What is a man profited if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" Surely they are the men whom we expect to find acting on the principle set forth in those words, "Lord, nothing with Thy frown, Lord, anything with Thy smile." We intend to follow up the narrative here given, which is nothing more than the account of one who was hurried to his grave by the excesses of the race week, by some other narratives and statements which, if we mistake not, will shew our readers that we have just ground for declaring in plain terms our disapprobation of Chester Races.