10

From Henry Reed, Esq., Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature in the University of Pennsylvania.

Dear Sir: I have read the pamphlet which you handed me, containing a "System of Education for the Girard College for Orphans." The trustees of that institution having recently appointed one of our fellow citizens, eminently qualified for the purpose, to obtain full information and to organize a plan, there appears to me to be a propriety in bringing the subject into discussion at the present time with some reserve.* There can be, however, no objection to an interchange of opinions among those who take an interest in the cause of education.

Your plan commends itself to consideration by its remarkable conciseness and simplicity. These qualities have probably been the result of other qualities of a still higher character: at all events, they indicate a wish on your part to throw aside superfluities, which too often embarrass systems of education, and to adapt a plan of instruction to those processes by which nature informs the mind. To enter into a particular examination of a plan which purports to contain "only leading principles" would be inappropriate. To some of your suggestions on points of detail I can cheerfully give the confirmation of my limited experience. The nomenclature which you have adopted appears, I may be allowed to add, in some places not to have received from you a consideration as careful as the principles of your system.

Respectfully, yours,

HENRY REED.

From Dr. Isaac Hays, Editor of the Cyclopedia of Practical Medicine and Surgery.

Dear Sir: Pressing professional engagements have not allowed me to devote to the examination of your proposed system of education for the Girard College of Orphans, handed me a few days since, as much attention as I could desire; but from the cursory examination I have given it, your system appears to me to possess a degree of merit that must ensure it the most favourable consideration of those to whom the direction of the Girard College has been entrusted.

With great respect,

Your obedient servant,

ISAAC HAYS.

* The trustees have chosen A. D. BACHE, Esq. president of the Institution, whose duties will not preclude, but rather solicit all the light that can be thrown on the subject.

11

From the Hon. James Kent, LL. D., Late Chancellor of the State of New York.

Dear Sir: I have the pleasure to acknowledge your favour of the 5th inst., with your System of Education for the Girard College, and I have read it attentively and with very strong feelings of approbation.

It appears to me that the youths who have talents of full mediocrity," and the requisite health, diligence, and resolution to go through the course of instruction you have prescribed with so much good sense, precision, and clearness, will turn out at the age of eighteen very accomplished young men; and will be enabled to enter upon the study of one of the learned professions, or prepare for initiation into the commercial, scientifical, and other various, busy, practical and handy occupations of life with immense advantage; and to pursue them with great reputation, skill and success.

The Infant plan of learning the French and Spanish languages is admirable,-none could be better; and I likewise admire the fulness and completeness of the collegiate course, both in literature and science.

I have paused over every item, and the plan is so infinitely superior to the course of collegiate instruction in practice more than half a century ago in this country, and it is so well calculated to produce accurate and profound scholars, that I am apprehensive our future orphans will be the best educated men among us; and for my own part, I feel quite humble when this plan of yours exposes to view my own most scanty and limited juvenile education. Yours, very respectfully,

JAMES KENT.

From Hon. Reuben H. Walworth, Chancellor of the State of New York.

Dear Sir: I have carefully examined your proposed "System of Education for the Girard College for Orphans," and find it apparently well calculated to carry into effect the benevolent intentions of the founder of this charity; which should of course be the first object of his trustees.

It also appears to secure, (what I consider a matter of great importance in any system of education, especially in this country,) the making of practical business men of all the pupils, and in connexion with the highest attainments in classical and modern literature and experimental science, in such of them as have mental capacity for such attainments. But as I have no experience on the subject of collegiate education-it being my misfortune to have graduated "behind the plough," I have reason to distrust my own judgment in this matter, and therefore express this opinion with diffidence.

I am, with respect, yours, &c.

R. H. WALWORTH.

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From the Hon. David Daggett, LL. D., Professor of Law in Yale College, New Haven.

Dear Sir: Your letter of the 26th ult., accompanied by a pamphlet containing a system of education proposed for the Girard College, has been duly received.

I have examined it with some attention. It appears to me admirably adapted to attain the object of Mr. Girard's munificent donation. It is most happy in the mode proposed of teaching the foreign languages, as well as the arts and sciences. If executed in the spirit with which it is projected, it cannot fail to make complete scholars.

Very respectfully, yours,

DAVID DAGGETT.

From Dr. John Revere, Professor of the Practice of Medicine in Jefferson Medical College.

Dear Sir: I have examined "the System of Education," proposed by you for "the Orphans of Girard College." It professes to be but an outline; and as such, in all its prominent features, it appears to me to be practical, judicious, founded on just and extensive views of the proper objects of education, and in keeping with the munificent design of its founder.

I am, very respectfully, yours, &c.

JOHN REVERE.

From the Hon. Joel Jones, Judge of the District Court

of Philadelphia.

Dear Sir: I have examined, with some care, the System of Education which you propose for the Girard College. The course of instruction appears to me judicious, and sufficiently extensive. The plan of instruction, also, appears to me well considered, and suitable to the objects of the foundation. An examination, in detail, of its parts, I presume is not expected. It may not be improper, however, to say that the method of instruction in the French and Spanish languages, which you suggest, is not only the easiest and best suited to the capacity of children, and their condition in other respects, but the only one, perhaps, which would prove to be entirely successful. Without presuming upon my own judgment so far as to pronounce the system absolutely faultless and in all respects complete, I am free to say that it is a very good one; and if it should be carried into effect according to your intention, the benevolent views of the late Mr. Girard will in a good measure, if not entirely, be realized.

With much respect, I am

Your ob't serv't,

JOEL JONES.

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From Roswell Park, Esq., Professor of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry in the University of Pennsylvania.

Dear Sir: I have read attentively the "System of Education for the Girard College for Orphans," which you have done me the honour to place in my hands; and am happy to express my opinion that it embodies, as a whole, the best system of education which I have yet seen devised-the most practical, finished, and useful.

Very respectfully, your friend and servant,

ROSWELL PARK.

From Noah Webster, LL. D., Author of the American
Dictionary, &c. &c.

Dear Sir: I have received and perused the System of Education for the Girard College for Orphans, which you have been so good as to send to me, and for which, please to accept my thanks.

In regard to the merit of the system, on which you request my opinions, I will make a few remarks; although I do not think myself so well qualified to judge of it, as many gentlemen who have been in the employment of instruction, in our higher seminaries.

The mode you propose for instructing children in the French and Spanish languages, is nearly the same as I have always supposed to be the best, if not the only mode of making pupils perfectly masters of a foreign language. An accurate pronunciation and familiarity with a language cannot easily be acquired, except in youth, when the organs of speech are pliable, and by practice, as we learn our vernacular language.

In regard to your system in general, I can only say, that it appears to be judiciously constructed and well adapted for the purpose of making thorough scholars. If on trial it should be found susceptible of improvement, experience will direct to the proper amendments. One remark, however, I take the liberty to make. I do not suppose an exact conformity to a particular course of studies to be essential to a thorough education. One course may be preferable to another; but there seems to be "no royal way to geometry;" close and persevering application only will make good scholars, and this will accomplish the object, without an adherence to any precise order of studies. Be pleased, sir, to accept the respects of

Your obedient servant,

N. WEBSTER.

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From Dr. W. A. Alcott, Editor of the American Annals of

Education, &c.

Dear Sir: I have received with much pleasure, and duly examined your "System of Education for the Girard College of Orphans." So far as I can judge, it is most happily adapted to fulfil the wishes of the benevolent founder of this charity, and to make truly practical and benevolent citizens.

I wish I could live to see a system of moral training, not only developed but adopted in the College, as happily calculated to develope the moral character as yours is the intellectual. If I have a single regret in relation to your "System," it is that it does not distinctly recognise the study of Human Anatomy and Physiology.*

Very respectfully, yours,

WM. A. ALCOTT.

From the Hon. Walter Lowrie, Secretary of the Senate

of the United States.

Sir: I have received the System of Education proposed for the Girard College, you were so good as to send me with your letter of the 3d instant.

Various engagements have prevented me from giving it a close examination; but the most cursory reading of the plan, is sufficient to show that such a course of study affords ample opportunity of making finished scholars.

Much however will depend on the "system of moral training" that may be introduced; and whether the Girard College will operate for good or for evil to our country, in my judgment, turns on this point.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,
WALTER LOWRIE.

From the Hon. James Buchanan, late Ambassador to Russia. Dear Sir: I have received yours of the first inst., with your proposed "System of Education for the Girard College for Orphans." I regret to say, that although deeply enlisted in the cause of education generally, neither my experience nor my habits of life have qualified me to form such an opinion upon the merits of this system as would be entitled to much consideration. Besides I have not had an opportunity of comparing it with the provisions contained in the will of the founder. I shall, therefore, merely observe that I have never known any Englishman or American who pronounced the

* Several professorships, not usually connected with colleges, are recommended; but the sciences which these embrace are not included in the general nomenclature. In this way the Doctor has overlooked the specification given on page 14, where Anatomy and Physiology are recommended, and assigned, in connexion with other sciences, to the Professor of Medicine.