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which is thrown open before the mind. But, although it is the very nature of number, that its extent can never be compassed, yet the elements from which all number is derived, and the laws, which it follows, are extremely simple. The numbers 2,3, and 5, with +1 and -1, is all that is required to investigate the nature, and calculate the proportions and relations of any number, whether organic or unorganic. The latter class comprehends all those numbers, which are called prime numbers, except the above elements, and which, when viewed in their connexion with the system of numbers, to which they belong, assume a perfectly different aspect. The question, whether they follow any law or not? appears, then, as ridiculous as the question, whether there is a law in the division by two; or whether it is by chance that 16, divided by 2, makes 8? Even at first sight, a variety of interesting facts strike the mind, which, as they are followed up by investigation, lead to highly interesting results. Incomplete as my observations have hitherto been, from the want of leisure to pursue the subject farther, they are sufficient to place it beyond all manner of doubt, that the unorganic numbers, of which the prime numbers form the most essential part, are a complete and separate system of numbers, governed by laws peculiar to itself, and relate to the organic numbers in a similar manner as the unorganic or mineral kingdom in nature, is to the vegetable kingdom. But, I must not indulge myself in the farther pursuit of a topic, which, although a favourite one with myself, may not be so with others, - and I shall merely recall your attention to the purpose for which I introduced it, viz., to account, by the way of analogy, for the conviction which I expressed, that the whole universe of creation, with all the variety of beings contained in it, rests, ultimately, upon a few simple elements. The discovery of them, would, of course, be an essential step onwards in knowledge, and have a very important influence upon all our sciences; but, in none, perhaps, would it be of such practical value, as in education,

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since a clear view of the correspondence of certain faculties with certain objects, would enable us, in a much greater degree than is now possible, to render our instruction and discipline conformable to the wants of each individual. In the mean time, we must content ourselves to be directed by such observations, as the measure of our insight into human nature will permit us to make, and if we keep first principles steadily in view, we shall daily increase in clearness, as well as in extent of knowledge.

It is interesting to see, how in the human body all the elements of earthly existence seem to be combined together; so, at least, we may conclude, from the fact, that in the economy of its organization, every inferior existence with its distinguishing character has found a place, according to the general law of nature, by which, at every higher step, the leading features of every lower step are repeated. Thus, the mechanic structure of unorganic bodies, and the coherence of their parts, in different directions, is repeated in the vegetable, by the texture of its fibres, whilst the principle of expansion, which is the principle of vegetable life, gives birth to a system of circulation; both these are again repeated in the animal, in which there is-in addition to flesh and bones, which respond to the fibrous structure of the plant, and the arterial and venous systems, which respond to the circulation of the sap in the former-the nervous system as a vehicle of communication, by which partial sensations are referred to a central point, and through it to the whole being, and impulses are conveyed from that central point to any part. All this is repeated in man, with the addition of such organs, as render his body the fit abode, and willing instrument, of an immortal spirit, enabling it to render the material world, with which he is linked through those organs, subservient to a spiritual purpose, for which he is endowed with a capability of recognizing and uniting himself with that universal life and light, through which the whole world subsists. Thus, whilst his hand and foot respond to the earth, his organs

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of taste and smell to fluid substances, his ear to the elasticity of the air, and his eye to the ray of light, his inner organs respond to the laws of time, and of space, of tone, and number, of colour and shapes; through his senses he is capable of holding intercourse with the facts of nature; through the immaterial organs of his soul, he is enabled to hold communion with the spirit, which breathes in those facts, and to unravel the laws of them; and the inner organs of his brain, forming, as it were, the bridge between the world of spirit, and the world of sense, render him capable of the perception of those same laws as outwardly manifested, and, as it were, incarnate in the sensible world. Thus, as an earthly being, composed of earthly elements, he is linked with the earth; by the different systems of his earthly organization, he is linked with the different parts of earthly creation; by his spiritual organization he is capable of intercourse with created spirits-through the principle of sin in himself, he is accessible to intercourse with fallen spirits, and a life is imparted to him, by which he may hold communion with the Father of spirits, and with his holy angels.

Such is man, indeed and in truth, a compound being; a being full of contradiction and opposition, as he now is; but a being, also, destined for perfect peace and harmony. How important, then, is the task of him, who undertakes to direct the successive unfolding of all the energies and faculties, of which this being is composed! And how great is his responsibility! And yet this task is, generally, of all the duties of life the most neglected, and by those, who undertake it, as a matter of trade, it is treated as the easiest of all trades!

LECTURE V.

WHAT ARE THE CHIEF OBSTACLES TO A MORE GENERAL EDUCATION OF THE POOR, AND WHAT ARE THE LEADING ERRORS COMMITTED IN THIS GREATEST OF ALL CHARITIES AS FAR AS IT EXTENDS AT PRESENT?

AFTER having, in my four preceding lectures, treated of the general principles, on which the duty of imparting education to our children rests, and by which the right mode of fulfilling that duty is determined, I shall now proceed, as far as time will permit, to make the application of what has been said, to the practical details of different departments of education; and in doing so, I shall take an opportunity of reviewing the means at present adopted for the education of the people in this country.

In direct answer to the question, which will occupy our attention in this lecture, I would say, that there are two chief obstacles to a more general education of the poor; the first, the depraved condition of the parents in the lower classes of society, and the second, the ignorance and narrowmindedness, which preside over our poor schools, both in teachers and managers. Which of the two is the more difficult to be conquered, I do not pretend to know; I

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shall content myself with stating the facts as they are, not as they appear in public meetings, at public examinations, and in printed reports and prospectuses, but as they strike the mind of a person, unbiassed by the erroneous maxims of the present systems, when entering the school-rooms, and conversing with the children; or when observing the children in the streets after school-hours.

As regards the first obstacle I have mentioned, the depraved condition of the parents, it requires no proof, for it is in the mouths of all, that the lower orders of society are merged in a state of immorality, hardly to be imagined by those, who have not had an opportunity of making their own observations; and to be accounted for, only by the want of intelligence, and the absence of religious feeling, on one hand, and the high point of civilization, which the country at large has attained, on the other. Improvement is not to be expected, as long as the present views of society remain the leading principles of our individual and national existence; for, if it must be admitted, that the poor are deeply depraved, it cannot be denied, that the more refined, but no less deep corruption of those, who appear and think themselves their betters, is one of the chief causes of the existence of the evil, as well as of its continuance. The man, who does not act from selfish motives, and for selfish ends, is as rare. among the wealthy, as among the poor-so much so, that the bare possibility of a purely disinterested conduct, is generally denied. The selfish ends, which the wealthy man can attain in society, are many; but a few of them only are accessible to the poor; and even where he can attain the same enjoyment as the rich man, the quality of the object, with which the poor must put up, is far inferior, and of course, renders his enjoyment grosser.

It is not sufficiently considered by those, who descant upon the corruption and immorality of the lower orders, that their more privileged neighbours gratify essentially the same lusts and appetites, and indulge the same selfish