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Prodigies.

[VOL. 2

the sects and divisions that have been what was declared a manifestation of the created in religion by the persuasion of anger, or a token of the will of their dusuperior interference, I found it necessary, for the sake of defining the feeling more clearly, to confine myself to inquiring individually into the cause of the subservience of mankind to what are called supernatural appearances. A sense of religion is undoubtedly the foundation on which this cause must be raised; but it is religion carried to excess, and degenerated to that sentiment which Lucretius implies, that gives it immediate action.

Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum. Such were the ills from superstition sprung. We know not of any nation, however barbarous, which has not an object of worship; and it is an innate feeling in every unenlightened people, to dread the Being they bow to as all-powerful: this itself would be a satisfactory explanation of the awe inspired into them by any unlooked-for phenomenon, if it was only a story of barbarous tradition, and we read of the terrors of an earthquake or meteor merely to smile at them though these relations were transmitted through the most polished times of the Roman Commonwealth, when their gods were no longer a bugbear, and they had even begun to doubt; and they are given to the world by their latest writers with reverence, tho' sometimes qualified. Livy has been cavilled at for the improbability of the stories he relates, notwithstanding he does not always vouch for their authenticity; and Tacitus is boldly accused of superstition on much the same ground. But many of the prodigies recorded by the former are well known in our times, have frequently occurred, and are become facts in philosophy; and while we impute the credit given at the time, to the most extravagant of them, to the impulse of religious principle, we must recollect that, even in that early period, their notions of religion were wavering, and the innovation of modern ceremonies more than once obliged the government to exercise the extremity of their authority. It was the interest of the nobles, who retain ed the administration of the sacred offices in' their own hands, to bind the people to their peculiar rites, and by the rigour with which they punished every deviation from the established ceremonies, and the solemnity of their sacrifices, to appease

ties, to increase their veneration for those powers; and they themselves, who made religion their policy, were frequently deprived of the prospects of their ambition by the indispensable duties of that religion, and the expiations of those signs which were held up to awe the people : and the strict observance of these duties became a necessity in confirming their authority, as a magistrate who neglected them was considered impious; and we find examples where disaster and infamy followed those who ventured to despise or omit them. In the modern world, there are rash and impatient men, whose temper seldom allows them to be successful, but in those ages their failure was attributed to the vengeance of the gods they slighted. With a people thus impressed and educated, it is natural enough that any thing uncommon should be worked up into a miracle, and take possession of their senses so completely as to preclude them from searching it further than the terror induced. But how is it that, living in a time so improved and enlightened as the present, with every assistance of philosophy and science, the same terrors and the same weakness should possess an almost equal influence? We read of the prodigies of former ages, we see many of them accounted for by our own philosophers, and many we disbelieve and ridicule; yet with all our wisdom and incredulity, the same extraordinary accidents are retailed amongst ourselves, and the same dread expressed of their agency, that we reproach with so little mercy in those who had neither our extent of knowledge nor our light of religion. Many stubborn sophists and grave commentators have enjoyed the laugh at poor Livy, for venturing to assert that a cow spoke; yet our own chronicles, of not a very remote date, have published the same undoubted fact, without contradiction. The Roman says, on one occasion, it rained flesh-every Christian admits the shower of Manna: and this is at least bread to his meat. But to leave the levity of comparison, if we wish to flatter ourselves that we are past the age of credulity, there are, unfortunately, jugglers and prophets rising every day to bring us back to the consciousness of its power.

VOL. 2.] Mr. Lancaster on further Improvements in Education.

57

It is a little more than a century since curacy of the historian; the truth of hisit was thought necessary to provide spe- tory cannot unshackle us from credulity, cial laws against the exercise of witch- and the most monstrous fables, if they craft; and we look back with astonish- take us on the side of religion, will be ment and horror on the persecutions suf- readily admitted by the bigotted or eager➡ fered by inoffensive and ignorant beings, ly followed by the superstitious. Reli under that imputation. Our legislature gion makes a man receive with respect has become ashamed of its folly; but whatever is supposed to proceed from still every village has its witch, and tho' Divine interference, but the firmness of it is no longer a breach of law for an old his sense assists him to detect the com woman to keep a cat, it has not ceased motions of nature or the falsehoods of to render her obnoxious to the taunts design; while an enthusiastic or weak and hatred of her ignorant neighbours. disposition is involved in that degraded Religious events and ceremonies are no sentiment, which exposes it to the 'ma longer interwoven into civil history; the chinations of cunning, or the encroachworship is sober and the sacrifice indi- ments of tyranny, and the man enfeebled vidual our annals seldom record a by its weight, is unable to look at and thanksgiving or supplication, and we do question the phantom that overpowers not know how many have been driven to him. The dismal effects of this debase church by a comet or an earthquake. But ment we witness in another country and if a Chronicler should appear emulous of a different worship; but what is nearer the labours of Stowe and Holinshed, it to us, we see our own fellow citizens would startle us to see in the records of yielding every day to ridiculous fears, our own time-this year a mermaid was and assisting in propagating scandalous seen a hen laid miraculous eggs-a and absurd fabrications, from the same great sensation was excited among all impulse though with a different degree ranks of people by the asserted pregnan- of force. These reflections will afford cy of a woman turned sixty, and even the some apology for the Roman historians, highest class were eager to purchase from in admitting incidents which may be her passports to salvation-a prophet in considered as intimately connected with an obscure town chaunted the destruc- the conduct of their republic, and it is to, tion of the world, and his denunciation be considered that the same superstition was spread over all Europe. Wonders which is softened into credulity now, of this sort would recur constantly to will ever predominate in minds not swell our histories, if it was found con- strengthened by culture, and it is sure to venient to apply them to political pur- be supplied with abundant food whenposes, for the popular mind is and ever ever any purpose is to be answered by will be swayed by preternatural occur- making use of it: every knave can prerences, and it will always prove the surest tend to extraordinary powers, and turn instrument in working on the imagina- the variations of nature into portents, for tions of the multitude. Nature has given which he will not lack true believers, and us a love for fiction, and we praise the each of his monsters may have, as Autoinvention of the poet more than the ac- licus says, "three justices' hands to it."

I

From the Monthly Magazine.

MR. LANCASTER ON FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN EDUCATION.

RESPECTED FRIEND,

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. ferred privation and labour to` ease and
emolument to which I have been de
voted with an undaunted zeal during
for which I have lived,
twenty years;

A
LLOW me to request, by the me-
dium of thy pages, to communicate
to the public, in an authenticated shape,
an outline of some results from my re-
cent labours in the cause of education-a
cause for the sake of which I have
I ATHENEUM. Vol. 2.

pre

and in advancing which I have been willing to live or to die.

I have endeavoured, during the last three years, in travelling above 6000

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Mr. Lancaster on further Improvements in Education.

[VOL. 2 miles, to avail myself of the opportunities ter himself. Now these statements all which intervals from visiting schools al- appear very paradoxical; and the queslowed, to visit all manufactories which tion with the reflecting mind naturally is, might be open to me, and gather instruc- how they can be true. Yet that quest on tion, as the bee gathers honey, from every has for a considerable time been almost flower. In Great Britain, especially, a out of date, and the encomiums now vast field of instruction has thus been passed on the system are for its facility opened before me: my object in this and simplicity-the days of wonder are pursuit has been, first, to see if I could passed away; and yet, marked as the find mechanical inventions which, by a first statements made by me were, no different application from their present man has ever charged me with making a use, might extend the progress, by cheap- mystery of the system; I gave it to the ening the materials used for education; public freely, as soon as ever a publicanor has my intention failed of its effect. tion was ready for press by subscripMy second object was, to attain a perfect tion; which enabled me to print 5500 knowledge, by inspection of machinery, copies of my first book, for which I reand conversation with commercial men, ceived above 13001. and applied the proin matters relative to the objects of com- fits to advance the public cause in which mercial education, and which I could on- I was, and am still, engaged. ly gather from such an authentic source. At present I have a subscription open I have also endeavoured, not merely for another book, of which several hunto travel as a teacher but as a learner; dred copies are engaged for by most reand, while calling the public attention to the Lancasterian system of education, I have been endeavouring by continual attention to the subject, practically to apply its principles, and perfect its power, in such a manner as will prove it possesses greater facilities than has ever been imagined by its most zealous friends.

spectable persons; when the number comes to 2000 copies the work will instantly go to press. It will, in an appendix, contain an account of the new improvements,the outlines of which are as follow:

1. Lessons of every kind may be furnished for schools cheaper than formerly, and better adapted to the end of instrucThe results of which I now write will tion. The first particular by cheapening be admitted by ALL to be of high impor- and simplifying the material; the second tance to the cause of education, IF THEY is the result of arrangement, arising BE REAL: they are stated in a manner from more mature experience. paradoxically, for the sake of striking the mind more impressively with their importance. But I anticipate that, when fully known, the surprise will be, that they have not been found out before, and that such simple easy matters should have so long possessed powers of such extent, and not been rendered actively useful to mankind.

2. The copious variety of lessons to be afforded by these inventions is beyond precedent or calculation-the expence continuing the same, but the variety of lessons almost endless.

3. LANGUAGE does not bound their powers-the application will answer for one language as well as another. The lessons will answer for spelling, reading, and arithmetic-in one language as well as another, and with nearly equal facility. in every written language. The increase of the powers of these materials of instruction will apply to classic as well as any other authors.

When I first commenced making known my system of education to the public, I stated that one master could govern a school, however large; that a simple principle of order would enable him to govern hundreds of pupils, and thus prepare for their instruction; that 4. It seems, from the facility with one book would serve to teach a whole which any one school destitute of lessons school to spell, one book for reading, and may be provided, that it is possible that one for arithmetic; that 500 pupils the schools of a large empire may be supmight write and spell at the same time, plied with lessons, in vast variety, at an and all together; and that a boy who expense of a most moderate nature, and knew nothing about arithmetic, might, nearly with as much ease as the schools on this system, teach it as well as the mas- of a large metropolis.

VOL. 2.]

Locusts.

59

5. To all lovers of their Bible, to all results are correct, a new lever is found who are anxious for the spreading of the wherewith to move the mental energies of sacred writings over the habitable earth, man, and promote the civilization of the it will be a pleasure to learn, that these world. inventions will afford an almost indescribable facility to spread copious extracts of the sacred writings, so as to enable any missionary schoolmaster to supply his school or schools with extracts from the best of books, in any written language, or any clime of the world; the variety only limited by the boundaries of the

books used.

6. These inventions being especially calculated to fix the attention of children, simple in their use, and cheap in their cost, will be adapted to private tuition in a small family, and also aid mothers in teaching very young children before they are of age to attend school, or have a

teacher.

7. With some little variety in the application, these lessons will not only apply to every written language in the world, living or dead, but they will equally answer for the blind, and be of essential service to the deaf and dumb.

Incredible as these things may appear, three or four words would imply a knowledge of their powers, and a few pages place them, from description, beyond a doubt; and I am happy to assure the reader they will be found as simple and cheap as correct and true.

Nor do I wish to conceal them one hour after the public shall enable me to publish them; it only remains for the friends of education and their Bibles, to aid the publication; and, while the fair proceedings of it will be some pecuniary recompense for the time, study, and loss sustained in carrying these inventions to perfection, I shall be happy to prove to my country that, however I may have been rewarded for past exertions, the happiness of serving its youth, and extending similar blessings to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, will be a reward beyond that man can give or take

away.

8. As to lessons in writing, the same I remain, in the cause of education, application and benefit may be obtained the public's most devoted servant, Southampton;

as from reading, arithmetic, or other

Jos. LANCASTER.

lessons. The reader will see that, if these 4th month (April), 9th. 1817.

LOCUSTS.

SIR,

To the Editor of the Literary Panorama. tone, as if divided into two syllables, which (together with the religious leanOB BSERVING in your Panorama for ing of the people) produces the notion Nov. 1816, some account of the lo- that they say "PHAROAH." While I custs of North America, I take the lib- was but entering on the confines of the erty of writing you some additional no- tract of land which they then covered, I tices on that subject, which seems to be could distinguish the beginning and end a branch of entomology but little known. of the note of each insect I saw ; but in In the month of June, 1798, as I was a short space (a few miles) they were so crossing the State of Pennsylvania on numerous as to excite great attention; tho' foot, having passed several of the ridges I still had formed no distinct idea what of mountains called properly the Apala- they were. In two days journey afterchian mountains, my attention was at wards, arriving at Pittsburg (at the head tracted by an unusual hum, or buzz in of the Ohio) I found the people all talkthe air; and looking up I saw several ing of nothing else but the locusts, which large insects on the wing; they were indeed was no wonder, for they were so brown, and flew heavily; about an inch numerous that the hum continued within length, and having four gauze-like out intermission the whole day, and by wings. Their note there is no describ- dint of numbers was disagreeably loud ing-it was rather long, and somewhat and importunate.-I did not then stay piercing-having a slight inflection of long in Pittsburg, but pursued my expe

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Natural History of the American Locust,

[VOL. 2. dition down the Ohio to Kentucky, and I could distinctly see had three or four returned in about a month through the on it. In a few days the whole atmosOhio State (unsettled territory) to Pitts- phere was alive with locusts, and the burg again the noise was far from be- hum was loud and unceasing; the exing over; but I began to observe a phe- uvia dropped speedily from the leaves, nomenon on the trees which I could not and lay under the trees in such quantities account for. Every tree whether in the that bushels might soon have been woods, or in the gardens, in the town or gathered. I now perceived that the out of it, was hung with dead twigs, creatures made their way out of the earth, having their leaves on, but dried and turn- without wings, and crept up the trees, ed of various colours like autumn. I en- fastening themselves underneath the quired of the people the reason of this leaves, where in a short time they were appearance, and found that it was occa- perfected; a suture then opened down sioned by the locusts. I was now the back, and the winged insect dropped anxious to examine the process of their out (certainly upon his wings,) being ravages, and I found that twigs of the thenceforth a tenant of the air. This last year's shoot were perforated to the pith, by holes in rows placed as near together as the teeth in a fine ivory comb (and of course as small) and as many as could be bored between the knots of the twig, in two or three places on each. On large trees some hundreds of twigs were so perforated, and in every hole was deposited an egg, or embryo of a maggot.-Owing to the heat of the summer, the twigs so injured were killed, and twisting with the process of drying away, they hung as I have described, giving the woods a most singular and unnatural appearance.

It may seem astonishing in the economy of nature as to the re-production of these creatures, but the larvæ in every twig that dies, dies also; nor could I find living maggots in any shrub or tree but only in the twigs of the sasufras; these twigs being more tenacious of life, sustained the puncturing, without yielding to the drought; I cut off many of them, and slicing a small knife along the punctures, deeper than the bark, cut through a row of small white maggots, which gave out a milky moisture. At the latter end of the year the locusts disappeared, and no one considered how, or what got them. They might perhaps, occupy a tract of land about 100 miles square.

In the year 1800 I was at Baltimore, and walking in Howard's park (in the beginning of June) at the back of that city, I observed innumerable holes under the trees (like the holes out of which our black beetles arise in spring,) and looking into the trees I perceived the under sides of their leaves filled with wingless insects which adhered to them; every leaf that

was the second flight that I had the opportunity of observing-but at a considerable distance from the first, and I had no means of ascertaining how far they extended. Neither can I specify the period of their return-but I remember their public papers called the insect the cicada septemdecem.

I am afraid it would be in vain to speculate from these imperfect notices, upon the mode of their reproduction, or the period they remain inactive, or the changes they may undergo. It appears to be certain that they become a maggot before winter sets in, but whether this maggot (or grub) descends into the earth, I know not.

I was at Carlisle (Pennsylvania) in 1794, but not in 1796-but I passed through it in 1798 during the early part of my excursion belore named. probable that some tract or other of the United States is every year visited by these swarms; but I cannot agree with the statement in your extract of the locusts creeping immediately out of their husks, and hanging by their fore-feet like tallow candles; the contrary is much more probable, and their exuviæ will continue sticking under the leaves some days after the insect has flown.-The holes they make in rising may be about three quarters of an inch in diameter, and the former error in that particular may be an error of the press.

If you think this worth inserting you are welcome to it-and I may probably hereafter recollect some interesting particulars relative to that country.

June 1817.

BEN. HOLDICH

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