follows:-'The position of a teacher is that which he has a mind to make it himself.' This remark has done more, I think, to stimulate me in arduous work, than anything could have done. Now for facts. When I came here the school was ruined in attendance, character, and salary. We had an attendance of 26 boys, who paid one penny each. These fees, with £40 a-year, and a house, constituted my income. At the time, I felt extremely thankful that I was a single man. Well, I thought of giving the place up, and taking a clerkship, but duty compelled me to stay, and the remark which I have just quoted sounded in my ears. I determined to work; I set to in earnest; I worked hard, and, if I tell you the condition of the school at present, you will see that a teacher's position is, what he himself has a mind to make it. We have now 117 boys on the books, 94 of whom were in at. tendance this week. They pay 2d. and 4d. each. Our school is full, and the Committee think about enlarging it next Midsummer. The school is now under Government inspection. The Committee and supporters were very much against Government aid when I first came, but when I explained the system to them, and gave two lectures on Education, in which I adverted at some length to Government aid, they considered it better to place the school under inspection, and accordingly did so.

“I will tell you how I have acted, during my residence here, to produce such results. I worked very hard in and out of the school. I have always been exceedingly punctual, never in a single instance have I been one minute behind my time. I have had my monitors to tea with me occasionally, and, during the season, we had a cricket club in the school. I have given lectures to the parents and friends of the scholars, and have rendered myself useful to our minister by assisting him at public meetings, &c. I now see the results of my labours, and if this statement of facts will stimulate any of the students to 'go and do likewise,' I shall feel very grateful.”

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.-MAURITIUS.

The Committee have made a grant of school materials in aid of some important and interesting Mission Schools at Port Louis, in this island. Some Scripture and other lessons in the French language, which is the vernacular language of the colony, were included in the grant. The following is extracted from the letter of our correspondent :

"We have opened a school for the education of the children of the poor, in a much-neglected part of our town, and shall feel obliged if your Committee could assist us by a grant of school materials.

"The school commenced its operations in February last. It has now been opened for six months. The number of children that attend the school is 65 boys, and 36 girls. The number is daily increasing, so that we expect to have, at least, from 30 to 50 more children by the close of the year. The system adopted is, as far as practicable, that of the Borough School. The Bible is the text-book of religious instruction given to the children. Nothing sectarian, or of a controversial nature, is allowed.

"The school is maintained by voluntary subscription, and the parents who can afford it are expected to pay a small school-fee. A good proportion of the children are admitted gratis.

"Besides the school in Yoloff Camp, we have in contemplation the opening of three other schools; one at Grand River, two miles and a half from Port Louis; another at Rochebori, about three miles and a half from town; and another in the western suburb of Port Louis.

"We hope to be able to inform you, before the close of this year, that we have succeeded in opening two of these schools, if not the whole three, as they are wanted in those parts."

HIGH WYCOMBE.—A pleasing incident has recently occurred in the British School at this place, which we mention here, in the hope that it may stimulate to similar efforts elsewhere. In consequence of extensive alterations and repairs, rendered necessary by the constant growth and increasing efficiency of the school, the funds had become embarrassed with a "balance due to the Treasurer." Some of the "Old Scholars" still resident in the town, learning the state of the case, formed themselves into a Committee, for the purpose of effecting the removal of the debt. Having contributed to this result from their own resources, they applied to parties in the neighbourhood for help, and on all hands received the encouragement they sought. Having accomplished their purpose, they addressed a letter to the School Committee announcing the result, from which we extract the following:

"We sent a deputation to Sir G. H. Dashwood, Bart., M.P., for the purpose of soliciting aid. They were most cordially received, and the result was a donation of £10. We applied to M. T. Smith, Esq., M.P., and also received from that gentleman £10. We are delighted to find that, with the assistance of some gentlemen of your Committee and other friends of the school, our wishes have been gratified, and we have now the pleasure of acquainting you that, instead of the school being indebted to the Treasurer £42, there is now in his hands £3 7s. 6d.

"Our efforts have been amply repaid by the fact that our school-the school in which we received our instruction-is not burthened with a debt, and we trust that God's blessing may attend your labours and the labours of the master, that thereby this Institution may send forth many who will add to cultivated minds and ripened intellects the yet nobler qualities of the philanthropist and the Christian. The time, we believe, is silently, yet surely approaching, when capacity and merit, not birth or rank, will be the criterion of success, and when men in the highest positions in life will not be ashamed to confess that they received their education in British Schools. As old scholars, we cannot allow this opportunity to pass without expressing to you our thankfulness that the services of Mr. Drewett, as master of this school, are still preserved to you. Most of us have learned, amid the stern duties and responsibilities of manhood, the value of the instruction we received when boys; and under the grace of God we trace much of our present position, our daily comfort and enjoyments, and our future hopes, to the salutary discipline, the grave rebuke, the word of kindly encouragement, the anxious solicitude of the master, and the happy system of instruction under which he conducted our education. It is also our prayer that as God, in the order of His providence, removes one and another who have acted as members of the Committee of this School, and whose hearts have been imbued with all that philanthropic feeling so much to be desired, you, and all future Committees may be the constant recipients of His favour."

Not less gratifying is the following little circumstance, related by the mistress of a small country school:

"One girl who, when at school, was very poor, came into possession of a little property on attaining the age of 21 years. She gave a sovereign to the funds of her dear school, as a small token of her gratitude.'

As an encouragement to the young teachers who are now entering upon their important work, we insert the following extract from a letter lately received by Mr. Saunders, from a teacher who left the Institution a year ago

"What induces me to write to you now is this: Christmas is approaching, and I know this is the time when you commence your evening remarks on the position, duties, &c., of a teacher. I feel very much indebted to you for one remark which you were continually bringing before us during my residence in College; it was as

follows::'The position of a teacher is that which he has a mind to make it himself.' This remark has done more, I think, to stimulate me in arduous work, than anything could have done. Now for facts. When I came here the school was ruined in attendance, character, and salary. We had an attendance of 26 boys, who paid one penny each. These fees, with £40 a-year, and a house, constituted my income. At the time, I felt extremely thankful that I was a single man. Well, I thought of giving the place up, and taking a clerkship, but duty compelled me to stay, and the remark which I have just quoted sounded in my ears. I determined to work; I set to in earnest; I worked hard, and, if I tell you the condition of the school at present, you will see that a teacher's position is, what he himself has a mind to make it. We have now 117 boys on the books, 94 of whom were in at tendance this week. They pay 2d. and 4d. each. Our school is full, and the Committee think about enlarging it next Midsummer. The school is now under Government inspection. The Committee and supporters were very much against Government aid when I first came, but when I explained the system to them, and gave two lectures on Education, in which I adverted at some length to Government aid, they considered it better to place the school under inspection, and accordingly

did so.

"I will tell you how I have acted, during my residence here, to produce such results. I worked very hard in and out of the school. I have always been exceedingly punctual, never in a single instance have I been one minute behind my time. I have had my monitors to tea with me occasionally, and, during the season, we had a cricket club in the school. I have given lectures to the parents and friends of the scholars, and have rendered myself useful to our minister by assisting him at public meetings, &c. I now see the results of my labours, and if this statement of facts will stimulate any of the students to 'go and do likewise,' I shall feel very grateful."

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.-MAURITIUS.

The Committee have made a grant of school materials in aid of some important and interesting Mission Schools at Port Louis, in this island. Some Scripture and other lessons in the French language, which is the vernacular language of the colony, were included in the grant. The following is extracted from the letter of our correspondent :

"We have opened a school for the education of the children of the poor, in a much-neglected part of our town, and shall feel obliged if your Committee could assist us by a grant of school materials.

"The school commenced its operations in February last. It has now been opened for six months. The number of children that attend the school is 65 boys, and 36 girls. The number is daily increasing, so that we expect to have, at least, from 30 to 50 more children by the close of the year. The system adopted is, as far as practicable, that of the Borough School. The Bible is the text-book of religious instruction given to the children. Nothing sectarian, or of a controversial nature, is allowed.

"The school is maintained by voluntary subscription, and the parents who can afford it are expected to pay a small school-fee. A good proportion of the children are admitted gratis.

"Besides the school in Yoloff Camp, we have in contemplation the opening of three other schools; one at Grand River, two miles and a half from Port Louis; another at Rochebori, about three miles and a half from town; and another in the western suburb of Port Louis.

"We hope to be able to inform you, before the close of this year, that we have succeeded in opening two of these schools, if not the whole three, as they are wanted in those parts."

SOUTH AFRICA.

A Missionary, who has been labouring for many years in Southern Africa, describes, at some length, the difficulties which attend the work of education in the interior settlements of that continent. He writes

"During my sojourn in Southern Africa, I have ever found that the work of missions is but imperfect, without the important aid of instruction to the rising generation; hence, I was never happy when I had no school; and as such people who can lend an efficient aid in that are very scarce, it has ever fallen to my happy lot to combine the minister with the schoolmaster. So in Philippolis, from the year 1838 to 1842; and, amidst much outward work, in Basel, from 1842 to 1846. In Umpukane, from 1846 to 1851. In Lithuane, I was partly exempted, having a native in the capacity of schoolmaster employed; but, I cannot deny, the progress was anything but satisfactory to me. In 1853 and 1854, I had an interesting school in Bloemfontens, of about 100 natives, and then for the first time in English, except here and there a few in former days. I have come to the conclusion, that as we live in an English colony, and it is of great importance that the rising generation should know English, to lay great stress upon the acquisition of that language; hence, after my arrival here (21 months ago), finding no one who could take the school, my first object was to establish, or rather to re-establish, a school, for formerly a school was kept; but the inhabitants then here had almost all left for other mission stations, and an almost altogether new set of inhabitants had arrived. The instruction was begun and continued in English, and though it is certainly more difficult to make much progress, inasmuch as no one knows any English, and the children are of three different sorts-Fingos speaking Kaffer; Basutos speaking Sesuto; Hottentots and apprentices speaking Dutch; so that, as far as real instruction went, it had to be given in four different languages; still, I have great reason to be satisfied about the progress made-more especially as, having no lessons, I made some easy spelling lessons, and had the children learn word by word from English and Dutch, Sesuto and Kaffir, which, of course, took much time; but the children, in learning to spell English, learned a stock of words in the four languages, and to understand easy sentences in English, as also the other languages. I would not be understood to say that at present they could give a good account of every word they learned; still, in time to come, when they may be able to speak English, this will be the case.

"Feeling assured that yourself, and the honoured Directors and Committee of the British and Foreign School Society, feel an interest in anything which bears upon the instruction of the rising generation everywhere-and feeling myself inadequate to give a proper picture of the state and progress, so as to interest any one, I have always disliked to write much, either about my more direct missionary labours, as well as about my schools.

"I see appended to this report a list of school materials, of which you will permit me to make a selection for my school and family. I forward herewith £18 18s.; I should have desired more, but feel I have no claim upon the Society to claim it gratis, nor upon credit, say for six or twelve months, however gratefully any addition would be received."

HOME CORRESPONDENCE.-NORTH WALES NEW NORMAL

COLLEGE.

Since the publication of our last, active measures have been taken by the friends of education in the Principality to establish a Normal School in connexion with the British and Foreign School Society.

The following are the particulars of this important movement :

At a conference held at Bangor in the month of April last, Mr. Richard Davies, of Menai Bridge, being in the chair, after an address on the subject by Mr. Robert Forster, of Tottenham, supported by Mr. Hugh Owen, of Whitehall, it was resolved, on the motion of the Rev. Henry Rees, seconded by Mr. Griffith Jones

"That it is the opinion of this meeting that in order to secure the needful supply of teachers for British Schools in North Wales, a Normal College for the education and training of teachers be forthwith established, at such a place, within the district of North Wales, as may be deemed most advisable, and that a Committee be appointed to carry the same into effect."

On the 23rd of June, a Committee met at Menai Bridge, to discuss the subject, whereat it was decided to hold a meeting at Rhyl, on the 29th of July, for the further consideration of the proposed College. At the Rhyl meeting, on the above date, the subject was minutely canvassed and discussed, Mr. Richard Davies being in the chair, and it was resolved unanimously, on the motion of the Rev. Roger Edwards, seconded by Mr. E. G. Salisbury

"That this meeting having again deliberated on the subject of the establishment of a Norma College for North Wales, on the broad and unsectarian principles of the British and Foreign School Society, confirm the resolution passed at Bangor on the 9th of April."

A Provisional Committee was then appointed, consisting of eighteen gentlemen, and others, whose permission had not then been obtained for publication, together with treasurers and secretaries, for the purpose of carrying the foregoing resolution into effect. The secretaries were instructed to prepare an address on the subject of the proposed College for circulation, which was done accordingly. From this address we extract the following statements :

"Happily, Wales stands pre-eminent for the extent of its provision for religious worship, and for the number and value of its Sunday schools; but the evidence of observation and of statistics alike demonstrate that the country is greatly deficient in day-schools. Indeed, the necessity which exists for increasing the number and improving the quality of these schools is urgent.

"The number of children belonging to schools of all kinds-public and private-in North Wales, in 1851, was 37,084, being one in every eleven of the population, which amounted to 414,114.

"If one in every eight and one-third were under instruction, as is the case in England and Wales together, the number under instruction in North Wales would be 49,296. Taking therefore the standard supplied by the whole country, which is below those of some other countries, there are in North Wales 19,212 children who ought to be in school, but are not.

"In seeking to supply this deficiency, it must be borne in mind, that whilst the people generally attend places of worship, they belong to several denominations, and that the religious teaching to be given in schools intended for all, ought therefore to be wholly free from sectarian bias.

"The principles which govern schools connected with the British and Foreign School Society seem to be peculiarly adapted for Wales, where, notwithstanding the existence of denominational differences, all recognize the authority of the word of God.

"In these schools it is provided

"1. That the sacred Scriptures, in the authorized version, or extracts therefrom shall be read and taught daily.

"2. That no catechism, or other formulary peculiar to any religious denomination, shall be introduced or taught during the usual hours of school instruction.

"3. That every child attending the day-school shall be expected to attend the particular Sunday school, or place of worship, which its parents prefer.

"A basis is thus presented sufficiently broad and catholic to comprehend all religious persuasions especially in Wales.

"Although there is much in the past to be deplored, we are thankful to observe that, through the instrumentality of the British and Foreign School Society, considerable progress has been made during the last few years in the establishment of British Schools in North Wales. Twelve years ago there were only two of these schools in this division of the Principality, but now there are eighty-one.