a person who had manifested his decision in opposing the rule of the French, would not be likely to coalesce with the dominant party. It will be perceived that he was endued with a no small share of energy of character,and that a mind, constituted like his, could not rest unoccupied. At this period, also, Pestalozzi appeared, and turned the eyes of benevolent persons towards the results at which education, rightly conducted, might arrive; and a knowledge of his proceedings would conduce much more towards directing the active hand of M. Fellenberg to work in the same department of public good, than the insolence of the director Reubel, But M. Fellenberg shall speak for himself, in one of his letters, dated December 1827. "My efforts," says he, "in the cause of education were excited by the palpable defects which presented themselves, wherever I had an opportunity of examining its state, even among the most refined nations. The science, as well as the art of education, seemed to me very far in arrear of every branch of modern cultivation. I reflected deeply, and for a length of time, on the wants of the present age in this respect. Observation, and personal experience, as a member of such bodies, had convinced me, thirty years since, that nothing adequate to the necessities of mankind could be hoped for through the medium of commissions or associations established by public authority; and I at length resolved to point out, by means of an extensive series of experiments, on my own estate, and on an independent basis, what education ought to accomplish for the human race."

When M. Fellenberg first settled at Hofwyl, which was at the close of the last century, however deeply he might be impressed with the evils that prevailed in society, it is hardly to be supposed that he contemplated the prosecution of all he has since undertaken. His views have doubtless expanded with his

growing success; but there can be traced much in his proceedings that bespeaks an originality of conception. The idea, for instance, of making agriculture subservient to the restoration of morality, by combining, as he has done, instruction with a routine of manual labour, for those who were born to occupy the station of labourers, was altogether novel. But husbandry, both in its theory and practice, was closely allied with the furtherance of his operations. To improve the soil of his estate, must have been with him a primary care; for a rigid economy in every detail, and a profitable return from his capital, were requisite both to his setting a salutary example to his future pupils, and as affording him the means of effecting his intention.

England, about the date of the commencement of his agricultural experiments, was making rapid strides in the improvement of tillage. The advancing price of provisions then acted as a high premium in eliciting the ingenuity and thought of the landed proprietor, the farmer, and the mechanic. But M. Fellenberg, in his wish to follow us in our agricultural improvements, as well as in his efforts to diffuse education among the peasantry around, had to encounter a host of prejudices. In order to rescue himself from their force, by lending due publicity to his various designs, in May 1807 he gave an agricultural fête, on an extensive scale, at Hofwyl. This appears to have had the desired effect; for in the following month the Swiss diet appointed a commission to inquire into the na ture of his establishment. On the report of the commissioners, the diet declared that he merited the gratitude of the country, and placed at his disposal the sum of two thousand four hundred francs to distribute, in the shape of rewards, amongst the most deserving of his people. The late king of Wurtemberg also, after examining his institutions, presented him with a

snuff box; and a number of other princes and governments have like wise bestowed on him marks of their esteem.

The fabrication of agricultural instruments, some of his own invention, but the generality after the most approved models, was early undertaken, both for the use of his own estate and for sale. This manufacture has been successfully continued; and a repository containing these implements is shewn to visitors. The canton of Berne, in consequence of the pains he had taken in this respect, granted him from its forests, for ten years, the annual gift of a quantity of timber. He has received no similar aid, and no gratuitous pecuniary assistance worth noticing, from any quarter. This is stated, merely because erroneous reports have been circulated on that head. It must also be borne in mind, that his private fortune was sufficiently large to have placed him high in the scale of Swiss society, and to render professional labour, and hazard of property, unnecessary. Some persons foreboded, and others secretly rejoiced in anticipating, his ruin from the extensiveness of his enterprizes; for the patricians of Berne generally, in former years, shewed any thing but favour towards his efforts in education. He has, however, outlived this blind opposition: as a proof of which, the first magistrate of a district, who had been a declared and active enemy of his institution, by his will directed that his sons should, if possible, be educated at Hofwyl.

It must have been difficult, before M. Fellenberg and his plans had acquired celebrity, to procure a sufficient number of pupils, and on such terms, as would permit him to carry on the instruction of the sons of the rich in a liberal and comprehensive manner. The Institute, or school for boys of this class, commenced in 1804, with a few young gentlemen; for whom, together with his two elder sons, he provided proper masters. By degrees, for none

of his plans seem to have been characterized by precipitancy, the numbers increased; and in 1812 there were twenty-four pupils. Alexander, the late emperor of Russia, who in 1814 conferred upon him the honour of knighthood of the order of St. Wadimir, patronized this academy; and about that period the erection of a spacious building, constructed with great judgment, was commenced. It is capable of containing upwards of one hundred pupils, and a number of professors. The charge for a pupil from among the emperor's subjects, including every expense incidental to a long resi dence in a distant country, was fixed at about 120l. per annum. Several of the sons of the nobility of Russia, and of other states, have since been educated at this Institute. In 1828 it contained eightysix youths; and there are constantly attached to it, on an average, at least twenty-five professors, including some whom we should term assistants or ushers. Their salaries of course vary. M. Fellenberg's three sons also assist in the Institute. It has happened that the relatives of some of the pupils have sustained reverses, which would have rendered it necessary for them to be withdrawn; but this benevolent man, with scarcely the chance of payment, has retained more than twelve under these circumstances. The sons of the gentry of the canton are taken on much lower terms than foreigners. The whole of the regents, or parochial schoolmasters, of this canton, and those of Friburg and Soleure were, in 1808, invited by M. Fellenberg to repair to Hofwyl, to be instructed in his principles and practice of education, as applicable to the children of the lower classes of society. The reader will pronounce, according to the estimate he may form of M. Fellenberg, how far the "paternal" government of Berne acted with wisdom, when, after having sanctioned the assemblage of these persons, it peremptorily prohibited their continuance

at Hofwyl. This check occasioned, as may be conjectured, some em barrassment; but the establishment being shortly afterwards visited by deputies of the diet for the cantons of Argau, Basle, Schaffhausen, Thurgovia, St. Gall, and Lucerne, no opposition was made to the regents belonging to those cantons congregating at Hofwyl, agreeably to M. Fellenberg's wishes.

Repeated difficulties occurred in obtaining a master for the school for the indigent. So early as the year 1802, three boys were put under the care of an instructor, who promised well; but he was induced by a young woman to whom he was to be married to settle in the canton of Argau amongst their friends. His successor M.Fellenberg was obliged to dismiss. After this second failure, he considered himself fortunate in enlisting into his service a young man of the canton of Appenzel; but a military requisition, on the death of his father, who fell in an engagement with the Russians on a pass of the Alps, drew the young teacher from M. Fellenberg's ranks to join those of Napoleon. The next master was likewise removed after a short stay; but the fifth expedient to procure one, succeeded beyond the most sanguine expectation. M. Fellenberg's invitation, countenanced by certain deputies of the diet of the cantons already named, having brought in 1809 forty-two regents to Hofwyl, he publicly stated his wants to them. On hearing his appeal, Thomas Vehrli, regent of Eschikofen in Thurgovia, exclaimed, with a striking earnestness, "Take my son." "As the fruit does not fall far from the tree," M. Fellenberg thought that a father who had thus promptly manifested such a desire, would have a son not deficient in the best qualifications; and James Vehrli, then nineteen years of age, was not long after instated in the situation he now holds. The school over which he has presided with so much credit to himself, and so much benefit to his pupils, is termed

by way of distinction Vehrli's school, rather than the school for the poor. It numbered in 1828, eighty-five scholars of various ages; eighteen of whom were training for masters. In educating for this purpose youths of requisite ability and disposition, M. Fellenberg looks forward to the dissemination of the advantages of his system. This school he did not consider properly established till 1812 *.

In 1823 an intermediate school was put into activity. The terms are considerably lower for those placed at this, than for those at the Institute, or school for the rich. Its numbers are about twenty, and several of the youths are agricultural pupils, and are taught both the theory and practice of M. Fellenberg's system of husbandry.

At the period of the formation of the intermediate school, a fourth, answering to M.Vehrli's, was organized for girls. This, under the superintendence of M. Fellenberg's eldest daughter, had in June 1829, twentysix scholars, and is properly isolated from the rest of the establishment. Our prudent philanthropist is ever on the alert to prevent collision between the several parts of his community. Moral contamination is vigilantly guarded against; and persons hired in the service of the Institution have been dismissed for uttering expressions unfit for the ears of youth. The pupils are not allowed to frequent the wakes or fairs of the neighbourhood.

M. Fellenberg desires that all his scholars should enter the respective seminaries at the age of five or six years, and remain with him till their character is matured. The boys whom he clothes, feeds, and instructs, are expected to continue with him till they are verging on

• In February 1813, a document was in due form drawn up for the establishment of a permanent commission for perpetuating instruction to a certain number of indigent boys on the existing plan. The and specific articles of regulation, are the testamentary provisions of M. Fellenberg, basis of this deed.

manhood. As they become strong, their labour on his estate, which constitutes an excellent and a peculiar part of their education, becomes valuable. There is no hardship in this arrangement to one born in poverty, who can gain what will be most serviceable to him every year, both in point of manual dexterity and mental elevation, and who owes what has conduced to his respectability to the foster-father, who wishes to be so far reimbursed, as that he may be enabled to prove how much beneficence can cheaply accomplish, and to how many its arm may be extended in the depths of moral degradation. But, as may be supposed, a few quit from various causes, before they can thus aid in the completion of the reasonable wishes of their benefactor.

The various departments of the institution compose one whole, and each is made to enrich the resources of the other. Thus good is effected at a less expense, and in a more complete manner, than it could be without the advantage of this mutual succour. There are workshops for the carpenter, the wheelwright, the smith, the tailor, and the shoemaker: and under one of these Vehrli's boys may each learn a trade, in addition to the management of animals, and other branches of rural economy.

Divine Service is performed by ministers of the Reformed and Roman-Catholic churches, who also give other religious instruction to the pupils of their respective communions. It must be remembered that Italians, Germans, English, French, Russians, and youths of other nations, are here congregated. In one state of Europe, which it is not necessary to name, the fears of priestcraft and despotism have interdicted sending a boy to the institution.

Hofwyl, to describe it in a few words, is an ants' nest, where activity reigns without bustle, and order without the precision or parade of military evolution. M. Fellenberg's family have imbibed his

ardour, and imitate him in his unremitted exertions. His three sons and three elder daughters, and Mde. Fellenberg, so far as the care of her two younger will permit, are his diligent coadjutors. M. Muller, the Greek professor, a gentleman respected for his acquirements, has been at Hofwyl more than twelve years; and others belonging to it a much longer period. "Excellence," said Sir Joshua Reynolds, "is never granted to man, but as the reward of labour. It argues, indeed, no small strength of mind to persevere in habits of industry, without the pleasure of perceiving those advances, which, like the hand of a clock, whilst they make hourly approaches to their point, yet proceed so slowly as to escape observation." When we reflect on the risings of Hofwyl; on the difficulties, jealousies, and prejudices with which its possessor has had to combat ; on the delays that must have intervened before the fitness of his principal measures could have been developed; on the arrangements that have called for precaution; the dispositions that have required tact and delicacy for their controul: and the numbers that have needed oversight; and then look around and survey the present dimensions of the institution, the benefits it has conferred, and its promising stability, we may see in his success a reward which may well animate other philanthropists to persevere in their benevolent efforts for the welfare of mankind.

But M.Fellenberg complains that his cause has been injured by the lavish praises of friends, as he himself has been thwarted by having frequently been both misrepresented and misunderstood. His cause he considers to be that of humanity, and he conceives it has been hurt by the indiscriminate applause, which diffuses the notion that his plans cannot be in any wise hopefully imitated. Not to run into this error, and in order to profit by his experience, we must attend to his