CHAPTER XII.

Formation of schools-Address to teachers and pupils.

THE hulk or prison lists which accompany the prisoners on their embarkation contain a report of their state of education, but these reports are not to be relied upon; and I have always found it necessary to muster the people according to their ship's numbers, and to put a book into the hands of each, that I may judge coucerning their ability to read. A list of their names having been previously prepared, with columns headed thus: "can read and write ;" "read only;" ;" "read a little, or imperfectly;" "knows his letters; ""knows not his letters;" the fact, whether they can read, and with what measure of accuracy, is readily ascertained and recorded.

The whole of the people are now to be formed into schools, according to their degrees of knowledge. To each school a teacher is appointed, and over the whole, a General Inspector. The teachers are chosen with great care from amongst those who appear to combine with the greatest scholarship the best abilities, the most amiable disposition, and the greatest degree of moral integrity. The peculiar tact necessary to

communicate instruction with success, has, with few exceptions, to be acquired.

The people are again assembled on the quarterdeck, to be informed of the appointment of the Schoolmasters and Inspector, and to listen to the following outline of their respective duties:

SCHOOLMASTERS.

The whole of the people are arranged in school, according to their several attainments; each school consisting of nine or ten pupils only, save the higher, which embrace those who are partially educated, and may contain fifteen pupils. Each schoolmaster shall have due authority over the pupils committed to his care. He is to see that they attend school punctually during the appointed hours; to encourage them to apply with zeal to the business of their education, and make every exertion to facilitate their progress. He will take charge of their school-books, be furnished with religious publications, which he will lend to his pupils, collect them when read, and, on returning them to the inspector of schools, he will receive a fresh supply. He will do his utmost to promote in his pupils the love of useful knowledge; afford them all the instruction he can, and report to the general inspector every instance of inattention, negligence, or other irregularity. Those pupils who may be deficient in abilities, or dull of apprehension, shall have a private teacher assigned them from one of the higher schools, such pupils being still, however, under the superintendence of their respective schoolmasters.

All the petty officers and schoolmasters shall co-operate in their endeavours to maintain among the people the most perfect propriety of speech and behaviour; and shall make prompt and correct reports to the first or second captain, or general inspector of schools, of every instance of neglect or violation of orders.

INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS.

He shall be furnished with a correct list of all the schools, and with a small book, into which he shall enter all his reports. It is his business to see that the schools are assembled and dismissed at the appointed hours; to visit them assiduously in order to ascertain whether the pupils are present, to observe their conduct, and receive reports from the schoolmasters-which shall be entered into the "book of reports," together with any statements which he himself may have to make: all of which, when duly sifted and prepared, shall be submitted every day to

the surgeon-superintendent, at nine o'clock, A.M., at the inspection of petty officers and schoolmasters. The inspector will also observe how the schoolmasters perform their duty, and unite his efforts with theirs to promote the efficiency of the schools.

The recital of these duties of the schoolmasters and the inspector, is followed by an address to the whole of the people, considered in their new relation of teachers and pupils, of which the following is the sub

stance :

ADDRESS TO TEACHERS AND PUPILS.

Thus I have formed you into schools and appointed your instructors. To the schoolmasters I shall, in the first place, offer a few words of encouragement and advice.

I would have you to recollect, that the situation of teacher is one of the most important in society; and the circumstances in which you are placed invest it with additional interest. Other teachers have, in common with you, to deal with the never-dying souls of men, and the effects of their influence may prove interminable; but your pupils have been suffered to grow up the victims of ignorance; they are now, with yourselves, actually undergoing the punishment due to transgression; and their opportunity of learning to read the word of life is, in all probability, limited to the period of our voyage. Should it pass away unimproved, they may be left to reap for ever the bitter fruits of a wilful and culpable neglect !

In order to secure success to your efforts, it is indispensably necessary that you not only maintain

uniform meekness of temper, but that, in all your intercourse with your pupils, you exercise the greatest patience and long-suffering. You will recollect that your pupils are, with scarcely an exception, totally unaccustomed to habits of application and attention. These they have yet to form, and their success in forming them will greatly depend on your gentle and persuasive manners and unwearied perseverance. It is of great moment, that you make yourselves well acquainted with their dispositions and capabilities, and accommodate yourselves to them as much as possible. You must act towards them with the lowly simplicity suited to children, and with the respect due to men. You must be prepared to repeat again and again your instructions, until success shall crown your labours; and must strenuously guard against your temper becoming in the slightest degree ruffled, or your voice or manners betraying the least indication of peevishness. The due recollection that your work is arduous, will prepare you to put forth arduous exertions. If you are determined to succeed, you will, generally speaking, inspire your pupil with a similar determination, and then success will not only become sure, but will ultimately be attained with comparative

ease.

You will receive a fresh impetus in your work from the recollection that the future condition of your pupils will depend greatly upon the success of your labours; and an impressive solemnity attends the consideration, that you are dealing with sinful,

immortal, and accountable beings; and that the ability to read will secure them access to those inspired Records, which acquaint them with the way of salvation, and make full provision for their present and everlasting peace.

Secondly, After what I have said to schoolmasters, it is not requisite that I should address many words to you who have now become their pupils. Your own reason and good feeling will tell you what you owe to your instructors. It will become you to treat them with due respect; to cherish towards them feelings of affectionate gratitude; to be most attentive to their instructions; to exercise your best energies; to apply your mind with unflagging zeal, to the acquisition of useful knowledge; to have a fixed determination to surmount every obstacle, and not to desist from your delightful toil, until you have mastered all your difficulties, and become such proficients in the art of reading, as to render it at once a source of pleasure and of profit. Let me beseech you, whose youthful days have passed away, not to be discouraged. Indefatigable application will, through the blessing of God, make every difficulty bend before it. On this point I can speak from experience. I scarcely remember an instance, where there was the possession of reason and sight, and even moderate diligence and determination, in which my expectations have been disappointed. This voyage presents to you a golden opportunity for securing a most useful education; an opportunity the like of which you can never