AN ESSAY ON FEMALE EDUCATION.

BY H. W. DEWHURST, ESQ.

THERE are very few subjects of greater importance to the rising generation, than the education of the Female sex, and when we consider the great scale they occupy in all civilized nations, and that they are ultimately the first instructors of mankind; we cannot but feel surprised at the present day, when the schoolmaster is said to be abroad, and when such opportunities exist for their improvement, that such has not been the case. Considering, as I do, that the Omnipotent architect has created Woman not only to be the companion of Man, but also to partake of his pleasures and sorrows, and upon carefully observing the fair sex generally, we find that the intellectual abilities of women are equal to that of my own sex, requiring only in many cases that cultivation which a sound education can impart. But I imagine the fair reader will say, "What do you mean to assert, that in the respectable classes of society, females do not receive a good education?" In reply, I do not mean to make such an assertion. But, I do mean to state, that they are not properly instructed. True, they are taught a few of the principles in Lindley Murray's Grammar, to play a few popular airs on the pianoforte, and possibly, the harp or guitar; to make themselves agreeable at a quadrille party, and to stammer forth a little French or Italian-these with a little fancy needlework, or drawing, constitute all the accomplishments of our modern belles. And to some minds possibly this may be deemed sufficient to mine, however, there is a serious deficiency, for the instruction imparted to females at most of our fashionable boarding schools, is of very little practical utility in the married state. Too frequently are they found on leaving, entirely destitute of all the phenomena of nature, and it is only in after life that they are enabled to taste of the few pleasures which a casual or constant attendance on the public Lectures at our scientific institutions afford them. That females are willing to learn and be instructed, must I think be universally allowed, for I have generally found at their attendance, either on the Lectures of other Professors as well as at my own, on the sciences of Astronomy, Botany, Chemistry, &c., that in numbers they frequently have exceeded my own sex, and that questions often put to me privately af:er Lecture, display not only an inquiring

disposition, but likewise exhibit a good development of their reasoning faculties. This, being the case, is it not to be lamented, that the elements of popular science, are not taught them in their schools, under able and judicious teachers. Most assuredly it is, and I do hope the time is not far distant, when the examples of our trans-atlantic and Scottish brethren, will be imitated and acted upon in this country. It has been objected by some narrow minded individuals, that women have no business with scientific pursuits. Of these sapient gentry, I will enquire, whether a woman makes the worse wife, mother, or friend, from being acquainted with the scientific phenomena, which take place in the cooking of the most simple as well as the most luxuriant repast. Certainly not, but on the contrary, by her possessing a knowledge of domestic chemistry, she will be able to direct the various processes to be performed with greater accuracy, and oftentimes by means of her chemical knowledge, may prevent the most serious accidents taking place, through the ignorance or carelessness of servants, &c.

This may be all very true, some may remark, but how would you impart all these valuable and practical accomplishments? Simply, by adding to the present common-place routine of boarding-school education; a course of elementary philosophical instruction, commencing about twelve or thirteen years of age. Two or three courses of lectures, illustrated with pleasing and striking experiments, so as to impress upon the mind, the subject demonstrated, with frequent examination, will be sufficient, of the following sciences; for I contend, that if young men can learn these, (often amid the toils of business,) why, cannot the fair sex also become acquainted with them. I can see no possible objection, and every respectable ladies' school ought in fact, to be a minor College, or University, where the sciences of Astronomy, Geography, Botany, Chemistry and Natural Philosophy, Phrenology, &c., should be taught by competent Professors. Some of my fair readers, may smile at what I have stated-but with every feeling of gravity, I may remark, that not only in modern Athens, is there an academy of this description recently established, and whose Professors are the most eminent men, that adorn the Scottish metropolis-but in Albany, United States, one has been in existence for upwards of twenty-three years, and has been incorporated eighteen. It originated from the necessity felt by a small circle of parents, for a more efficient course of instruction for their daughters. The system embraced at the Albany Female academy is truly practical, and comprises a range from the very

elements of our own language through the English studies of the senior classes in our Colleges. The principle upon which the system of education is managed, is by developing the pupils, minds, and not merely that their memories should be stored, with text books. The Profesorss cause the pupil to think, to weigh, and examine things for herself, to make herself mistress of the subject of her study; and not merely the words of her author: then her course of reading and her study are made to depend one on the other.

By pursuing a system like this, the brilliant character of woman becomes expanded, her intellect is destined to become highly useful to society, and she enjoys the additional gratification of comprehending the causes and effects of those natural phenomena, that daily present themselves to her notice. I may still farther add, to this academy, there is an extensive library for study, and reference, (not composed of trashy works of fiction, which so much disgrace our modern literature,) and also a choice philosophical apparatus.

As a study eminently useful, Chemistry is carefully studied; French and Spanish are taught as extra studies by talented Professors of those languages; so also are drawing and music. Sacred music in its highest perfection, forms an integral part of female education. The regular daily course adopted at this academy cannot fail of interesting every visitor. The pupils are assembled in the chapel of the academy at the openinga portion of the Holy Scriptures is read-then some selection of sacred music is sung, which is followed by prayer-when all retire, by departments, with the utmost order and regularity to their respective class rooms, and proceed to their studies.

In the six departments into which this academy is divided, and including the instruction in what are considered extra studies, there are at present sixteen teachers, four male Professors, viz., the principal, who is Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy, and Rhetoric, a Professor of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy, &c. A Professor of French and Spanish, a Professor of Sacred Music, and eleven female teachers.

The reader will perceive that there is nothing Utopian in the system of female education, which I wish to see adopted in this country; for lovely and amiable as the female sex is universally allowed to be, it cannot be denied, that the more the beauties of the intellect are developed—the greater will be the happiness and prosperity of the nation they inhabit.

A TALE OF WOMAN's LOVE.

I saw her when the fair young Spring had shed
Its hues of beauty round her infant head:

She glided on the green and flower-gemm'd turf,
A thing of light, and life, and guileless mirth:

Those deep blue eyes, beneath their vein'd lids beaming,
Those glossy ringlets on the wild air streaming;
The happy laugh, the step so light and gay;
The song of mirth, the blithe young spirit's play,
The pure heart's flight on infancy's soft wing,
Seemed the reflection of each lovely thing

That smiled around,—the fair child loves to dwell
Where Nature wraps the earth in beauty's spell;
Where flowers exhale their radiance and perfume,
And dew-drops wreathe with pearls their fairy bloom:
Where the gay bee, its golden nectar sips,
From the pure chalice of the rose-bud's lips;
Where, in the lily's bell, the butterfly
Lulled by a zephyr's hymning, loves to lie;

Where the blithe lark peals forth his joyous strain,
And echo wafts its music back again;

And there she dwelt, a loved and loving thing,
Fairest of flowers that graced the early spring

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Long years had fled-we met-the Summer's glow,
Had tinged with beauty all above,-below;
The charms of girlhood with a hallowed grace,
Sat on her form and brightened o'er her face!
On that high brow, so sweet in early youth,
Beamed the pure halo of ingenuous truth;
While on its fair expanse with mildness fraught,
Mantled the tracing of each gentle thought;
And o'er the brilliant circle, where she shone,
She threw a magic influence, all her own.

Her hair was wreathed with flowers, and many a gem,
Rich as the stars in "evenings diadem,"

Lay pillowed on her fair and gentle breast,

Which ne'er had dreamed of sorrow or unrest.

And there was one, stood by that lady's side,

Whose lightest whispering called the crimson tide,
In floods of eloquence upon her cheek,

Revealing all her lips forbore to speak:

A spell was on her spirit, and her heart

Clasped close the bonds from which 'twere death to part;
Nor thought the dream so lovely in its birth,
Might perish soon, like other things of earth.

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The Autumn came,—within a darkened room,
Curtained by grief, and shadowed o'er with gloom,
The maiden sate-her peace had passed away,
No more she hailed with joy, the waking day;
The summer flowers were faded, all, and dead,
And like their transient charms, her hopes had fled.
A blight was there; for love to her had been
But the bright mock'ry of some faëry scene,
Pictured in visions of the silent night,
Yet fading with the blush of morning light.
And there she sate, with sunken eye, and pale
As some fair lily crushed beneath the gale,
Faintly she smiled, to wile away the tear
From other's eyes, but wept when none were near.
She sighed not o'er the heart-blight of her youth,
But mourned the shoal that wrecked another's truth:
Anon, o'er her wan cheek the hectic-flush,
Stole like the smile of health's returning blush;
While yet the canker fed upon the flower,
With all-consuming, unrelenting power :
She loved to think, life's weary pageant past,
Her hopes would find a changeless shrine at last;
She knew death o'er her waved its shadowy wing,
But it had lost its chill, envenomed sting;

It brought a balm the world could never give,
"Twas bliss to die-'twas misery to live.

We met no more-within a lowly grave,
O'er which the Winter-winds all bleakly rave,
Safe from the crushings of the ruthless storm,
In deep repose, was laid that maiden-form.
From the Elysium of her peaceful sleep,
That riven one will wake no more to weep;
And the warm tears, above her sadly shed,
Fall, all-unheeded on her cold, cold bed,
She may not feel the thorns that strew our way,
For her each earthly pang is hushed for aye,
And in a world where smiles undying bliss,
The guerdon's found, that was denied in this.