I have seen the regulation of
one seminary of learning, here called an academy. Of these places
of education, there is a prodigious number in London, though,
notwithstanding their pompous names, they are in reality nothing
more than small schools set up by private persons, for children and
young people.
One of the Englishmen who were my travelling companions, made me
acquainted with a Dr. G - who lives near P - , and keeps an academy
for the education of twelve young people, which number is here, as
well as at our Mr. Kumpe's, never exceeded, and the same plan has
been adopted and followed by many others, both here and elsewhere.
At the entrance I perceived over the door of the house a large
board, and written on it, Dr. G - 's Academy. Dr. G - received me
with great courtesy as a foreigner, and shewed me his school-room,
which was furnished just in the same manner as the classes in our
public schools are, with benches and a professor's chair or pulpit.
The usher at Dr. G - 's is a young clergyman, who, seated also in a
chair or desk, instructs the boys in the Greek and Latin grammars.
Such an under-teacher is called an usher, and by what I can learn,
is commonly a tormented being, exactly answering the exquisite
description given of him in the "Vicar of Wakefield." We went in
during the hours of attendance, and he was just hearing the boys
decline their Latin, which he did in the old jog-trot way; and I own
it had an odd sound to my ears, when instead of pronouncing, for
example viri veeree I heard them say viri, of the man, exactly
according to the English pronunciation, and viro, to the man. The
case was just the same afterwards with the Greek.
Mr. G - invited us to dinner, when I became acquainted with his
wife, a very genteel young woman, whose behaviour to the children
was such that she might be said to contribute more to their
education than any one else. The children drank nothing but water.
For every boarder Dr. G - receives yearly no more than thirty pounds
sterling, which however, he complained of as being too little. From
forty to fifty pounds is the most that is generally paid in these
academies.
I told him of our improvements in the manner of education, and also
spoke to him of the apparent great worth of character of his usher.
He listened very attentively, but seemed to have thought little
himself on this subject. Before and after dinner the Lord's Prayer
was repeated in French, which is done in several places, as if they
were eager not to waste without some improvement, even this
opportunity also, to practise the French, and thus at once
accomplish two points. I afterwards told him my opinion of this
species of prayer, which however, he did not take amiss.
After dinner the boys had leave to play in a very small yard, which
in most schools or academies, in the city of London, is the ne plus
ultra of their playground in their hours of recreation. But Mr. G -
has another garden at the end of the town, where he sometimes takes
them to walk.
After dinner Mr. G - himself instructed the children in writing,
arithmetic, and French, all which seemed to be well taught here,
especially writing, in which the young people in England far
surpass, I believe, all others. This may perhaps be owing to their
having occasion to learn only one sort of letters. As the midsummer
holidays were now approaching (at which time the children in all the
academies go home for four weeks), everyone was obliged with the
utmost care to copy a written model, in order to show it to their
parents, because this article is most particularly examined, as
everybody can tell what is or is not good writing. The boys knew
all the rules of syntax by heart.
All these academies are in general called boarding-schools. Some
few retain the old name of schools only, though it is possible that
in real merit they may excel the so much-boasted of academies.
It is in general the clergy, who have small incomes, who set up
these schools both in town and country, and grown up people who are
foreigners, are also admitted here to learn the English language.
Mr. G - charged for board, lodging, and instruction in the English,
two guineas a-week. He however, who is desirous of perfecting
himself in the English, will do better to go some distance into the
country, and board himself with any clergyman who takes scholars,
where he will hear nothing but English spoken, and may at every
opportunity be taught both by young and old.
There are in England, besides the two universities, but few great
schools or colleges. In London, there are only St. Paul's and
Westminster schools; the rest are almost all private institutions,
in which there reigns a kind of family education, which is certainly
the most natural, if properly conducted. Some few grammar schools,
or Latin schools, are notwithstanding here and there to be met with,
where the master receives a fixed salary, besides the ordinary
profits of the school paid by the scholars.
You see in the streets of London, great and little boys running
about in long blue coats, which, like robes, reach quite down to the
feet, and little white bands, such as the clergy wear. These belong
to a charitable institution, or school, which hears the name of the
Blue Coat School. The singing of the choristers in the streets, so
usual with us, is not at all customary here. Indeed, there is in
England, or at least in London, such a constant walking, riding, and
driving up and down in the streets, that it would not be very
practicable. Parents here in general, nay even those of the lowest
classes, seem to be kind and indulgent to their children, and do
not, like our common people, break their spirits too much by blows
and sharp language.
