I. Harvard College Library, (illustrated).... II. The School Sytsem in the principal German States...... 34 III. PAPERS ON PRACTICAL EDUCATION.-1. Modes of Examining Scholars. 2. Tone of Examination. 3. The true dignity of the teachers's profession....

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The present library of Harvard College dates its origin from the destruction. of Harvard Hall, with its valuable contents,* by fire, on the night of the 24th of January, in the year 1764. The General Court, which in consequence of the prevalence of the small-pox in Boston, was then sitting in Cambridge, and occupying the room appropriated to the library, immediately voted to erect a new building; and Harvard Hall was in a short time fully replaced by another edifice of the same name. A corresponding zeal was manifested by other friends of the institution, to furnish the new hall with a library and philosophical apparatus. The General Court of New Hampshire, which at that time had no college of its

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Canada.

HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY,

MASSACHUSETTS.

No. 6.

In resuming the illustrations of foreign libraries and museums, we select as the first of this second, or American series, the Library of Harvard College, as being one of the oldest, largest, and most valuable public libraries in the New World. The University of Harvard College was founded in 1638, by a grant of £400 sterling (afterwards increased to £1,200) from the Rev. John Harvard, an Englishman. From this circumstance the infant institution was called Harvard College, and the name of the town was changed from Newton to Cambridge, the name of the famous seat of learning in England.

own to provide for, granted, at the instance of Governor Wentworth, £300 sterling towards restoring the library. "The Society for Propagating the Gospel in New England and parts adjacent," gave the same sum, and "The Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts," £100 sterling; Thomas Hollis, Esq., of London, redoubled his generous efforts to assist the College in its distress; other public spirited and enlightened individuals came forward with their contributions upon the occasion; so that a very few years supplied the loss of what had been the accumulation of more than a century. The library increased so rapidly, that in 1790, it consisted of about twelve thousand volumes.

Harvard College Library is almost entirely the fruit of individual munificence. Its records exhibit a long list of donors, whose names are indissolubly associated with the establishment. The first and most generous is that of Thomas Hollis. Next to that of the Founder of the University, his

name stands pre-eminent for its claims to a grateful recollection Comprehensive benevolence seems to have been a distinguishing trait of character in the family of Hollis, Several individuals of that family were benefactors of Harvard College. Two of them displayed a most remarkable degree of generosity. The first was the excel'ent Thomas Hollis, who founded two professorships, one of theology, and one of mathematics and natural philosophy, and, besides various other benefactions, contributed largely to the library and philosophical apparatus which were afterwards burnt. His death took place in 1731. He was great uncle to our other distinguished friend, who bore his name, and inherited his estate and his virtues.

Two large quarto volumes, compiled by Archdeacon Blackburne, are devoted to an exhibition of the latter Thomas Hollis's "deeds of peace." In one of the tributes to the memory of this extraordinary man, which appeared soon after his decease, and which are preserved in those volumes, it was justly observed, "that in his death Liberty lost her champion, Humanity her treasurer, and Charity her steward. To benefit mankind was, indeed, the great business of his life; and possessing a fortune which happily seconded his generous nature, he applied himself to the execution of his disinterested purposes, with all the zeal and diligence of the most ardent votary of wealth or of power. One of his principal employments was to collect the most valuable books in the various branches of learning, especially such as were intimately connected with the highest interests of man, and to forward them, as presents, to those places where they were most wanted. This University partook largely of his bounty. It was, indeed, a favorite olject of his regard. Immediately after the fire above-mentioned, he subscribed two hundred pounds sterling towards replacing the philosophical apparatus, but, with a just appreciation of the importance of a good library, his chief care was to furnish books. He began to send them as early, probably, as 1758, and continued to do it till within three or four years of his death, which took place in 1774. It appears, therefore, that some of the books presented by him were destroyed with the old library; the greater part, however, having been transmitted subsequently to that event, still remain, and in all respects abundantly verify the accounts which have been given of his great care and judgment in selecting and procuring

them.

In the new Ilarvard Hall, erected immediately on the site of the old one, the public library was kept till July, 1841, when the books were removed to Gore Hall, a spacious and imposing edifice built for its exclusive accommodation, by means of funds bequeathed to the Co lege by the Hon. Christopher Gore.

Gore Hall presents a pure and chaste specimen of the Gothic style of the fourteenth century; but the hard Sienite, or Quincy Granite, used in its construction, made it necessary to omit the claborate ornaments with which this style is usually wrought. It is in the form of a Latin cross; the length of the body being 140 feet, and across the tran-ep's 813 feet. The main entrances are flanked by octagonal towers, 83 feet high, surmounted by lofty mitred pinnacles, somewhat like those of King's College Chapel, at Cambridge, England. The outer walls are of rough stone, laid in regular courses, with hammered stone buttresses, towers, pinnacles, and drip-stones. The inner walls and columns are of brick stuccoed. The main floor is also of

brick, resting on brick arches, tilled above to a level, and covered with hard pine boards. The roof and gallery are supported by wrought iron rafters and the partitions are strengthened by concealed iron columns. The interior of the body of the building forms a beautiful hall, 112 feet long, and 35 feet high, with a vaulted and ribbed ceil ing, springing from two ranges of ribbed columns. The spaces between the columns are divided by partitions in'o s'alls or alcoves for books, having a light gallery above, protected by an ornamented iron balustrade. One of the transepts is used as a reading room, the other is divided into three apartments for books. This hall, in the construction of which great caution was used to guard against injury by fire, is heated by steam. This is conveyed from a boiler in the basement, through iron pipes to four stacks of perpendicu.ar copper pipes, araanged like screens at the sides of the central area. An ingenious self acting contrivance regulates the draft, so as to check or increase the generation of the steam.

The Public Library of the University, for which alone, as before stated, this hall is designed (the Libraries of the Theological, Medical, Law, and Scientific Schools, being kept in separate buildings), contains books in all branches of learning. These are arranged accord ing to subjects into the four grand divisions of Literature, History, Theology and Science, with numerous subdivisions. The first classification of the books was made in 1822, by Joseph G. Cogswell, Esq., now the accomplished librarian of the Astor Library; and it has been continued ever since, upon essentially the same plan.

The division of Theology contains the four great Polyglots, the Comp'utensian, Antwerp, French and English; a very valuable cullection of the writings of the Fathers of the Church; a complete ap'paratus for the critical study of the scriptures and ecclesiastical history,

and a body of the miscellaneous writings of all the best modern divines. The scientific division is rich in works on the exact and natural sciences; and the library is well supplied in the departments of philosophy, ethics, ancient and modern literature, history, topography and antiquities Voluminous and expensive works which are rarely met with, except in large public libraries, here have their place. No where else in the United States will be found so large a collection of the Journals and Reports of the English Parliament; and the department of American History is unrivalled, at least in this country. The collection of maps, the titles of which alone fill a printed volume of 224 pages, is believed to be altogether unique. The library contains also, a few valuable and interesting manuscripts; one of which, a fragu ent of the Gospels of Matthew and John, in the Greck uncial character on parchment, is more than one thousand years old, and is doubtless the only specimen of this kind and age on this continent. The University Library is divided into four departments, viz.— Theological, Medical, Law and Public; which last, besides books in all other departments of learning, embraces also an extensive collection of works on Theology, Medicine, and Law.

The Theological Library is in Divinity Hall. Persons entitled to its privileges must be connected with the Divinity School. Number of books about 4,500. They consist of valuable select works, principally in modern Theology, with some of the early Fathers. Means have been recently devised to add to the Library valuable modern works in Theology and Morals, as they are published.

The Medical Library is in the Medi al College, in Boston. It is placed there for the convenience of students attending the Medical Lectures. The number of books is about 1,600. It contains all the elementary works which are the most important and the most used by students. Besides these, it has the writings of the early Greek and Latin Medical Fathers, and the works of the later medical classics; and, with the latter, it contains numerous valuable modern works.

The Law Library is in Dane Hall. It is designed for the officers and students of the Law School. Number of books about 14,000. It contains most of the valuable works in English and American Law, and in the Civil Law, together with a variety of others by writers of France, Germany, and Spain.

The Public or College Library is in Gore Hall. It is for the common use of the whole University, in this respect differing from the other branches of the Univers ty Library. The total number of books is about 68,150; of which 1,000 belong to the Boylston Medical Library, in immediate connection with it. The total number of bocks in the Libraries of the University is, then, as follows:Public Library Medical Law

Theological Library.

Society Libraries of the Students

about 68,150

1,600

14,000 66 4,500

Total........ .about 101,250

Extracts from the Laws relating to the Library.

1. In term time the Library shall be open on the first four secular days of the week, from 9 A. M. till 1 P. M., and from 2 till 4 P. M.; and on Fridays, from 9 A. M. till I P. M.; excepting the first Friday of each term, Christmas day, the days of public Fast and Thanksgiv ing, and the Fridays following them, the fourth of July, and the days of public Exhibitions and the Dudleian Lecture, during the exercises. 2. In the vacations, the Library shall be open every Monday, from 9 in the morning till 1 P. M.

3. All persons, who wish to have access to the Library, or to bring their friends to see i, are expected to make their visits on the cays and within the hours above named.

4. All persons, while in the Library, are to remain uncovered, and to refrain from loud conversation, and from other improprieties of speech and dej ortment.

5. No person, except the Librarian and Assistants, shall go into any of the alcoves of the General Library, or take any book from the shelves therein, except under such special regulations as may hereafter be established.

6. No person shall ordinarily be allowed to borrow from the Library more than three volumes at the same time. If any Resident Graduate or Professional Student represent to the Librarian that he is engaged in the study of some particular subject, on account of which he has occasion for more books, the Librarian may, at his discretion, permit him to have an additional number. If, also, any Undergraduate should need additional books in preparing for a public exhibition or for an exercise on Commencement day, the Librarian may permit him to have them, on the usual terms.

7. No student shall keep any book belonging to the Library more than six weeks; nor any o.h.r person, more than three months.

8. No book shall be borrowed from the Library, or returned to it, without the knowledge and presence of the Librarian or his Assistant, who shall take particular notice of the state of each book when delivered out, and when returned. The Librarian shall keep a fair and regular account of the books borrowed and returned, under the name of each person, with the date when each book is borrowed, and a note of its place in the Library; which account shall be signed by the borrower, if present; otherwise the book may be delivered to his writ. ten application. And it shall be the duty of every person to return the books he may have borrrwed to the Librarian or to the Assistant, and to see the same regularly discharged from his account.

9. Persons sending for books are required to make, sign, and date a written order for them, and to insert therein the name of the author and the words of the title of each book, as given in the printed catalogue. 10. If any student take a book or books from the Library without the knowledge and consent of the Librarian or the Assistant, or if he voluntarily mutilate any volume, he shall be liable to the penalty of dismission or expulsion from the University; and if any other person, having a right to use the Library, shall in like manner transgress the rules, he shall be suspended from the exercise of that right, during the pleasure of the Corporation.

11. If any person desires to borrow a book which is lent out of the Library, he may leave his name and the title of the book with the Librarian; and, when the book shall be returned, the Librarian shall reserve it for the person so applying, provided the latter call for it within a week, or, if he be an Undergraduate, at his next time of receiving books from the Library.

12. No person shall lend to any other a book which he has borrowed from the Library, nor let it go from under his personal custody.

13. No student shall carry a book_belonging to the Library out of town, without special leave from the President.

14. No person shall write or mark in a book belonging to the Library, except the Librarian, or the President, or some person authoriz ed to do so by them.

15. When there are two or more copies of the same book, the least elegant or rare shall be lent first; and the Librarian shall use his discretion in regard to the lending of rare or costly works, which are not otherwise restricted

16. In term time, each member of the Senior and Junior Classes may borrow from the Library, of such books as are selected for their use, not more than three volumes at a time, twice a week; and ech student of the Sophomore and Freshman classes, not more than two volumes, once a week. They may also borrow books from the general Library, on application to the Librarian, and with the same restrictions.

17. The members of the Theological, Law, and Scientific Schools, and the Resident Graduates, may borrow three volumes at a time, four times a week, in term time, on such days, and during such hours, as the Librarian, with the advice and consent of the President, shall appoint.

18. The Underdraduates may apply for books and receive them in term time, in the following order:

19. The Senior and Junior Sophisters, on Mondays and Thursdays; the Sophomores, on Tuesdays; and the Freshman, on Wednesdays;during such hours as the Librarian, with the advice and consent of the Faculty, shall direct.

20. The times for returning books, by the members of the Theological Law, and Scientific Schools, by Resident Graduates, and by Undergraduates, shall be the same as those appointed for borrowing them.

21. In the vacations, books may be borrowed and returned every Monday forenoon, by those students who have obtained a certificate of leave to remain in Compridge during the vacation; as, also, by other persons than students who have a right to the use of the Library. 22. Every student, before leaving Colledge for an expected absence of more than one week, shall return the books he may have from the Library.

23. All books borrowed by the student shall be returned on or before the Thursday immediately preceding the winter vacation.

24. Every person, without exception, having books for the Library, shall return them, as soon, at the latest, as the fourth Wednesday before Commencement; and all the books shall be retained in the Library, from and after said day, for the annual examination, till the end of the term.

25. If any student shall fail to return all the books he has borrowed from the Library, within the times specified in the three foregoing sections, he shall be subject to a fine of twenty-five cents per day for every volume unreturned.

26. If any student shall fail to comply with the other laws regalating the borrowing and returning of books, and the leading, or carying them out of town, such student shall be reported to the President,

and he shall be liable to the suspension of his privilege in the Library, or to some other penalty, at the discretion of the President.

27. If any person, other than a student, shall keep a book belong. ing to the Library more than three months, without renewing the saine, he will be subject to a fine of one dollar per week for every volume unreturned, after notice left at his usual place of residence or duly given by mail or otherwise; and if he fail to return all the books he has borrowed from the Library, agreeably to the provisions made for the return of books for the annual examination, he shall be liable to a fine of twenty-five cents per day for every volume unreturned, and to a suspension of his privilege until the same be paid.

28. If any book borrowed from the Library be injured or defaced, by writing in it or otherwise, or be lost, the Librarian shall make im· mediate report of it to the President. And if the borrower be a stu dent in either of of the Schools, a Resident Graduate, or an Undergraduate, he shall either replace it immediately with one of equal value, or be charged with the cost of it in his term bill; and if such volume be a part of a set, the borrower shall be obliged to replace or pay for the whole set, or be charged as above; and, until this be done, he shall not be allowed to borrow any other book. If any other person shall injure, deface, or lose a book borrowed from the Library he shall make it good.

29. No student shall be admitted to the first degree, nor any res ident Bachelor to a second degree, till he has produced to the Presid ent a certificate from the Librarian, that he has returned in good order, or replaced, every book that he has borrowed; or, in default thereof, has deposited with the Librarian double the value of it in money, or, if it be a part of a set, double the value of the whole set. And no student shall be permitted to take up his bond, or shall be discharged from his responsibilities by the Steward, till he has obtained from the Librarian, and exhibited to the Steward, a certificate as above described.

THE BRITISH POSTMASTER GENERAL'S REPORT. The second report of the Postmaster General has just been issued. From it we gather that 525 new post offices were appointed last year, and that the number now in the United Kingdnm is 10,498. Farther progress during the year has been made in revising the postal arrangements of the rural districts. The pillar letter boxes have been found to arswer, and their number is to be greatly increased, especially in London. During the past year free deliveries of letters have becn extended to 1,327 places, and at 649 other places the free delivery has been extended or improved. Arrangements are making for completing the first delivery of letters thronghout London by 9 A. M. A plan has been devised also to secure a more speedy transmission of letters letters posted in the London districts to St. Martin's-le-Grand, they between one part of London and another. Instead of sending all and will be thence distributed. will be sent to a principal office in the district in which they are posted, Hourly deliveries of letters will then take place throughout London.

In order to effect an earlier delivery of General Post letters in the metropolis, the London letters will be sorted into districts in the large scheme will be greatly facilitated if the Metropolitan Board of Works provincial post offices, and in the travelling railway post offices. This get rid of duplicate names of streets in the same district, and also if the public can be brought to add the initial letter of the name of the district to the address. The London districts will be named according to their position-East, West, South, North, South-east, South west, &c. During the the last twelve months 69 additional towns have been accommodated with day mails to and from London.-The communication between the West of England, South Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, the North of England and London, has been accelerated. A conditional assent has been obtained from the London and Northwestern, Lancaster and Carlisle, and Caledonian Railway Companies, to limit the number of carriages on mail trains, so that such trains may keep time with greater punctuality.

The North British Railway Company has agreed with the post office proposal of mutual penalties if time is not kept with the mails, either by the post office detaining trains, or the trains not keeping their ccntract time. The postal communication has been facilitated between the North of Ireland and the coal trade in those districts. The mail communication with the Isle of Man has been improved, and a tri-weekly steam packet communication is to be established with the Orkney Islands. Owing to the later departure of the day mail to France from London, letters by the day mails from Scotland, Ireland, and the North and South-west parts of England, arrive in London in time to be despatched to France by the French day mail, instead of by the following night mail. The people of London can also reply to their French correspondence shortly after they receive it. Important arrangements are making for improving the postal communication between the South-west of Ireland and England.

The number of miles per day which mails are now conveyed on railways is 27,109, at an average charge of 10 per mile. The number

of miles per day which mails are conveyed by coaches is 31,667, at an average charge of 24 per mile. The total payments to railway companies in 1854 exceeded by £83,000 the 5 per cent. passenger tax for the same period. With reference to the complaint of the railway companies that the post office has injured their parcels traffic, the post master general states that the number of book packets passing through the post office is about 3,000,000, while the number of newspapers passing through the post has recently decreased by 25,000,000, and that the weight of the mails now are considerably less than they were. What the companies have lost by the book post has been amply compensated by an increased newspaper traffic. During the last year 456,000,000 chargeable letters passed through the post. The number of valentines is estimated at 800,000 annually. Valentines increase in England and Scotland and decrease in Ireland. Last year 300,000 letters were received from Australia, 150,000 from the East Indies, 70,000 from Canada, 340,000 from France and 340,000 from Prussia. There was a decrease of letters from the United States. During 1855 nearly 2,000,000 of letters passed between the people of this country and the British army and navy in the East. in that year also 2,400,000 letters and 600,000 newspapers were received at the Dead Letter Office, 350,000 letters were sent last year to the colony of Victoria, and 42,000 of them were returned to the Dead Letter Office. Of this latter number 40,000 had been pre-paid and 1,500 had even been registered. This shows the migratory and unsettled habits of the population there. Out of 2,000,000 letters sent to the United States last year, 103,000 were returned to the English Dead Letter Office; the chief portion of the latter consisted of unpaid letters. Out of 2,300,000 letters sent to France, 37,000, two-thirds of which were unpaid, were returned to the Dead Letter Office.

About 200,000 newspapers pass daily through the Post-office of the United Kingdom. During the last six months of 1855, £93,000 was received by the Inland Revenue Department for impressed newspaper stamps, and £25,000 for postage labels for newspapers. The number of book packets which pass through the London Post Office is 1,400,000 a-year. Half of the letters of the whole Kingdom pass through the London Office. The number of money orders issued last year throughout the United Kingdom was 5,807,412. The amount of money represented was £11,909,279 12s. 2d. The number of orders paid was 5.801,289, the amount of which was £11,002,377 4s. 5d. The profit arising from money order commissions, after all expenses were paid, amounted to £20,252. During eight weeks only, £13,000 was sent to England from the army in the East through the money order office. Arrangements are making for enabling sailors on foreign service to send home money by means of money orders. A uniform rate of 6d. is now charged on letters to all the colonies except Ascension Island, Cape of Good Hope, Falkland Islands, Gambia, Labaun, Mauritius, Natal, New Zealand, Vancouver's Island, and Western Australia.

The privileges of the book post have been extended to all the colonies except Victoria, Tasmania, Natal, Falkland Islands, Gambia, Labaun, Turk's Island, and Vancouver's Island. The sea postage on letters between two British colonies, or a British colony and a foreign port, has been reduced in almost all instances to 4d. The reduction made in the postage between England and France has caused a fourfold increase in the number of letters passing between the two countries. New postal conventions are in progress between this country and Belgium, the German Postal Union, and Spain. These conventions have for their object the reduction and simplification of postal rates. A proposal has been made to Portugal with a view to reduce the postage to Madeira. The number of employees in the post-office department at present is 22,547. The system of appointment and promotion recommended by the Treasury commissioner has operated beneficially. The officials who have complained of the arrangements thus adopted have been generally persons who under the present plan of appointment would never have been in the Post-office. Some of them have resigned because they have lost all hope of obtaining preferment except by means of merit.

The general effect of the new system has been increased energy and efficiency among the employées. All the superior officers speak well of the new system. The arrangements for allowing provincial postmasters to appoint their own clerks having worked well, the postmasters of large towns will shortly be allowed to appoint their own letter-carriers. Letter-carriers in several large provincial towns have been dressed in uniform, which has been found to promote their general comfort, and to prevent their loitering and neglect of duty. No subordinate is allowed to make an application for increase of salary, except through his superior oflicer. This has been done to prevent undeserving persons getting an advance of salary by means of extraneous influence.

The Postmaster General proposes that model lodging houses should be erected near the General Post-office for the London letter carriers; that the houses should be erected by a public company, and that the

Post-office Department should guarantee the rents. £1,314 19s. was expended last year to assist the Post-office officials in insuring their lives. The Post-office revenue last year was £2,717,000, and the expenditure £1,591,000. Out of this latter sum, £813,000 was paid, for salaries and pensions, £101,000 for the conveyance of mails by railways, and £32,000 for the manufacture of stamps. A Postal Guide is about shortly to be published by the Post-office Department for the use of the public. This guide will include a table of the postal rates on letters sent to the colonies and foreign countries. There will be a periodical issue of a revised edition of this guide.

The clocks at St. Martin's-le-Grand and at the post office, Lombard street, will shortly be regulated by means of telegraphic communica tion with the Observatory of Greenwich. Between 7,000 and 8,000 letters were posted last year without any address, and a letter was posted in Ireland, containing a considerable sum of money, which letter was open at both ends, like a book or newspaper. The Postn.aster General says that the safest way to fasten a letter is first to wafer it, and then to seal it with wax. The appendix to the Postmaster-General's report contains ome interesting and important documents, among these is a short historical summary of the Post office in Scotland. In 1678 a coach drawn by six horses commenced running between Edinburgh and Glasgow, a distance of 44 miles, and performed the journey to Glasgow and back in six days. In 1698 a person had the whole revenue of the Post-office of Scotland and £300 a year beside, for keeping up the post in Scotland, and found it unprofitable.

In 1715 there was not a single horse post in Scotland. In 1716 horse posts were established between Edinburgh and Inverness, to carry despatches to and from the army in the Highlands, under General Cadogan. In 1730 the whole postal revenue of Scotland was £1,194. In 1750 mails began to be conveyed from stage to stage by relays of horses and postboys. In 1757 the mail was conveyed from Edinburgh to London in 131 hours. Oftentimes the letters which left London on Tuesday were distributed at Edinburgh on the Sunday following between sermons. In 1776 the modern stage coach was introduced into Scotland, and performed the journey from Edinburgh to London in 60 hours. In that year a coffee shop keeper established a pennypost in Edinburgh, and kept four postmen dressed in uniform to deliver the letters. He was soon pensioned by the Government and his business taken from him. In 1788 a direct mail was sent from London to Glasgow.

In 1821 the post office at Edinburgh was conducted in an apartment

30 feet square, and kept as dark as possible, for the purpose of employing strong artificial light to examine whether letters contained enclosures or not. In 1566 Archbishop Parker submitted a form of prayer to Sir William Cecil. This form of prayer was sent in a despatch from Croydon at 4 P. M., July 22; it reached Waltham Cross, a distance of 26 miles, at 9 P. M., on the 23d; three hours afterward it reached Ware, 8 miles further; and 8 hours afterward, it reached Sir W. Cecil, at Croxton, a further distance of 29 miles. It archbishop's letter is proved by the endorsements of the postmasters thus took 40 hours to travel 63 miles. The time of conveyance of the of Waltham Cross, Ware and Croxton. The appendix to the PostMaster General's report recounts some curious cases of unfounded complaints against the post office.

Last year a young lady, 15 years of age, was at school some distance from her parents. Her mother was ill, and the daughter received letters from time to time announcing the state of her mother's health. The lady declared she wrote to inquire about her mother's health, and that two days afterward a brown paper parcel, addressed to her, was She added that she had met a man galloping on horseback while she placed in a very mysterious manner in the hall of the school house. was out walking. He stopped and told her that he had left a parcel at the school announcing her mother's death. The parcel did contain a letter announcing the death of the mother.

Two days after this a letter was posted by the young lady's family, stating that the mother was better, but when the envelope was opened a letter was produced requiring the young lady's presence home greatest interest, and it was believed that an abduction of the young immediately, to attend her mother's funeral. This case excited the lady was designed, and that the conspiritors who designed it were assisted by some one in the post office department. Several officials attempted to unravel the mystery, but could not succeed. At length Mr. Hodgson, a post office official, skilled in such investigations, proceeded to the school. He pronounced it a plot of the artful school girl to get to her home. Some time afterwards the girl confessed that this was the fact.-London Daily News, April 2d.

THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE PRINCIPAL GERMAN STATES. The following account is condensed from a report on the external affairs of the primary schools and schoolmasters of Germany, which appeared in the Pædagogischer Jahresbericht for 1853:

The outcry for the emancipation of the School from the Church,