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A Si J CATSKILL (N ew -Y ork ) published - by M^^QICAY CROSWELL. V o L . L M O N D A Ty January 7 , 1805. N o , T' CATSKILL FARMER. No. 2> IHE Irlfli fchoolmstnier, who had the charge of m.y education, .un til I began to read and think for my (elf, was very dilFerent from tnoft of his countrymen who follow that -profeffion among us. * He was temperate, moral and humane. He had the real good »f the flock, committed to-his charge, at heart. Nor waS he Icfe d i^n- guiflied for his fcholaftic economy. A# this ii the fesfon of the year when country fohdbis to make progrefs, I will endeavor to exhibit, a conciiTe view of his method in all its parts j -that thofe teachers who arc difpofed to keep regular fchooljS, and to benefit their employers, may have an opportunity to profit by his exam- -pie. Before he commenced his fcbool, he had all the leats and writing dei&s fo conftrufted, that every fcholar fiiould fit facing him. When he began his fchool, he arranged thq whole into clafles, and feated all the mem bers of each clafs together. Ail thofe who devoted a parr of their time to writing, were feated by writing defks; .fo that theyfhould not change their feats when they changed their excrcifes. In going through all the va-^ rious cxercifes of reading, writing, fpeiling, &c. each one remained fixed in the fame place —ftandingonly while reading. • When a clafs was reading, the whole clafs was difeded to attend; each to look over the (entencehis fellow was leading, and to keep pace With him, foexaftly, that whenever 4 ny one was called upon, he could, without one ihftant’s hefitation, read the next word. By frequehtr ly calling upon the members of the clafs, promifeuoufly, each would be pn his guard, left he fliould be caught in d ifobedience aiid, by this' mean, each member Would be indU vidually benefited, during the whole cxer-? cife of the dais, as'much as though he'alone had received the foie attention t>f the maftet during that time. By extending^ the like rufcS'tO 'ihap-' prove E fty,'or even an hundred fclioiars, as muph in the fame time as he could one fourth that number in the ordinary way. In fpel- Hng, he would call on them promifeuoufly to. fpell the word fpelt laft. And if the one called on had been attentive, he would do it; otherwife not. He always made it a rule to have no read- ing, writing, fpelling, nor any other ordin-' ary exercife attended to on IVednefday af-; ternoon,- nor Saturday in the forenoon. Thefe' times he devoted, weekly, to the purpofe of improving his fcholps in a variety of import ant fubjedls. He had a coHe£l:ion of written: queftions, which he conceived to be the belt fuited to fhdr capacities, (elected from the fciencc of Aftronomy, Natural Philofophy, Geography, Hiftory, &c, Thefe. queftioos. embraced the outlines of thofe brariches, and were couched in terms fuited to the capad- lies of his fcbolars. His method of convey ing thefo fele^ principles of fcience to th^ir tender minds was, to queftion .each in courfe, though he knew they could not anfwer.\ He would then immediately tell them the anfwer they muft give next time they were queftioned. By rep*eating thefe queftions,and anfwers to them, they would foon be able to anfv/er him. Whenever any one .gave him an anfwer which approached the true one, he would be fore to beftow ..Qh Bim the. higheft praife. This would hot only infpirq him with new ambition, but create in the whole an import ant degree o f emulation^ if any one appear ed rather ir^ttentive, he would always turn iniroediately to him and alk\ him what the laft queftion was. This method would make thofe attentive who were difpofed to be de linquent. But fubje€lsTo.intcrefting to the inquiCtive minds of children, will generally leep their feelings alive to every queftion, ii the teacher will be fo plain and ^iimple in his explanations, as to diveft every fubje^ of- all obfeuVity. Without a£bual experience, fio one would believe fuch young and tender n^inds would fo readily catch fo muchufeful iaowledge.' Bat teachers fiioUld be extreme ly cautious, that they never communicate to fuch infant minds incorrc£l principles. It nof vaft, importance, that youth Ihould be fet out right. They will themnever be To apt. *0 Itray thereafter. As we grow up, and the ^ various objects around us,. wd are Jsaturally led to inquire into their nature and ifcs. Wlulc the young maftcr and miff, fee the rain-bow, hear the thunders roll and fee the lightning flalh, fee the moop^waxapd wane, fee the fun approach and recede, ex perience the fummeris heat and tfie wiritff^. froft, rie the buds put* forth and^rixe hlofipi^s change to fruit, their curiofity anv^ ,lo know. Whence comes this, andTvhat is*\ the nature aW unfecn ’ftru£|nre of that* Wflile the mind is thus laboring aftgr the natur^ and caufes of things, how important it is, that they fliould bcafiifted in their refearches-—^that they Ihould be Jfot right.ar .fii^ ^ d 'they ' ,j order to, a^ift fhofo fchoolmafters who^ kx'^ wlUing to adopt this '^very important ex- ;rcife, t ‘ will tranferibe, from a copy I have n my pofleflion,the molt important queftions, which my teacher ufed in his fchool. This ■xtraft, together with fome. further remarks m fils manu'Er o f regulating his fchool, fhall >e the fubj.e£l o f next numWr. AGRICULUS. ■ 'From the XT, i ster G azette . THE elefUon of Prefident and Vice-i?reG- (dent is now ciofed, arid Jefferlbn and GUn- ,on are eledied with fcarcely any appearance uf oppofition, ther antagonifts having received - n^ more than fourteen votes : viz. thofe of ftneflicutJ and Delaware and two in Mary- id: Were fo dil^iofed, it .would llill be leto pretend a hope that truth and fede- rpfm will, for feveral years to come, be a- fie.to ^regain the afccndancy. The people large are enjoying !flie pleafa'nt part of the, fy ftemTbf tlie fablion in power ; and it isas impoffible to perfuade them as to con-, vince children that b that.which is fweetin the n^uthwill become bitter in the belly.” The mfft induftrious exertion therefore, of the be|b talents 4 n - the moft forcible difplay oF trdth will be of no avSil, and the remedy m i^ grow out of the excefs of the evil, when fatal experience lhall have proved that th&ucniOcratic plan \Was not a .mere cdWweE -‘fyfl»t!^j -hub whr^dTepeichfe.'** T^ie mi nority, fho’ beyond all calculation the moft refpedta'ble in talents and charadler, are borne down by caufes which will tibt ceafe to ope rate for years to come. While the mafs of the people are kept in delufion by thofe whofe continuance in office is foppofed to depend upon the duration of that ^delufion, hov/.can you hope to fucceed ? When cun ning, artifice and hypocrify arc played ofTup- on 3 people whofe credulity predifpofes them to yield a ready faith to the deception, time and experience can alone open their eyes. The miferable and fuperftitious dupes of the Popifli. church never believed more im-. plicirly in the miracle-.v/orking power of a Saint’s toe nail, than a true Jacobinical fanat-. ici in the wonderful ftories of econemy, pat- riotifm and purity, with which his leadr ers entrench themfelves in the confidence pf the ftarlng multitude. While the rights and liberties of the people are daily invaded—while the conftitution is perpetually finking under debiUtating conftru£llons, and' even attacked at the vitals by innovations in ihape of amerid- ments,. a^death-like ftupor has feized upon the members of the political body. Inftrudl- ed to beliex^e that when taxes are low, liberi- t.yisfafe, they feem to have loft fight of all the noble principles that adorn and invigor ate the republican charabler. What once was love of liberty is now become love of men- ty—and the fouls which could once glow wlthgteat and exalted fentittients have been gradually forced down into the breeches pock- t- What can we hope for in fuch times f ow could a phyfician cxpefl: the recovery of a patient in a pleurify who Would iubmit to any medical treatment except bleeding—or a farmer hope for profperity, who would fuf=- fer a valuable crop to be deftroyed by his neighbor’^ cattle rather than hire an'extra hand tp make his fence ? And what can the patriot promife himfelf, when he beholds the digni ty of the national character proftrated by the nation itfclf at.the ihrine of Mammon ? Av arice is become the ruling paffion* If has made the fycpphantic office holder the Have of the great man— it has .made the multitude the dupe of both. To one who has carefully informed him • (elf of the paffing events of the times ; wEo has feen by what means the wifeft and beft men of the nation have been, robbed of the public ccmfidence, there is but too mufhllo excite diftreft, and little tp afford folace bc- fidestWgOQfi fo entions in the foafs offtiey.|nanIx republican bofom |?urj(|foj[ wifo patfi^ pepple, whofe cridufity has been moft mif^? otic indignation unheal^ of attrocity I chievoufly knd noi lefs iWtfoUy wrought lipdn.^ i ----- —i.. riir But numbers CM. o,t fanaify criipe/and the! ho«4 i . gcklenels and ipjratititde of a whole nsitioni trifted with the.goW rJiR^ti. the patriots, f judgment ; the felf proclaimed* hiro^ of liberty afiamed K Tcius; now majfe thft A change ; My little finger, (|||l libickef than my (atlict's loias,^’ T«id llhoboj^T-Wiih them of pofterity. The * the congregation of Ifrael were delude I fiy Kqrati and Abithan, & treating their |c ii|erg r j^pf^s with the black- eft ingratitud|^^ wferc ^prepared to take away his life ; j^their unanimity been of no RordA .have.’hceii.^ex|;rj '■ did the fiediitiot law*punilh only falfe- rd ^ of* inen were cn- trjath»*was guilt- foie worfe .'avail , ....... crated: by *all thefo pofterky, aiid the favlour^ of iiis^natioii hasilFpund in the ter-ages a jufticc; which was^ denied him by ; thofe^ whom it was hiB Continuarftudy to ad-^ vance to profperity. ' Abfalom ftole the hearts of the men of Ifrael,” ond David was compelled to fly fcorH their 'fory. Yet pof terity configns the former to infamy, and’ king David is confidered fo h^ve been, a father to. hig people. The timltitudeof the Jews, who when they yfight have condemn-, ed'.Barrabas, a. imurdercr, and refeued frem an ignominious death ^ redeemer who came to fave them, and to \fhom a few days before' they had fung hofonnas,” ..have been, altho’ united in their iniguiies, condemned; Tell us not then that « thi: voice pf the people is the.voice of God.” ■ U^hat peculiardight from* heaven ha^e thcAmericans tfiat fhoulci exempt innocence and w'orth fod patriotifm from the effe^s of their paffidis, their credulity and ineonftancy ? Did norSocrates perith under the injaftice of his peluded countrymen ? And.what availed the integrity and virtue and' patriotifm of Ariftides, fo defervedly firiramed; tke JuH ? Nay haiVe n |t the chpfeh people of God.at times forfakcn him, and followed afT terilrange gods ? i-;tlui not then proudly ar rogate infallibility or hope to efcape the fen-t teuce o f; pofterity ; fo whom as well as to ourfelves it muft be kflbWn that even Wafli* ington^ our deliverer from bondage, died; fcarcely foon enoti|h: ta efcape the jjoifpned fliaft offlander-^that fiis^fotiremen from pub lic affair® was proclaimed'^&a jiiblke by .the very man,* who is noW'-palrdnized the' firft magiftrateof the nation !—that the toils, the perils and ffie hardfhips of many hoary- veterans, whofd patriotifm placed tiicm in the hotteft front of battle, have not been a- ble to fave theol from the infolent power of one who defcrtdd his-pdft, and while the reft remained took ffielter in the mountainsf— Nay more, that this man, himfelf an infidel, and the affectionate friend and patron of the moft bla(pherning drunken iofidel ofthe age,| has been placed at the head of a chriftian na tion ? ' ' When the gfoat and good of any country are bfought fow, becaufe vile and wicked men poffefs‘,and praflice ihe-art of enfiaming and leading the impetuous multitude where- ever they ple'afe, all hiftory proclaims foat country to be pn its courfe to the moft terri ble deftihy. Tor fuch is the country where fadls fliali be laughed' to fcorn—where prin ciples fiiall Hibige 'with the times, and fhe'^ canning hypocrite govern the ignorant head long populacfe- The laft four years are moft lamentably replete with proofs, that America has little to boll. There'was a time, when the government was inceftantly execrated.for the high fahries pf its officers. You remember it well. The government is fallen-into other hands, the Sa laries afe not leffened ; yet all is well 1 Therd'was a.time, when embalpfies to for eign courts were condemned as both expeii- fivs and ufelcfs: The government is fallen into puref Hands; the pra^icc is continued; but all well I There wa^ a time, when a few removals of political opponents from officci though upon good grounds, were founded abroad by the toefin of jacobinifmi as daring invafions of the liberty of opinion, and as afts which none but tyrants could commit. The admi- niftration is Changed. Scarcely an officer but ha$ been removed for his principles; yet o»r vigilant watchmen cry, all is well I There was a time, when congrefs paffed a law to reltrain men from publifhing falffioods concerning Ihe government. I fliaU never forget it. How many a patriot’s brow was dark with dcfpair for the liberty pf the prefs —Nay how groaiicd'that prefs itCelf with the magnitude of its danger, and how 'was every * WilUaM \Duane 'nn Irtjh alien pttnUr of the Aurora, *, f IThomai JoJferfon iheprrfdtnt I Themaf paint, - There was a ffuattces ;^o- elafoied a i-arge norSip. of*the Tcrcftue uni^- ceffdry antk even eltravagant. Then it way that tjie Cd'iches, me ;phaetonB,.. and other s carriages q( tfie ri<|b ' theiv luxuries were lexcmpted from-,t«xationV .Then if was that t l i !whL 4 ey d^inkerifoothed hia rehcDious fpiri/,' for nov/^ . nof\fax could reach him. Threel years are fcarpely.palfcd, and an additional fox is lai4oh|'^t» common teas, fugars, &c, prod«cip,g or great er revenue, than that fohich ^yas'abolifhcd; yet aiUswell! • ' .,4 . . There was a time, when Tltpmas Jei^Tfou difapproved of the federal cquftitutioiij be capfe it did not difable, foe prefident. frotp be ing twice eligible. Yet is Thomas Jefferfon for the, feepnd time cledted, pT his pwu free will and acqordj^, no doubt;*, * JCet Thomas cries, all is well.! I There .was a time, when Thomas, Me. K ean,. then chief juftice pf j*cnnfylyania, earneftly charged a grand jury to fodidl a cer tain printer for his libellous publications;, and M’Kean; was eledled governor of that republican ftate. .Samuel Ghafe, a federal judge of’the federal court, is faid to have dppa. the fame thfog,- and is now impeached for- it by the Houfc of Reprefentatives as for a high crime and mifo^tneanour. Yet all is well, I The judges of Pennfylyania are impeached#. and their trial wilf commence on« the feventh of January, for pup'iflimg,,?. printer for pub-, Xiihfog fo.mfithingc©nc«riamg-a trial,--depends fog before them ; The Judgea of New-^York# by the motion of their tfien attorney-gener al, and at the folicitation o£ their then chief juftice, did prccifely th4 fame thing -here. Yet is the attorney general made a judge, and the chief juftice elected governor. But all is well ! There was a time when ; it was ariftocracy in the legiflature to appoint the eledfors of prefident and vicc-preiident. To choofe them was the right of the people. Repub licans obtained the afcendeijcy, and this right of the people is ftill withheld. Yet their guardian watchmen ftill fing out, all is well! There was a rime wheii the juftices’ court of New-York was. af gfeivous evil. Altho’ the reformers were doathed with power, it ftill continuerf. Yet .all is well 1 \ ' There was a time. When too many flioes were maaufadured in the ftate-prifon. The friends of the . ftiocmakets came into power, but-no reftri^lion is made. Yet- all is well ’ There was a time, wh^n the governor of the ftate and four fenators confidered duel ling fo great a crime, morally, rcligioufiy and politically, that they confented to render ev ery man who^o?^/^ be engaged even as a mere fecond in a duel, by law incapable of hold ing any kind of office. So.deteftabic was this crime in .their fight! Yet. there was a time, and that hot long afterwards, that they apr pointed a man, who had but recently founght a duel, to the mayoralty of New-York ? Who will deny the praife qf confifteiicy to our ru lers ? Truly all is well 1 , There was a time,, when the government was curfed belaufc toVies had been appointed to office. The fpirit, of. ’y6 prevailed and Jeffcrfon became prefident* He appointed Tench Coxe who pilotted. the Britifo army into Philadelphia, to an office in the trrafury worth 3000 dollars pet' annum. Stephens, who deferted to the Britifli during the .war, he made a judge of the federal court; cutn mullis aliis. The times arc very drowfy; and honeft men much more fo. Paft twelve.. o’clock, all is well! There was a time, when the officers of-the federal government were as openly and im pudently charged with robbing the treafury of millions and millions, as if one word o f the accufation had been true; and many is the hondl fimplctort who believed every word of it. The. deteffors of thefe preten ded robberies came iifto power, and nor a good'democrat W.t i^xidtedrin foe hope that 2 ^ ~- ' V ■ *»v ■“*fIf 5 ' • - - * ' i S' 4.1
