any board or committee for the purpose? No! But there ought to be one. And what sort of a tale, think you, would that unfold? It would unfold such a tale as perchance might raise the furious indignation of the zealot and bigot, but must excite compassion and sympathy in the breast of the true Christian, and, man of humanity. The tale of prostitu: tion is generally this, that some licentious gentleman rake seduced the beautiful young girl, then he deserted her, her friends became ashamed of her and turned their backs; thus she lost her chaOracter, and thus she was thrown upon the wide world less merciless than they. Good God! One would think that, if any scene of human misfortune was calculated to excite every emotion of pity and sympathy in the human breast, it would be that where one of the more amiable and weaker sex was thus betrayed by the villany of man, to experience the sudden loss of all the endearments of social life for ever! I am convinced that the loss of character, induced by one imprudent step, presents the most insuperable bar to a reinstatement in respectable and friendly association. And so long as this merciless maxim remains prevalent as it does, the unfor tunate female is necessitated to associate with such as are alike deserted, and perhaps more abandoned than herself. This hard-hearted maxim is maintained with the greatest severity amongst those who are accounted religious people; they are more implacable and inexorable than others, as if they thought they were serving God by executing his vengeance, and forgetting his mercy. How opposite to the gracious example of the Sa viour of mankind; who, in a case of far more inveterate guilt, mildly pronounced, "Woman, go, and sin no more." But, let blind and furious bigots act as they will, the signal benefits resulting from a different conduct, in the exercise of friendship and kindness towards such objects, are too manifest to leave a doubt of their rectitude. Numerous are the instances in which, by the kind interference of benevolent and compassionate individuals, such unfortunate young women have been restored to their friends and to a respectable course of life: in other cases, where a strong persuasion has existed, that the parties loathed their habits, (and this is generally the case,) and were desirous of conducting them selves with propriety, a character founded on former acquaintance has been given A fine of 1001. or imprisonment for 3 months, would be a salutary preventive, them to obtain places of servitude, which they have been so far from disgracing, that they have turned out well ever after. That maxim of the ancients, "Nemo repente fuit turpissimus,” no one becomes suddenly very wicked; is very applicable to their case, and should excite early assistance, before a continuance in bad habits has increasingly vitiated the mind. But what language can describe the innate pleasure resulting from such soulsaving and health-saving endeavours; and, were they more general, the pursuit of prostitution would be wonderfully di minished, far beyond what can be ef fected by the Magdalen or the Penitentiary House, whose capabilities go a very little way. The plan suggested would constitute an universal Penitentiary School, in which every one might be as sisting; to which no limits could be fixed, and proportioned to the extent of the calamity. SCRUTATOR. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. A SIR, POLICE Justice, who acquired notoriety by the publication of some strange miscalculations relative to the metropolis, has actually over-calcu-lated himself in a new work on the Fi nances and Resources of the British Einpire. For example, he sets down the popu¬ lation at 61 millions, though it is notoriously but 18 millions, part of whose strength is wasted in keeping in subjection many millions of Hindoos, Negroes, Ilottentots, &c. &c. He estimates the property at 4000 millions, though the 70 millions of acres of land at 201. and stock at 10l. are worth but 2100 millions, and the houses and merchandise not worth a third as much more, or 2800 millions together. And, by taking the same sum in ten different shapes, he makes the annual income 700 millions, though Pitt's Income Tax made it but 120 millions, and Addington's Property Tax but 150 millions, perhaps not a fifth less than the 1814.] Public Establishments for Education at Geneva. To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. I S07 jects, and they furnish to the mind means of obtaining enjoyment unconnected with the labour or misery of others. To the man of business or of mechanical employment, the pursuit of experimental research may afford a simple pleasure, and lead to such an expansion of the faculties of the mind as must give to it dignity and power. To the refined and fashionable part of society it may become a source of consolation and of happiness in those mo applications they exhibit an almost infi. nite variety of effects, connected with a AM induced to send you the follow- simplicity of design; they demonstrate ing observations from perusing Mr.that every being is intended for some de⚫ Kidson's paper in your last Magazine, finite end or purpose, they attach feeland which I hope will sufficiently explainings of importance even to inanimate obthe effects which have followed from imbibing the effluvia of fresh earth; it is well known to chemico-medical men with what success oxygen has been ad. ministered in consumption, and other cases, and in restoring suspended animation, whether from drowning or from the effects of carbonic acid; as earth when moistened has the property of decomposing atmospheric air, and absorbing its oxygen, so it contains a large portion of that sap intended as food and nourishments of solitude when the common hament to those plants which vegetate in it; this it freely parts with when fresh exposed to the air, and by the action of breathing it is inhaled into the lungs, which gives a fresh stimulus to the blood and circulation; it is doubtless upon this principle that the benefit has been derived, That oxygen is a powerful antiseptic may be sufficiently proved by keep ing animal substances in it for some time without their undergoing decomposition. It was probably the knowledge of this power that induced Dr. Graham to bury his patients up to their necks in fresh earth. How far oxygen may prove beneficial in ulcers of the lungs, I am not able to determine; at any rate the experiment could be attended with no bad consequences, and it might be of service in rousing the action of the bits and passions of the world are consi•, dered with indifference. The man who has been accustomed to study natural objects philosophically, will reason with deeper reverence concerning beings pos-sessing life; and, perceiving in all the phenomena of the universe the designs of a perfect intelligence, he will be averse to the turbulence and passions of hasty innovations, and will uniformly appear as the friend of tranquillity and order." Harwich, Aug. 14, 1814. J. DECK. For the Monthly Magazine. A concise ACCOUNT of the PUBLIC ESTA BLISHMENTS for EDUCATION at GENEVA;. extracted from a LETTER written by an ENGLISH TRAVELLER to a FRIEND in LONDON ; dated Geneva, August, 1814. (Concluded from p. 225.) LL these schools are gratuitous, absorbents. Chemistry and medicine A and open, without any exception, to are so intimately connected that a practitioner, ought to have a thorough know ledge of the former before he can make any great proficiency in the latter; in fact chemistry is so essential in many of the arts, and the benefits so great arising from a knowledge of it, that it is a matter of surprise it is not more cultivated, and be come a part of education. I cannot conclude this subject better than with the words delivered in the theatre of the Royal Institution by a man whose name will ever be deservedly held in high esti mation by chemists for the accuracy of his experiments, and his scientific application of them to agriculture and the arts. "In common society, (says Mr. Davy,) to men collected in great cities, who are wearied by the constant recurrence of similar artificial pursuits and objects, and who are in need of sources of permanent attachment, the cultivation of chemistry and the physical sciences may be eminently beneficia!; for in all their MONTHLY MAG, No. 201. every Genevese, whether rich or poor, patrician or mechanic. Foreigners are admitted to them as visitors, without any other condition than the consent of the professors, who never refuse it; and, if they are desirous of being received as regular students, they easily obtain admittance by submitting to the customary examinations. The school of Divinity being in the highest repute throughout the protestant districts of France, and in Switzerland, numbers of students' are sent every year to Geneva from both countries, to attend these public lectures. This year there were no less than sixty students, candi dates for ordination, about only one-fifth of whom were natives of the city. The moderate salaries which the professors enjoy, are wholly paid by Government, so that they receive no retribution whatever from the students. This cir cumstance tends to increase both the 2 P deference deference and respect of the pupils for their masters, and the public consideration in which the latter are held. The zeal with which they are animated, and the pains they take to render their lessons interesting, at the same time that they are known to be absolutely free from any interested views of popularity, endear them to all, and secure to them the love and gratitude of their countrymen. You will, no doubt, be surprised to hear that a national establishment of this magitude, which is the means of providing, at all times, for the education of above a thousand pupils, from the age of 5 years to that of 22 or 23, and of supplying with the means of honourable and useful xistence a numerous body of teachers; s supported exclusively by a population, not exceeding thirty thousand inhabi ants, and whose sources of wealth are extremely limited. But, when you hear that the annual salary of the professors is not more than sixty guineas, and that only half the number of those who lecture are entitled to that stipend, whilst the rest are merely honorary professors, and without pay, you will wonder still more at so much economy and so much disinterestedness. For my part, I cannot account for this sort of enthusiasm I see at Geneva for the office of teaching, of which I do not think the world affords such another instance, except from a degree of public spirit, on the one hand, and a respect for knowledge, on the other, which cannot be too highly valued. All professorships, or chairs, honorary or not, are sedulously sought after by men of learn Sng, who, placed perhaps in an independent situation, consider the honor of teaching as a sufficient compensation for the laour inseparably attached to that office. As for the regents, or masters of the Jower schools, they have each a fixed salary, and some trifling casual emoluments, and a house to live in, where they generally receive boarders, (which some of the professors are also in the habit of doing,) in order to make up for the scantiness of their emoluments. The terms of boarding are moderate, though not particularly cheap; they vary ac cording to circumstances, from one to two, or even two hundred and fifty pounds -year. I may mention, as a further proof of the esteem in which public teach ng is held at Geneva, that one of the regents, Mr. Couronne, a man of rare merit, was made member of the provisional government, at the regeneration of the Republic. Thus, by unparalleled economy, and most praise-worthy management and prudence, the city of Geneva, with an annual sum amounting hardly to five thousand pounds sterling, contrives to support its clergy, to defray all the expenses of a complete system of publie education, to keep up a valuable national library, and has even founded a kind of Bank, called Caisse d' Escompte, wher the manufacturers and tradesmen obtain money upon good bills, at a moderate discount, without being ever exposed to resort to ruinous proceedings, or to fall a prey to unprincipled money lenders. If this letter bad not extended to so great a length, I intended to have added some account of the Literary Societies at Geneva, and particularly of that of Natural History, which presents a rare assemblage of men of talents and merit; but I shall reserve these details for some other letter, when I mean also to notice the advantages which this town offers for society in general, and to point out cer tain local customs and habits, of a most peculiar character, the effects of which it would be curious to analyze. Thus, for instance, though by locality and language, the inhabitants of Geneva hear some resemblance to the French, their neighbours, and during some years their masters and conquerors, yet there is a striking difference between the two nar tions; and, whilst the French retained possession of the city, and gave it, as much as they could, the external appears ance of a French town, the population stood invariably the same; it never mixed with the strangers who had in truded on them; and, after a lapse of sixteen years of involuntary and forced union to France, the people of Geneva eagerly resumed, last winter, at the glo rious entrance of the allies into Switzerland, their former government, their be loved independence, and all their ancient republican institutions. After having explained to you the mode. of instruction at Geneva, I ought to give you some account of the professors to whose care it is intrusted. I am personally acquainted with almost all of them, and it. is chiefly from their conversation that I have gathered the particulars which I have just stated. Several have distinguished themselves by their writings, some of which you are, no doubt, acquainted with; and, in pointing out their names, I shall mention their principal works. Geneva, though perhaps now not so conspicuous in the literary world as when she could boast of a ROUSSEAU, a BONNET, & DE SAUSSURE, A LE SAGE 4814.3 Public Establishments for Education at Geneva. SAGE, still possesses DE LUC, Prevost, PICTET, L'HUILLIER, DE SAUSSURE, jun. DUMONT, SIMONDE, and several other men of great learning and eminence, who, whether by their exertions at home, or their reputation abroad, are well calculated to do honor to their country, and throw lustre on its school. There are five professors of DIVINITY, men of learning in their department, and distinguished in the ecclesiastical body. The Rev. Mr. PICOT lectures on sucred loquence. The Rev. Mr. DE ROCHES on the sared Oriental languages. The Rev. Mr. DUBY on the dogmatic part of Theology. The Rev. Mr. VAUCHER on ecclesiastical History. The Rev. Mr. PESCHIER on Evange Jical morals. The former of these divines, Prof. PrCOT, is author of a very interesting thesis on the Deluge, and of several dissertations on the immortality of the soul. He is universally respected and beloved for the purity and the mildness of his character, the amiableness of his man ners, and his dignified and manly eloquence in the pulpit. Professor DE ROCHES is deeply versed in classical studies, and particularly conversant with the Oriental languages: he has contributed largely to the new and valuable French translaton of the Bible, not yet sufficiently known in this country, published in 1802 by the clergy of Geneva, after a most careful and elaborate revision during a period of above fifty years, Professor DUBY is one of the popular preachers at Geneva; he is peculiarly noted for the firm, energetic, and impressive delivery of his well-written and well-digested sermons. Professor PESCHIER is one of their best mathematicians, and justly admired for his uncommon accuracy, and for the extent of his erudition, both in his conversation and in his lectures. Professor VAUCHER, in his Sermons, has an abundance of thought, and an earnestness in his way of communicating them, which is hardly equalled by any one. Indefatigable in his studies, he finds time for a variety of original pur suits, as well as for the teaching of his numerous pupils, either public or private, some of whom reside in his own house. Botany was his favourite study from youth, and he has made considerable progress in that science: he has published a much esteemed work on the order of plants called conferve. 309 The department of the Law is conduct. ed by Messrs. LE FORT and GrROD-JOLIVET, who give lectures on the Roman and French law. Mr. LE FORT reckons among his an cestors the celebrated minister of Peter the Great, and is himself in high esteem for his erudition and the accuracy of his judgment. Besides his professor's chair, he fills the important post of President of the Criminal Tribunal. His son is appointed joint professor in the depart ment of the Roman law. Mr. WEBER, one of the professors of Belles Lettres, and a gentleman of great taste and judgment, conducts in this department the exercises of Rhetoric; and Mr. PICOT, jun, the clergyinan's eldest son, a man of great historical research and erudition, is entrusted with the instruction of History and Statistics. These two last chairs are honorary ones, as was also the professorship of Mr. CRAMER, who has been for the last twenty years a resident in England, but formerly occupied an active station in the law department, where his ancestors held conspicuous situations. The studies of PHILOSOPHY compre hend moral and natural Philosophy and Mathematics, which are taught by Messrs. PREVOST, PICTET, and L'HUILLIER. Few Universities can boast of so distinguished an assemblage of talents, every one of these gentlemen having published works of considerable originality and merit. Mr. PREVOST, Fellow of the Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh, and a foreign member of the French Institute, lectures on moral philosophy, known at Geneva under the appellation of rational philosophy. He is in the habit of dividing the course into two parts-Logic and Psycho logy; besides which, he every year treats at some length on some physical subjects, particularly on those which, like optics, throw some light on the analysis of the senses. It is chiefly on this subject, and on the examination of the intellectual faculties, that he enlarges in his lectures, and he carefully avoids all those frivolous and interminable discussions which have so long disgraced metaphysics, and retarded the progress of the human mind. There are Mr. Prevost has been successively engaged in various pursuits, in all of which he has met with success. few men to whom science has more real obligations, and still fewer who possess to so eminent a degree the art of teach. ing, ing, and of rendering his lessons interesting. Ilis early youth was more particularly devoted to literature: he then published an esteemed translation of Euripides. When he afterwards devoted himself to philosophical studies, he distinguished himself in metaphysics by a singular turn for correct analysis and profound reasoning. In natural philosophy he has thrown new lights on various branches. The following are the titles of his principal works: Traité sur l'origine des Forces magnétiques.' Recherches physico-méchaniques sur la chaleur.' reads lectures on Natural Philosophy; Mr. PICTET is the founder, and one. of the principal editors of the Bibliothèque Britannique, a French periodical work of considerable reputation, the exclusive In this work, and in a later publica- object of which is to make our English tion on the 'Calorique rayonnant,' he works known on the Continent; and proposed and developed, with precision, which, by a singular favour, was suf the theory of the radiation of beat, which fered to continue, without interruption, he applied to various phenomena hitherto during the whole of the French revolution unexplained; and he also built on that and of Bonaparte's reign. He is author theory a very ingenious hypothesis to, of an Essai sur le Feu,' a title far too account for the austral cold. modest for a work which has had so 'Essai sur les signes envisagés rélative-great an influence on that branch of phiments à leur influence sur la formation Tosophy. He published, some years des idées.' This tract, which is ex- since, in the Philosophical Transactions, tremely concise, but filled with pro- a valuable paper, Sur la mensuration found views, received a mark of public projetée d'un arc du méridien au pié des approbation from the French Institute. Alpes. He has also given to the public, iu an epistolary form, an interesting account of a tour he made, in 1801, in England, Scotland, and Ireland. Mr. J. P. PICTET, a relation of M. A. Pictet, known by a work on the natural history of the Alps, is appointed joint professor of experimental philosophy. A short, but valuable, Latin dissertation, entitled, De Probabilitate;' particularly intended for the use of his pupils. A life of the celebrated philosopher, LE SAGE, with a sketch of his labours and fragments of correspondence, of great curiosity and interest. Essais de Philosophie,' being an outline of his lectures. He has also published French transla tions of the posthumous Essays of ADAM SMITH; of the much esteemed works of DUGALD STEWART, on the Human Mind; and of MALTHUS, on Population; and several papers in the Philosophical Transactions of London; the Transactions of the Academy of Berlin, (in which he formerly filled a professor's chair,) and in several French and German journals. Mr. Prevost appears to have been long in habits of friendship with Professor Dugald Stewart, of Edinburgh, who paid him the high compliment of dedicating to him his Philosophical Essays,' pubJished a few years ago. Mr. M. A. PICTET, the intimate friend and worthy successor of the late celebrated De Saussure, Fellow of the Royal Society, and a member of the French Institute, personally well known and much esteemed in England, which he has visited several times, Mr. L'HUILLIER, a deserving pupil of the late philosopher LE SAGE, fills the chair of Mathematics: he has distinguished himself from his youth in that science, and was, early in life, invited into Poland, to occupy the station of Professor of Mathematics. He is known to the public by several important works; and I have heard it observed by several of the best judges of that science, that his writings unite, to a rare degree, depth and perspicuity; and that he pos sesses the art of rendering calculation easy, and of simplifying mathematical studies. His principal works are the following:- De relatione mutua capaci tatis & terminorum Figurarum.'-' Principiorum calculi differentialis & integra lis expositio Elementaris.'- Polygonometrie.'-Precis d'Arithmetique à l'usage des Ecoles primaires.'—' Elemens d'Algébre. Elemens d'Analyse Géomé trique & d'Analyse Algébrique.' He has also published several papers, which are inserted in the collections of Berlin, Got tingen, and Petersburgh. Mr. SCHAUB, a man " |