vember last, the academical budget, which has just been published by the minister of public instruction, mentions four others, which have been created within the last few years, viz.; the district of White Russia, whose academical capital has been transferred from Wilna to Wilepsk-it contains 9 gymnasia, and 198 schools, conducted by 423 persons, and attended by 8766 pupils; the district of Odessa, to which two other provinces have recently been added, containing 5 gymnasia, and 68 schools, conducted by 190 persons, and attended by 3445 pupils; and lastly, the districts of the Caucasus, and Siberia.

Odessa. Jac. Pitzipios, a resident here, has just published a very comprehensive grammar of the modern Greek language, of which the King of Greece has accepted the dedication. Pitzipios has also in the press a romance in three volumes, entitled The Orphan of Chios.' Both of these works are written in French.

SWEDEN AND NORWAY.

Stockholm.-A society, under the title of the Konst Foreningen,' (society for the encouragement of the fine arts), was established here in 1831; it is composed of upwards of four hundred members, amongst whom are the King and Queen, with others of the royal family, each of whom contributes ten dollars banco (about fifteen shillings) a year to its support: the subscriptions are employed in purchasing works of art, which are afterwards disposed of by lottery among the members. The society has succeeded in setting an exhibition of paintings, &c. on foot.

In 1830, some Swedish gentlemen, who felt the inferiority of the then existing systems of school education, determined on establishing a school on the system of the Messrs. Hill at Hazlewood and Bruce Castle, in order to provide for their children, and the youth of the country generally, the means of obtaining a liberal education. With this view they formed an establishment at Barnängen, situated on the banks of a lake in the neighbourhood of Stockholm, which was opened in June of the same year. From that period to the present the efforts of the directors have been strenuously employed in perfecting their design, and it is said with much success. The affairs of the establishment are entrusted to a body of directors, under whose control the conference (as it is called, or council of management), consisting of an intendant, with seven teachers and a medical man, all resident on the spot, have the management of the school. The branches of instruction are the French, English, and German languages, taught on the most approved principles by natives of the respective countries; Latin and Greek; mathematics, history, geography, singing, gymnastics, dancing, and drawing. There are two vacations of about a month each, at Midsummer and Christmas; the expense is not quite twenty-five pounds per annum for each pupil.

Norway. A considerable accession was made last year to the number of periodical journals in this country, and there is at present scarcely a district without its local paper. Passing occurrences, particularly such as are of a domestic character, are discussed with the utmost freedom; but there is a lack of competent editors, which is much felt in Christiania, the capital. The 'Morgenblad' stands at the head of the Norwegian journals. An association of young men publish a weekly paper on literary topics, under the title of the 'Vidar;' it consists of translations, as well as reviews of native works, but has been bitterly condemned for its attacks upon S. O. Wolff, a very popular poet, and Faye, the editor of an excellent collection of Norwegian legends. Vergeland, the admired author of an epic poem, entitled 'Man, the Creation, and the Messiah,' has much distinguished himself of late, both as a speaker, and a writer of works for the use of the middling and lower classes. The first three parts of Documents illustrating the history of the Norwegians and their Language,' have been published. Berg and Munthe, two well-known antiquarians, take the lead in this enterprise. One of the parts contains a memoir by Professor Hansteen, in which he shows, that the battle of Stislestad, in which St. Olaf lost his life, did not occur, as it has been hitherto asserted, on the 29th of July, 1033, but on Monday the 31st of August, 1030, the day on which the great eclipse of the sun, so circumstantially recorded by Snorro Sturleson, took place. Hansteen assigns, as a reason for the observance of the anniversary on the 29th of July by the Roman Catholic Church, that the 31st of August had been previously monopolized by St. Paulinus, bishop of Treves. At all events, the result of the inquiry is highly important in a chronological point of view. The Magazine for Natural History' has long ceased to appear: but the Eyr,' a medical journal, maintains its footing.

UNITED STATES.

Common Schools in the State of New York.-The following particulars relating to common schools in the State of New York are drawn from the Report of the superintendent, which was delivered to the Legislature of that State on the 8th of January: The number of organized counties in the State is 55, and the number of towns and wards 820. The number of organized school districts is 9690, of which 9107 have made their annual reports to the Commissioners of Common Schools. There were on the 31st December, 1832, 522,618 children, between the ages of five and sixteen, residing in the districts which have reported; and in the same districts 512,475 children were taught during the year ending on that day. During the year 1833, ninety new districts have been formed, and there has been an increase of 17,517 in the number of children who have received instruction; while the actual increase in the whole number of children enumerated between five and sixteen years of age, has been 13,756. The results exhibited in this report may be taken as a fair criterion of the extent of common-school education in the State; and, with the exception of cities and large villages,

in which there is always to be found a considerable number of children, who from the neglect or inability of their parents are deprived of the benefits of instruction, it is probable that the several sections of the State would be found, if the pupils at the academies and private schools could be ascertained and taken into the account, to participate with great equality in the advantages of education. The amount of the sums expended in support of the common schools, in the year 1833, was 313,938 dollars 29 cents; in 1832, it was 307,733 dollars 8 cents, of which 100,000 dollars were received from the common-school fund; 189,139 dollars 84 cents was levied by taxation upon the property of the inhabitants of the several towns and cities of the State; and 18,593 dollars 24 cents was derived from the local funds belonging to particular towns. In reporting on the course of instruction in the common schools, the superintendent expresses an opinion that it is deficient in not being sufficiently practical in its tendencies. It consists usually, when a sufficient knowledge of reading and writing has been acquired, in the study of grammar, geography, arithmetic, and exercises in reading such books as the English Reader' and the Columbian Orator.' The study of geography and arithmetic is not, perhaps, carried further than is necessary. But it is believed that much of the time that is expended upon the abstract rules of grammar, and upon the highly-finished compositions which make up the principal Readers' in common use, might be turned to better account. The aim of common-school instruction should be to impart practical knowledge; for it is by means of practical knowledge alone, that those who are instructed can become qualified for the responsible duties which, in the course of events, they may be called upon to discharge. To exercise the right of suffrage intelligently, they must have some knowledge of the nature of the government, and of the obligations of those who administer it. They should have such a knowledge of the county, town, and school-district offices, that they may be able to exercise any of those trusts, if called to them by their fellow-citizens. And in their social capacity as citizens living under a government of laws, they should be acquainted with those enactments which trace out the line of duty, and declare the penalties attendant upon its transgression. The requisite knowledge on all these subjects might be readily acquired in the common schools, by retrenching something from branches of instruction which are, in the extent to which they are carried, superfluous. The superintendent then proceeds to sketch the course of instruction, beyond reading and writing, which he thinks desirable:-1. Grammar. So much as is necessary to a correct comprehension of the different parts of speech; and such a course of exercises in parsing, as shall render the student familiar with the practical application of the rules which govern. their relation to each other. This branch is usually studied at too early an age, and much time is expended to little purpose. 2. Geography. A thorough knowledge of the geography of the State of New York, and of the United States, and as much of the geo

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graphy of the earth as treats of its general divisions, and of their climates, soil, and productions, and such elementary statistics as are usually engrafted upon geographical works. It is the fault of the present system, that the pupils are better acquainted with the geography of other countries than their own. 3. History. A familiar acquaintance with the history of the United States. The history of foreign countries, however desirable it may be, cannot ordinarily enter into a system of common-school education, without opening too wide a field. It is safer, in general, to treat it as a superfluity, and leave it to such as have leisure in after-life. Arithmetic. So far as the Rule of Three. In some schools the elements of geometry are added to the study of arithmetic; and it is desirable it should be introduced as extensively as possible. 5. Some practical rules of civil jurisprudence, and so much of criminal jurisprudence as treats of offences to which penalties are annexed by law. 6. The form of government and the fundamental principles of constitutional law. 7. The duties of public offices. These suggestions seem of much importance; and though some of them are framed with a peculiar view to the United States, they are capable of easy adaptation to the circumstances of any country. The Report thus concludes:- The subject of study may be succinctly presented in such a shape as to possess sufficient attraction to the learner, and in so simple an arrangement as to be readily taught by persons of ordinary capacity. It is only necessary that some of the literary talent with which the State abounds should be devoted to the preparation of proper books upon the subjects in question, and public opinion will not fail to insure their introduction. Every step which is taken in the acquisition of knowledge leads with certainty to another; for knowledge gained contains within itself the desire for more.'

SOUTH AMERICA.

Natives of the Brazils.-Individuals of the same tribe, horde, or family, generally wear some particular ornament, for the purpose of mutual recognition, and in order that they may not be confounded with others. But it is the language which forms the principal link of connexion between the several tribes: quarrels between those hordes which use the same form of speech are never of long duration; whilst those amongst whom no affinity of language exists live in a state of perpetual enmity: no quarter is given on either side; each considers his antagonist as an outlaw; and the feeling is so deeply seated, that, if you ask an Indian the name of his tribe, he will generally include the name of the tribe which is the hereditary enemy of his own, in his reply. There are some districts, such as those inhabited by the Guaycurus and Mundrucus, which have acquired a sort of ascendancy over their neighbours they interfere when differences arise, perform the office of mediators, and preserve peace between the parties. Their alliance is sought for by other tribes, and their protection is purchased through the medium of presents made to their chiefs.

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There is one race of them, the Muras, who have no fixed territory, but wander along the banks of the Madeira and Solimoes, existing entirely by plunder and rapine. This race, like the zingaris, or gipsies, are an object of contempt and persecution to every other tribe, and appear to be the descendants of some once powerful nation, who are now doing penance for the sufferings which they inflicted upon their fellow-creatures in the days of their prosperity. The Brazilian tribes are under the orders of a chief, who is called Tupinaba; and amongst the Portuguese, Principal or Capitao. They have no fixed form of election: the most enterprising or athletic, the bravest or most aspiring individual, seizes upon the reins of power rather than receives them from his brethren: they are sensible of his pre-eminence, and do not care or venture to define the extent of his authority; neither do they enter into any positive engagements with him. His functions are of no great moment in times of peace: he settles all disputes that occur between the members of his tribe, and regulates their dealings with their neighbours. If his tribe have any commercial intercourse with Europeans, the chief, being considered the most skilful and influential person amongst them, undertakes to regulate their bargains, superintend the barters, and supply the agents of the whites with provisions; he furnishes them with an escort across his territory, and takes the transport of all merchandise under his care. *** It is he who convokes the tribe, when the interests of the community require deliberation. The assembly is composed of the fathers of families; but neither young men, women, nor slaves are ever allowed to attend it. The chief, after acquainting the assembly with the object for which it has been summoned, invites his brethren to give their opinions upon it. The speaker is rarely liable to be interrupted, and the discussion is conducted with remarkable quietness, patience, and temper. They are seldom otherwise than unanimous in the resolutions which they come to, and it devolves upon the chief to execute them: a day is fixed for a report from him of the manner in which he has carried them into effect, and after he has made it, he closes the sitting by saying, 'Let us depart;' upon which every one present repeats the words deliberately, and the assembly disperses. We found neither religious tenets nor form of worship among the Brazil Indians. They have no priests, but a species of magicians or enchanters, termed Pajès, like the Schamani of Northern Asia. They are not only prophets, interpreters of dreams, exorcisers, and physicians, but possess political influence; for they exercise considerable sway over the conduct of the chief and general assemblies, and act as arbitrators in the case of private dissensions. The Pajès of the same tribe form a kind of confraternity, and mutually assist each other in keeping the blind superstition of their followers alive, and upholding their power and influence. The young, who desire to become members of this brotherhood, retire to some remote spot for the purpose of meditation: here the elders visit them by night, and instruct them in the secrets of their craft. After two years'