was considered the correct taste of admiring a classical drama. They will not be so willing to do so in a second instance.

Dramatic effect seems to have been constantly before the eyes of the author, and so it was before Joanna Baillie's; yet how seldom are the tragedies of that wonderful woman acted! And yet, in conception of plot and management of incident, she is far beyond Talfourd. As a poet, how inferior is Sheridan Knowles to both; and yet how immeasurably superior as a dramatist! After Shakspeare, there is nothing superior to parts of Miss Baillie. Southey, in the paradoxical manner in which great men have the bad taste to utter their opinions, says that Miss Baillie's "Basil" surpasses Romeo and Juliet. Hazlitt sneers at that, and well he might; yet Hazlitt, with all his contempt of the moderns, thought nobly of Miss Baillie. In our own view, she is far above any other female poet that Eng. lish literature ever boasted; but we must return to "the Athenian Captive."

The story is not particularly interesting, and we will not tell it. The cheapness of such an American reprint puts it in every body's hand; and the most the reader demands is, to see how nearly his own taste accords with that of the editor of his Magazine. The opinions we have expressed would be ratified by quotations; but we have space only for one, which strikes us as the most beautiful. Yet, beautiful as it is, it melts away from the memory like the delicate tracery on a frozen pane. Referring to his own Athens, Thoas, the captive, says

"I call the gods,

Who bend attentive from their azure thrones,
To witness to the truth of that which throbs
Within me now. 'Tis not a city crown'd
With olive and enrich'd with peerless fanes
Ye would dishonor, but an opening world
Diviner than the soul of man hath yet
Been gifted to imagine-truths serene,
Made visible in beauty, that shall glow
In everlasting freshness; unapproach'd
By mortal passion; pure amidst the blood
And dust of conquests; never waxing old;
But on the stream of time, from age to age
Casting bright images of heavenly youth
To make the world less mournful."

PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN LYCEUM,

AT THEIR 8TH ANNUAL MEETING, (Abridged.)

THE Eighth Annual meeting of the American Lyceum was convened in the Free Church, at Hartford, Conn., May 15, 1838, at 10 o'clock, A. M. Rev. T. H. Gallaudet, of Hartford, was called to the chair, and prayer made by the Rev. Mr. Putnam, of Middleborough, Mass.; after which the meeting was duly organized, by the appointment of General Nath'l Terry, President, and Prof. Charles Davies, Secretary. Prof. Davies subsequently declining, Theodore Dwight, Jr., of New-York, was chosen in his stead.

The credentials of the delegates from Lyceums, and other literary institutions having been examined, the reports of those delegates were called for, in the order of the various States of the Union to which they belonged. The reports were chiefly verbal; but a resolu tion was passed, early in the session, requesting the delegates to leave them, in writing, with the Secretary.

A letter was read from Lewis G. Pray, Chairman of the Primary School Committee of Boston, on the Primary Schools of that city, which was referred to the Executive Committee for publication.

Reports were made either at this time, or during the progress of the meeting, by the following individuals, from the societies respectively named-most of them, though not all, being delegates. By Prof. John Johnston from the Cuvierian Society of Middletown, Conn.; by Mr. Emert A. Parker; from the New Britain Lyceum; by a delegate from the Peithologian Society of the Wesleyan University; by Dr. Terry, from the Hartford Society of Natural History; by Mr. Knox, from another Society in Middletown, and also from the Young Men's Lyceum of Middletown; by a delegate from the Social Club of Norwich; by Mr. Ives and Mr. Thomas, from the Young Mechanic's Institute of New Haven; by Mr. Remington, of the Suffield Lyceum; by Mr. Kelsey, from the Hartford Young Men's Lyceum; by Mr. Dwight, from the Hempstead Lyceum, NewYork, the Brooklyn Lyceum, and the Brooklyn Lyceum of Natural History; by Mr. Friend, of the Gloucester Institute, at Gloucester, Mass.; by Mr. Lemuel H. Parsons, of the Northern Lyceum, of the city and county of Philadelphia, the State Lyceum of Pennsylvania, and the Lyceum of Bucks County in that State; by Dr. Pennington, of the Young Men's Society, and the Mechanics' Institute and Lyceum of Newark; by a delegate from the Middletown Friendly Association; by a delegate of the Franklin Lyceum; and by Erastus Smith, Esq., from the State Lyceum of Conn., which had been formed during the present session of the American Lyceum.

Rev. Mr. Burgess, by request, made a verbal report, concerning the public schools of Hartford.

During the afternoon of the first day of the session, the Annual Report of the American Lyceum was read.

This was followed by a discussion on the embellishment and improvement of our towns and villages, with advantage to the cause of intelligence and morality.

An Essay was also read, during the afternoon, by Dr. Alcott, on Religious Instruction in Common Schools.

At eight o'clock in the evening, Prof. Cunningham delivered a lecture On those Principles of the Prussian system of Education, which are applicable to the condition of the United States.'

The Secretary, being compelled to be absent after the first day of the session, his place was supplied by Prof. Johnston, of the Wesleyan University.

During the second day of the session, a lecture was given by Mr. F. A. Packard of Philadelphia, On the importance of uniting moral and religious instruction with the cultivation of the intellect.' The following resolution was then offered by Mr. Gallaudet, and unanimously adopted.

Resolved, That the American Lyceum regards with deep interest the proposition of the American Sunday School Union, to publish a selection of their books of an entertaining and instructive character, such as biographies, histories, travels, &c., as a school library; and that we consider the offering of this library to families, manufacturing villages, neighborhoods and schools for introduction among them, after examination by proper persons, as happily tending to advance the interests of literature, religion, and social happiness, among all classes of our citizens, (it being understood from statements made before the Lyceum, that the books comprising this library are free from sectarian peculiarities,) and that we regard the proposal for thus circulating this library as directly instrumental in preparing the way for other and still higher efforts of a kindred character.'

The following resolution was unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That the use of the Bible in our popular systems of education, as a text-book of moral and religious instruction, is regarded by the Lyceum as indispensable.'

Mr. Hamersley, of Hartford, read an Essay upon the subject of an international copy-right law.

'Resolved, That the American Lyceum recommends an association of the teachers of public and private schools to be formed in every town or school society throughout the country, and that they hold regular periodical meetings for mutual instruction relative to their duties in the government, education, and elevation of the character and condition of their respective schools.'

A paper was read by Dr. Alcott, sent from Switzerland, by Rev. Wm. C. Woodbridge, containing an account of two remarkable Sicilian Arithmeticians; after which an account was given by Mr.

Graham of a singular instance of premature intellectual developement, in a lad eight years of age, which he had seen lately in Massachusetts.

At six o'clock this afternoon, the President and other officers, together with the members of the Lyceum, in pursuance of an invitation from Henry Hudson, Esq., Mayor of the city, took tea at his house, and subsequently visited his garden.

In the evening an Essay was read by Mr. Gallaudet, sent by Rev. Wm. C. Woodbridge of Switzerland, On the Education of the Eye;' in which the introduction of Linear Drawing into Common Schools was particularly insisted on.

Dr. Alcott, Chairman of the Committee upon the embellishment and improvement of towns and villages, read a Report, which was accepted and approved, unanimously.

Mr. Brace of Hartford, Chairman of the Committee of nomina. tion, reported a list of officers of the Lyceum for the ensuing year, which was accepted, and the officers were afterwards duly appointed. They are as follows:

President, Wm. A. Duer, New-York.

Vice-Presidents. G. W. Ridgely, Penn.; Edward Everett, Mass.; Peter W. Radcliff New-York; John Griscom, Penn.; Nathaniel Terry, Conn.; and Theodore Frelinghuysen, New Jersey. Recording Secretary, Robert G. Rankin, New-York. Treasurer, A. P. Halsey, New-York.

Corresponding Secretaries. Theodore Dwight, Jr. New-York; F. A. Packard Philadelphia; J. L. Comstock, Hartford; John P. Brace, do; Wm. A. Clayton, Athens, Geo.; J. M. Sturtevant, Illinois; Wm. C. Woodbridge, Switzerland; Alva Woods, Alabama; James M. Garnett, Virginia; Charles Goddard, Zanesville, Ohio; James M. Alexander, N. J.; and Prof. A. W. Smith, Conn.

Additional Members of the Executive Committee.-Dr. J. S. Rogers, N. Y.; James M. Donaldson, do.; G. P. Disosway, do.; A. P. Halsey, Brooklyn; Thomas H. Gallaudet, Hartford; and Lemuel H. Parsons, and J. Holbrook, Pennsylvania.

The next annual meeting of the American Lyceum is to be held at Newark, New-Jersey.

EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT.

This eighth Annual Meeting of the American Lyceum assembles in this city, in obedience to a resolution unanimously adopted the last year by the society, at their last anniversary, which was held at Philadelphia. That occasion was the first on which a meeting had been held out of the place of its institution, the city of NewYork.

The delegates from the Pennsylvania Lyceums, in 1836, proposed such an alteration of the constitution as would allow the annual meetings to be held in different places; and such was the interest excited in Philadelphia the last year, as to induce the society cheer

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fully to comply with a motion proceeding from the delegation of the Natural History Society of this city, to appoint the eighth Annual Meeting in Connecticut.

The American Lyceum was founded in May, 1831, by a convention proposed by the New-York State Lyceum, and attended by representatives from a number of kindred associations and friends of knowledge from several other States, as well as several intelligent foreigners; and it is an interesting fact, that several of the members and spectators imbibed a spirit from participating in the deliberations, which has proved highly important to the interests of knowledge. The same remark may be made in relation to the subsequent meetings of the Lyceum, and indeed of its operations generally.

At the period when the society was founded, there was peculiar need of association among the friends of popular education in the United States. There were many, perhaps, who had begun to feel the importance of active measures for its improvement: but they were isolated, generally engrossed in pressing occupations, unaccustomed to confer or to sympathize on the subject.

The conventions of teachers and others, now happily so common; the multiplied lectures, publications, legislative committees on education, common school systems, with their provisions for teachers' seminaries, superintendents of common schools, &c., were then almost or entirely unheard of. The state of common education in foreign countries was also very little known or thought of. The Annals of Education, which has done so much to bring about the great and happy change which the country now witnesses, had then accomplished but a portion of the task which had been undertaken by its patriotic and devoted editor, who was one of the first to appreciate and promote this plan for a general association in its favor. Although still detained in Switzerland by ill health, communications will be made from him to-day, which testify that his interest in the Lyceum has not declined during his residence in another continent.

The Association which we now constitute, is founded on the most liberal basis. Its object, as defined by the constitution, is the promotion of education, particularly in Lyceums and common schools; and the provisions of that instrument are so few and simple, as purposely to leave its members unembarrassed in its pursuit.

The

All literary associations are annually invited to send their delegates; and the friends of intellectual and moral improvement are cordially welcomed. No pecuniary or other impediment is thrown in the way of any sincere advocate of the common cause. society have acted on the presumption that the enlistment of every true friend of knowledge was desirable and important; and that those who had zeal and disinterestedness enough to perform journies to attend the meetings, or employed their minds to render them interesting and instructive, ought not to be burthened by the imposition of any other tribute. Those who were deficient in zeal like this, have not been forward with pecuniary donations; hence no