Calcutta by the natives themselves. These deserve notice. We present our readers with a list of the principal Morning.. 125 pupils. Do. 300 Do. 110 "" Hindu Benevolent Institution, Do... Of all these private seminaries, the best conducted is the Oriental Seminary. Its founder was the late Babu Gourmohun Addi. We shall let the Observer speak of him : "It (the Oriental Seminary) is the oldest private seminary existing, and is considered, and that most justly, as the one next in excellence to the Hindu College. Gourmohun Addi received a very imperfect education in a private school. At the age of twenty-seven, finding that he had no other resources, he opened a school for his countrymen, and for a number of years perseveringly laboured, until he could number about two hundred pupils. He then entered into partnership with a Mr. Turnbull, and found his school make great progress. After the 'death of his colleague, until the day of his own death, he 'conducted the school under his own superintendence. For'tunately he picked up a Mr. Herman Geoffry, a Barrister and child of misfortune, and, under his able tuition, Gourmo'hun saw his school rise to great importance. He was in the fair way of realizing a handsome fortune: but he was cut off in the enjoyment of great health and strength. His boat upset in a North Wester, and he could make no 'exertion to save himself. "He was a very pious-looking man, and so candid, as to tell his pupils of the first class, that he could not superintend their lessons. In him was no false pride. What he knew, he could communicate better than any other native. He was ex. ceedingly good-tempered; and it was matter of surprise to us to see how well he steered his course, through the variety of temper and dispositions, with which he had to deal; and on no occasion, did he give offence. He was very popular among his pupils and, though a strict disciplinarian, and having to do with boys, whose attendance is dependent on their own will, he commanded the respect of all, and was beloved by many." We cannot withhold from our readers the Observer's graphic sketch of the rise and fall of a native private seminary : The nascence and dissolution of the Hindu Academies, conducted by private individuals, have been of such frequent occurrence, that it no longer excites surprise. The reason is plainly this: A young man, anxious of seeking employment under Government, finds that he has not sufficient interest in the proper quarters to unbar the gates of preferment for his admission, and resolves to establish a school. He makes some young men acquainted with his design, and they readily enter into his views, actuated not by the desire of raising their countrymen by cultivating their minds, but for the desire of profit, for the love of rupees, annas, and pice. An agreement is drawn up. The share of each partner is carefully defined. A house is hired for 16 or 20 rupees per month; a durwan is employed; a few old forms and desks are purchased; and a board, with "Patriotic College for Hindoos"-is suspended from one of the windows of the school house. The partners are elected, and golden visions float before their eyes. Every new pupil sets them on a calculation of what the share of each will be. Perhaps twenty pupils-five at a rupee per month, and the rest at eight annas-are admitted. The rest of the partners are next employed about engaging the services of a Head Master, who must be a Christian. It is at the same time necessary to obtain the services of one, who is known to the Hindu community. The person is fixed upon; and two of the partners are deputed to negociate with him. At dark of the evening, the partners arrive, and are accommodated with seats. They begin by asking a few questions as to how the school, with which 'the gentleman is connected, is progressing. Then they 'flatter him by comparing him to Bacon, or Gibbon, or Milton. Lastly they open the battery upon him about their own school, and promise him a hundred rupees per month, and a half share in the school. The offer is tempting; for the poor fellow has been perhaps in the receipt of fifty rupees. 6 Of course on taking leave, they put the gentleman in mind, that ' he must bring some scholars with him. 'Oh !' replies the gentleman-my going away will ruin the school. I'll bring a hundred scholars.' The deed is written and duly signed. • Mr. becomes head master of the Patriotic College. A applies for his 'month rolls away-and no pupils; Mr. 6 hundred rupees. No funds' is the reply, and a squabble ensues. Where is my hundred rupees for last month? is returned by,- Where are the hundred boys you promised? Mr. runs after the partners to kick them, who run away, be'ing light birds. The few scholars shout, abuse, and also run; the durwan closes the gate, puts a padlock on it, and makes his exit with the partners; Mr. finds himself imprison'ed. His palkee and set of bearers arrive; and the latter set ' him free. He returns home, and finds that, on the strength ' of a hundred rupees, he has entered into obligations, which 'he has not the means of discharging. Thus ends the College." All these private schools pursue the system of education adopted by the Government: and it is amusing to see boys, who will all at the most receive employments of ten or sixteen rupees per month, reading Bacon and Pope, and studying Mathematics, while Arithmetic and plain English, and reading and writing, with composition, are entirely overlooked. It is not the less amusing to read the Sign-posts over these schools to "catch the passers-by." We must now bring our remarks to a close. Our sketch has been simply historical; and, as such, may not be without its use. ART. IX.-1. Narrative of the United States' Expedition to the River Jordan and the Dead Sea, by W. F. Lynch, U. S. N. Commander of the Expedition. London. Richard Bentley. 1849. 2. Sketches of Travels in Egypt and the Holy Land, by the Rev. J. A. Spencer, M. A. With illustrations. London. John Murray. 1850. Calcutta. R. C. Lepage and Co. 6 THE expedition, whose labours we propose to describe, originated in the following manner. After the surrender of Vera Cruz to the American forces in 1847, Lieut. Lynch applied to the head of the Naval department in the United States, for permission thoroughly to survey the Dead Sea; "whose extent, con'figuration, and depression, were as much desiderata to science, as the wondrous traditions respecting it are objects of interest to the Christian." He received a favourable answer, and was instructed to make the needful preparations. By special authority, two metallic boats were constructed for the survey; one of copper, the other of galvanized iron. They were so fitted together as to be easily taken to pieces and two strong trucks were provided, upon which, if practicable, they might be transported overland. Air-tight water-bags, tents, flags, sails, oars, preserved meats, cooking utensils, and instruments were carefully procured and every member of the expedition was supplied with arms. These arms consisted of such "wonderful instruments of civilization" as a "blunderbuss, fourteen carbines with long bayonets, fourteen pistols-four of them with six revol'ving barrels, and ten with bowie-knife blades attached-and 'swords with pistol-barrels near the hilt." These last were subsequently declared by an intelligent Arab, not without a show of reason, to be "the devil's invention." The party consisted of fourteen individuals; ten men to man the boats, and four officers. Among the latter were Lieut. Dale and Mr. Aulick, midshipman, who, as draftsmen, rendered the expedition great service, and to whom we are indebted for the maps and beautiful sketches, which illustrate the narrative. On November 26, 1847, the expedition sailed in the Supply for the Coast of Syria. At Beyrút they completed their preparations-engaging a geologist, physician and interpreter: and finally disembarked at Acre, in order to cross the country to the Lake of Tiberias. In providing the carriage necessary for that object, they experienced, of course, much trouble from the Pasha of Acre; a Syrian gentleman, who, a few years before, had swept the streets, which he now walked as governor. But they secured the services of a clever Arab Sheikh, named Akil, who, having recently raised a successful rebellion against the Sultan among the Arab tribes, had been rewarded for his prowess by the appointment of Colonel of Irregular Cavalry, and a superb dress of honour! A second ally, possessed of some moral weight, was found in Sherif Hazza of Mecca. He was brought into the service, as Lieut. Lynch tells us, by the important consideration, that "instead of a party of private individuals, we were commissioned officers and seamen, from a far distant but powerful country; that, with us, I knew he believed in the writings of Moses; and that, with solutions of scientific questions, we hoped to convince the incredulous that Moses was a true prophet. The first grand difficulty of the land-journey was to find animals that would draw the trucks, whereon the all-important boats were laid. Horses were tried, but utterly failed. Happily, however, the first sleep of the commander after the failure was much disturbed by an attack of nightmare, the burden of which was a camel; and, in the morning, he resolved to try the animals, whose shadowy representatives had so greatly troubled his repose. Three camels were harnessed to each truck; and to the delight of all, not omitting the whole population of Acre, the huge animals drew their burden with ease. This obstacle removed, the party soon started on their way. The journey lay through the beautiful vale of Abilene, enamelled with flowers, and thence through the great plain of El Buttauf, north of Nazareth. Our readers may be interested to know the appearance of this novel cavalcade, both on their journey and in camp : Passing along this ravine, in a south-easterly direction, for threequarters of a mile, the boats rattling and tumbling along, drawn by the powerful camel trains, we came, at 9-30, upon a branch of the great plain of Buttauf. The metal boats, with the flags flying, mounted on carriages drawn by huge camels, ourselves, the mounted sailors in single file, the loaded camels, the sherîf and the sheikh, with their tufted spears and followers, presented a glorious sight. It looked like a triumphal march. We therefore pitched our tents upon a gently sloping esplanade; and our Bedowin friends were over-against us. It was a picturesque spot; on the left of our tents, which faced the south, were the trucks with the two boats, forming a kind of entrenchment; behind these, were about thirty camels, and all our horses. From the boats, and in front of our white tents, the American flag was flying; and, just beyond, an officer and two sailors, with carbines, had mounted guard, with the loaded blunderbuss between them. The tent of our allies was a blue one; and the horses tethered near, and tufted spears in front, together with their striking costume, varied and enlivened the scene.-Pp. 146-148. The obstacles encountered in the way were very great. The |