Journal of education, 1 décembre 1868, Décembre

JOURNAL OF EDUCATION.Volume XII.Quebec, Province of Quebec, December, 1868.No.12.SUMMARY.—Literature : The British Canadian Poets, A Lecture delivered by the Revd.Æn.McD.Dawson, (continued).—Education : On Elocution Generally Applied by Mrs.Simpson, Montreal.—Science : Geology, by T- Sterry Hunt, F- R- S.— Official Notices.—Appointments : Examiners McGill Model(Girls) School, Montreal ; School Commissioners and Trustees.—Books Sanctioned by the Council of Public Instruction.— Erections, &rc., of School Municipalities.—Diplomas Granted by Boards of Examiners —Donations to the Library of the Ministry of Public Instruction.—Editorial : To the Readers of the Journal; Departure of Lord Monck from Canada ;—General Wyndham, Administrator Arrival of Sir John Young, the New Governor-General, in Canada.—Books and Publications Received —Monthly Summary : Educational Intelligence, Literary Intelligence, Scientific Intelligence, Meteorological Intelligence and Tables.LITERATURE.British Canadian Poets.Lecture by the Rev.Æ.McDonell Dawson.{Continued from our last.) The Right Revd.Geo.Jehoshaphat Mountain.Bishop Mountain who was the son of the first Protestant Bishop of Quebec, and who died at that city in 1863, was chiefly celebrated for his amiability of character, and his numerous prose writings.His “ Songs of the Wilderness,” a volume of elegant and classical compositions published in London (1846), is lost sight of in the number of his more important works.We must claim, however, that he has added to the valuable amount.of Canadian poetical literature.The most competent Judges have eulogized the poetical productions of Miss Harriet Annie Wilkins.This Lady, better known as “ Harriet Annie,” possessed the faculty of writing in verse whilst yet a child.She had nearly a volume of Poems composed before she was 14 years of age.Her published collections of Poems are ‘* The Holly Branch,” and “ The AcaciaThe latter work reached asecond edition which was published in 1864.Dr.Charles Mackay referring to these Poems, speaks of “ the play of fancy,” “ the poetical feeling,” “ the command of both imagery and language,” which they possess.You will not expect that I should say all that could be said, or even all that 1 could say, concerning the Hon.Thomas D’Arcy McGee.This gentleman is so eminent as an historian, an orator and a statesman, that we can scarcely think of him as a Poet.Who considers McCaulay or the late accomplished Earl of Carlisle as Poets?And yet, both these orators, authors and statesmen have written poetical pieces of great elegance and beauty, which would have made a reputation for less celebrated men, and clever men too.Mr.T.D’Arcy McGee would be renowned as a Poet, but for his greater renown as a writer and speaker of prose.We lose sight of his highly meritorious volume of ballads when perusing some of his orations.And though we delight to behold him beuding pensively over the tomb of the immortal Tasso, and expressing in classical and melodious verse, the emotions that arose in his mind, as he stood on the spot consecrated by the presence of departed genius, this incident, however interesting, dwindles into insignificance when we consider the statesman and the minister of state representing the interests of this great Dominion among the Powers of Europe and at the centre even of wide Christendom.Mr.McGee enjoyed in his early boyhood the friendship and companionship of that truly great man the late Daniel O’Connell.At the age of seventeen, he came to settle in America.But soon afterwards, accepting the invitation of Mr.O’Connell to become a member of the editorial staff of “ The Dublin Freeman,” newspaper, he returned to Ireland his native country.Descended from a respectable family of Ulster, and rich in the friendship of the noblest and the best he might have lived honored and independent, if not wealthy, in the land of his birth.But the cause of reform not advancing in that country according to his ardent wishes and as all right thinking men who had at heart the well-being of their fellow-country men, no less earnestly desired, he once more sought his home in the United States of America.He had not been long there, when his friends of Montreal invited him to that city where he became the editor of the journal known as “ The New Era.” Whilst yet engaged in editorial labours, his fellow-citizens deputed him to represent them in the Canadian Parliament.He is still (1) (1868) their representative in the General Parliament or “ House of Commons” of the Dominion of Canada.Erom May 1862 till May 1863, Mr.McGee held office as President of the Executive Council, and again from April 1864 until the Union of the Provinces.In that capacity, he represented the United Provinces of British North America at the late Dublin Exhibition and the Exposition Universelle at Paris.If he does not since the Union of the Provinces occupy the high position of a Minister of State, his own disinterestedness is alone to blame.At the banquet lately given in his honor, at Ottawa, and in which many leading representative men of all the Provinces took part, together with alfthe members of the Government except three whose health would not allow them to leave their homes, the Mayor of Ottawa who filled the chair, the Bishop and a fair representation of the clergy, it was stated by Sir John A.Macdonald, K.C.B.and Premier of Canada, that Hr.McGee at the present moment, occupied a higher place in the estimation of his fellow-countrymen than if he were at the head of the Government ;for, he had sacrificd the position which he might have held there,—which he was asked to hold, in order that all the Provinces might be more completely represented in the counsels of the Dominion.This was more than a well deserved compliment.Coming from the quarter whence it came, and delivered in the presence, in which it was delivered, it possessed all the value of a tribute of the highest order to disinterested worth, and became historically important.0 On his return from his public mission to Europe,—to Dublin to Paris, to Rome, Mr.McGee was honored with an ovation by 'the (1) This Lecture was delivered the 26th Feb.1868. 174 JOURNAL OF EDUCATION citizens of Ottawa.With the Mayor at their head, they bade him welcome, presenting addresses, ne.Burke born, 1730-Cicero born, B.C.107.Wyatt, Sculp., died, aged 86.3863.Sir Isaac Newton born, 1642.War between French and Eng.Col., 1690.2nd Sunday after Christmas.Duko of York died, 1827.EPIPHANY’, feast of obligation.Princess Charlotte born, 1796.Galileo died, 1642-l-aval University, 2nd term commences.Lord Nelson buried, 1806.Sir Charles Bagot arrived in Canada, 1842.Linnæus died, 1778.1st lottery in England, 1569.1st Sunday after Epiphany.Times News paper established, 1785.Halley, Astronomer, died, 1742.Oxford Lent term begins, British Museum opened, 1759.Orsini Plot.1858.L.J.Papineau elected Speaker, 1817.Battle of Corunna, 1809.Franklin born.1706.Mozart born.1756.Hartley colliery accid., 1862.Mgr.Denault died.1806.Mutiny of the military at Madrid, 1835.2nd Sunday after Epiphany.James Watt, Inv.of St.Engine, b., 1736.Capture of the Dutch fleet by the French hussars.1795.Louis XVI.beheaded, 1793.Vaccination introduced, 1799.Lord Byron born, 1788.Comm, treaty between France and Eng., 1860.Duke of Kent died, 1820.Pitt died, 1806.Burning of Chateau St.Louis.1834- Frederick the Groat born, 1712.Teachers’ Con veut ion.(Laval Normal School.) 3rd Sunday after Epiphany.Greece declared independent.1822- Peter the Great died, 1725.Henry VIII- died, 1547- Arrival of Lord Elgin, 1847.George III.died, 1820.Catholic Emancipation, 1829- Charles I.beheaded, 1649.Teachers’ Convent ion, (Jacques-Cartier Normal School.) February, Februarius, from Feh'ua, name of the sacrifices which took place during this month, was the last month of the year during the earlier ages of Rome, but the Decemvirs placed it next to January.FEBRUARY.DAYS.Satur.1 SUN.?Mond.3 Tuesd.4 Wedn.5 Thurs.6 Frid, 7 Satur.8 |SUN.9 Mond.10 Tuesd.11 W edn.1?Thurs.13 iFrid.14 Satur.1ft SUN.l(i (Mond.17 !Tue»d.1« Wedn.10 Thurs.30 Frid.31 Satur.2?SUN.33 Mond.34 Tuesd.25 Wedn.26 Thurs.27 Frid.28 Satur.29 REMARKABLE EVENTS,