and in the fifth century, under the command of Hengist and Horsa, effected a landing in Britain. They were received with joy by the Britons, who desired their assistance in repelling the attacks of the Scots and Picts from Ireland and Scotland. But having accomplished this, they were unwilling to leave the island, and a fiercely contested war of the races ensued, until the native Britons were not only conquered, but exterminated. Hardly a trace of their language, laws, or lineage, remained. Their fate was strikingly similar to that of the American Indians. The Anglo-Saxons were Pagans. Christianity was introduced into Britain in the seventh century. From this period may be dated the rise of their written litera ture. The language continued in its pure state until its purity was in some way affected by the irruptions of the Danes, who obtained a foothold, more or less permanent, from the eighth to the tenth centuries. They were several times defeated by King Alfred the Great, himself one of the first Anglo-Saxon writers. A second change of the language was effected, upon the Conquest of England by William of Normandy, in the eleventh century, by the intermixture of the Norman-French. Although the Normans held but comparatively little intercourse with the conquered people, whom they considered as an inferior and serflike race, in the course of two hundred years a language compounded of the two was formed, known as the old English. Finally, the Latin element was introduced, with small additions from the Greek and other languages, and the result was the English language; - a heterogeneous compound, but not surpassed for copiousness and power of expression. Its composition is stated to be in the proportion of about five-eighths Anglo-Saxon, three-sixteenths Latin, one-eighth Greek, and the remainder a compound of French, Spanish, and other tongues.

Y. Y.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.-"We regard them as, under God, the affluent source of New England's enterprise and skill, her quiet and thrift, her safety at home, and her honor abroad. They are the check and the balance of power; the poor man's treasure and the rich man's bond. They are the eyes of liberty, and the hands of law, as they are both the root and the offspring of religion. They were devised by a foresight that reaches every interest of man: they were established by a sacrifice that proves the depth of principle which decreed their being; and they have been guarded, from age to age, by the sleepless vigils of wisdom and goodness. Be it ours, then, to cherish, to improve and to transmit them as a holy trust bearing in its hands the record of past, and the pledge of future good."

MASSACHUSETTS TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.

THE Eighth Annual Session of this Association was held in New Bedford, Monday and Tuesday, the 23d and 24th of November, 1852.

MONDAY EVENING.

The meeting was opened by prayer from Rev. Mr. Thomas, of New Bedford, after which the President, William H. Wells, Esq., of Newburyport, congratulated the Association upon the favorable auspices under which they had met, and the kindness and attention which had been shown them by the citizens of New Bedford. He referred to the good which the Association was doing in the cause, and alluded to the "Massachusetts Teacher," and the publication of the proceedings and lectures of the Association, as evidences that a good work was being accomplished. Journals similar to the "Teacher" had been, or would soon be, published in many other States of the Union. Mr. Wells spoke of his recent tour in the West. The cause was rapidly progressing in that part of the country. The schools in St. Louis, Chicago, and many other places that he had visited, were in a most flourishing condition. Mr. Wyman's School in St. Louis was not surpassed by similar institutions in New England. We must labor zealously in the cause, or our western brethren would lead us. He hoped to receive letters from the West, during the session, which would give valuable information fresh from the scene of action, and which he would read. occupied an interesting point in the history of Education; at first, we had rushed on with impetuosity, afterwards we had paused for reflection. It would be strange if some errors had not been committed. We were now making healthy progress, and were gathering strength for greater results.

We

Teachers should not complain that they are not appreciated; this was not true. Never was there a time when we were held in so high estimation. There was more of the esprit de corps among teachers than in any other profession; we were better united than any other body of men. Everywhere had the principle of association among teachers extended, and this was leading to the most satisfactory results. Whilst we were appreciated by the public, we should not complain, but should endeavor to show ourselves worthy of such estimation.

After the reading of the Journal by the Secretary, a committee of nine was appointed by the chair to nominate officers for the ensuing year, as follows:-Messrs. Greenleaf of Bradford, Mansfield of Cambridge, Blake of West Tisbury, Tenney of

Pittsfield, Emerson of New Bedford, Kneeland of Dorchester, Hammond of Monson, Hunt of Plymouth, and Allen of Boston.

A Lecture was then delivered by Mr. Goldthwaite, of Westfield, on "Permanent Results in Teaching." [The Lectures will all be published in the "Transactions." We will, therefore, not attempt a report of them.]

The motion to amend the second article of the Constitution, so that any practical teacher of the State may become a member of the Association, offered at the last meeting by Rev. Mr. Peirce, of Waltham, was taken from the table, and after a long discussion, Messrs. Peirce, Reed and Kneeland, in the affirmative, and Messrs. Vail, Thayer, Poor, Greenleaf and Northend, in the negative, was decided in the negative by a large majority. The Association then adjourned to meet at 9 o'clock on Tuesday.

SESSION OF TUESDAY.

Mr. Peirce, of Waltham, gave notice that at the next Annual Meeting he should move to strike the word "male" from the second article of the Constitution, and also to amend the title of the Association by adding thereto the word "male."

The subject of Membership was introduced by Mr. Joshua Bates, Jr., of Boston, who offered the following resolution, which was discussed and adopted, to wit:-Any individual who has once been a member of the Massachusetts Teachers' Association shall be considered as such after leaving the business of teaching, until he shall obtain a regular discharge.

Mr. Greenleaf reported for the Committee on Nominations, and was instructed to report in print.

The Report of the Treasurer was read, and referred to a Committee of three, consisting of Messrs. Hammond, Philbrick, and Parish.

A Committee of fourteen, one from each County, was appointed to take the names of teachers attending the meeting, with the view of publishing them in the "Massachusetts Teacher."

At 10 o'clock, the orders of the day were taken up. Mr. Blake of West Tisbury, Chairman of the Committee appointed at the last meeting to take into consideration the subject of Phonetics, reported favorably in their behalf, and the report was read. [See page 25.] The following resolution was offered for consideration:

Resolved, That School Committees be recommended to introduce the new plan of instruction only into schools under the charge of teachers willing to use it.

Mr. Hammond, of Monson, by request, read a minority report, [to be published in a future number.] After remarks by Mr.

Sherwin, of Boston, in favor of testing Phonetics in our schools, the reports, with the resolution, were laid on the table, and the orders of the day were proceeded with.

The Committee on Prize Essays submitted the following report, which was adopted:

REPORT.

The whole number of Essays offered is twenty: sixteen by ladies, on "Moral and Religious Instruction in Schools," and four, by gentlemen, on "The Self-Improvement of Teachers."

One of the former class being sent in after the 1st of November, was thought, on that account, to be void of all claim to consideration.

In estimating the relative value of these Essays, the Committee esteemed it their duty to take into consideration, not only the sentiments, motives, and arguments, presented in the several contributions, but also the literary merits or defects by which each might, in any degree, be characterized. Hence, the arrangement of the matter, the choice and collocation of the words and phrases, and other requisites of a good style, as well as the essential elements of all tolerable composition, correct grammar, orthography, and punctuation, have been regarded as subjects of criticism. Nor is illegible penmanship to be considered as any special recommendation of a literary production.

Taking all these circumstances into view, the Committee are highly gratified with the excellence of a considerable number of the Essays. In their opinion, these contributions, for the most part, reflect honor upon the authors, and demonstrate the good judgment of the Association in stimulating teachers to write. Indeed the preparation of these Essays must have been highly beneficial, even to the most unsuccessful of the writers. It is gratifying, therefore, that so many have been offered this year, and it is hoped that even a greater number will be annually presented in future.

Your Committee found little difficulty in agreeing that three of the contributions offered by ladies, have claims superior to those of the others; but to make a selection from those three occasioned no inconsiderable embarrassment. They endeavored, however, to come to an honest and correct decision, and have assigned the prize to Essay No. 12, by Miss Margaret Bliss, of Springfield.

The Essays contributed by gentlemen, are all of a highly creditable character, and it is a matter of regret that there was not a greater number presented. Let not teachers of our sex fail, in future, to do their full share of work in this department of usefulness. The Essay marked D, by Mr. M. P. Case, of Newburyport, is considered as entitled to the prize.

As many of the Essays contain excellent matter for publication, it is suggested, that, unless they should be called for by the authors, they be left at the disposal of the Board of Editors of the Massachusetts Teacher.

All which is respectfully submitted.

Committee

THOMAS SHERWIN,

CHAS. J. CAPEN,

on

JONA. TENNEY,

Prize Essays.

New Bedford, Nov. 23, 1852.

Mr. Stearns, of Boston, requested leave in behalf of the Lawrence Association of boys, to present to the Massachusetts Teachers' Association, for gratuitous distribution, some copies of a lecture on the use of tobacco. The request was granted with applause, and a vote of thanks, on motion of Mr. Peirce, of Waltham, was presented in response.

On motion of Mr. Bates, a Committee of five was appointed to take into consideration the claims of gentlemen, who, in past years, had made pecuniary sacrifices in aid of the "Massachusetts Teacher," and report at the next meeting; and Messrs. Reed of Roxbury, Bates, Sherwin, and Thayer of Boston, and King of Lynn, were appointed.

Nathan Bishop, Esq., Superintendent of Schools in Boston, was elected an honorary member of the Association.

On motion of Mr. Peirce, a Committee of five was appointed to report at the next meeting on revising the Constitution, and to propose amendments for that object, and also a set of special rules; and Messrs. Peirce of Waltham, Vail of Salem, and Bates, Thayer, and Stearns of Boston, were appointed.

Messrs. Philbrick and Thayer of Boston, Smith of Cambridge, Blake of Tisbury, and Metcalf of Worcester, were appointed a committee to organize a Board of Editors for the "Massachusetts Teacher," for 1853.

Mr. M. P. Case, by invitation, then read his Prize Essay, and the Association adjourned to quarter of 2 o'clock.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Dr. Stone submitted a proposition from the Managers of Madame Alboni's Concert, to be held in New Bedford in the evening, offering certain facilities for the same. Thanks for the compliment were expressed, and the proposition was laid on the table.

Mr. Hammond, from the Auditing Committee, reported in their behalf on the Finances.

Mr. Tenney of Pittsfield submitted the following resolution, which was referred to the Committee on the Constitution :

Resolved, That Art. II of the Constitution of this Associa