the
Low-countries, where for the avoyding of this tedious
sitting still, and with irksome poring on the book all day
long, after the scholler hath received his lecture, he
leaveth the school for an houre, and walkes abroad with one
or two of his fellows, either into the field or up among the
trees upon the rampire, as in ANTWERP, BREDA, VTRECHT, &c.,
when they confer and recreate themselves till time calls
them in to repeat, where perhaps they stay an hour; so
abroad again, and thus at their pleasure the whole day," p.
26. Thus have we pursued the _History of the Education of
Boys_ to a period quite modern enough for the most
superficial antiquary to supply the connecting links down to
the present times. Nor can we conclude this prolix note
without observing upon two things which are remarkable
enough: first, that in a country like our own--the
distinguishing characteristics of whose inhabitants are
gravity, reserve, and good sense--lads should conduct
themselves with so much rudeness, flippancy, and tyranny
towards each other--and secondly, that masters should, in
too many instances, exercise a discipline suited rather to a
government of despotism and terror than to a land of liberty
and social comfort! But all human improvement, and human
happiness, is progressive. Speramus meliora!]

LYSAND. But you must not believe every thing that is said in favour of
_Continental_ lenity of discipline, shewn to youth, if the testimony
of a modern newspaper may be credited!----

LIS. What your newspaper may hold forth I will not pretend to enter
into.

LYSAND. Nay, here is the paragraph; which I cut out from "_The
Observer_," and will now read it to you. "A German Magazine recently
announced the death of a schoolmaster in Suabia, who, for 51 years,
had superintended a large institution with old fashioned severity.
From an average, inferred by means of recorded observations, one of
the ushers had calculated that, in the course of his exertions, he had
given _911,500 canings, 121,000 floggings, 209,000 custodes, 136,000
tips with the ruler, 10,200 boxes on the ear, and 22,700 tasks by
heart_. It was further calculated that he had made _700 boys stand on
peas, 6000 kneel on a sharp edge of wood, 5000 wear the fool's cap,
and 1,700 hold the rod_. How vast (exclaims the journalist) the
quantity of human misery inflic