Daily Dispatch, Volume 39, Number 14, 16 July 1870 — Page 2

' XSKttJ SATURDAY ?*ULY 16? 18'0, France Declares War. France declares war, as is now plain she meant to do in the event of failing to inflict upon Prussia an indignity ho deep as to gratify French pride, and comjtensale French diplomancy for its blunders in the Prussio-Austrian war. France would <Ioul>tIes* have preferred the humiliation ol* Prussia ; but. the war will relight flic flames of national resentment at the holy alliance against JHapolkon I. and the treaty of 1815. It ig true that it will only afford opportunity for revenge against one of the allies, unless it takes a wider scope, and includes other parties than the two now involved. But then it is safer for France to take them In detail than to encounter the. large oddx of contending against them all, and more than probably falling as did the

mighty Napoujo n. attempt to The French Etnpcror ?dl make the war "Kharp,^"^ Aurtrl?,) (as was that between ?i itusand wind it ?1> ' , r(.form:it ion sia in thenat onal? de.a.?las.oK.i)ewit ?( the French ljoundc-of ^ awlslltWy the wrongs of I to I Knmc(, tllis? will O^ol"hcr nations' permit it to be done? Is h,-re 'till alive enough "f 'he sentiment" syinpat by and of redproi,d ".^re^ ue-pir^ l,v the alliance :igamst the nrst * a to induce another combination a^] . v ., inheritor of his name and ^ t"hav? hardly tof to speculate before Sdirrr?en^her IS reatiy , anu Powers to move quick. It "ie out? h arc to do anything they must wt at erne. En-land, however, has latterly mamfe-ted ,m ^disposition to meddle with matters not Immediately bearing upon her own inter,.?ti The outgivings of a ministerial chatarter on several occasions, and especally at the time of the war between rrus?aand Austria, satisfied the world, we believe^ that Kngland had changed her mind about bol> alliances, and meant thereafter to address herself to her own interests, going no farthi S the " ??* of mankind" than she might ;i; example, appeal, and remonstrance, for the preservation ol peace and la . amongst nations. She has "gone into t-ade," and would rather now feed and clothe and arm the legions of other nations than to do any of their fighting. Ittuwa ha* no present ambition beyond the exteuCThercmpireinAsiain^eh.hejs impinging so closely upon her British possessions in India as to engender suspicion, that mav of themselves be obstacles to some extent in the way of any cordial reciprocal intention between liussla and fcngln d. These two nations are everything in this mutter. If they remain silent, no othei will interfere. Austria, the onl> .'emaimng .reat Power of the Old Alliance, is more in nympathv with France than w itli 1 ru>"h havin^'so recently suffered defeat, along with the loss of much of her territory, from U The war is prima facie a war without a cause. It isforced by France for redressing wrongs she conceives to have been done her in the past and to gratify long-treasured rebutments ; hut, above all, to restrain the growing power and influence of Prussia that, in the eye of France, is a constant menace of the Empire, and in the view of the Emperor a constant threat toward.- lu* Imperial succession. These motives unite all France and determine the Emperor 011 W There could be hardly ? eoolei* pieco of taunting irony than that of b Constitulionncl in charging that 1 russia has forced France into war! It will be a war in earnest. The national feelings ol the two nations are of the best kind to make it a struggle of a bitter and relentless character. The parties are well matched in courage and discipline. France is probably the best prepared, but Prussia lias just won honor and renown that will stimulate liei armies to great deeds. In numbers there will probably be little difference. But France, having only developed a foregone determination, has no doubt been preparing with the view of an impetuous movement, seeing how such strategy served Prussia at Sadowa. As Tdikbs said 111 the French Legislaure June 30 : 4 'Why did Sadowa pro- << duce such an unexpected spectacle? Be?'cause the Government of Berlin was .. reaJy and that of Vienna was not pre- ? pared. In that way empires arc lost" The war will be a bloody one. It. is to be hoped, for the interest of civilization and humanity, that it will be of short duration.

The War and the Drought. France goes to war in the midst of drought. During the four months of March, April, May, and June, there fell in Paris only fifty - tive millimetres of rain, when upon an average there should have fallen 173 millimetres. The amount for the four month*, therefore, was less than a third of an average fall, and it fell within thirty days instead of being spread over forty-nine. A millimetre is a thousandth part of a metre, which is English inches. The aspect of crops generally is reported as very inferior, while the hay crop that has matured is go deficient that the price has doubled. The markets are overstocked with animals, which, farmers not being able to subsist, are crowded into the towns for sale. They are generally in very bad order, and sell for low

prices. These facts are apparently well attested, although the Government commissioners report a somewhat more moderate eflect of the drought. The grain crop must !>c very deficient, while, it is said, the root crops have been so seriously injured that they, too, would he greatly below an average, putting farmers to straits in subsisting their stock. In the midst of this state of things Niro- ! lkon goes to war. But in France the Government takes care of the people, and makes up the deficit In the crops by importations from ubroad. Therefore, France is not as much troubled by a drought in the matter of war as other nations might be. She feeds her people in time of jKmee, and can as well feed them when fighting. In the Frenchman's view, the war being a necessity, it is a piece of economy to employ the ineu the Government must feed in lighting. The agricultural interests iu this country will derive some benefit from the drought and the war by an advance in breadstull's. But it would bean error, we apprehend, to anticipate a very great demand from Europe. The granaries of that part of the globe are immense, and they have the advantage of proximity. We concur with the Norfolk Virginian in its suggestion that the efforts to build up a Democratic party in Virginia have been a dead weight to the Democratic party at the Worth and West. Such help the leaders of the national party have cover coveted. They have 1 >e?ged that the restless spirits in Virginia should keep quiet and let matters goon. The Virginian is, furthermore, enflreiy correct in Us opinion that it would i

wl'b^r. bettor had Virginia tecn uimprcsentcd In the New York couvcnMon of '08. The absence of her deleft have been better than ^ J^ould r^A --- ? rr?t? srattJis tional polities. Hie '.'l' in Ot|,or days who made a trade of po i Virginia In"'" havo been too r 'X'^^efore -he (he arena before she - . (n n;ltional can lie benefited by ,Jlk,nf { ' 1ivi(I(. 0n impolitic*. H i? not tlnw 5? *t??J ?)ir ?wn ? tional questions. Wo ? a,?i in il>? domestic affair" bot %,< of such Interim avail ??wlv??f (aki?a place, changes as an' now rap ,,lnndern We shall lie better f" " ? domestic and shall better secure ou agiu. order and rro*p0"re' ,,;,rlv alliances? the tions? no I'^'msen-ativcs for present p'hricsl ThatJ-^tto true platform. Spain. Poor Spam has no cause for in the matter Of the Warl?twecn ? ran?-; and Prussia, and is b''\C? md l-i"-press tlwt. feeling if she hail it. I . eol.n taken the offered crown, hat > m ^ ?aVe been a different affair. Wnt ? niii" it at the dictation of*r.moe . . inspire more aversion for linn tian potentate to whose dictation ho But the subordination of . I ? Unnrosiati policy would lie unna t lo ductive of satisfaction ""JJ^^idcr the Spanish people, am ???? thnnselves veil out of a disagieenwu pHcation by the intervention ol Loun !?*- POLEON. ~ THE WAR IN EUROPE. Prussia n^Nontl.?crmaiiJ'. Assnmin" that the casus belli is not the c^ofP^^r^ V^?fSdUficnUte^^^^ ???io?S.at-hc overbearing pretentions us to the right of 1 1 ? she ^.IS lately inline of European \ . ' ? anv jnterdieatMl it is bcyoni ' dou ihe tw0 ference she n^olu ntej 0,,U!1?y sections of Otim.|n> c0uth German resented bv both- rto?.ritmlastwo kinsStates may be ' 'tfl.\?hi(!s and two petty doms, two grand du ^ of c Utln'iT t Ui'rty "'iVw r* o V ?l??i their armies in time oi w. s akinff m ??ta?lmaud ot the iuiin u. the in. the ease of .i v actual limits, saj,'f, remai k> . j (?ermany arms to grasp the Rhine, aim fcct)V ski. 1^" ... , be,M,n to suspect that national uml t . ? it areuni. and that '?mie great (*ui i . ^.miT(1 to oun great Prussia." ltut if compelled to11"'"^ ^" ImV lot with "lliaucc has already half consummated.

Prince Leopold Etienue Charles A11toiiie OuMlave Erfounrd Tliassi lo, or Hohcnzollem-Sitrmariii^eia. It is u singular fact that of all the Princes of Europe, outside of France, the only ones with whom the Emperor of the French is connected hy ties of blood are Germans, and that those* to whom he is nearest related are members of the house of Jlohenzollern. And furthermore, it is a fact that such family connection is conilned to the Beauliarnais family, the Bonaparte house being limited to France. The young Prince whose candidature for the Spanish crow n has created so much excitement is in fact an own cousin of Napoleon by his mother's side. Ilortense and Eugene de Beauharnais were, it will be borne in mind, the children of Josephine, afterwards Empress of France, by her first husband, Viscount Alexauder de Beauharnais. An uncle of the Viscount, Count de Beauharnais, married the tamous Countess Fanny, by whom he had Claude de Beauharnais. 'This nobleman tilled the position of Chevalier of Honor to the Empress Marie Louise, wife of Napoleon I. One of his daughters, Stephanie Louise Adrienne, was the adopted child of the Emperor.

On the "8th ot April, sue married Charles Louis Frederick, Grand Duke of Baden, l>y whom she had two daughters, one of whom, the Princess Josephine Frederique Louise, was married on the 21st of October, 1834, to Prince Charles Antoine Joachim Zephyrin Frederic Mainnul, head of the house of IlohenzolfprnSigmaringen. It is noteworthy that this Prince is also in a measure connected with the .Napoleon family by reason of his mother, the Princess Antoinette Marie >lurat, being a sister of Joachim Murat, the great cavalry leader, who married Caroline Bonaparte, and whose children are now recognized as hereditary princesses of the French empire. The mother of the Emperor of the French, llortonse de Beauharnais, having been a Mood-cousin to Stephanie de l>eauharnais, the grandmother of the new candidate tor the Spanish crown, it follows that Napoleon and Leopold are cousins also. Scandal, which did not spare the name of llortense, was not over careful of the fame of Stephanie, of whom some not very favora

l>le stories are tokl. bhe was, however, so comparatively obscure that but few persons at the present time are even aware of her having been the adopted child of the great Corsican. She lived to a ripe old age (seventy-one), and died on the 29th of January, 1800. Apropos of Stephanie, her grandmother, the Countess Ftpiny, was one of the most talented and dissolute women of her day. She was a poetess and a romancer?of remarkable personal beauty, and was notorious in Paris for her numerous lovers, to the amorous poems of some of whom she is said to have siirned her name. Altogether, and truth to "tell, the females of the Beauharnais familv have never borne an unsullied reputation lor morality, although it must be admitted that several of them have been distinguished for the possession of a high order of intellect. It is curious to notice that of all the Princes created by the first Napoleon his family alone have "made a stir in the world since the fatal day of "Waterloo. Already a grandson of Stephanie has ascended" a throne? the brother of Prince Leopold, Prince Charles Eitel Frederick Zepnyrin Louis, being the present ruler of ltoumania. The Prince has never before appeared prominently in European politics. He is the eldest son of Prinee ( buries, and was born on the 22d of September, 1835. At present be holds the rank of LieutenantColonel of the First regiment of Prussian Foot Guards. On the 12th of Septeiul>er, 1801, he married the Princess Antoine Marie Ferdinande MichaelaGabriella Knphacle d' Assise Anne Gon/atfue Hlvine Juhe Auguste de Bragance Bourbon, Duchess of Saxe, sister of the reigning King of Portugal. The multiplicity of names belonging to this lady has not prevented her from becoming the mother of three children? all bovs ? to Priuce Leopold, the oldest of whom was bom in 1804. This is about all that can be said about Prinoe Leopold. The political significance of his candidai fcure for the crown of Spain lies in the fact 'that he is a Friuce of the Koyal house of

I Prussia. In 1849 his father ceded hiaterri- ] J tories to Prussia, abdicating to rator of King William. In 1850. by n rogf SfS??', the family were Invented w lt!l title Highness, and with the n:erogatives of Princes of the l.vyal family. In l^lhifl rank was Lnercnwcd by hla vestment with the title of Ttoya! Hfchnes*. *;Wch? }}e!^ hereditary. defend" to his eldest son, the Prince Leopold- ilemoie a- is the probability of Ktich a thing, it is nevertheless not impossible for the cljjmarUigen, branch of the Hohcnzollern family, if which the King of Prussia is the head 'of ail. to ascend the throne of Prussia. For the purpose of en;?i I?ji r the reader to perceive at a glance the . dationship exist- 1 injr between the Em per >r Napoleon and I Prince Leopold we subj -in the following genealogical table : HEAD OF THE I- \ MILY. Marquis and March iunksj-' dk Beauiiarnais , Til K J it fc'O.'VK V Marquis Count de Beauiiarnais. uk Beauiiarnais. Father of Father of Alexander. First cju>!ii3. Claude. Father of Father of ? I : I . ? ; IfORTKNSE. Second Con- Ins. STEPHANIE. Motier of Mother of I ! Napoleon III. Third rou? ins Josephine. I I ? Mother of Napoleon III. 4. h cousins. Prince Leopold. The Princess, as already stated, married the Prince of 1 1 ohcii zol lenj-Si^maringen , and is the mother of Prince Leopold. .She ( being a third cousin of Napoleon III., her son is consequently a fourth cousin of the Emperor, as shown above. Curiously enough, the succession from the male Beauharnais ceased with both branches togetlier, and was continued from the females, Jlortense and Stephanie. And here it is also interesting to note that while Ilortense had none but male children, Stephanie had none but females. That the French Emperor should object to seeing his cousin-German on the Spanish throne is undoubtedly because the Prince happens to l>e a German cousin also, and a Prussian one at that. ? New York Herald.

Strength of European Armies. In view of the dispatcher from Europe it is interesting to know what military force the nations concerned can put in the field. France has 414,632 sol licrs on the peace footing, and 647,271 in the lield, a total of nearly 1,100,000. Of these, 370,000 men are now ready to march on the tap of the drum. Austria* has 274,470 men on the peace establishment, 838,700 of a war strength, or 300,000 fully prepared to move. Could the South German Confederation, or group of States, he secured on the same side, they have 66,5 40 men on the pence list, or 184,406 oil the war footing, with 107,000 of these prepared for instant service. Such a coalition would give France the control ot 777,0t>0 fighting men at once, with a reserve of 1,590,103 trained soldiers. On the other hand, Prussia has 726,000 men on the peace or 1,260,000 on the war footing, with 300, 000 now ready lor operations on her western frontier. "North Germany, going with Pni*sisi, has 315,526 on the peace, 551,009 on the field, or 944,321 on the war footing, of which 546,000 are instantly available. This would place at Prussian disposal 8-16,000 men for the first moment, and 1,364,321 in reserve. Thus she would have instantly 69,000 men more, and hereafter 231,785 less than the French aU liance. Should she he able to managS Southern Germany for her cause she would* have 1,053,000 men, or 176.000 more than France to move at once, or quite enough to cope with her and Austria together for the time being, with all the advantages of a common language and position. This would leave Prussia still a reserve of t. -141, 727 men, or only 151,379 less than that ? !' France and Austria coalesced? a dillerei: v swamped to the extent of nearly 90,000 j.: i by her superiority of immediate force. Italy, out of a force of 37;... 21 on a war footing, with 197, 000"-*'1 a reserve, or 573,721 in all, could spare pr..-siblv 2)-',000 men to operate on the Fren -ii frontier or hold a hostile corps in eheek. Tin- iMreet and open l?articipntion of Russia is hardly to be expected unless circuin*t;.iiees sliould force her into the melee. In that case she could dispose of about 250,000 men from about 700,000 composing her army in Europe, including the Cossacks. Hie could take no other course by lamily alliance, position, and the recollection of Crimean wounds, than to aid Prussia. Sweden and Denmark would, if they dared to move at all, have to go in the same direction, with about 50,000 men. Thus Italy, the Czar, and Scaudinavia. would bring King "\v ilham 500,000 men ?a force that," with South German aid, would place him 4^?<),00(i ahead of France, allowing England, Belgium, Holland, and Switzerland, to remain neutral. ISy the treaty of Prague, which was concluded August 30th, 1866, Prussia agreed that if the" people of Schleswig-Holstein should elect to unite with Denmark they should be ceded to that country ; that she would abandon and destroy the fortifications at Luxembourg before taking possession of Hanover. France claims that Prussia also agreed to abandon Mavence when she agreca to cede to Austria the territory south of the Alain. All these pledges Prussia has thus far neglected to fulfil, though >hc has withdrawn her troops from Luxembourg and made a pretence of dismantling the fortress, which, however, she doubtless intends instantly to relit and rcoceupy il war in the present case be declared by Fra m e.- -Philadelphia Bay.

The Iron-Mouldeks and tue Coolie?. ? The Iron-Moulders' International Cooperative Union, in session in Philadelphia, has adopted the following : " Jicsolvcd, That the International Union of Iron-Moulders, in convention assembled, hereby enter their most earnest protest against the further introduction or coolie labor into this couutry, and present a portion of the reasons which actuate them in donin^ so : First? The introduction of coolie labor into this country is calculated to reduce the wages of mechanics and laboring men to a rate of compensation upon which no American workingman can possiblvsub.-ist. Second? 1 will still further lower the social status ol time who are now socially low enough. Third ? It will lead to a state of pauperism, dependence and crime. Fourth? It will imperil the safety of our republican institutions. Fif'tli? It will inevitably degrade the morals of all those with whom the Chinese serfs are brought into contact, and the children not only of the poor, but of the rich as well, cannot avoid being contaminated by their customs and example. Sixth? It will discourage immigration to our shores of the hardy and virtuous sons of toll, who have aided in building up our country and elevating her to a proud position among the nations of the earth. Seventh? It will add to our population a class of people who do not desire citizenship, and who do not intend to remain permanently in our midst, and who cannot, therefore, "in any sense be considered an addition to the wealth and prosperity of our country. "Resolved, That believing as we do that all these and many more evils will result from this horrible tralfic, and feeling deeply the necessity of every trades organization taking action in the matter, we do hereby pledge ourselves to unite with any other organization in any lawful and honorable effort to check and suppress this inhuman traffic. 4< Jiesolved , That we are not opposed to voluntary emigration, but will extend the hand of welcome to the emigrant from'every clime who comes to share the privileges and benefits conferred upon us by our institutions." Rights of Colored Persons. William Weaver, a colored man, has brought suit in the superior court against the City Passenger Railway Company to recover damages for ejecting him from a car not assigned to colored persons. The object of the suit is to test the right of colored persons to all the privileges of travel enjoyed by white persons. Baltimore Sun. The Government of the Grand Duchy of Mecklcnburg-Schwerin ha* just purchased all the railroads in that State. The telegraph cable is soon to be laid between Shanghai and Hong-Kong.

From Our Special Reporter. EDUCATIONAL CONVENTION. SECOND DAY. ABLE BEPOXiT A V D 1 STFTIF.ST1 NO DISCU^BIOX ON ' 4 Tl 1 R bTt.J?Y OF ENOLTHJ [,*' *f.t Ar. Wabbsntom, \ a.. Jill; !-, 1870. The Association was r&ii.-d I > unbr at 10 o'clock, and opened with pra>i-r !?> Rev. J. W. AviBKTT.'ot Wiochest. r. I !;??< ir unannounced the l ? ?ll> wing committer : On Place or Vert Meeting. ? H- -i . Avirett, Phillip 7. ?, Leg.: re. On Finam .?Messrs. L. L. ! lay, Williamson, and A. 3Iaglll Smith. . On Educational Journal. ? Mc.-,sj . mes. Powell, LI. LI. Harris, and L. M. t^. j-iord. On motion of Mr. D.^Lee Fowet?., the clergymen of Warrenton and vicini'y were invited to sit as corresponding memb tf. A number of new members were elected, and other gentlemen arrived and took their seats. The Association then went into the election of ollicerg (with the result announced by telegraph). Commodore Maury insisted that his name bo withdrawn as auomiace for JM evident. , The election resulted in the choice of Commodore M aury as President, but as he felt called on to decline (with thanks) the honor. General F. II. Smith, of the Virginia Military Institute, was by acclamatiou elected I'resident. L'rofcssor Price insisted on the withdrawal of his name, and Mr. D. Lee Pow-ej-l, of Richmond, was by acclamation elected First Vice-President, and, in the absence of General .Smith, inducted into the chair. The other nominee* all having declined, the remaining officers v. re elected by acclamation, as follows : Sccond Vicc-Presidcnl T>v. J. W. Avirctt. of Winchester. Third V ice- President ? Pike Powers, Esq., of StaiL.ton. Fourth Vice-President? Colonel Hilary P.Jones, of Hanover Academy. Corresponding Secretary.? L. M. "Blackford, of Norwood School. Recording Secretary and Treasurer ? John M. Strother, of Richmond. Auditor ? C. II. Winston, of Richmond

Female Institute. Kev. Dr. Atkikson moved the thanks of t he Association to theout-^oingoflicers. He thought this due to them all, but more especially to the President (Professor John B. 31 in or), who had done more than any one else, not only to reorganize, but also to promote the general efficiency of the Association. Judge Leg/he offered as an amendment a resolution tendering the special thanks of the Association to Professor Minor for the singular ability, zeal, and eiHeiency, with which for tlu ee years he has devoted himself to the interests of the Association. The amend'. jent was accepted, and the resolution was inanimously adopted. Prosessor 31 tnor, in tittiug phrase, expressed his high appreciation ot the honor done him by the vote just passed, and dc-i .u to bear his testimony to the zeal and c!li iency of the other officers of the Asso^ia'" v. to whom more than the Presid'n' buai'.ibutcd the sucee.-s of the Association. Alter calling the committees to \iileh would be ready to report during inu session, The Committee on f% The Study o* :~V/lish, and the Modes of it s Study in P Academic , and Collegiate, Jnstitu ' .. ; being called on to report. Professor George F. IJolmk- (c.; . ..m of the committee) said that lie >va-- :? ?;?.* ;? of putting forward the young rt i n far ? possible, and would therefore call or. Ai . L. M. Blackford to rend the repon of the committee. The report, after speakim of th. importance of the ^mMci :, proposed t ? discuss the study of : tojlisk , and the no es of t'L< study in the '>'Jf jren! t 'layes c f e. 'aeation. The rep' ."i si a:> ni?. object ol < llH atiou to be tw>-'. Id?to it pare th" oing for the ordinary olli' ? r <. . lit'" "."id '..-.in all their faculties ? lie nio>i ed. generous, and elegant, pel foriur..< ?? ? >; ?jvery duty in any elation in which Lh?*; ;:.ay be placed. The on>> kind of viiica: i<,:> has been unhappily teriucd pr.;.*tic .1. i ? other known as liberal. I !)* ;, aiv n> ' <:ppo?ed, though their iinni > li ue aims an- 'ii^'mihr. They should always be combined > ? tar as it may be practical ro uaii i jeral education should . icve! li t\< . ' ? ? impair practical discernment : ? ? ? : but so much of liberal culture may ''i: ? Millable should alw!H> be co.'iioi- 'M v. :j practical training, i iio report .aw - i ? ? alue of linguistic studios as means u? .-.I education, and that for this no other I n/uage can take the pla. e of our mother ton rue. It most graphically and strikingly brings out the point that 'both, with nation- ai d individual, language is an index of c cter, ably and earnestly argues t he tance ol accuracy in its use, and show.. :?n means by which this can lie attained. * * * * "Where such

virtues and virtuous habits of mind uniforming, moulding, and purifying, the whole nation are pre-supposed and matured by the accurate employment of hi* native speech, it is not wonderful that all ages and all peoples have welcomed the perfection of oral and written composition with the highest admiration, and have deemed them the most commendable as they are the rarest of accomplishments. Hence have proceeded the lienors alway.accorded to the great poet, the great orator, the brilliant writer, and tiie graceful talker. Each illuminates truth 'darkened with eclipse' before ; and each reveals gems unrecognized without their due dressing and polish. Perfectly just, then, is the earnestness with which tfie consummate art of expression has evor been sought by the loftiest and best poised intellects, and the success in the art which has rewarded the lafgestjand purest intelligi u :es. If-these eminent and too little noted merits belong to the accurate and graceful Use of every living language, how mijch more do they attach to the proper employment of the richest and noblest of languages? the English tongue ! Be not startled by this strong commendation. What may seem extravagant praise is sustained by the greatest ot philologians? the late Jacob Grimm. Ot scarcely less weight is the admission of Koch, the ablest German writer in tnglish grammar, 'that the .English unites the power of the German with the flexibility of the Komace Tongues, and appears perfectly polished for every species of composition in verse or prose.' In sonorousness, smoothness, and plasticity, the English is inferior to the Greek ; in systematic regularity and terse penetration to the Latin ; in mechanical precision and in transparency to the French : in softness and vocalic melody to the Italian; in majestic dignity to the Spanish ; in elasticity and self-dependence to the German ; but if inferior to each of these languages in the characteristic excellence of each, it combines the merits of all in a remarkable ;degree with other and more.precious merits of its own." The report strikingly speaks of "the large dimensions of the English tongue," and brings out the wide extended power and influence which it asserts. * * *

"From the mouthlof the St. JLawreuce and the Newfoundland to the farthest wastes of Vancouver's island ; fi ..m Hudson's Bav and from 'Oonalaska's sl>eiv ' to the liio Brando and the Gulf of Gali^mi:;, our language is spoken and our r-?cc is spread. If the reveille of the English lirimi encompasses the globe and wake* up !h?>. morning on every line of longitude, M; music of the English speech attends Hit march of the sun, giving utt- nine u? hymns of praise and thanksgiving Cuir.vying knowledge, instructing natfyns and gutting a brond girdle nroiind the c-tirth? :i ond of communion stronger 1m irs ultimate influences than the stroii-j l ands of Orion." The report argues ihat English requires more study than any other, and has been most shamefully slighted by those who use it, . it being only- in ><;ry rc-eent yea is that any systematic attention has beer, given to English philology ami literature. Only within the last or tlu'ee year has any suitable provision for the- stuck .1 Enilish been made in England, and the provision in this country h-i-, been utter)) ta-l< <|U:Ue. The report ar^stos licit u'ule l^lish should not displace hum Jic ..cad?;:.t:i J ;ind colleges the old " humanities1. i* uid at least have an equal with th-'ui, and that where there is not leisure loi u ?tii our mother tongue should by all rman-. have the preference. The. rri>ort then ;'o< ?* into details of the method of studying English, anfi urges that it should be' N-vmrt m the

lower schools and carried oil fn the college and university. The report clearly points out the difficulties of the language, and points out the element* which entered into its construction, and the historic and other influences which have affected it. It argues the necessity of accurate knowledge of all these in order to really appreciate and be prepared to master the language. It exalts Importance and value of perfect mastery of our language, and says of those who attain this : "What sparkling attractions are hidden around the lips of those who, either in private conversation or in public harangue, exhibit the beauties of the English tongue ! The gift of the furies is (heir's ; a rain of diamonds and rubies and other jewel* drop spontaneously from their mouths! How we hang upon their words 1 ITow we muse over their sentences and dream of their phrases and images I How readily we ac- ! cept their conclusions and hasten to embrace their counsels! Rightly do we so, for perfect expression is the fruit of habitually just thought and habitually upright and kindly feeling." The report entered into a number of practical and admirably-put details. The study of English should be begun with spelling in the lower school*, and pupils made to attend to it, even if the birch had . to be employed. "Spelling should also be ; insisted on in the higher schools and col- ? leges ; and for this writing and dictation I exercises were recommended. Heading, ? English grammar, and at least some know- ; ledge of the history and structure of the language, should be insisted on in the academies. Original composition should he practiced with all classes of pupils. [This part of the report Is understood to have . been written by Mr. L. iM. Blackford, late I of Norwood School, and is regarded as a ; very valuable addition to the able and j graceful pa per of Professor Holmes.] The i report thus concludes : 44 There was a distinguished lawver and statesman of Virginia (the late Watkins Leigh) who boasted he knew one language, and one language only? the English. It was a just gratulatjoa&r-a proud accomplishI ment. The mastkyltf English implies ! much other knowtei^jjr It demands, perj haps, larger and' tajBT varied attainments ! than to know any other tongue. 1 " It is to be hoped that lhe dav may soon j-arrive when English language will be eorJrectly employed by all its inheritors who I have enjoyed the benefits of academical education : when inaccuracv of expression will no longer furnish the cloak for inaccuracy of thought and looseness of principle?political or social ; and when the wealth of our English speech, the exuberant enjoyments of our English literature, will be equally within the ambition and the reach of every diligent student. And it is especially to be hoped that this result may speedily be attained among Virginians, who are, in a peculiar sense, of one blood and of one speech with Sidney, Spenser, Raleigh, Bacon, and Shakspeare, and their brilliant contemporaries in England's virgin reign." As expressing his views on the subject before the body, JN\ \V. l'OPE, Esq., of Fauquier, read an essay on the " Theory of Verbs," etc.

Professor E. S. JOYCES tlioui^fit tint 0110 of the chief objects of this Association was an interchange of views on t he subjects introduced, and lie hoped that this question would be fully ventilated. Professor J. P. HOLCOMBE had listened with interest and prolit to the essay, and agreed with most of its positions; bur. ho felt compelled to dissent from the recommendation of Quackenbos. lie especially objected to his seventy pages on punctuation, which he thought entirely too much to wade through. lie regarded as a liayne much better book. Mr. BLACKFORDthought that there was force in what Mr. TIolcomW: had said ; but that on the whole Quackenbos was a good book. Professor IIOLCOMBE wanted to know what class of authors should be lirst put into the hands of pupils, whether the earlier or later writers ? Professor HOLMES would begin with neither the very earliest or latest authors, lie would begin at the age of Queen Anne, and work up and down! He would rather come first towards the present time, and then go back, lie would read Milton hefore Shakspeare, and Shakspeare beforeSpencer. lie would leave Chaucer and Burns for the higher academy or the college. He made some very valuable suggestions as to text-books and* methods of teach-' ing. Sir. 1). LEE POWELL was glad of the practical turn the discussion had taken, and he wanted the views of gentleman on the question of writing compositions in the schools. He did not agree with the view?' of the report on this question. He thought that the forcing of pupils to write before they kuew anything tended to promote dishonesty by making the pupils take their compositions from books or get others to write them. lie thought that they should | not write until they had read a good deal, and that reading might be very well substituted for writing compositions, Mr. BLACKFORD replied that the tendency to cheat was not greater in this mat- 1 tor than in other tasks assigned to pupils. He urged that reading can no more give the art of writing than reading Latin or Greek will alone teach a boy to write it. Kev. Dr. SMITH said that the art of read- ! ing and composing resolves itself into thel most' successful effort to imitate Nature, de said that punctuation belongs rather to the printer than to the writer. Jefferson and other great men never used capitals. A boy can neither read nor write what he does "not understand. He thought that pupils should be early put to writing compositions ; but he would not have them write on such subjects as "Benevolence" or "Philanthropy," He would give them >imple subjects, and keep constantly before tliein that they must write as they talk. lie thought it a capital fault of many text-books that they "darkened counsel by multiplying words." Professor il. H. HARRIS, of Richmond College, called attention to the fact that though the study of English had been entirely neglected in England until very recently, something had been done among us even before the war. At the University of Virginia very much had beeu done inthU direction. [Professor HOLMES explained that as chairman of the committee he could not, of course, allude to his own work.] Professor HARRIS desired also to call attention to the fact that others of our Virginia teachers had been earnestly and faithfully trying to teach English. The lamented Baker Thompson and Professor ('. H. Toy had tilled the "Chair of English" In the Albemarle Female Institute several years before the war, and other teachers had been engaged in this work. Since the war a distinct chair ot English had been established in Richmond College, where Dr. Curry had been enthusiastically and successfully giving it his whole time aud talents, other institutions had also entered this important tield, and he thought that most important

progress was being niaae. Professor JOYNES said that at Washington College, also, very earnest efforts had been made in this direction, and with most gratifying results. As early as 1S?>G the philological study of English had been introduced as a distinct department, which had since been expanded into a lull chair of Enelish language and literature. A great deal- of earnest work had been done there in the study of English, and he concurred with Professor Hakkis in thinking that, from the concurrent action of so many of our best institutions in this direction, the best results might be confidently expected. Professor Joynes added that in his opinion the great obstaclo in the way of the efficient teaching of English was the want of i good English grammar for the use of students. An English grammar should be a grammar which should exhibit the facts of the English language as they exist, and from these ascertain its laws and describe its characteristics. We have no such grammar. Our English grammars start from a false point of view. Instead of looking to the English language itself, its idiom and its history, and making their explanutivcs in accordance with tho autual facts of the language, they have sought to apply theories derived from the Latin and Greek to the English. In fact, however, these languages represented a wholly different linguistic development, and were useful rather for contrast than for analog)' to the student of English. We needed a grammar which should exhibit the true forms ot the English language, and explain them in the light of its own usago and its own history. Thus only could our students be taught to understand the true characteristics and genius of our own language to appreciate its relation to pther languages, ana to comprehend the secret of its peculiar powers. He who should study the English language from

this point of view would learn to wonder that with grammatical forma so few it had developed such marvellous power of structure and idiom aa to be not inferior in power of expression to the classical languages, and in many respects superior. It bad laid aside grammatical form not from poverty, 1 but because it bad found a better means of expression. The ordinary mode of studying English grammar not only misrepresents the facts of the language, but causes us to ignore the most striking characteristics and the most remarkable powers of our mother tongue. Wc could have no_ true science of tnc English language until we had learned to construct our English grammar from the English language itself. Professor Joynes illustrated these points by examples. 31 r. W. 0. ENGLISH spoke of the general neglect of the study oi English, and accounted for this in part by reference to the diflerent elements of which the language is composed, and its irregularities. He was earnestly in favor of putting pupils to writing compositions at an early age, and insisted that there were purloiners among grown people as well as among children. He insisted that this could be guarded against by giving suitable subjects. He spoke of the advantage* of composition in teaching spelling. Mr. '1 HUM AS WILLIAMSON, of Leesburg, was warmiv in favor of the compositions ; but he would have his boys to understand distinctly that he would whip them if they brought him any highfalutin rhetoric. ile made practical and very amusing suggestions on the subject. Rev. Dr. W. F. BROADDUS urged that writing compositions developes the mind of the child, and told a very amusing anecdote illustrating his views. Rev. Mr. A*VIRETT hnd had a similar observation to that of Mr. Powell. He urged mothers to he careful in giving excuses for their daughters.

Night Session. The house was crowded to its utmost capacity to hear the address of Commodore -Mauky, which we sent you. After prayer by Rev. l>r. Smith, the address was listened to with deep attention and interest. The CHAIR having announced that the question was open tor debate, Kev. I?r. I). M. SMITH said that he most cordially approved of all that had been said in the admirable address to which we had listened. Hut he wanted to remind the Association that after all mind is the stature of the man, and rules the world. The development of mental pou:cr is the great thing, and this is best done by studying the classics. Let us developc our material resources, but let us not forget that it is more important to rai<e up men and women. Heretofore we have been able to say to the North '? Vou can build better steamboats aud make better machinery than we canyon can beat us in material development ? ! but we are far ahead of you in raising up men and women. He wanted this to continue to be the case. And while our enthusiasm is up, under the influence of the able address to which we have listened in favor of Physical Science, he wanted to insist that our boys and girls be made to study Latin and Greek, lie wanted Physical Science exalted ; but not at the expense of the Humanities.

Professor WINSTON, of Richmond, re- j gretted to hear Dr. smith's speech just I i hen, able and orthodox though it was. j Ho apprehended that a fallacy lurked amid its admitted truths. The premise was indisputable?there is no power equal to mind-power ; vot the logical connection between tills glittering truth and the announced conclusion? that, therefore, no study is comparable to that of Latin and (Jreek? was too subtle for his observation. Between such a premise and such a conclusion surelv many links were wanting. Hut granting it true that this much needed mind-power can be best acquired, or even that, in its highest degrees, it can only be acquired by classical study, what bearing could that lact have upon the main recommendation of the eloquent address of the evening? Mow many of our young men arc unable to acquire" this degree of mindpower? Are these, therefore, to be left wholly without culture, without this vaunted power of mind ? Our farmers, our ineehanics, our builders, the foremen in our shops, all need education in their respective branches of industry ; are they to be denied this because, torsooth, " Latin and Greek (which they can never study) are the best means of gaming the highest meutal power? By no means, sir. Let us, if we can, provide for these also, and provide, too. just that which they need. He concluded by moving the appointment of a committee to consider the recommendation for the establishment, ol a polytechnic school for the toulli, and to report what can lie done by this Association to promote the scheme. The resolution was adopted. 3Ir. A V I R ETT moved to publish the ad-<lr?'-s in the Journal, but was informed that this would be done, under the rule. Rev. .Dr. SMITH moved that the Executive Committee be instructed to invite three essays on female education for each session of the Association from such of the lady teachers of the State as they might think proper. I Jle explained that he had not even the most infinitesimal sympathy with the woman's rights movement, and thought that Colonel V ENABLE, in his motion to admit women to the full privileges of the Association, had allowed his gallantry to get the better of his .judgment. But we have some splendid teachers' among the women of the State, and he wanted to hear from them by essays, which some gentleman could read before the body. Colonel Y EN ABLE defended his resolution in an eloquent and tolling speech. He was surprised at the opposition manifested. Jle paid an eloqueut tribute to the lady teachers of Virginia, and said that he was not afraid to trust them to come to our meetings? they do not want to speak in the body. Nor was lie afraid to nave called in question his orthodoxy on the woman's rights question. He was not like the man who found it necessary to whip his wife to prove his opposition to woman's rights. Colonel H. P. JONES raised the question whether the term "citizens" in the constitution of the Association did not include the lady teachers already ? Professor MINOR sai'd as a lawyer that it most unquestionably did. He was willing to admit women as visitors, and would encourage them to come, but he would not have them to speak or vote. Rev. Mr. AY I RETT earnestly opposed Mr. Venable s resolution, Jle would have woman remain queen of the home circle. When she starts out to attend and take public part in conventions she will cease to be a Virginia woman. Colonel VENABLE, after the explanation made that ladies can now be admitted, was willing to withdraw7 his resolution. Dr. SMI TH'S resolutions were adopted. Adjourned at 10 o'clock. Viatob. THIRD DAY. INTERESTING KRPORTS AND DISCUSSIONS.

Warbenton, July 14th, 1870. The Association met at 10 o'clock this morning, and was opened with prayer by Kev. H. II. II arris. of Kleliraond College. After some matters of unimportant detail the (.'hair announcrd as in order the REPORT OU THE MERITS AND DEFECTS OK PREVAILING SCH EM ES OP COMMON SCHOOL EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ltev. Dr. II. M. S3IITII, of Union Theological Seminary, presented n report which he introduced by remarking that it was his own report, as lie had not enjoyed an opportunity of conferring with but one member of the committee, and a conference with the other had disclosed such a diversity in views that anything like a report in which both could unite was simply impracticable, ile then proceeded. A (It? tailed report was not to he expected. Neither time nor occasion would justify it. It was proposed to set forth some fundamental principles common to the prevailing schemes. 1 A historical summary was then presented showing that within eighty years the common school system had gradually como into operation in all the States, By the fi common" school system was meant what is sometimes called " free school," as open to all, hut not necessarily implying that freedom of fees was contemplated, The colonial history of Massachusetts and Connecticut showed the existence and openUion of somo provision for popular education, and also for higher grades coexistent with that of colonial existence, and in Connecticut as Ear

back as 1701 brought to as high a degre* of perfection as many States have reached The others of the old thirteen State*, f,n' emerging from a colonial to organized ?taf> existence, had not at once established -uf h a system as Massachusetts and Connecticut had introduced from their colonial estal*. lishments, but in the course of this century most of them had done so. Only Norrf, Carolina had made such a part of constitu. tionjd law on entering into the organize Htate existence, but the provision of tf,.Constitution had remained for lifty yo;tr. a dead letter. As new States w,.r,. added, with few exceptions then, had been adopted as part of t j?. fundamental Jaw some pain for elementary and, in some cases, higher education Meanwhile the older States, in amende.! Constitutions, had also, with few exeer,. tions, done the same before the war, ai! | since the war the exceptions no longer ex. isted ; so that now the duty and prero<'> tive of the State to provide for the ednca. tion of the people has come to !>e adopM as a principle bv all the States. He then proceeded to show that it is a mistake to regard this action as the result of the spreading and growth of New Knchnrj ideas ? suggesting, in passing, that this view had served greatly to prejudice such plans in the minds of many. 13y several clearly stated facts it w.u shown: 1. That common school s\?. terns had prevailed in parts of (iermany before the introduction of such into New England, and that Scotland, under the lead of Knox, had established substantially the same system of education under the auspices of the State and church unite,! a century before Massachusetts was * t. tied. Then it was further shown tliat General Washington, too, in genetal terms had countenanced the same principle as to general education, and with Madison and I'inckncy more distinctly an<l fully ;w to a national university, and that .Ieil'er?on had drawn up a district school system which in 178'J was enacted into a law, but was rendered virtually null by a provision suspendiug its operation on the will of tic counties, which Jefi'ersou paid '? defeat, cd" the whole scheme. Similar eiloiN, thirty years ago in Virginia, had prove l abortive for the same reason. That the spi ,u,j of such opinions might have been aidnl l?v the successful experiments of Massachusetts and other northern States may be true, ai both l'atrick ifenry and Kichard 15. i., ,. had left recorded testimonies of admiration for the' course of those States; still it remained true that the principle stated hud received the sullVajzc.s of the leading mm. of the devolution, irrespective til localitie> or party politics. To this union el the Fathers of the Nation in the political principles on which it was founded, ami <>u tlu? proper means for perpetu iting those punei pies, might be ascribed the growth and extraordinary power of the l.'nited >tat<?. lie then proceeded to consider objec

1 That, the State ha* no right to make . ;uch provision for education i< of under the general admission that every p<.?. nle have ft right to choose their own lioverument, and the peop|e have ehoseii t.? j-n. rrpat't tliln principle into the Constitution listing. And as to the expediency. Hint' ; who ol'iect to the patronage ot element try . education of the State, while admitting !o* , propriety of such legislation tor hi-lm trades, are inconsistent, tor the jieoplc > much need help in case ol the poor tor rhiiary as for other educational. in>iiiu. tiona. Further, that leaving the 111 < n-u of primary education t<> the operation ?l the law of" demand and supply ' w-.ul l not do, inasmuch as the detnaml will not be made, for it is not felt bv those who mi d tbS S()r h'^tbe objected that the State lu? noVightto mate such provision for p? rsonal interests, the reply is toimd in I :??? fact that such a right to provide loi Hiphysical though private intere>ts ar^uor this provision tor a more important mtercet. By as much evil as one ignoiaut ?and vicious man may produce ; by as mm-h evil as a family of vicious children. ivar?i under his auspices, may inflict ; b> a? inn- ,i expense as his vices and those lie may m-. jsion may incur : hy as much as his tailnr.' to perform tlio duties ot a good eit i/.? n in detract from the welfare ol the w hoi'- : ami. (?n the other hand, by as much ww"1 ? anknowledge as an industrious anil iiilclh-. i-t man contribute to the whole ; by a> miMi as a family of such, reared under lus aiipices, may contribute ; by as much evil u> nis personal conduct and example ma) l*i ?- vent ; by so much is the State a loser or miiner for every ignorant and viciou.t ujlu't. Smrv\i|?i and intelligent eim. ... Ml the interests of the >tate, material. i?* litical, and moral ; her weight m the I 11n.11, aud the character and itithiciice ol her lav,, and literature, arc deeply and intimately connected with popular v.irtueand mt?-i'> 8?a.C Another class of objections are has*! on the alleged uselessness ot such a m Iui.i? of common schools, owing to the fact that a people may be intelligent without it . and Further, that such schemes have pro. ml declension in morals. As to tin s< , t ,i? ?|" tion of tact was raised as to the equal or superior intelligence of a coinmuiii... not having the advantages ot such a tern as compared with those which li >? it because in the former case one-third ?- the population (the slaves)h:ul been oinit;. 4 in the calculation on the one side, while t.nentire population, including the day labor* era and families who perform menial service had been included in the estimates ot the other side. Further, it must be borm- m miud that without this consideration tli^ is another difference to be eo^ldere^ 's i j one side was composed of a popular. ? whose means of living were easier, as drived from agriculture performed by sla\<% wlliio large parts of the population on tin other side were engaged 111 pursuits cxMlug a* to time and necessary foi support. Or, even admitting the alleged deterioration in morals, other causes, as decline ot m ? <nous friith, iuav account lor it, and the admixture of a foreign aud ""domesticu^ population would also readily explain approaches to anarchy with which .such lotions of the country are 'diargetl. ib t, further, it fully appear* iron the i ? ? given that this system ot schools had ai readv before the war been adopted by el. " out of fifteen slave States, aud had \ vailed in some of thomfor fully a generation, if ia hPn armed from the less toil* greater to show that if the predicated efleju of common schools were correct all e^ for inteUectual improvement ought to I* abandoned, and even the higher grade education given up, because it li* been alleged that men lc.irmd science had been found to impugn '? very foundations of all morality. - deed, this entire class otobjections see n^o rest on confounding the 'pott Aoc nri the " proptu hoc:7 So logical reason, u bid vet been adduced to sustain th-iu. True, high intellectual iraprovement not necessarily produce moral. But it niu ui be remembered that if men being educated so the good w ill act th ? ter and do better by being educated. - j the relations of ignorance and vice, of Idleness and wickedness, are pro toll After all, tlw ioU.Uw.Bt ajd^ eated who attempt to decry the til of tl.o IU?V on tto i with mauitont inconsistency . ' ,y i ss' Tt;h?:uo?SeiorwW:? tau"ht. Education may I* dlsad?auUi;;w to Tom" and "Sally," but ^ and "Eugenia" must be taught. 1 h?> A mu^do-use Providence for the l est. It is . the - ? of nil wise men, heathen auu <. uri without letters?yet it plea* d ^ the mit Ills revealed will to a btw^, ancient seer heard a voice . ?> I In-. ? Write the things which thou ha- ^ ^ n and the Divine Idessing is V^'A1^ h,tlf him that readeth as well as them the words ot this prophecy. 4. By some it lias been held that .pro for the higher gradiw ot " t !, .-?? prove to :ideauate for the 1"^^ A uj|[ educated in colleges and diffuse the blessings roceUt * 0( the community as tetu-heiN and k public sentiment. But it mu t ^ bored that the State owes the humbu. i zen the same debt as to .the richest U J prov ides for one she ought to prov Ut ior . ind thus not only will a candidates for higher schools and^oll^v be brought out, but ?^voud it^ never prosecuto an ? n; ^v.\bk primary grade wdl Ijo all tn? m , uj^nt Sf SStv ?ct??e<". and ?u?t?l? jggg* and wise efforts for lironloth ^ WKti' r , ' cation. TUo pl?u failed to. England Md to ? W>{? h u ; violfe State may be dotted overw.iu