increase of reputation. The brilliant style in which the ships had been carried into action, and the readiness and rapidity with which they had been handled, and the fatal accuracy of their fire, on nearly every occasion, produced a new era in naval warfare. Most of the frigate actions had been as soon decided as circumstances would at all allow, and in no instance was it found necessary to keep up the fire of a sloop of war an hour, when singly engaged. Most of the combats of the latter, indeed, were decided in half that time. The execution done in these short conflicts was often equal to that made by the largest vessels of Europe in general actions, and in some of them the slain and wounded, comprised a very large proportion of the crews. It is not easy to say in which nation this unlooked for result created the greatest surprise-America or England. In the first it produced a confidence in itself that had been greatly wanted, but which, in the end, perhaps, degenerated to a feeling of selfesteem and security that were not without danger, or entirely without exaggeration. The last was induced to alter its mode of rating, adopting one by no means as free from the imputation of a want of consistency as the one it abandoned, and it altogether changed its estimate of the force of single ships, as well as of the armaments of frigates. The ablest and bravest captains of the English fleet were ready to admit that a new power was about to appear on the ocean, and that it was not improbable the battle for the mastery of the seas would have to be fought over again. In short, while some of its ignorant, presuming, and boastful were disposed to find excuses for the unexpected nautical reverses which Great Britain had met with in this short war, the sagacious and reflecting saw in them matter for serious apprehension and alarm. They knew that the former triumphs of their admirals had not so much grown out of an unusual ability to manoeuvre fleets, as in the national aptitude to manage single ships, and they saw the proofs of the same aptitude, in the conduct of the Americans during this struggle, improved on by a skill in gunnery that had never before been so uniformly manifested in naval warfare. In a word, it may be qestioned if all the great victories of the last European wars caused more exultation among the uninstructed of that nation, than the defeats of this gave rise to misgivings and apprehensions among those who were able to appreciate causes, and to anticipate consequences in matters so purely professional as the construction, powers, and handling of ships. Many false modes of accounting for the novel character that had been given to naval battles was resorted to, and among other reasons it was affirmed that the American vessels of war sailed with crews of picked seamen. That a nation which practised impressment should imagine that another in which enlistments were voluntary could possess an advantage of this nature, infers a strong disposition to listen to any means but the right one to account for an unpleasant truth. It is not known that a single vessel left the country, the case of the Constitution on her two last voyages excepted, with a crew that could be deemed extraordinary in this respect. No American man-of-war ever sailed with a complement composed of nothing but able seamen; and some of the hardest fought battles that occurred during this war, were fought by ships' companies that were materially worse than common. The people which manned the vessels on Lake Champlain, in particular, were of a

Neither

quality much inferior to those usually found in ships of war. were the officers, in general, old or very experienced. The navy itself dated but fourteen years back, when the war commenced; and some of the commanders began their professional career several years after the first appointments had been made. Perhaps one half of the lieutenants in the service at the peace of 1815 had first gone on board ship within six years from the declaration of the war, and very many of them within three or four. So far from the midshipmen having been masters and mates of merchantmen, as was reported at the time, they were generally youth that first went from the ease and comforts of the paternal home, when they appeared on the quarterdeck of a man-of-war. That the tone and discipline of the service were high is true; but it must be ascribed to moral, and not to physical causes; to that aptitude in the American character for the sea, which has been so constantly manifested from the day the first pinnace sailed along the coast on the trading voyages of the seventeenth century, down to the present moment."

Such is a specimen of Mr. Cooper's tone and spirit throughout, although he frequently bears very strong testimony to the honour of the British. We still think, however, that at some future period a more candid, and able historical work will be written about the American navy. Even already, we have, in the chapter of Captain Marryat's work referred to in another part of our present number, a more calmly digested sketch, an evident superiority as to national jealousy, and certainly an equally full knowledge of all the passages and bearings of the subject. From his book we shall quote one illustration of this openness and fairness. Captain M. says,

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During my sojourn in the United States I became acquainted with a large portion of the senior officers of the American navy, and I found them gifted, gentleman-like, and liberal. With them I could converse freely upon all points relative to the last war, and always found them ready to admit all that could be expected. The American naval officers certainly form a strong contrast to the majority of their countrymen, and prove, by their enlightened and liberal ideas, how much the Americans in general would be improved if they enjoyed the same means of comparison with other countries which the naval officers, by their profession, have obtained. The partial successes during the war were often the theme of discourse, which was conducted with candour and frankness on both sides. No unpleasant feeling was ever excited by any argument with them on the subject, whilst the question, raised amongst their free and enlightened' brother citizens, who knew nothing of the matter, was certain to bring down upon me such a torrent of bombast, falsehood, and ignorance, as required all my philosophy to submit to with apparent indifference."

In conclusion, and to return to Mr. Cooper, we quote his speculations upon the probable effects which steam-power will have in naval warfare:

"An opinion is becoming prevalent, that the use of steam will supersede the old mode of naval conducting warfare. Like most novel and bold propositions, this new doctrine has obtained advocates, who have yielded their convictions to the influence of their imaginations, rather than to the influence of reflection. That the use of steam will materially modify naval warfare, is probably true; but it cannot change its general charac ter. No vessel can be built of sufficient force and size to transport a sufficiency of fuel, provisions, munitions of war, and guns, to contend with even a heavy frigate, allowing the last to bring her broadside to bear. It may be questioned if the heaviest steam-vessel of war that exists could engage a modern two-decked ship even in a calm, since the latter, in addition to possessing much greater powers of endurance, could probably bring the most guns to bear in all possible positions. Shot proof batteries might indeed be built, that, propelled by steam, would be exceedingly formidable for harbour defence, but it is illusory to suppose that vessels of that description can ever be made to cruize. Even in estimating the power of steam vessels, in calms as opposed to single ships of no great force, there is much exaggeration, as historical facts will amply prove. The wars of this country afford several instances of frigates carrying eighteen pounders lying exposed to the cannonade of fifteen or twenty gun-boats for two or three hours, and yet in no instance has any such vessel been either captured or destroyed. It is a heavy sea-steamer that can bring six guns to bear at a time, and yet frigates have resisted twenty guns, advantageously placed for hours. It may be said that steamers would dare to approach nearer than gun-boats, and that, by obtaining more favourable positions, they will be so much the more formidable. There is but one position in which a ship can be assailed without the means of resistance, and that is directly ahead, and from a situation near by. Large ships can hardly be said to be defenceless even under these circumstances; as the slightest variation in their position would always admit of their bringing three or four heavy guns to bear. The expedients of seamen offer a variety of means of changing the direc tion of a ship's head in calms, even did not the sea itself perform that office for them. Nothing, for instance, would be easier than to rig, temporally, wheels, to be propelled by hand out of the stern or bow ports, or even on the quarter that would bring a large ship's forward or after guns to bear, in a way to beat off or destroy a steamer."

"There are certain great principles that are unchangeable, and which must prevail under all circumstances. Of this class is the well-established fact, that, a ship which possesses the efficiency which is contained in the double power to annoy and to endure, must, in all ordinary circumstances, prevail over a ship that possesses one of these advantages, and that too in a smaller degree. Steam may be, and most probably will be, made a powerful auxiliary of the present mode of naval warfare, but is by no means likely to supplant it. Fleets may be accompanied by steamers, but their warfare will be conducted by the present classes of heavy ships, since it is not possible to give sufficient powers of annoyance or endurance to vessels propelled by steam, to enable them to lie under the batteries of the latter. Even as active cruizers, the efficiency of steam

vessels is probably overrated, on account of the consumption of fuel, though it remains to be proved by experience whether their employment may not induce a change in the armaments of light vessels of war. The history of the war of 1812 shows that ships have often cruized months without having fallen in with convoys, and it is certain that no steamer, in the present state of science, can remain at sea thirty days, with efficiency as a steamer..

"In a word, while the introduction of steam into naval warfare will greatly modify maritime operations, it is by no means likely to effect the revolution that is supposed. In those portions of the art of seamanship that it will influence, steam will meet steam, and, in the end, it will be found that the force of fleets will be required in settling the interest of states, as to-day."

ART. VII.

1. Fireside Education. By the Author of "Peter Parley's Tales." New York.

2. Woman's Mission. London: Parker.

3. The Educator. London: Taylor and Walton.

4. On National Education. By MRS. AUSTIN. London: Murray. THE subject of education is every day receiving an additional amount of consideration. It is assuming its real importance in the estimation of the Christian world. There are some differences of opinion regarding the precise kinds that ought to be imparted to nations, as well as regarding the manner of communicating the several sorts. There are still greater discrepancies, in this country, at least, as to the principles which are to regulate the choice of those who are to superintend a system of education that is national, appointed and supported directly by the Government. But there is now no party and no individual in the State that does not readily and cordially admit that a great extension of instruction, moral and intellectual, is pressingly required; or that denies that Great Britain is falling greatly behind other countries in regard to a provision that vitally concerns her strength as well as honour. In one shape or another the supply must be afforded, and at no distant period. It is our duty therefore always to exhibit alacrity to keep the subject before our readers, or to seize every occasion that presents itself of pressing it home upon their minds, when anything like a novelty of aspect, or an additional weight of argument comes to our hands.

The oftener that any one directs his attention to this subject he will entertain more and more enlarged and impressive views upon it. He will, for example, become thoroughly convinced that education is not an affair demanding only a few years' devotion of juvenile life, that it is not confined to mental training alone,-and that it calls for a wider superintendence than can be afforded by the school

master merely. These, and other considerations and convictions, will render the education of a people in his eyes an object that is second to none. True, no one ever ventures to deny to the legitimate meaning of the term the widest construction and the greatest emphasis. But this, even to this day, is done speculatively and theoretically, rather than exemplified practically by the majority. For how could it be that so many real errors and absurdities still disgrace our schools, and the conduct of parents towards their children in the course of training them, were it not that education does not, in fact, occupy a paramount consideration, does not appear a matter surrounded with difficulties too formidable to be opposed by ignorance or limited information and slender impressions? We find throughout the country that the office of teacher is not highly honoured. No doubt it may be said that the majority of these functionaries possess neither the character nor the abilities that can command respect, many of them having betaken themselves to the office because they were fit for nothing else. But if the mass of the people were sufficiently in earnest on the subject, did they behold what interests were at stake, and did they perform their own share in the course of the education of their children, the qualities for a public teacher, even in common schools, would be seen to be so elevated and so sacred that the incessant and resistless call would be for competent and efficient schoolmasters; the difficulties of the profession would be appreciated, and its eminence duly estimated.

Still, we rejoice to have it to say that the subject, in its breadth and height is gradually assuming its real position, and that it has recently been more rapidly than ever making its progress towards this condition. The works before us are sure to help on and to accelerate this enlargement, which joined to the many noble efforts that are making in and out of Parliament, promise an early triumph. In the meanwhile we require not only a very different provision of Schoolmasters, but a far more numerous and combined array of them; while the ramifications of that combination, as we shall soon perceive, must extend to other scenes, to other roofs, and to other exercises than what properly belong to the school-room, or the church and chapel. There must be a branch that reaches the fireside; for until this is apprehended by parents, and cultivated by them with care and perseverance, national education will be incomplete, the system will be lame, and must halt; and the expectations cherished by many regarding the grand results of knowledge made everywhere accessible in rich variety, be found deceitful dreams.

The department of education to which we have just now alluded has, in an infinite number of cases, been made the subject of sermons, essays, tales, and other powerful or touching appeals to humanity, and the feelings of all who stand in the relation of parents