valleys in northern Circassia, on the east side of the mountains; which is secure possessor of the plains upon the Kuban, and of a considerable tract to the south of it, has need only, it would seem, to accumulate armies upon the frontiers without striking a blow and to keep up a perpetual blockade, in order to cut off supplies and to bring the people to submission. Then the face of the country itself renders concert on the part of the Circassians unusually difficult; and the presence in sufficient season of a large force at a point where invasion is attempted is almost impossible. Hitherto there has been little organization in their resistance. In actual conflict their cavalry has proved superior to the Russian; but they can not stand before infantry disciplined and led by an experienced commander. Their strength seems to consist in annoying the enemy by hanging around forts and camps; cutting off stragglers; attacking foraging parties, and similar manoeuvres which lie within the means of an inferior foe. Their bravery is wonderful. Bell was often struck by their fool hardy daring in going within reach of gun-shot, when a short detour might have put them beyond all danger. They rush into conflict, sabre in hand, against many times their number; and seem as if they could never learn the murderous properties of cannon. We are not able to trace their progress, nor does the war here present those grand features by which it is distinguished in eastern CauWe can only say that nearly the same provinces, which Bell left in a state of war with Russia in 1839, have maintained their independence ever since.

casus.

Thus have the hardy natives of Caucasus, by their heroic resistance to aggression and injustice, for the first time since the world began come forth from their obscurity, and drawn the eyes of all mankind upon them. Before neither Persian nor Greek, Byzantine, Tatar nor Turk, disturbed these children of nature in the possession of the sweet gift of freedom. That was reserved for a nation calling itself Christian. Christianity, as they must consider it, coming in such a shape, can only be hated. It would not be strange if they should be among the last of nations to recieve its light. Political oppression, as so often happens, will prove a mordant to fix fast the dye of Islam upon them.

ico should cede to the United States Cuba or Porto Rico. The Circassians had always been independent. At the most some of them acknowledged the Sultan of Turkey as their spiritual chief, in the same way that Roman Catholic nations have acknowledged the pope, without allowing him to meddle in their political affairs. One or two forts, used for purposes of trade, existed along the coast; of which Anapa was, as Bell shows, the only one in Circassia; and it was here alone that Turkey had a modified proprietorship by sufferance, without the proper right of sovereignty. It is on this transferred right of Turkey, that Russia founds her original claim to any part of Circassia, except the Kabardas, and the enforcement of this claim by war gives a just title, as she alledges, to all the conquests that may be made along the coast or elsewhere.

But the inhabitants began to resist the claim at once, as they had resisted previous attempts of the same power to plant itself within their country. Dread of Russian measures produced a confederation of twelve,-apparently all,-the cantons of independent Circassia. They appointed as the officers of this confederation a chief judge, and an embassador who had resided for seven years in Constantinople at the time of Bell's visit. Their jealousy of the Russians was fomented, it is probable, by the Turks, who saw themselves sure to be deprived of a valuable trade if they should be subdued, and who wished to prevent the further progress of a dreaded enemy upon the coast of the Black Sea. A part of the trade on the Circassian side, was, as as is well known, in slaves, particularly females, intended for the harems of Constantinople, who are commonly represented to have quitted their country with great willingness, in the hope that they would bring their charms to a good market, and win the favor of some wealthy Turk, perhaps of a Pacha or the SulBut this can hardly be true of all, particularly of those who were plundered from their homes in the feuds of hostile districts, or by robbing parties. In attempting to suppress this trade the Russians are not influenced by the inhumanity of the thing, but by a wish to cut off the connection with Turkey, which Circassian females in that country and the trade in them would keep up. Their attempts however, hitherto have not been successful, nor has the blockade of the coast during the war been so enforced, but that many Turkish vessels without very great danger have plied their trade in various articles demanded for the Circassian country.

tan.

The Circassians have engaged in the war with Russia at a great disadvantage. A power which can appear with its fleet at any point of the coast, erect a fort under cover of the guns of the fleet, and thus obtain safe lodgment among a people almost destitute of artillery; which lik wise controls the mouths of all the

valleys in northern Circassia, on the east side of the mountains; which is secure possessor of the plains upon the Kuban, and of a considerable tract to the south of it, has need only, it would seem, to accumulate armies upon the frontiers without striking a blow and to keep up a perpetual blockade, in order to cut off supplies and to bring the people to submission. Then the face of the country itself renders concert on the part of the Circassians unusually difficult; and the presence in sufficient season of a large force at a point where invasion is attempted is almost impossible. Hitherto there has been little organization in their resistance. In actual conflict their cavalry has proved superior to the Russian; but they can not stand before infantry disciplined and led by an experienced commander. Their strength seems to consist in annoying the enemy by hanging around forts and camps; cutting off stragglers; attacking foraging parties, and similar manoeuvres which lie within the means of an inferior foe. Their bravery is wonderful. Bell was often struck by their fool hardy daring in going within reach of gun-shot, when a short detour might have put them beyond all danger. They rush into conflict, sabre in hand, against many times their number; and seem as if they could never learn the murderous properties of cannon. not able to trace their progress, nor does the war here present those grand features by which it is distinguished in eastern Caucasus. We can only say that nearly the same provinces, which Bell left in a state of war with Russia in 1839, have maintained their independence ever since.

We are

Thus have the hardy natives of Caucasus, by their heroic resistance to aggression and injustice, for the first time since the world began come forth from their obscurity, and drawn the eyes of all mankind upon them. Before neither Persian nor Greek, Byzantine, Tatar nor Turk, disturbed these children of nature in the possession of the sweet gift of freedom. That was reserved for a nation calling itself Christian. Christianity, as they must consider it, coming in such a shape, can only be hated. It would not be strange if they should be among the last of nations to recieve its light. Political oppression, as so often happens, will prove a mordant to fix fast the dye of Islam upon them.

ART. IX.-REFORMS IN COLLEGIATE EDUCATION.

M. Porter, Gr.

Report to the Corporation of Brown University, on changes in the system of Collegiate education. Read March 28, 1850. Providence: George H. Whitney. 1850. 8vo. pp. 76. Project to establish the Cleveland University, with a brief exposition of the principles on which it is to be conducted, and the very superior and thorough education which it is designed to give. Signed in behalf of the Trustees. By ASA MAHAN, President.

An Historical Discourse pronounced before the graduates of Yale College, August 14, 1850; one hundred and fifty years after the founding of that Institution, with an Appendix. By THEODORE D. WOOLSEY, President of Yale College. New Haven, 1850. 8vo. pp. 128.

Address and Discourse at the Inauguration of the Rev. Aaron L. Chapin, M. A., as President of Beloit College, July 24, 1850. Milwaukie. 1850. 8vo. pp. 52.

THE publications of which we have given the titles, relate to the subject of collegiate education. The manner in which the subject is discussed, is not, however, the same in all of them, nor do they lead the reader to precisely the same conclusions. The Report first in order, reviews at some length, the history of the colleges of this country, investigates the measure of success with which they have accomplished the objects for which they exist, and their relation to the wants and demands of the community at the present time. The conclusion at which it arrives is, that these institutions require important modifications, in order to realize the highest usefulness, and to meet all the demands which may justly be made upon them. It recommends to the Corporation of Brown University the particular modifications which should be adopted in that institution. These changes have since been made, and the institution, in its altered form, has commenced its first academical year, under "the star of its new destiny."

The project or advertisement of the Cleveland University informs the public, that an institution under that name, will soon be opened upon the same principles as are set forth in "the Report" just noticed. It tells us that at the head of each department of knowledge "an able Professor will be placed, whose duty it shall be, to perfect the students, &c." In the next sentence it adds, that "in all these courses, popular lectures are to be delivered, of which not only the students, but multitudes of the community may profitably avail themselves." "The object of this system of instruction will not be to carry the students through

a multitude of studies, without his thoroughly mastering any one of them, but to perfect him in those he does study." It proposes to dispense with the necessity of erecting buildings for the residence of students, "in accordance with the plan of all the German, and many other of the most celebrated European Universities." In connection with the above, it informs the public, that the land, to buy which it asks some 40,000 dollars, may be so managed that after reserving a sufficient quantity for the uses of the University, and "for manual labor purposes," "the remainder may be sold in city lots so as to realize a sum as high as from $120,000 to $150,000, for the endowment of Professorships."

The discourse of Pres. Woolsey was delivered the 14th of August last, one hundred and fifty years since the founding of Yale College, to an audience of nearly a thousand of her living graduates. It is principally historical, giving a rapid review of the history of the College, and is accompanied with a valuable appendix. The author, after reviewing the course of one of the oldest colleges in the country, thus sums up the results of this retrospect:

"And will not this historical sketch be admitted to have shown great change and progress in our College affairs? Of proofs of change indeed the whole history of the College has been full. Whether we compare the usages of the olden time with those of the present, or the discipline, or the studies, or the means by which improvement can be effected, or the standard of scholarship, or the number of officers employed in educating, or the numbers educated, everywhere we see change marked and sweeping; so that he, who should join together in his mind the first period of the College at Saybrook, or even its first age at New Haven, with the actual state at this day, without knowing the transitions, might reasonably doubt its identity. These changes, moreover, must be regarded as progress, not as a backward course. For not only have they been introduced in order to come nearer to the best standard of education; but they have justified themselves by the confidence of discerning persons, and by increased numbers and efficiency."

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"It is sometimes said by persons who look with a jealous eye on colleges, particularly on their social and political influences, that they are immovable institutions, conservative of knowledge elsewhere useless and forgotten, opposed to new science, to the practically useful and the popularly intelligible. But the sketch which I have laid before you, fellow graduates, suffices, if any thing were needed, to show how unjust and one-sided are these allegations. True it is that colleges are not apt to think that

'Of old things all are over old,

Of good things none are good enough,'

nor to overturn instead of repairing. A confession of past failure and ill-success, such as that implied in revolutionary measures of destruction and renovation, is not apt to be made by them, or to express their convictions. But then the changes, great as they may seem if measured by the contrasts of centuries, are no violent nor sudden ones: they are such changes as time with his gentle irresistibleness works in whatever is not made but grows; in states and churches, and all things which live not by infusion and propping up but by inward energy. If the past may be our rule of judging we shall have such changes still. They will come, as they have come, through enlightened men