SPECTATOR'S LIBRARY._

booexpiry.

The- Life of the Rev. Andrew Bell. D.B., Ito.. Prebendary -of Westminster, and Master of Sherburn Hospital, Durham. Comprising the History of the Rise and Prigress of the Sy.tem of Mutual Tultion. The first volume by Robert Southey, Edo.. P.L., LL.D.; edited by Mrs. Si whey: the two last by his Son, the Rev. Charles Cuthbert Southey. ILA., of Queen's College, Oxford. the. In three volumes Murray; Blachwoud, Edinburgh. TRAVELS. Rides in the Pyrenees. By Miss Selina Sunbury, Author of " Coombe Abbey," Sze,

In -two volumes Newby

•

SOUTHEY'S LIFE OF DR. BELL.

Tim most important point about the life of Dr. BELL, the dis- coverer of the system of popular teaching, was the importance he himself attached to it. He made his works a conspicuous topic in several last wills and testaments; he bespoke an editor (the Scotch Bishop RUSSELL) and a biographer (SouTusy) whilst living; he reiterated his directions in a codicil to his final last will ; by an- other codicil be directed trustees to appoint a "confidential com- mittee" to examine his papers ; he appointed Mr. DAVIES, his amanuensis, an "assistant agent of the will" ; and he left behind him a mass of papers such as "I suppose," says the Reverend Mr. SOUTHEY, "was hardly ever brought together for such a purpose." SOUTHEY, with his multifarious literary labours, could not under- take the perusal of such a medley of trivial and often illegible manuscripts ; so they underwent a couple of siftings. The Reve- rend W. S. Pnimrps, chaplain to the Bishop of GLOUCESTER, one of "the trustees," and acting man of the "confidential commit- tee," looked over the great body of Dr. BELL'S papers, "marking such as he thought would be most necessary for the biography. It was then proposed that Mr. DAVIES should carry the papers to SOUTHEY, arrange them for his inspection, and prepare—But the whole is so singular, in several points of view, that it had better be told in the language of the original.

"As soon as the papers had arrived at Keswick, and been arranged by Mr. Davies, my father commenced his labours; but being only able to devote a Mall portion of each day to this purpose, he proceeded but slowly. "The materials being too cumbrous to be conveniently removed to Greta Hall, he regularly went down to Mr. Davies's lodgings, remaining from seven until nine o'clock in the summer mornings, and from daylight until that time in winter.

" His first step was to read through the great body of the letters, and mark such as he wished Mr. Davies to copy. This alone occupied him twelve months; and so many papers were afterwards sent him, that twelve months more were similarly employed. "Meantime, Mr. Davies, with unwearied patience and industry, was col- lecting all the matter that could possibly be available into a series of connected narratives, from which my father now commenced composing the Life." [These narratives by Mr. DAVIES would occupy, if printed, from twelve to fourteen large octavo volumes.] Something extraordinary might fairly be expected from such preliminaries, and something very extraordinary has really resulted. The three massy octavoes before us consist of nearly two thousand pages, and form one of the most singular examples of bad book- making it has ever been our fortune to encounter. The first two hundred and forty pages by SOUTHEY, narrating the most interest- ing portion of BELL'S life, with a selection from his correspondence filling the remainder of the volume, exhibit, indeed, the trained taste and skilful composition of the late Laureate; though the epi- sodes and the introduction of unnecessary details show the literary manufacturer, whose principles of doing business did not permit him to lose any material that could be used up. Upon the fourteen hundred and odd pages of gallimaufry compiled by the Reverend Mr. SOUTHEY a severer judgment might be passed. A more badly-planned, badly-executed production, under the name of .a biography, we have rarely seen. Of BELL'S latter life there was not much of an interesting character to be told ; and the most ebaracteristic affair, we suspect—the philanthropist's quarrels with his wife, and final separation—the Reverend Mr. SOUTHEY will not tell at all. The weary space is filled by stories of the rise and pro- gress of various charity-schools on the Madras principle, tedious ac- counts of proceedings of committees with BELL or his friends, ex- tracts from reports of these bodies, notice of persons who came in BELL'S way, and episodical digressions on any thing that turns up. The subjects and materials are often so small and devoid of charac- ter, that no art could have rendered them attractive as they stand here ; but. what art might have done by a better arrangement and selection the Reverend Mr. SOUTHEY has failed to do.

Had the life of BELL been narrated according to its own capabi- lities, a moderate volume would have amply sufficed; for except in the discovery or rather the extension of the Eastern system of teaching, there was little which distinguished him from any hard- minded, hard-working, not over-scrupulous person, of good abili- ties, who looked upon life as a field for making money, and a pro- fession (which in BELL'S case was the church) as a means of pro- curing a position in society. He was born at St. Andrew's, in 1753. His father was what SOUTHEY calls a barber; a business .nsore important and more profitable in the days of powder, wigs, and ladies artificial hairdressing, than now. He was said to have been of a good family, but ruined by misplaced con- fidence in youth ; though this was probably a statement of the Doctor's vanity. However, he was a man of ability, possessed good business, and an income sufficient for his station, and rose to the civic honour of Bailie of St. Andrew's. After a school education, distinguished by the severe discipline of the day, Bailie BELL'S second son, ANDREW, was sent to college in his native town, its. 1769 ; where he remained, it would seem, till his twenty- first year, attaining some prizes, andtdistinguishing himself by his

application. and' his, various studies.. During this: period,. he eked out his limited means by a small bursary, which he obtained as next of kin to the founder, and by private teaching. " He has often said that he never refused to teach any thing ; for he could always by nightly study prepare himself for giving the next day's lesson ; and thus what he had to teach he acquired as. he went along."

In his twenty-first year, ANDREW BELL began to look upon the world as if it were, in Ancient Pistol's phrase, his oyster ; but, seeing little chance of opening it in Scotland, he determined to try the Colonies ; and embarked for America, in 1774, provided with the highest testimonials from the University. In Virginia and the other States he remained till the early part of 1781. Of the first four or five years of his sojourn in America little is known; but it is inferred that be was occupied in teaching. In 1779 he was en- gaged as tutor, at a salary of 2001. a year, in the family of Mr. CARTER BRAXTON, a Virginian merchant, whose two sons he took charge of when he returned to England. It would seem, however, that during his American life he turned his hand to any thing, in the American fashion ; and acted as clerk, agent, collector of debts; or what not. He would also appear to have discounted bills, and dealt or at least dabbled in tobacco. The result was, that in seven years he had accumulated between 800/. and 900/., if he could have realized it : but "repudiation" was even then practised, though without a name, and not much of these American debts was ever paid. The vessel in which he returned from America was wrecked on the coast of Nova Scotia ; and the crew and passengers underwent many hardships from cold and wet. Being rescued by a boat, they reached Halifax, and thence took passage for London ; where ANDREW BELL and the two young BRAXTONS arrived in June 1781. It was not intended that BELL should act as their tutor ; but he had a discre- tionary power as to their college, and if he could make it convenient to superintend their studies he was to haveforty pounds a year. Find. ing great difficulty in getting them from London and its-gayeties, the friends of the family in England stopped the supplies, and only advanced money to the youthful Virginians on condition that they should join BELL at St. Andrew's and put themselves under his control. Thither accordingly they had to go ; BELL acting as their tutor to an extent never contemplated when the 401. was fixed upon, and increasing his income, as in his teens, by teaching, till 1784, when the BRAXTONS returned home. According to the BELL version, this family seems to have treated him with some ingrati- tude; but there is probably another side to the story. At this time BELL appears again to have looked about hini. He was now thirty, but not much forwarder in life (saving his Ameri- can bad debts) than when he went to Virginia ten years before; for he had neither profession nor provision. What the religious per- suasion of his family was does not-appear—we suspect the Presby- terian; but he now turned his eye on the Church of England, much as he would have turned it on law or physic. His friend Dr. BERKELEY, a son of the celebrated Bishop BERKELEY, strenuously recommended his taking orders ; assuring him of eventual success. Mr. DEMPSTER, Member for the St. Andrew's district of Burghs, whose seat had been secured on a critical occasion by the casting vote of Bailie BELL, as strenuously opposed it, unless he had inte- rest in England. Dr. BERKELEY; however, carried the day ; and by his influence and management, ANDREW BELL was- ordained, in September 1784, by BARRINGTON then Bishop -of Salisbury% The next two years of the biography are occupied with stories of preferments the Reverend ANDREW BELL had a prospect of, but'did not obtain. His only realized office was minister to the Epis- copal Chapel at Leith, with a salary of 52/. 103. a year, subse- quently raised to 70/. Sick at last with hope deferred, he- de- termined, on Mr. DEMPSTER'S advice, to start for India as-an ad- venturer. Thither he accordingly went in the early part of 1787, with some letters of introduction, and the honorary degree of Doctor of Physic, which Mr. DEMPSTER- procured from St. An- drew's; he had applied for that of Doctor -of Laws, but it was re- served for "men of rank, who had been serviceable to their -country or the University." In the East, Fortune began to smile upon the Doctor. He had very pleasing manners, when it answered his purpose to please; in those times, a man of learning and science and a divine of high moral character was somewhat of a rarity in India; whilst." good things" were better and more numerous than in laterdays. Dr. BELL made such an impression at Madras, that the English residents wished him to remain there, instead of going on to Calcutta as he had originally designed. The local Government retained him, osten- sibly to organize and superintend the Madras Military Orphan School, then projected ; individuals patronized some lectures he gave ; but clerical office was the real object of his friends, and doubtless of himself. He was soon nominated to a chaplaincy ; subordinate chaplaincies fell thick and fast ; and his appointments in a few years are thus enumerated by his biographer- " It must be confessed, that at this time Dr. Bell partook largely of the blessings of pluralism. He held—tat, thesis yet unconfirmed Chaplainship of the Fourth European Regiment; 2d, the Deputy-Chaplainship of the Nine- teenth Regiment of Cavalry in the King's service; .3d, that of his Majesty's Thirty-sixth ; 4th, of the Fifty-second ; 5th, of the Seventy-fourth; 6th, the Junior Chaplainship at Fort St. George ; 7th, the Superintendency of the Undertaker's office; and 8th, the Chaplainship of the Army. Kebarna, who was in eight places at once, was a type of DE. Bell at.this time. Some of these offices may have been sinecures; but there is good proof among his papers-that none of them were sinesalaries."

With such offices, and such, a neglecttof his.proper duty in-the care of souls as the holding of them impliett„it was no.great stretch

of liberality that he declined to receive any remuneration for his superintendence of the Madras Military Orphan School. Yet,. had it been otherwise, the disinterestedness of the act was neu- tralized on his return home, by his making this gratuitous discharge of the office a claim for a pension from the Company. His friend DEMPSTER seems to have been shocked at his insatiable greed ; 'but the Company granted him a pension of 2001. a year.

His connexion with the Madras School produced the chief result for which Dr. BELL is entitled to future celebrity, by leading to the discovery of the plan of Mutual Instruction, which goes under the titles of the Madras System, or the system of BELL and LANCASTER. The total want in India of any person qualified to act as school- master, who would submit to exercise the office in a charity-school and for its scanty remuneration, involved BELL and the Committee in great difficulties, from the obstinacy and neglect of the masters, even more than from their incapacity. Things were in this state, when, happening on one of his morning rides to pass by a Malabar school, he observed the children seated on the ground, and writing with their fingers in sand, which had for that purpose been strewn be- fore them. Be hastened home, repeating to himself as he went, `Evptiect, '1 have discovered it '; and gave immediate orders to the usher of the lowest classes to teach the alphabet in the same manner, with this difference only from the Malabar mode, that the sand was strewn upon a board. These orders were either disregarded, or carelessly executed, as if they were thought not worth regarding; and after frequent admonitions, and repeated trials made without either expectation or wish of succeeding, the usher at last declared it was impossible to teach the boys in that way. If he had acted on this occasion in good-will, and with merely common ability, Dr. Bell might never have cried `Evpritea a second time. But he was not a man to be turned from his pur- pose by the obstinacy of others, nor to be baffled in it by their incapacity : baffled, however, he was now sensible that he must be if he depended for the execution of his plans on the will and ability of those over whose minds he bad no command. He bethought himself of employing a boy, on whose obe- dience' disposition, and cleverness, he could rely, and giving him charge of the alphabet-class. The lad's name was John Frisken; he was the son of a pri- vate soldier, had learned his letters in the Asylum, and was then about eight years old. Dr. Bell laid the strongest injunctions upon him to follow his in- structions; saying, he should look to him for the success of the simple and easy method which was to be pursued, and hold him responsible for it. What the usher had pronounced to be impossible, this lad succeeded in effecting with- out any difficulty. The alphabet was now as much better taught as till then it had been worse than any other part of the boys' studies ; and Frisken, in consequence, was appointed permanent teacher of that class. "Though Dr. Bell did not immediately perceive the whole importance of this successful experiment, he proceeded in the course into which he had been as it were compelled. What Frisken had accomplished with the alphabet- class might, in like manner, be done with those next in order, by boys selected, SR he had been, for their aptitude to learn and to teach. Accordingly, he ap- pointed boys as assistant teachers to some of the lower classes ; giving, how- ever, to Frisken the charge of superintending both the assistants and their classes, because of his experience and the readiness with which he apprehended and executed whatever was required from him. This talent, indeed, the lad possessed in such perfection, that Dr. Bell did not hesitate to throw upon him the entire responsibility of this part of the school. The same improvement was now manifested in these classes as had taken place in teaching the alpha- bet. This he attributed to the diligence and fidelity with which his little friends, as he used to call them, performed his orders. To them a smile of approbation was no mean reward, and a look of displeasure sufficient punish- ment. Even in this stage he felt confident that nothing more was wanting to bring the school into such a state as be had always proposed to himself, than to carry through the whole of the plan upon which he was now proceeding. And this accordingly was done : the experiment which, from necessity, bad been tried at first with one class, was systematically extended to all the others in progression ; and, what is most important with scholastic improvement, moral improvement, not less in consequence of the system, is said to have kept

Pace." •

"As to any purposes of instruction, the master and others were now virtually superseded. They attended the school so as to maintain the observance of the rules ; though even this was scarcely necessary under Dr. Bell's vigilant super- intendence who now made the school the great pleasure as well as the great business of life. Their duty was, not to teach, but to look after the various departments of the institution, to see that the daily tasks were performed, to take care of the boys in and out of school, and to mark any irregularity or neglect either in them or the teachers. The master's principal business re- garded now the economy of the institution : he had charge both of the daily disbursements and monthly expenditure under the treasurer. "The precise date of that experiment which led to the general introduction of boy-teachers cannot be ascertained : but that these teachers had been in- troduced in 1791, or early in the ensuing year, is certain."

Dr. BELL remained in India about five years after his discovery ; and embarked for Europe in 1796, in consequence of his health beginning to sink under the climate. At this period SOUTHEY'S biography ceases, and we suspect the interest of the life too. The struggles and varied fortunes of the adventurer were over : we have nothing but the routine life of the man of fortune and well-to-do divine,—looked up to, after some years, by old "ladies, and gentle- men who judge like ladies," as the apostle of a new reformation. The most striking points are his weak and disagreeable ones ; for the true biographical facts of his career are scant enough. On his return, he invested a part of his fortune in the purchase of an estate in Scotland ; making a bargain that surprised all his friends even of the vicinity. In 1800 he married ; but the Doctor and Mrs. BELL separated in 1806, on account of "unhappy differences,"— which we should. interpret as being caused by the irritable temper, insatiable exactions, and overbearing ways of the Doctor himself. Soon after, his marriage, Mr. CALCRAFT presented him with the living of Swanage in Dorset ; where he introduced his Madras sys- tem into the parish, and he appears in various respects to have ful- filled his duty as a parish-minister, though rather in a secular than a clerical style. When religious heats induced zealots to set up BELL in opposition to LANCASTER, and the Doctor was called upon to as- sist in forming schools upon true Church principles, residence at Swanage was inconvenient ; and in 1809 he procured from the Bishop of DURHAM the Mastership of Sherburn Hospital,—a sort of alms- house, which, after supporting a given number of almsmen, with a . chaplain, . put about.i,gooL a year into the Master's pocket.. In consequence of this preferment, he had to resign Swanage, which he-did not expect; and:he so managed.the Hospital as to induce complaints, causing uneasiness to his patron and scandal to the office: The lay Chancellor of the diocese, whom the Bishop con- sulted, conceived the philanthropic Doctor had put the money re- ceived for dilapidations into his own pocket, instead of applying it to the purpose of repairs, and that he had cut timber and kept the purchase-money, contrary to the statute. After an infinity of fencing on the part of Berm, in which he continually put forth his own merits as the discoverer of the Madras system as a defence to his misdoings, the Bishop felt himself compelled as Visiter to issue an ordinance regulating the whole management. What his friends thought of his excuses, may be inferred from a legal opinion of his stanch disciple MARRIOT.

"` I take it,' he writes, to be clearly a part of the act, that timber-money from ecclesiastical estates should be expended in repairs, and that for no other purpose can it be cut. Your statement will, I trust, be very soon made to the Bishop, by which he will see that the repairs already made and still necessary, and actually projected before the timber was cut, require the whole sum. This will be an answer to the ordinance by matter of fact; and I cannot but regret that it was not made in such time as to have prevented the ordinance from being issued.' " This affair was spread over several years, and terminated in 1819. In the same year, Dr. BELL was appointed a Prebendary of West- minster, with an income varying from 7001. to 1,200/. a year. In 1826. growing infirmities induced him to take leave of the Na- tional Society. In 1830, his health began to fail; and in the follow- ing year he transferred 120,000/. Three per Cents to certain per- sons in trust to apply the greater part of the amount to advancing the "Madras System," besides a subsequent conveyance of an estate of 400/. for the same purpose. Of this strange donation 60,000/. was given to St. Andrew's, his native place : but the gift only involved him in trouble. Dr. GILLESPIE having written an article in a newspaper in praise of the "Madras System," Dr. BELL was so pleased with it (such was his weakness ! ) that he determined to create an office of 100/. a year for Dr. GILLESPIE under the trust. This the trustees ungraciously, (though it seemed legally,) and perhaps from feelings of personal dislike to GILLESPIE, refused to confirm ; and the dying founder was harassed by a dispute which, remonstrances failing, he threatened to carry into Chancery : but death, on the 27th January 1832, cut short his purposes with his life ; and the opinions of the Chancery lawyers being adverse, Dr. GILLESPIE lost his situation of "Special Visiter, Inspector, and Madras Historian," with the hundred a year attached.

Such, with his connexion with the National Society and its Schools, were the leading events of Dr. BELL'S life from 1797 to his death; which the Reverend Mr. SOUTHEY has expanded into upwards of a thousand pages, by the mistaken proceedings we mentioned at the outset. In addition to the minute and fragmentary accounts of schools and the proceedings of societies, the biographer has also dwelt upon much subordinate or irrelative matter. Dr. BELL took an interest in a friendly society at Swanage, and the in- troduction of straw plat; so there is the story of the friendly society and the history of the straw. There was some difference between the Crown and the Bishop of Durham touching the patron- age of the Mastership of the Hospital ; and the history of the dis- pute is given. There is a long story of the dilapidations ; not of the money the Doctor put in his pocket, which is got at after- wards incidentally, but of the sum he extracted from his predecessor. There is a notice of BELL'S successor at Swanage, and of that successor's curate. And so he goes mistakenly on, to the end of the third volume. The only section of much interest is that re- lating to the disposition of the 120,000/. It is, indeed, cumbrous, with much that is formal and needless : but the letters of BELL are full of character ; those of the trustees very " canny "; and there is a graphic account of the Doctor as he appeared in his decline, by Captain M`KONOCHIE, who attended him on the part of the Royal Naval School, to which he gave 10,000/.

Had SOUTHEY lived and been able to complete the work, it would very likely have been longer than was necessary ; but there is no doubt that he would have seen the propriety of keeping the history of the BELL system separate from the story of BELL'S life. It may be questioned whether he would have entered at much length into an account of particular schools that were merely extensions of the original plan, if we may judge from a letter be wrote in reply to the Doctor, who had got up a long scheme for the publication of his works, with a long list of great names as trustees, "three to form a quorum."

"Meantime, the Doctor had written to my father, saying that the prospectus would soon reach him, and making some allusion in regard to the trust, which he did not clearly understand. •1 do not know,' he writes in reply, 'to what measures you allude as "planned on great and respectable patronage," nor what trusteeship you wish me to accept. But I can plainly see that you are still haunted by that spirit of which long ago I often and vainly en- deavoured to exorcise you. My opinion is still what it has always been since 1 have known you and understood the subject—that having made your discovery, brought it into practice, and authenticated it, as you have done, for your own, there you should let it rest ; and that the proper mode of bringing it forward, so as hereafter to fix and secure attention, would be in memoirs of your own life—if prepared by yourself, and left for posthumous publication, this would be best, but well if drawn up by any person whom you might think proper to provide with materials. On this sub- ject 1 will talk with you, if you should be at Cheltenham towards the latter end of June. An)thing that I can do for you in this way, I would do willingly and earnestly—with the satisfaction of thinking that it would be effectual for its purpose, and with an interest in the subject the sincerity of which you will not doubt. But in such things cooperation can serve only to multiply labour and occasion a waste of time.'" Strictly speaking, however, the merit of BELL was in the " dis- covery " of the art of teaching the mechanical elements,—for be- yond this we do not think his or any similar system can go : he is scarcely entitled to the credit of bringing it into " practice, ' which belongs to LANCASTER. When BELL returned from India, he brought with him a report of the Madras School, which embraced -a descriptive account of the system. This he published soon after- wards, and the plan was adopted in a few schools; but there it rested, BELL considering it in advance of the age : and so it might have been had not JOSEPH LANCASTER taken it up. It was LAN- CASTER'S indefatigable industry, confident but plausible manners, and perhaps, as BELL phrased it, "consummate front," that sti- mulated the public attention, procured the public subscriptions, obtained the patronage of Royalty, and established the celebrated Borough Road School, whilst BELL was quiet at Swanage. It may be doubted whether any opposition would have been offered to LANCASTER, and whether BELL himself would not have. been sans- lied with the acknowledgment which LANCASTER made both pub- licly and privately of the advantages derived from his book, had it not been for LANCASTER'S disregard of sectarian differences. The cry of the "Church in danger was not, however, raised by BELL, (who probably cared little about the Church, till he found it would enlist under his banner,) but by Mrs. TRIMMER. About that time (1805) she conducted a periodical called The Guardian of Education, in which she reviewed a new and extended edition of BELL'S "Madras Report," making her notice a vehicle for depreciat- ing LANCASTER'S plan as deficient in originality ; which she followed up by pointing out its tendency to injure the Establishment. When the public mind had been sufficiently stimulated to get up a Church cry, and Churchmen were rife for opposition-schools, and indivi- duals began to found them, BELL was ready enough to "swell the triumph and partake the gale." His services were at anybody's command to organize or improve schools "upon the Madras sys- tem." On the establishment of the National Society, in opposition to the Borough Road, he laboured heart and soul in the cause; and for years, in fact for the remainder of his life, devoted himself to the business with a zeal which left him little leisure for anything else, till the excitement of travelling, the worship of committees, and the dignity of superintendence, seem to have grown into a dis- ease, and left him no zest for the common enjoyments or common duties of life. Here he is painted by a protege of his own, the Reverend Mr. BAMFORD.

"'Acting as general inspector of all the schools united with the Society, and -anxious for the diffusion of his system, he apparently sacrificed every comfort, by continuing to undergo, in traversing from school to school, great bodily exertions and great mental excitements. The gratification which he derived from the display of a particular kind of knowledge, from the reception of praise and respect, the tribute due to his discovery and public reputation, encouraged and fed his restless vanity to such a degree, that his feelings, unless relieved by indulgence, would have made him intensely miserable. He bad become so accustomed to bustle and change, and to new faces with new admiration, that be could never be happy for any length of time in one place. His fame, too, was spread, and a monument of renown erected, by the establishment of every school. The fervour of travelling, and the excitement of fresh company, were necessary to carry of' that exuberance of passion which, if not thus spent, would, I think, even if he were alone and in solitude, have accumulated and overflown in vehement and fiery fits. Food, too, was continually required to nourish those notions of his self-importance, which stationary friends, by too great intimacy, might neglect or refuse to gratify. It is true that, disregarding all personal care, and toil, and expense, wherever his services could be useful, however distant the place or unknown the applicants, no self-considerations restrained his zeal, or came into competition with his eager desire to bring his system into public notice and favour, and to keep up its character and repu- tation with others. In process of time, however, this craving for admiration from diversity of persons increased into a strong and overpowering feeling. It was not surprising, therefore, that he wrought himself into a belief that, as he was signally appointed by Providence to be the means of bringing to light such an instrument for the education of the body of the people and the consum- mation of the blessed Reformation, so it was his duty personally to give his assistance wherever it was desired, or likely to advance his great object. Still, perhaps, it had been better for himself and the cause in which he was engaged, either to have confined his instructions to fewer places, or to have communi- cated them with more grace. Previously to his arrival in any town, hews,, from his public character and his disinterested employment, regarded as highly as his own pretensions could desire ; but a first or second visit most commonly lessened the respect or checked the ardour of those who had given their time and money towards the establishment of the schools, and who found themselves and their labours frequently depreciated, censured, and offended. Many anxious friends of schools, who had welcomed his coming in the hopes of being assisted and encouraged by the sanction of the discoverer of the system they were pa- tronizing, became disgusted and disheartened; and have now either given up their interest in schools altogether, or only attend in spite of the reflection that he, who should best know and judge impartially, could find nothing to commend in their exertions. I do not mean to say that he found fault where there was no re88011; but his manner of examining schools, and addressing visitera and masters, was in general so opposite to the courteous and corn- flacent behaviour by which great men become beloved, that many unkind feel- ings have been excited against him, which he might very easily not only have prevented, but in their place have established unalloyed admiration. Instead of deliveringvhis instructions and making his remarks in a gentlemanly and con- ciliatory mode, so as to gain upon adult masters by big suavity, his personal behaviour was such that he was almost universally dreaded and disliked. His treatment of them in their schools, in the presence of their pupils, was fre- quently calculated to create any other sentiments than respect and attention. His conduct not only at the time alienated them from him, but it created a dislike which embittered and rendered heartless all their subsequent endeavours. lt might be commonly true that there was ground for his observations ; but his style of talking to them, and his remarks, with a kind of boundless rage and bluster, were in their estimation not only unkind and unnecessary, but

vexations and oppressive.'"

Amid all his labours, one thing he never neglected, and that was his own interest. The immense fortune he accumulated is one of the most remarkable features of his life, and almost induces one to infer that he united the uncongenial characters of money-changer and priest of the temple. When he left England for India, in 1787, Jeli he possessed beyond his outfit was 128/. 108. Od.; when he re- turned, in 1796, he had accumulated 25,9004 Yet his regular in- come is only estimated at 1,600/. a year; which would not have produced such a sum had he saved it all: yet he does not appear to have been marked at Madras for extreme economy, but to have kept up, externally at least, the appearance befitting his station. The living of Swanage was " upwards" of 600/. a year ; which he held from 1801 to 1809, when he became Master of Sherburn Hospital. The average income of this office, as he returned it to the Income-tax Commissioners, was 1,1641. To this, in 1809, was added the stall at Westminster, yielding from 700/. to 1,200/. a year more. Considering the gradual advance in the price of the Funds, common investment and reinvestment of this income might have pro- duced a larger fortune than BELL seems to have died possessed of: but he must have lived at considerable expense, at all events during his residence at Swanage, and as Prebendary of Westminster; for we hear of a carriage, and servants to match. During his visita- tions he lived a good deal upon his disciples; but his travelling was expensive, and he would give liberally to any scheme which could. contribute to promote the praise and glory of ANDREW BELL. Yet with all these drawbacks, we conceive he must have possessed some 150,000/., probably more : but we have found no definite account of his property in the volumes.

As an individual, Dr. BELL was doubtless pleasant enough to wealthy and believing disciples, who fed him with incense, and with something more substantial when he visited their houses ; but to those who were in close and continual contact with him he appears in the reverse of an amiable light. A hard selfishness was the basis of his moral character, rendered harder by the privations and struggles of his early life, and by the " grand " object which in his age he deemed himself destined to achieve. This last feel- ing seems to have given him some of the indifference of kings or conquerors. He paid not the slightest attention to the comfort or health of his dependents when his objects were to be forwarded; he had as little scruple about assailing his opponents ; and his vanity, bottomed on selfishness, was so gross that he seemed inclined to make the merit of his "Madras System" a sufficient defence for anything he might say or do, and to see but little merit in any other thing, or any other persons unless they were believers in ANDREW BELL. Yet he appears to have had a good deal of re- fined cunning or management in effecting his objects, and con- ciliating or duping instruments. We again quote from his pro- tege this account of BELL's management of BAMFORD.

'" When Dr. Bell came up to town,' Bamford writes, 'lie took particular notice of me, and immediately withdrew me from the Central School ; and oc- cupied me for some months in copying his MSS., and giving my observations and opinion of his productions. I used to be with him about six or seven in the morning, and with little interruption continued till night. Sometimes, when he was at home, I staid till eleven o'clock; but when he dined oat, which happened frequently, I returned to my lodgings, and my own pursuits in reading, &c.

"' At that time he was busily engaged in preparing his Elements of Tuition, Part II., and Ludas Literarias. He sat up late, and rose very early. About noon he visited schools, which he continued till near three or four; when he slept till five or six, and then, when invited, went out to dine. . . . .

." In his treatment of me he exercised that mixture of severity and apparent good-will, which, however at times unpleasant to my feelings, had so much in- fluence over me that I adhered to him most exclusively; and, as he impressed upon me, looked upon all others who spoke kindly to me, or wished me to seek some relaxation, as insidious enemies. He professed to have no other object in view but my good ; and by opening mysteriously to me the power of future patronage, with the necessity of implicit reliance, I was encouraged to expect a reward proportionate to any exertions I should make, however laborious or supererogatory. To him, therefore, I devoted myself. He found me docile, tractable, affectionate, and without guile or suspicion. He wished to train me up in that exclusive attachment to him and his pursuits which rendered me a useful and necessary instrument for his present purposes, and which would pre- pare me for any future operations. He therefore exacted of me the prostra- tion of the intellect, the affections, and the actions. All were to be at his dis- posal. Private views, and opinions, and friends, were to be discarded; and with a pure admiration and dependence, I yielded myself solely and wholly to his will. Severe and hard to endure was his course of discipline. He soon found that, with the more gentle qualities of my nature, there were also united a warmth and impetuosity of temper with a pride of spirit which could be with pleasure led by gentleness, but which was fretted and wounded by harshness. But what could the vain ebullitions of youth avail against the cool and prac- tised aims of age ? By raising expectations without directly promising—by manifesting a parental care for my welfare, by professing sincere regard, by holding up inducements and future advancement, by candidly and honestly telling me my faults, by an air of the strictest justice, by enforcing unequivocal veracity, and every moral virtue, with a rigid industry—he bent and warped my mind to such a degree, that all my power, and thoughts, and sentiments, were employed exclusively to please him and fulfill his directions. I viewed nothing in the world but through the speculum he presented. Of himself he gave me a picture which I loved. He represented himself as delighted with truth—a lover of candour—the patron of merit ; and he signalized me out as his little Lake boy, his protégé, nay, as his son, whom he regarded and trained up as his own. This, notwithstanding the many bitter moments of discipline which were used to try me, could not but gain upon such a heart as mine, par- ticularly so inexperienced a one. I remember I viewed with, I bad almost said hostility, every one who spoke lightly of the Doctor, and would not suffer a word to his disparagement. I used sometimes to visit Dr. Pearson, who had one of the most splendid academies in England for young noblemen, &c. He offered me a situation in his own establishment, which I declined ; but when he made some severe remarks on the Doctor and his system, I desisted frora visiting him ; and so with others. "'The Doctor was always extremely jealous of my forming any acquaintance or friendships; and so inquisitive about those whom I did visit, that, for my own peace, I found it better to confine myself to him entirely. . . . "'Things went on bluffly enough. He scolded at crooked writing, at wrong paragraphs, at an unintelligible mark, and such like minor imperfections ; and triumphantly displayed the mighty advantages with which I was favoured in being allowed to copy and transcribe, from little scraps of paper and backs of letters, the chaotic effusions of his ardent mind. "This was real training, far better than being at the University; and nobody knew where it might end, or what you may come to, if you give yourself up to this thing." He would re- mark, after he tried my fidelity—" Now you know all my concerns: other people require oaths of secrecy ; no man engages a common clerk without having security for his faithfulness; but here I allow you to see my papers, and trust only to your honour. Though I do not ask you to swear, yet I ex- pect that you will consider yourself as fully bound as if you were sworn to secrecy." With the indefinite prospects which he held out for the future I was satisfied. lie encouraged me by showing me letters wherein applications or situations were mentioned in reference to himself or friends.'" The same feelings of self led BELL to bestow so much of his money on school-foundations,—mingled, perhaps, with some remote misgiving that his system was not so excellent as he hoped; for if founded on nature, its inherent utility would secure its propagation. An economical resolve to save the legacy-duty might have some effect in inducing him to give the money in his lifetime ; but the vanity of directing and ordering the establishments was no doubt a main reason for the gift, as Captain M'Koeocure detected on his second interview. This feeling of selfish vanity overcame all sense of family propriety, to say nothing of natural affection. Though in the receipt of so handsome a professional income, and so amaz- ingly rich, 30/. was the sum he munificently distributed among some needy aunts and cousins whom he professed to regard with affection ; and he allowed his only sister, indeed his only near rela- tion, first 60/. and then 90/. a year. He also secured her 100/. after his death, and gave her the house he lived in at Cheltenham, with its furniture, &c. What further he might intend to do, does not appear : but they quarrelled not long before his death ; Miss BELL having characterized his disposal of the 120,000/. as evidence of in- sanity, which some tale-bearer carried to him. In a legal or medical point of view, Miss BELL was undoubtedly wrong : but his case affords a remarkable instance of the long prevalence of one idea operating on a gigantic vanity to induce an aberration of mind such as JOHNSON endeavoured to exhibit in the astronomer in Rasselas.