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Thoughts

ON

EDUCATION;

IN TWO PARTS:

THE FIRST ON GENERAL EDUCATION, AND THE
SECOND ON THAT OF FEMALES.

BY

AGNES SOPHIA SEMPLE,

Daughter of the late Rev. Dr. Henry Hunter.

He that undertakes the education of a child, undertakes
the most important duty in Society.

DAY.

LONDON:

Printed by T. Bayley, Devonshire Street, Bishopsgate;
SOLD BY J. MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET; E. WILSON, 88,
CORNHILL; R. PITKEATHLEY, ANDERSON'S BUildings,
CITY ROAD; S. BURTON, LEADENHALL STREET; MFSSRS.
DARTON AND HARVEY, GRACECHURCH STREET; BY THE
AUTHOR, 12, FELIX PLACE, ISLINGTON; A. BLACK, EDIN-
BURGH; AND BY J. SMITH AND SON, GLASGOW.

MDCCCXII.

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PREFACE.

ST. PIERRE intended to write a general History of Nature, but he found that of a single strawberry plant far to transcend his highest powers. Without proposing to form a System of Education, the daily observation of a little girl of three years old, led me to think on that subject, which, while there are infinite varieties in the human mind, can never be exhausted. Like St. Pierre I was overwhelmed with my study, and was compelled to relinquish

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it and pursue general ideas. The works of Nature present a boundless and a delightful field for research, but before a single human mind, even in its infancy of intelligence, these works, nay universal Nature herself, sink into insignificance, into annihilation.

Being thus led to think on education, I was led also to express my thoughts, in a correspondence carried on with a lady who has been for some years a teacher of youth. She was pleased to express her approbation of my sentiments, and likewise a wish that I would give them publicity. The solicitation of friends has been but too frequently stated by authors as their motive for giving their performances to the world; but besides that my correspondent is my friend, she has had, and still has, committed to her, and to one who shares her labours, the education

of the daughters of wise and good parents. What therefore she was pleased to approve, and to deem worthy of public attention, it became not me to withhold. Not the entreaties of a friend therefore, but the opinion of a guide of youth induces me to publish the following Thoughts.

I have read but few writers on education: my aim has not been to make a book, but from the encouragement already mentioned, to give a few plain thoughts in plain language, intelligible to my own, and I hope therefore, to every capacity. If the simple understand me, the wise certainly will: ideas that might be generally useful, are sometimes rendered of no avail because they are not adapted to general comprehension. may be pleasant to have the applause of

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