Through the means above stated, the number of schools has greatly increased in Buenos Aires since I left it. The Rev. Mr. Armstrong, in a letter lately received by the Bible Society, reckons them to amount to about one hundred, and thinks they may contain about five thousand scholars. In the letter now referred to, Mr. Armstrong states, that he had presented 500 New Testaments to these schools on the part of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and he expresses a hope that this precious volume is likely to be generally used in all the schools before long.
At the time I left Buenos Aires, there was a very good girls’ school, on the British system, containing 120 scholars. I have not heard particularly of this school since that time, but hope it continues to prosper as it then did. The person who organized this school was Don José Catalá, a native of Spain, and a zealous promoter of education. This gentleman was the first who studied the system at our schools in Buenos Aires. He was afterwards appointed to be master of the central school, and continued in that situation until a few weeks before I left that place.
I mentioned to you, in some of my letters, that I had paid a visit to Monte Video, where I was kindly received by the first ecclesiastic of that place, Don Damaso Antonio de Larañaga, a priest of a liberal and enlightened mind, and a friend to education. This gentleman laid the subject of the establishment of schools on the British system before the magistrates, and, in consequence, I was authorized to send a master to them, who was to receive a salary of 1200 dollars a-year, whilst engaged in establishing and superintending the schools. The person most qualified for this undertaking was Don José Catalá, already mentioned. He was, accordingly, sent there with a supply of the necessary articles for making a commencement. I received, whilst in South America, different letters respecting his progress, which was at first slow on account of the war in which that place was involved, and the scarcity of funds consequent upon it. Afterwards he was enabled to get on better. The last letter I had from him is encouraging, of which I shall give an extract:—
“The school which I formed here has produced upwards of eighty children well instructed in elementary education. These have given satisfaction to those best qualified to judge, and to the public in general, in two public examinations which have taken place. The number of children now in the school is 208. Two years ago, I formed a private school upon the Lancasterian system. It contains at present forty children belonging to the best families of this city, who pay for each child six dollars a quarter. The master of this school is a young man of excellent talents, and of good conduct. He attended the central school for a whole year, in order to learn the system well, and to approve himself capable of conducting a school upon these principles. He expected to be employed in one of the schools which the magistrates were about to establish, but as it was impossible for them to carry forward their purpose, owing to the disturbances of the times, I advised him to establish a private school. The young man had not means to do this, as he was the son of a poor widow. The Society, however, gave him lessons, slates, and pencils, and Mr. Noble gave him the wood to make the seats and desks. Thus provided, he offered to instruct, under the auspices of the Society, and by my direction,—elementary education, and also the principles of geometry, trigonometry, and geography, and to hold a public examination of his pupils every year. I am happy to inform you that the children are making very great progress, owing to the steadiness and fidelity of the master, and to the six well instructed monitors whom I sent him from the other school, each of whom knows more than any of the masters of this place.
“I am sorry to inform you that the master of the central school died about three weeks ago. In consequence of this misfortune, I have been obliged to take the school into my own hands until another master be appointed.
“I mentioned to you, in a former letter, that I had organized Mrs. Hyne’s school in Buenos Aires on the Lancasterian system, with this peculiarity in the arrangement, that the children are taught in English one day, and in Spanish the other; as she has scholars who speak these languages respectively, I sent her some of the lessons printed here for the use of her school.”
The school here referred to is kept by an English lady, and was just beginning when I left Buenos Aires. It was afterwards fully established on your system as above mentioned. I have had frequent information respecting the prosperity of this school, and am told that the youth of that city show a great desire to study the English language, and are making progress in it. Their parents have thus shown their desire for the education of their children, in instructing them in our tongue, and they have shown their liberality in sending them without scruple to be educated by an English lady belonging to the Protestant church.
In the preceding review of the schools in Buenos Aires, there is much to cheer the minds and hearts of those who interest themselves in the welfare of their fellow-men, and who use their best exertions for this end, in the way in which they can be most effectual, namely, in the instruction of the young. To see the youthful flocks increasing in numbers, and growing in the knowledge of the purest religion and morality, by reading and imbibing the sacred oracles, is a sight truly gratifying, and to hear of this will, I am sure, afford much satisfaction to the Committee of the British and Foreign School Society. It will also, I trust, lead you to renewed exertions on behalf of that country, and, knowing your readiness to do so, I beg leave to suggest the propriety of sending out a person possessing good talents, and well acquainted with your system, that he may be employed in extending education through the various provinces of these United States; and, in recommending this measure, I repeat my conviction, that the gentleman now elected President of these States, Don Bernardino Rivadavia, will take a pleasure in seconding your views.
I now turn your attention to the provinces of Mendoza and San Juan, as these form a part of the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata. In March 1822, I visited these places, and found a very great desire existing there, in regard to education. Our excellent friend, Dr. Gillies, was at that time (and still is) residing in Mendoza. He had contributed much to create such a desire, and was very active in using every means for satisfying it. It was through his very urgent request, that I visited these places, I was much gratified with what I saw there, as regards a growing spirit of knowledge and liberality. The governor of Mendoza was very friendly to the establishment of Schools. A Society for promoting them was established a few days after my arrival, and a petition was presented to the Governor, that a small printing press, belonging to the town, might be placed at their disposal, that they might print lessons for the schools, and might otherwise gain a little for promoting their objects. This request was immediately acceded to, and the press and the types were transferred accordingly. A newspaper has been printed at this press for some time, and it has greatly contributed to enlighten that quarter. A girls’ school was begun whilst I was there, and measures were taken for establishing schools for boys, which were afterwards carried into effect. After these favourable circumstances had been some time in operation, a storm overtook our worthy friends. They were like to be overwhelmed by a spirit of fanaticism, which had raised itself against the promoters of education and reform, by those of a contrary mind. The enemies of righteousness prevailed for some time, but at length they stumbled and fell, and truth and improvement again appeared, and prevailed, and now reign in triumph. Those individuals who had combined together to benefit their country, and whose benevolent arrangements were thus for some time impeded; these very individuals are now the chief persons in the government, and are thus enabled to carry their measures into effect.
In the Province of San Juan I found many enlightened individuals who were warm friends of education. There were, no doubt, many of other feelings and wishes. A printed circular was sent to the different persons of note in that place by the Governor, inviting them to a meeting in his own house, for discussing the subject of establishing schools on your system. A good many attended, and some were for the measure, and some against it. The Governor was a warm friend to the object, and the meeting broke up by his signifying, that it was the intention of the government to use its best endeavours to forward this object. I left some Scripture lessons for the schools in that place, as I had done in Mendoza, the price of which, together with the expenses of my journey there, were paid by the Governors of these two places.