Mr. S.B.  Ruggles was kind enough to introduce me to Mr. Horace Webster, by whom I was shown over the whole establishment.  The cleanliness and good ventilation certainly exceeded that of any other similar establishment which I had visited in the United States.  There is a very good library containing 3000 volumes, besides 8000 which are used as text-books, or books of reference.  Many publishers supplied the requisite books at reduced prices, which, as long as they retain the ignominious position of the literary pirates of the world, I suppose they can afford to do without inconvenience.  There is also a fine studio, full of casts from the best models, and copies of the Elgin marbles presented by Mr. Leap.  Instruments of the best quality abound for the explanation of all the sciences taught.

In one of the rooms which I entered there was an examination going on.  The subject was astronomy, and it was the first class.  I was particularly struck with the very clear manner in which the lad under examination replied to the questions put to him, and I began to suspect it was merely something he had learnt by rote; but the professor dodged him about in such a heartless manner with his “whys” and his “wherefores,” his “how do you knows” and “how do you proves,” that I quite trembled for the victim.  Vain fears on my part; nothing could put him out; he seemed as much at home as the professor, and answered all the questions propounded to him in language as clear and simple as that which the great Faraday employs to instruct his eager listeners at the Royal Institution.  Not once could the professor make him trip during the long half-hour of his searching examination.  Having remarked that the appearance of the student was rather that of a labouring than of a wealthy stock, I asked the principal who he was.  “That, sir,” replied Mr. Webster, “is one of our best students, and he is the son of a poor journeyman blacksmith.”

New York may point with just pride to her Free Academy, and say, “In our city the struggling efforts of genius are never cramped by the chill blast of poverty, for within those walls the avenues to the highest branches of literature and science are opened without charge to the humblest and most destitute of our citizens.”  I spent several hours in this most admirable and interesting institution, so ably presided over by Mr. Horace Webster, through whose kindness I was provided with the full details of all its workings.  It would seem that the best class of schools for young ladies are not very numerous, for the papers announced the other day that Mrs. Okill had realized 250,000 dollars by her establishment, which could hardly have been the case in the face of good opposition.