1704

152

are sharpened by attrition, but we find ourselves equal to the
kindly contests with our generous soil and halcyon skies.
We have not much high scholarship, nor much gross ignor-
ance, at least among the white population. A number of
well educated people scattered throughout the County, and
not congregated in the towns, has served to give our peoole
a contempt of ignorance at least, if not a love of learning.
Probably not more than five per centum of our white
population are entirely illiterate; but a much larger per-
centage are so little instructed that their writing is far
from being a useful art to them, their reading is performed
with such difficulty that it is not indulged in as a pleasure,
and their arithmetic is confined to the simplest combinations
of numbers. Of our negroes, I may say they are generally
extremely ignorant, but the schools which have lately been
established for their instruction, by the charity of benevo-
lent societies abroad, are doing good service, and diminish-
ing, it may be only grain by grain, this mountain of ig-
norance. I should not refrain from stating briefly in this
connection that our people are becoming not simply recon-
ciled to the establishment of these schools, but really desirous
that they be maintained and be rendered efficient, though I
see po disposition to give any pecuniary support, or active
encouragement. I have thought it not proper, considering
the sensitiveness of the puplic mind, and that I was under
no official obligation, to give any attention to these schools
for colored children; but the time will speedily come when
public sentiment will not only permit but will demand that
some provision be made for the education of this degraded
class, which comprises one-third of our whole population.
Public safety, and public economy, if not the higher and
stronger motive of public justice will require it at our hands.

IV. " Whether there is evidence of zeal in sustaining Pub-
lic Schools, and a willingness to erect and furnish
school houses.''

It cannot be said truthfully that there is any zeal in sus-
taining Public Schools, yet it may be said that if an attempt
were made to destroy them by any party or set of men, so
much attached are our people to their schools, that there
would no longer be the apathy upon the subject of education
which now exists. We pay our taxes for the support of
schools willingly; there is unanimity of sentiment that
they must be sustained, that competent teachers must be
employed, and adequate salaries paid; that commodious
houses with the proper appliances should be built and kept
in order; but there are few who will give their personal at-
tention to these matters, and consequently, with ample
means, and the very best intentions, small care has been
taken to secure capable persons to take charge of the schools,