Necessity Of Popular Education, As A National Object; With Hints On The Treatment Of Criminals, And Observations On Homicidal Insanity

Boston: Marsh, Capen & Lyon, 1834. First American Edition. The author was a Scottish advocate and acquaintance of Sir Walter Scott. “He took a deep interest in the agitation in favour of better elementary education. He was one of the founders of the Edinburgh modern infant school, in which he endeavoured to solve the problem of religious education by permitting the parents to select the religious instructors themselves. Failing to receive adequate support, however the school was ultimately sold to the kirk session of New Greyfriars. Simpson continued devoted to the cause of non-sectarian education, and lectured on its behalf in many of the principal towns of England and Scotland. In 1837 he appeared as a witness before the committee of the House of Commons on national education in Ireland, and his examination lasted seven days.” (DNB) The present work includes chapters on the effects of ignorance on the condition of the manual-labour class, the effects of imperfect education on the condition of the class of people above manual labour, the faculties of man and their relative objects, education as adapted to the faculties and infant education, education subsequent to infancy, the just estimate of civil history as a study for youth, popular education as the duty of the nation with a proposed plan, and difficulties, obstacles and encouragements. The appendix includes hints on the necessity of a change of principle in the legislation for the efficient protection of society from crime, observations on the degree of knowledge applied to the investigation of insanity in trials for crime, chiefly violence and homicide, &c. 12mo. pp. xii, [13]-262. with half-title. original cloth (stains to cloth, spine label chipped, some light foxing)