Santiago de Chile, 6th August, 1821.[1]
My letter to you of the 16th July,[2] brought down my journal to the day before my leaving Valparaiso. On the 17th I left that place in the afternoon, and at two o'clock on the 19th I said, "Peace be to this city!" I was going to give you some account of the road, and what I met with upon it, but find I have got other things to write which will fill my letter. I shall leave this description till a further opportunity.
You know, already, that I was engaged to come here by this government, and that my passage round the Cape was paid by the same. I therefore looked for a fair and open reception. I have not been disappointed, or, perhaps, I should rather say I have, for I have met with a reception beyond my expectation, I might say to my wish. I have been introduced to the Director and to the Ministers of Government, all of whom express much desire for the speedy establishment of schools throughout Chile. We have got the largest apartment in the University for a school-room. The joiners are busy at work, fitting it up, and we only wait their finishing to begin our operations.
I shall occupy the rest of my letter in giving you a translation of two articles, which bear upon this subject.
On my arrival here, I received a copy of the following order, issued by the Government two days before I reached this city: —
"By supreme authority of this date, I communicate to Don Manuel Salas the following note.
"Mr. Thomson, who has been engaged to establish in this city the new system of mutual instruction, has already arrived in Valparaiso. His Excellency, the Director, has a decided wish that public education may be general, and is very anxious to give all possible aid to this establishment for elementary instruction, as preparatory to the higher branches. He has for this end appointed you with full powers to forward this object, in conjunction with Mr. Thomson, and the President of the Board of Public Education. You will, therefore, do all in your power to establish it as soon and as perfectly as possible.—A copy of this order to be sent to the President of Public Education, and to Mr. Thomson."
"Office of the Minister of State in Santiago de Chile,
17th July, 1821.
"JOAQUIN DE ECHEVARRIA,"
Upon enquiring who this Don Manuel Salas was, I found he was a man very highly respected by everyone, and a modest but decided philanthropist. I have since been frequently with him, and find him, indeed, as described to me. I next give you an article from the Public Gazette of the 4th current; I think it is from the pen of Salas, but this is only conjecture. It is, however, either from him or from one of the Ministers of Government.
"PUBLIC EDUCATION.
"Ignorance is one of the greatest evils that man can suffer, and it is the principal cause of all his errors and miseries. It is also the grand support of tyranny, and ought, therefore, to be banished by every means from that country which desires a liberty regulated by laws, customs, and opinion. None can be happy unless he study religion, morality, and his own rights, unless he improve by the knowledge of those who have preceded him, and enter into social connexion, as it were, with those who in former times, and in other places, cultivated the sciences and the arts, and who have deposited in their writings, the fruit of their studies for the improvement of others. The only way by which we can form such an acquaintance with great men is by reading. The happy day is now arrived when the infinitely valuable art of reading is to be extended to every individual in Chile. We have now the pleasure of announcing this to all classes of the community. This will be considered as the most interesting news, by those who know its importance, and who consider it as the basis of solid prosperity.
Deeply impressed with this truth, our benevolent government has brought to this place Mr. James Thomson, who has established in Buenos Aires elementary schools upon that admirable system of Lancaster, which has spread through the world. He is going to establish schools on the same plan in this city, from which, as a centre, this system will be propagated through all the towns of the state. The readiness with which this mode of education has been generally adopted, its economy, and the quickness and order with which children learn by it reading, writing, arithmetic, and the principles of grammar, strongly recommend it. It has been particularly useful in those places where rural or mechanical occupations allow but a short time for instruction. There is, therefore, now no obstacle in the way for everyone in Chile to obtain education. Notice will be given, from time to time, of the progress of the central school, which is to serve as a model for others. In it masters will be instructed, and those masters who show the most attention in acquiring a knowledge of this system will be appointed in preference to the other schools."
[1] James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America (London: James Nisbet, 1827). Pp.7-11.
[2] The addressee is unknown at this point. There is no letter of this date in the BFSS or BFBS archives. (BM)