" The whole population of Scotland amounts to 2,093,856, and the church is divided into 16 synods.
In the ten synods of Lothian and Tweeddale, Merse and Tiviotdale, Dumfries, Galloway, Glasgow and Ayr, Perth and Stirling, Fife, Angus, and Mearns, Aberdeen, and Moray, there are 764 parishes, and 1,716,126 persons, and so abundant is the number of schools in these districts, that, with a few exceptions, they may be said to be well supplied with the means of education, and there is scarcely an individual who has not been taught to read.
The remaining six synods, however, namely Argyle, Glenelg, floss, Sutherland and Caithness, Orkney, and Shetland, situate chiefly in the Highlands and Islands, and containing only 143 parishes, and a population of 377,730 persons, are, as stated in the parochial re turns, in the most urgent need of not less than 250 ad ditional schools.
The number of scholars that would attend each of these 250 schools, it is computed, at a low average. would amount to 42. It follows, therefore, that in these synods there are 10,500 children left without the means of any education; and the committee are quite satisfied, that the number is, in fact, much greater than the calculated number of 10,500.
These 10,500 children alluded to, are all, it is to he noticed, under 15 years of age. If persons of all ages are included, the number of those not taught to read almost exceeds belief. But how could it be otherwise, when more parishes than one are described as not hav ing a sufficient number of schools to accommodate one tenth of their population? Several are said to be in need of three and four, and one of even six schools; and as to another, the fact is mentioned, that it con sists of 1000 square miles, and has a population of 4747 souls, and that of these only 995 have learned to read at all.
In the first ten synods above mentioned, there are only six catechists stated to be necessary for the due means of religious instruction to the people, and this necessity arises from the large territorial extent of some particular parishes.
In the other six synods also above mentioned, no fewer than ISO catechists are required! Nor will this deficiency seem surprising, when the physical locali ties of the country are considered. There are many islands in it at great distances from the coast. The
coast of the mainland is often indented by long arms of the sea; and its whole surface is intersected, and in many places rendered impassable, by precipitous mountains, and by rapid rivers.
One parish, seventeen miles long, on the mainland, has an island belonging to it with a population of 300, situate at 24 miles from the shore, and owing to its great distance, and a dangerous navigation interven ing, the minister cannot visit it above once in the year. Another parish consists of nine islands, of which six are inhabited, and it extends, including sea, 50 miles in length, and 30 in breadth; and a third parish of 24 miles long on the mainland, includes four inhabited islands, some of which arc twenty miles distant from each other.
Each of these parishes has only the parochial min ister to perform every pastoral spiritual duty to the people." The general instruction of the people of Scotland is greatly promoted by Sunday schools,* which are es tablished in many of the parishes and villages; and several of these have libraries consisting of books easily understood, which are lent out to the children.
Besides the parochial schools and those established by the Society above mentioned, there are many pri vate schools in every part of the country, which are supported solely by the fees of the pupils, and some of which are taught by women.
In the principal burghs and provincial towns of Scotland, where the parochial schools are of a higher description, they have been distinguished by the name of Grammar Schools, and the title of rector has by courtesy been given to the master. At such schools there is generally provision for accommodating a num ber of boarders; and the education which they afford is of the very best description.
Within the last 20 years another kind of establish ment has arisen in some of the larger provincial towns called „academies. These institutions, sometimes un der the direct patronage of the magistrates, and some times under that of subscribers, are taught by a rector and several subordinate masters. They exist at An nan, Ayr, Cupar, Dundee, Inverness, Montrose, Perth, Tain, and several of them have been described in our accounts of these towns. . .
A detailed account of these different universities has already been given, under our articles, ABERDEEN,