The Daily Advertiser

PHILADELPHIA, December 17.

On Tuesday the 2d instant came on the quarterly examination of the young ladies belonging to Mr. Poor's academy, in the presence of a number of the trustees and other respectable citizens. The number of his scholars was found to amount to one hundred. But, although no bodily correction nor harsh treatment of any kind be ever attempted in this seminary, yet so fully established, among his pupils, are the habits of good order and respect for their superiors, that in the whole course of the examination, which lasted two days, during which the strictest order and decorum were preserved. And indeed with respect to the exhibition in general, it is no more than justice to say, that it is not easy to conceive how anything of the kind could have been more perfect. In reading, in writing, in arithmetic, in geography, in English grammar, and in composition, such specimens were given of proficiency, not confined to a few individuals, but spreading itself on all sides thro' the classes in general, as even in this city would not a few years ago have been conceived practicable.

The premiums being presented in due form by the president, he arose and delivered to the young ladies the following address, which, being pleased with their proficiency, he had drawn up in the course of the afternoon.

Young Ladies,

Upon such occasions as the present, it is not uncommon for some person of known abilities and respectable character in life, to address himself to the youth before him in a premeditated discourse; representing to them, as on the one hand the great advantages of a good education, so on the other the animated exertions indispensably necessary in order to acquire it.

I have not been applied to for any discourse of this nature; nor do I now come forward prepared.

My feelings, however, as a trustee of this seminary, would be deeply wounded, were we to suffer so many amiable young persons to be dismissed from our presence, without any testimony of our approbation.

Undoubtedly you have given, in the course of this exhibition, a most convincing demonstration both of your own merit, and of that of your instructors.

And in making this declaration, I speak not only my own sentiments, but the sentiments of the trustees, my colleagues; nay, farther, the sentiments, I will venture to pronounce, of every individual in this numerous and enlightened assembly.

As to those of you, my honored young friends to whom the premiums have been now presented, you will have the consciousness of having afforded to your parents and friends a gratification which they highly value; as well as of obtaining for yourselves-what may indeed be of little value as to its intrinsic worth--but an acquisition, however, upon which through life you will never reflect without the most pleasing emotions.

At the same time I cannot but observe to you, that it is a circumstance which tends greatly to heighten our satisfaction upon this occasion, that however you may have been distinguished, your schoolfellows and classmates have not been dishonored. For so ably in every instance did they dispute the prize with you, that as to myself, I will freely own I was often at a loss to determine to whom, out of many, it ought of right to have been conferred.

The same desire to excel will always, I trust, accompany you through life. Permit me however, to remind you, that though merit of every kind may extort respect, it is modest merit only that can captivate the heart.

You will do well, therefore, to reflect often, on the last end and design of all these accomplishments. Is it, that you may be placed as it were on some envied eminence, to triumph in your own superiority, and to dazzle the eyes of all beholders? Alas! can a thought so little suited to his condition, find a place in the breast of any mortal?

What has he to do to aim at superiority and to seek to dazzle the eyes of all beholders, whose whole life upon earth has been justly compared, in the beautiful language of revelation, to a vapour that appeareth but for a little while and then vanisheth away. The belated traveller beholds it bursting over him from the gloom of the night; he admires its sudden brightness; but, before he is well able to express admiration, the object that has excited it is now no more So shall it be with every fair form which is now before me. However loved, however honored, they shall, in the course of a few revolving seasons lie down in the dust neglected and forgotten through a series of ages.

The love, therefore, of praise and admiration, however we may sometimes avail ourselves of it as a secondary, can never be admitted as the principal motive of human conduct.

In a word, we seek to bestow on you every accomplishment. You will have made, however, but an ill use of all these advantages, if you do not discover from them, that they were therefore bestowed on you, that you might be the better qualified to obtain the favor of God by a life that is useful to mankind.