medicine. The result of this system of education is the overcrowding of the professions. The university turns out lawyers and doctors in sufficient numbers for a country of more than ten times the population of this kingdom. Their field for employment is, for the most part, confined to Greece and that portion of Turkey where the Greek language is spoken. Many of them, unable to obtain employment in their professions, grow up in idleness, too proud to engage in productive pursuits, and struggling for subsistence by other means than manual labor. Numbers take up politics and endeavor to obtain employment in the public service. These embrace a large portion of the office-seeking class, and constitute an element of mischief in political agitation by clamoring for frequent ministerial changes, in the hope of securing subordinate official positions. Better that the government should pay more attention to the common schools, so as to render them more efficient. Little else than reading and writing is now taught in these primary schools. For further advancement the pupil must enter the intermediate school, (marked in the table as "Greek schools.") The facilities here are limited, as are also those of the gymnasia, the higher schools that prepare the student for the university. The entire attendance at both the intermediate schools and gymnasia in 1871 was 7,997. Better that agricultural science should be popularized by governmental encouragement. The agricultural school at Firynthus, in Argos, the only one that has existed in Greece, has been suffered to languish and is now closed. The polytechnic school at Athens is supported by the government, and has 300 students. The following branches are taught in this institution, namely: Painting, sculpture, wood-engraving. casting in plaster, architectural and mechanical arts. The latter brauch is the only one involving manual labor of a practical character calculated to advance the material interests of the country. Better that the university itself should become an agency to impart intelligence to agricultural and manufacturing industry than add to the existing number of professional idlers. The American mission schools in Athens are doing an excellent work. They are, first: Those founded by Mr. and Mrs. Dr. J. H. Hill, under the auspices of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States. The first school was established by them in July, 1831. These schools have been instrumental in giving an impetus to education, particularly as regards females, throughout Greece. During the forty years in which Rev. Dr. Hill and his accomplished wife have faithfully labored in this field of enterprise here, thousands have been educated in their schools. The pupils have been gathered from every rank the community. Many Greek ladies have been taught the English language in these schools, which are now under the charge of Miss Muir, Mrs. Hill still acting as directress. Number of pupils at this time, 442; of whom 105 are boys and 337 girls. Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Sakellarios have a school in Athens, established under the auspices of the American Baptist Missionary Union, with an attendance of 130 pupils-80 boys and 50 girls. This school was established only some three years since, and under its intelligent and efficient management is doing a good work. The same may be said of Mr. Kalopothakes' school, established about the same time under the American and Foreign Christian Union, having an attendance of 54 pupils, 29 boys and 25 girls. The Greek mind is naturally bright and active. Education is rapidly acquired. There is ground for hope that this people may make steady progress both in material and moral interests in the fact that the educational system of Greece has advanced so far and accomplished so much from its beginning, some forty years. SIR: In availing myself of your kind consent to furnish the legation of the United States with statistics respecting the educational system of Greece, I beg to submit the following inquiries: 1. Are the primary schools of Greece entirely free? How large a proportion of the entire population are now receiving instruction in the primary schools and higher institutions? How large a proportion of the population are able to read and write? 2. Have any steps been taken toward a compulsory system of education? 3. What is the character of the grammar-schools, or gymnasia, where young men are prepared for the university? 4. How many departments of instruction has the university? What is the average attendance in each department? 5. What is the condition of the normal schools? 6. How many agricultural schools are sustained, and what is the average number of students in attendance? 7. What facilities for higher education are provided for young ladies? Thanking you for the courtesy that invites me to make these inquiries, accept, Mr. Minister, assurance of my high consideration. JOHN M. FRANCIS. [Inclosure 2 in No. 27.-Translation.] Mr. Philonos to Mr. Francis. KINGDOM OF GREECE, THE MINISTRY OF ECCLESIASTIC AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, Athens, November 22, 1871. (December 4, 1871.) MR. MINISTER: In reply to the list of inquiries which you did me the honor to propose to me, I cheerfully make haste to send you the inclosed tables, in which will appear the number of common schools and Greek schools, the number of pupils attending them, and the number of teachers, as well as the number of professors and students in the national university. 1. The common schools, for boys and girls, are supported at the expense of the commune, the government also rendering aid where it is needed. The children of the rich, or the moderately well-off, if they attend these common schools, pay for tuition from ten to fifty leptas a month. The poor pay nothing at all. The teacher receives the tuition-fees and a salary besides. In regard to the proportion of those knowing how to read and write, as compared with those not knowing, we have not yet received such full information that we could speak with certainty. 2. Parents are required by law to send their children of the ages of seven to twelve years to the common school; but this law has not, thus far, been thoroughly enforced. 3. In the gymnasia are taught the preparatory studies for the entrance into the university, such as the ancient Greek and Latin languages, mathematics, history of elementary philology, with geography, &c. In the Greek schools the studies are preparatory to entering the gymnasia. Attendance in the Greek schools and gymnasia is without charge, inasmuch as our higher education is sustained at the expense of the government. 4. The university has four schools, those of theology, law, medicine, philosophy, and the school of pharmacy. The school of philosophy has two departments, mathematics and philology. 5. We have no normal schools. There was one, and it was given up that it might be reorganized on a better basis. Since that time those who propose to be teachers receive their training in the public schools and gymnasia by a system of mutual instruction. 6. There is only one agricultural school, at Tiryuth, in Argolis. This is conducted at the discretion of ministry of the interior. . Accept, minister, the acknowledgment and assurance of my distinguished consideration and esteem. Schools. PHILO PHILONOS. Table of the higher, middle, and primary education. HIGHER EDUCATION-NATIONAL UNIVERSITY. Professors. Students. Regular. Extraordinary. Honorary. Natives. Foreigners. Total. REMARKS.-Out of the 1,942 students in the gymnasia, 238 are from foreign parts; and out of the 6,055 in the Greek schools, 106 are likewise from foreign parts. No. 33.] No. 189. Mr. Francis to Mr. Fish. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, (Received March 1.) SIR: Brigands are still hovering on the route between this city and Marathon. Yesterday a party of Americans, consisting of Messrs. Barksdull and Potter, of No. 21 Front street, New York, and my son, Charles S. Francis, made an excursion to Marathon. They were accompanied by a cavalry escort furnished by the government, which assured them that they would have perfect protection. Small squads of infantry were placed at several points where an ambuscade by the brigands would be possible but for this precaution. On their return, and when within fifteen miles of Athens, a dispatch was received by the commander of the escort from the war office, urging the party to hurry their return so as to reach Athens before dark, as positive information had been obtained that Spanos's band of brigands were skulking about the mountains on the route. Very soon an alarm was given by some infantrymen in advance. The cavalry with the party dashed forward with great rapidity, and captured a man said to be a brigand. He was on horseback, but could not escape, as cavalry were within easy firing distance of him before he was aware of their pursuit. He halted at their command, was disarmed, and searched. There were found in his possession a forged pass, some money, and a quantity of ointment used for dressing gunshot wounds. The man was conveyed to Athens, and lodged in jail. The minister of war informs me that the government is doing all that is possible to hunt down and capture the brigand band now skulking among the mountains on the Marathon route. I am, &c., JOHN M. FRANCIS. No. 190. No. 37.] Mr. Francis to Mr. Fish. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Athens, March 2, 1872. (Received March 28.) SIR: The venerable archbishop of Athens, Theophilus, who is perpetual president of the holy synod of the Greek church here, is a man of marked character and large influence and power. He is now seventy years old. Archbishop Theophilus was archdeacon fifty years ago under Germanus, archbishop of Patras, the same who blessed the first flag and the leaders of the revolution on the 25th of March, 1821. This day has ever since been celebrated as the anniversary of the national independence of Greece. Archbishop Theophilus distinguished himself for heroism in several sanguinary battles of the revolution, in one of which he was severely wounded, and he has never fully recovered from the hurt. On the occasion of my call upon him recently, he received me with enthusiastic cordiality. He said the United States was the best friend poor Greece ever had. The generous contributions of the American people during the revolution, he remarked, saved multitudes of men, women, and children from starvation, and, said he, the tears streaming down his cheeks, "the Almighty Father knows how our hearts were then filled with gratitude for your great American people, and how, ever since, we have invoked His blessings upon them—prayers that have been answered in the wonderful growth and prosperity of the model republic of the world." Then, in response to my remark that we in America were now, as of old, the sincere well-wishers of Greece, he said, "Yes, we know that to be true. Other nations," he continued, "that pretend to protect Greece, and profess to do so in the interest of Christian civilization against the ideas of tyrannical Turkey, do not show themselves to be such good friends of ours. They flaunt the Cross from their foreheads, but cherish the crescent in their hearts." I am informed that this venerable archbishop, in his discourses to his people, very often refers to the United States and its Government as presenting an example of political excellence and religious justice that should be held up as a model, not for Greeks only, but for the whole world. It is such sentiments, so deeply cherished and constantly disseminated by the old stock of the revolution in Greece, and of which the Archbishop Theophilus is an illustrious type, that keep alive the love of this people for our free institutions-for America and AmeriI am, &c., cans. No. 191. JOHN M. FRANCIS. No. 38.] Mr. Francis to Mr. Fish. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith copies and translations of correspondence between the Greek minister of foreign affairs and myself on the subject of the tariff-duty imposed by the United States Government upon dried currants, the chief article produced by Greece for exportation. I have little to add to the facts elicited by this correspondence. It will be seen that, in 1869, with our tariff of 5 cents per pound upon dried currants, the exportation from Greece to the United States was only 2,438,000 pounds. Under the reduced duty of 23 cents per pound, the exportation was increased in 1870 to 7,159,500 pounds, and in 1871 to 10,709,400 pounds. It is believed that a further reduction of the duty to one cent and a half per pound will have the effect to increase importations, so that the revenue of the United States will be augmented rather than diminished, at the same time an encouragement will thus be afforded to commercial enterprise between Greece and the United States advantageous to both countries. Thus American petroleum, largely consumed here, and now brought from Germany, Constantinople, and Smyrna, may be imported direct from the United States at a lower price, so increasing the consumption. Agricultural implements, machinery, &c., may also be shipped directly from America to Greece by ships that take out Greek products for our markets. I do not hesitate, after a careful consideration of this subject, to express it as my deliberate judgment that beneficial results to the United States as well as to Greece will be realized by a reduction of the tariff upon dried currants to one cent and a half per pound. I am, &c., JOHN M. FRANCIS. |