From Frederick Douglass's Paper.

THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE, N. Y.

New York, April 3, 1854.

MR. EDITOR:—Will you please state that the Mechanics' Institute, N. Y., is simply a high school in which music, drawing, &c., &c., is taught. The school is in Chambers St., near the Park—is of long standing, but does not now, and never did, pretend to teach any mechanical trades whatever.

Hence, while I rejoice to learn that it will admit colored students, (boys rather, as the pupils are generally very young,) it cannot be regarded by any one as a substitute for the American Industrial School.

This last named institution is intended to teach what no other institution in America teaches—the use of the hands as well as of the head—and so to combine both as to instil into the pupils, of whatever complexion, certain ideas about the dignity of skilful labor, as shall keep them from menial employments of every kind. Every pupil will be required to learn a mechanical trade, and learn it practically, while he masters all the scientific instruction needed in such trade.

Neither Oberlin, McGrawville, the New York Mechanics' Institute, nor any institution in the country, gives this kind of instruction; hence the need of such a school for the whole country. White men have undertaken such an institution, and failed. Shall it therefore be given up as hopeless?

Will Bro. Day please copy this short note into his 'dear Aliened,' for the information of those who might 'want to know' more about his first of April editorial?

To your readers, the intent of this note is plain, when I say that Mr. Day proposes the Mechanics' Institute, N. Y., as a reason why we should have no Industrial School.

Respectfully, yours,

JAMES McCUNE SMITH.