The central
figure in the group is a very remarkable person, who for many years,
though living in great retirement, has made himself felt by many of
the best and ablest men in England and in Europe, we mean James
Pierrepont Greaves, who died at Alcott-House in the month of March of
this year. Mr. Greaves was formerly a wealthy merchant in the city
of London, but was deprived of his property by French spoliations in
Napoleon's time. Quitting business, he travelled and resided for
some time in Germany. His leisure was given to books of the deepest
character; and in Switzerland he found a brother in Pestalozzi. With
him he remained ten years, living abstemiously, almost on biscuit and
water; and though they never learned each the other's language, their
daily intercourse appears to have been of the deepest and happiest
kind. Mr. Greaves there made himself useful in a variety of ways.
Pestalozzi declared that Mr. Greaves understood his aim and methods
better than any other observer. And he there became acquainted with
some eminent persons. Mr. Greaves on his return to England
introduced as much as he could of the method and life, whose
beautiful and successful operations he had witnessed; and although
almost all that he did was misunderstood, or dragged downwards, he
has been a chief instrument in the regeneration in the British
schools.
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