The first select Classical school, which was opened in this town, was commenced by one John Copp. His school was held at first in a small house lately belonging to Judge Garrit Martense, which stood on the lot now occupied by Mr. Seymour, and which has been cut in two, and converted into barns and stables. From this he removed and taught in the south room of the house of Cornelius Antonides. At what date he opened his school, cannot be ascertained with precision. An advertisement over his name is found in "the New-York Journal, or General Advertiser." published by John Holt, under the date of July, 4th, 1771. In this, he states, that "he has for some-time kept a grammar school in Flatbush." In this advertisement he "proposes" (to use his own words,) "to teach the Latin and Greek languages and Arithmetic in the correctest and best manner, besides reading, writing, and principles of English Grammar." His terms were $50 a year for boarding; and tuition not to exceed $15 yearly. He refers to the Rev. Dr. Cooper, President of Kings (now Columbia) College, to the Hon. William Axtell, who then resided in Flatbush, and to Andrew Elliott, Collector of His Majesty's Customs in New-York. He adds—"Dr. Cooper proposes to visit the school quarterly, as hen the scholars will be examined."

This school of Mr. Copp appears to have been well patronised. Many of the most respectable and influential inhabitants of New-York entrusted their children to his care. Henry Remsen, the late President of the Manhattan Company, was one of his scholars, besides many others. This school was broken up by the war of the American Revolution, and Mr. Copp afterwards joined the army.

During the period of the struggle for American Independence, the school in Flatbush was taught by Mr. Gabriel Ellison. He was an Englishman by birth, and was the first teacher who taught English exclusively. He had been a considerable time among the Indians in Canada —and although a man of eccentric habits, was a good schoolmaster, in proof of which, we may remark, that in addition to village scholars, he had many others from Brooklyn and other places. In order to entitle him to receive all the emoluments which his predecessors had enjoyed, it was indispensably necessary that he should acquire a knowledge of the Dutch, so as to enable him to perform the duties of sexton and chorister in that language. This he readily undertook, and although he committed many blunders in the onset, yet by diligence and perseverance, he overcome his many difficulties, and was soon fully inducted into the offices of sexton and chorister. These offices he held until he left the village school, about 1790, and performed them generally to the satisfaction of the inhabitants.

Many incidents of quite an amusing character, are related of him during his residence here. We will mention