and estates; and remain on the earth for five years. Would they not be transported with ecstacy, on beholding a paper-mill and a printing press. And yet would they not weep with regret and wonder, to find how few of the inhabitants even of civilized and apparently enlightened portions of the earth, are in possession of the inestimable moral precepts which they had, with so much labor and solicitude, prepared and bequeathed to mankind? Seneca possessed an immense quantity of wealth. Would he not seize the opportunity with rapturous avidity, and invite his two benevolent colleagues to share with him the happiness, of enlisting, with his treasures, every paper-mill, printing press, type-maker and printer, that they could find, and devote the five years, totally, to the propagation of their wisdom to the remotest regions of the Globe.

NEW PLAN FOR THE UNIVERSAL DISSEMINATION OF

KNOWLEDGE.

THAT HAT Ignorance is generally the radical source of vice and poverty, with their consequent train of complicated calamities; and that intelligence generally produces results directly the reverse, are truths no longer problematical. Facts have shown their claims to the consideration of the legislator and the moralist. It now only remains to ascertain the most expeditious, economical, and practicable method, by which the universal diffusion of useful knowledge can be accomplished.

In the early period of my youth, a gentleman of the law, who resided in the vicinity of my father's house, at NewLebanon, (N. Y.) kindly invited me to make as much use of his excellent library as I wished, observing that he was pleased to see young persons attached to reading, and glad to encourage them in the improvement of their minds. I accepted the privilege with gratitude, and improved it with persevering assiduity, as far as my leisure permitted, for several years. I also purchased shares in two public social libraries. At the age of 17 years, convinced of the inestimable benefits of reading useful books, I anxiously desired that they might, if possible, be extended to the great

*

mass of the human family; and endeavored to discover some effective plan for this purpose. Indigence, which in most nations involves the majority, appeared to present the greatest obstacle. Hence the suggestion occurred that governments, or associations of individuals, might promote the object, by establishing in various districts, free circulating libraries, to be equally accessible to all classes and sexes without discrimination. With a view to confirm the practicability of the project, as well as to benefit the youth of the vicinity, I commenced a subscription of money and books, for the establishment of a free juvenile library.' The association consisted of the youth of both sexes, from the age of 12 to 21 years, under the title of "THE JUVENILE SOCIETY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF KNOWLEDGE." As there is seldom a youth in that district of country, that has not been taught the art of reading, the acceptance of the privilege was unanimous, and its effects evidently salutary. The society and library continued to accumulate for several years. The perinanency of the institution has, however, been since interrupted by the frequent rotation of the office of librarian, and by the difficulty of enforcing a compliance with the byelaws. These inconveniences might be avoided by locating the libraries permanently in school-houses or academies, or in the care of some civil magistrate, and by having the byelaws confirmed by the Legislature. The choice of suitable books to be purchased or admitted in donations, ought to be decided by a competent committee. Well selected free public libraries, it is believed, would form a very important auxiliary of public instruction, in all our schools, academies, hospitals, alms houses, cantonments, bridewells, jails, state prisons, penitentiaries, work houses, &c. &c.

* Dr. Moses Younglove, of the city of Hudson, patronized the library by a donation of about a dozen volumes of books, and addressed to me an encouraging letter, dated at Hudson, 19th Septem" ber, 1804, which he concludes thus:

"I am much gratified to find your endeavors promising of utility, so far beyond what I anticipated when you first consulted me; for considering your youth and inexperience, I then feared your sagacity would be insufficient, but I must do you the justice to acknowledge the contrary result.

"From your friend,

"M. YOUNGLOVE."

The utility of this method of promoting moral improvement, might be rendered doubly extensive, if governments, or societies, were to procure the printing, upon a large scale, of several of the most essential books on the conduct of life, and furnish them to all free library companies, at prime

cost.

Having been at the city of Philadelphia at the time the "Pennsylvania Society for Promoting Public Economy," was instituted, I communicated, by request, a sketch of the above plan, in a letter dated the 4th June, 1817, to Roberts Vaux, Esq. one of the members of the Common Council of the city, who was the chairman of a committee, appointed by the society, on public schools. He informed me that the committee considered the idea new and valuable, and had instructed him to introduce it in his report of a system of public education, which it was contemplated to adopt. He said they considered the plan particularly adapted for the benefit of numerous apprentices, who are prevented, during several years of their service, from attending public schools, by their occupations.

A SERIOUS ADDRESS, TO THE RISING GENERATION OF THE UNITED STATES.

Favored Youth,

CON

YONTEMPLATE calmly and attentively, the sacred legacy which must soon be committed to your charge, in trust for your successors-and eventually for the whole human race! You constitute the only insulated Arrarat, on which the Olive Branch of Peace, and the "glad tidings" of Freedom and Happiness, can be deposited and preserv ed to a groaning World, drowned in tears!! Prove yourselves, then, deserving of the exalted office which Provi dence has assigned you. To do this, it is indispensible that you cultivate your understandings, and store them with the golden treasures of knowledge, philosophy and wisdom. Where these abide Tyranny cannot exist-no more than darkness in the midst of sun beams. Know also, that these will preserve you, infallibly, from a species of

slavery, much more odious and destructive to human happiness, than the most barbarous political despotism that exists,

Of ignorance, vice, and all venomous passions;

Of intemperance, crimes, and hosts of vain fashions. Virtue and wisdom are the offspring of knowledge;-and" human happiness, says Seneca, is founded upon wisdom and virtue."

My young friends, remember that you possess within yourselves, the innate germ of wisdom, virtue, happinessthe spirit of God in your hearts, constantly pleading for your own welfare. You have only to listen to this friendly monitor, and feed the sacred spark with the light of instruction and wisdom.

"Wisdom, says Seneca, instructs us in the way of nature; to live happily; teaches us what things are good, what evil, that no man can be happy, but he that needs no other happiness but what he has within himself; no man to be great or powerful, that is not master of himself. That this is the felicity of human life; a felicity that can neither be corrupted or extinguished. Nay, says he, so powerful is virtue, and so gracious is Providence, that every man has a light set up within himself for a guide, which we do all of us both see and acknowledge, though we do not pursue it.* That a good man is happy within himself, and independent upon fortune: kind to his friend; temperate to his enemy: religiously just; indefatigably laborious, &c.That there is not a duty to which Providence has not annexed a blessing."

On the other hand every deviation from the path of rectitude and duty, is as certainly punished, as that pain is the inevitable consequence of thrusting our hands into fire, and indicates an equal deficiency of wisdom and common sense. It is an immutable and universal rule, interwoven with your existence, that happiness is always the reward of virtue; and shame, infamy, and punishment the companions of vice, and the wages of sin.

Therefore exert yourselves without delay, to secure the

• I know the right, and I approve it too;
Condemn the wrong, and yet the wrong pursue."

means of enlightening your understandings with instruction, during the season allotted to that purpose by your Creator. Form yourselves into societies in your respective neighborhoods, and establish free libraries, by means of subscriptions, and contributions of books.

"Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go; keep her; for she is thy life."

SOLOMON

"Knowledge distinguishes civilized from savage life. Its cultivation in youth promotes virtue, by creating habits of mental discipline; and by inculcating a sense of moral obligation. Knowledge is, therefore, the best foundation of happiness."

BLAIR.

I am not inclined to advise you to restrain yourselves from a rational indulgence in innocent amusements, but fail not, if you prefer genuine happiness to misery and repentance, to devote the most of your evenings and leisure hours to mental improvement and reading. Read the life of the celebrated Franklin and follow his advice. But beware of the Syren lure of NOVELS. Is not a beautiful garden, in a state of living verdure, and native bloom, both more entertaining and useful, than a heap of counterfeit artificial flowers made of paper?

Let your library coinmence with the following books; making about 20 volumes. A contribution of 25 cents each from 100 persons, would probably defray the cost of the whole of them. The youth, not already trained to depravity, that can read merely these books, without being facinated with the pleasures of science, wisdom, benevolence, and moral rectitude, must be a prodigy of stupidity and worthlessness.

The Looking Glass for the Mind, The Newtonian System of Philosophy Explained, Burton's Lectures to Young Ladies, Mavor's Abridgement of Natural History, Historical Grammar, Blair's Grammar of Chemistry, Seneca's Morals, Translation of Xenophon's Socrates, Priestley's Considerations for the use of Young Men, Baron Knigge's Practical Philosophy of Social Life, Stretch's Beauties of History, History of Sanford and Merton, Universal Geography, Blair's Universal Preceptor, &c.

While in health, taste not a single drop of distilled spirit, for except as a remedy for some diseases, it is a positive poi