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1817

LIBRARY
SCHOOL

To the People of the United States.

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THE Author of this brief desultory publication, begs to be understood that he has not written for the purpose of acquiring literary popularity, but with the hope of popular utility-regarding the quality of the matter itself, rather than the garb in which it is clothed.

He has long cherished a decided confidence that if the community would appropriate as much wealth to the instruction of the rising generation, as is now devoted to the punishment of crimes, the desired object would be attained, and human misery averted, to a much greater

extent.

The plan here proposed, for the general diffusion of knowledge through the medium of FREE LIBRARIES, has been submitted to the consideration of several of the most eminent statesmen and philanthropists in the United States, and feceived their unanimous and cordial approbation.

Mental-improvement is relied on as the most effectual antidote to the prevailing temperate and intemperate indulgence in the use of spirituous liquors.

Having sought with intense diligence, to detect the origin of the various calamities, which afflict Society, I feel urged by a sense of fraternal duty, to promulgate the result of my enquiries and experience; and solicit of my fellow citizens, only such share of their approbation and reward as they may find my humble efforts entitled to. August 6th, 1817.

Gift of Próf. F. J. Teggart
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NOWLEDGE is essentially necessary to the well being and happiness of every member of the hu man family, whether male or female, rich or poor.

To ignorance may be traced, the origin of most of the vices, crimes, errors and follies that distract and destroy mankind. It is the mother of misery -a mazy labyrinth of perpetual night. Knowledge, on the contrary, is a torch perpetually flaming, which enables its possessor, to see clearly and understand every thing that surrounds him. It affords certain consolation, in all cases of didiculty and danger. Besides the intellectual pleasure, derived from the possession of knowledge, which far exceeds that of animal sensuality, the well informed man, (mechanic, farmer, or of whatever profession) being ac quainted with the laws of nature-with moral and physi cal causes and effects, is capable of providing, generally with certainty, for the prosperity and security of himself and his family.

Confucius, the ancient Chinese Philanthropist, who disseminated virtue and happiness over a vast Empire, and is there venerated as a messenger from God, to this day, says, "Human nature came to us from Heaven pure and perfect; but in process of time, ignorance, the passions and evil examples have corrupted it. All consists in restoring it to its primitive beauty; and to be perfect we must ascend to that point from which we have fallen. Obey Heaven and follow the orders of him who governs

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it. Love your neighbor as yourself."-" Bad as the times are I shall do all I can to recall men to virtue; for in virtue are all things."

While our generous Legislatures are imitating the policy of European Monarchies, by making liberal appropri ations for enlightening the few, by the endowment of Colleges and Universities, would not the many (who, in this country, supply their legislators with power as well as money) cordially cherish a policy, calculated, at the same time, to diffuse a small portion of the accumulated treas ures of intellectual light of the present era, amongst themselves and their own children.*

Joseph Lancaster has discovered a method, which gives incalculable facility to the universal dissemination of the preliminary rudiments of science; and is rapidly gaining general assent in the United States. But the education of youth should not cease with the expiration of their attendance on public schools. The chasm between this period and that of their corporeal maturity, contains many stumbling blocks and dangerous snares. The art

of reading, without books to read, is to the mind, as is a set of good teeth to the body, without food to masticate; they will alike suffer the evils of disease, decay, and eventual ruin.

The printing press is the main engine, and books are the rapid vehicles for the general distribution of know!edge. Yet notwithstanding the prodigious difference between the cost of books within the last 400 years, and the whole anterior space of time, but few comparatively CAR meet the expense of private libraries. Computing the leasure of every youth to be two hours daily from the ege of ten to twenty-one years, independent of the requi site time for labor, sleep, eating, recreation, &c. and it is sufficient for reading a library of seven hundred volumes

The late enthusiastic Champion of the rights of man, Samuel Adams, in a letter to his venerable friend, John Adams, exerting his utmost eloquence to convince him of the superiority of the representative system of legislation, exclaims-" In order to secure the perpetuation of our excellent form of government to future generations, let Divines and Philosophers, State.men and Patriots, unite their endeavors to renovate the age, by impress. ing the minds of the people with the importance of educating their little Boys and Girls," &c.

duodecimo, of 300 pages each. This only season for laying the foundation of a virtuous and happy life, to the greatest portion of mankind, is totally lost. It is only necessary to offer knowledge to the voluntary acceptance of youth, in a proper manner, to produce an ardent appetite for it.

Intellectual cultivation is the basis of virtue and happiness. As mental improvement advances, vice and crimes recede. That desirable happy era, when the spirit of peace and benevolence shall pervade all the nations which inhabit the earth, when both national and personal slavery shall be annihilated; when nations and individuals shall cease to hunt and destroy each other's lives and property; when the science and implements of human preservation and felicity, shall be substituted for those of slaughter and woe; will commence, precisely at the moment when the rays of useful knowledge and wisdom, shall have been extended to the whole human famity. By useful knowledge, I mean, not only an acquaintance with valuable arts and sciences, but also au understanding of our various moral and religious duties, in relation to our creator, to our neighbor, and to ourselves. By wisdom, I mean that kind of sagacity, which influences us to regulate our passions and conduct, in conformity to the precepts of knowledge, reason and religion. Until an approach towards such a state of things, is effected, the names of peace,liberty, and security, on this earth, will differ but little from an ignis fatuus, either to monarchs or their vassals. At present, violence bears universal and imperial sway; and ignorance is the magic spell which sustains is sceptre. This dense mist which enshrouds nearly the whole human race, can be penetrated and removed, with much greater certainty and facility, by the mild but invincible rays of intellectual light, than by opposing violence with violence, and evil to evil. The countryman in Æsop's Fables, was induced to throw off his cloak, by the gentle but melting rays of the physical sun, after the wind had exerted its fury in vain. What a boundless empire of glory and unalloyed bliss, might the monarchs and governments of the different nations, and all possessors of wealth attain, by causing their numerous subjects and brethren, perpetually encompassed by the snares of ignorance, vice, and oppression, to be instructed; thereby elevating poor' degraA 2

ded afflicted human nature, to that scale of dignity in the creation, which was evidently assigned to it by the su preme parent of the universe. In our country, particularly, instruction ought to be universal. For virtue only can sustain and perpetuate our political organization "With knowledge and virtue the united efforts of ignorance and tyranny may be defied." (Miller, governor of North Carolina.) “In a government where all may aspire, to the highest offices in the state, it is essential that education should be placed within the reach of all. Without intelligence, self government, our dearest privilege cannot be exercised." (Nicholas, governor of Virginia.) "Without knowledge, the blessings of liberty cannot be fully enjoyed or long preserved." (President Madison.)

General Washington, in his valedictory address to the people of the United States, says, "Promote then, as objects of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge, in proportion as the structure of the government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened."

But it has been questioned whether our constitution authorises the adoption of measures for the diffusion of knowledge and science. If our constitution does not now authorise measures which are likely to produce the greatest possible benefit to the country, and security to its liberties, it ought without delay to be so amended that it should.

Let American Legislators, both national and sectional, perform their duty to their country, and its posterity; and to mankind, by listening to the wise counsels of many conspicuous living sages, and pursue without hesitation the inestimable "parting advice" of George Washington, Benjamin Rush, Samuel Adams, and other departed friends and patrons of man; and establish public schools, and judiciously selected free public circulating libraries, in every part of the Republic. And as all men are vitally interested in the universal dissemination of knowledge and virtue, let all classes combine their inBluence and means, in aiding the cause of human happi

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"Postpone, Oye Sages all meaner debates—

Convinced that 'tis light, must establish our states ;

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