long, and at the east and west extremities two crescents, about 360 feet diameter. In each of the squares, and in the middle part of the crescents, a church or other public building might be erected; and the entrance to these squares, &c. from the country, might be by a broad arch-way under one of the buildings. The principal shops might be placed, and the principal business of the town transacted, in the squares, crescents, and central circle. The spaces between the backs of the houses in the different streets might be set apart either for gardens, washing-houses, or workshops for the different mechanical professions. These spaces should be from 120 to 150 feet wide. A walk should be made to go round the whole town, decorated with trees, shrubs, and bowers; and on each side of the town should be a large common or bleaching green. The extent of such a town would be about a mile and a quarter in circumference, but might be indefinitely extended according to circumstances. Such a town would undoubtedly be much more commodious, pleasant, and salubrious than most of the small towns and villages that now exist.

VIII. Knowledge might be diffused at a cheap rate by means of itinerating libraries.-Of late years small libraries have been established in most of our populous villages, and in connection with christian churches; but the want of sufficient funds prevents the purchase of such a variety of books as is sufficient to keep alive the attention for any number of years. In the year 1817, the plan of itinerating libraries was suggested by Mr. Samuel Brown of Haddington, and, under his auspices, was commenced in East Lothian and the neighbouring districts. The object is, "to furnish all the towns and villages of the country with libraries of useful books, and to plant them at such distances that no individual may be more remote from one than a mile and a half." "The books are formed into divisions of fifty volumes each. One of these divisions is stationed in a place for two years, and the books are issued to all persons above twelve years of age who will take proper care of them. After that period it is removed to another town or village, and a new division is sent in its room, which after other two years is again exchanged for another." By this means a perpetual succession of new books is introduced into each town and village, the principle of novelty is gratified, and the interest of the readers kept alive. The books are kept for a few years for the use of annual subscribers of five shillings. They are afterwards formed into divisions of fifty volumes, and are lent the first year for one penny a volume, (provided it is not kept longer than one month) and gratis the second. One of the principal features of these libraries is their cheapness. A single

library of fifty volumes, with book-case, catalogue, labels, advertisements, and issuing books may be procured for about £10 at an average, as they are purchased on the most economical plan Were a British and Foreign Itinerating Library Society established in London, that could raise £10,000 annually, it is calculated that, in conjunction with the small sums furnished by the readers, there could be established, in the course of twenty years, a library for every 524 persons in Great Britain and Ireland, taking the population at twenty millions; and in twenty-five years, for every 294 persons, which would be a complete supply for the wants of the whole population. And what would such a sum be to the British Government, which is extravagant enough to waste twenty times that sum every year in bestowing pensions on those who neither deserve them nor stand in need of them? The great object of these libraries is to promote the interests of religion, in connection with the study of history, biography, voyages and travels, and all the popular and useful branches of science. They have been supported and patronized by the most respectable persons in the country, and have met with almost unprecedented success They have been introduced into several other counties in Scotland and Ireland, and in some of the West India islands, and even in South Africa. The number of volumes connected with the East Lothian itinerating libraries now amounts to nearly three thousand. In some of the divisions every volume has been issued about 120 times, and many of them much oftener. Mr. Brown, who has directed and superintended these libraries for eighteen years, deserves the thanks of his country for his benevolent and unremitting exertions.* In several cities and towns in America such as Philadelphia and Albany, libraries have been established for the use of apprentices, both male and female. The appren tices' library in Philadelphia contains above 8000 volumes. Ai, though well-selected libraries are of immense importance for the diffusion of knowledge, yet no person, who has it in his power to purchase a few good books occasionally, ought to confine his reading to the books of a public library; but in conjunction with the use of such books, should endeavour to furnish himself with selections of some of the best standard books in the language, which he may study at leisure, and to which he may immediately

*Mr. S. Brown is a son of the Rev. John Brown, of Haddington, well known as the author of the "Self-Interpreting Bible," "Dictionary of the Bible," ," "System of Divinity," and many other works. His exertions, and the beneficial effects which have flowed from them, show how much even an individual engrossed in an extensive business has it in his power to per form, when his aims are directed to promote the good of mankind.

refer for any particular information of which he is desirous Every general reader should, if possible, be furnished with an English Dictionary, a portable Encyclopedia, a summary of universal history, and some of the best systems of popular science IX. Knowledge might be promoted by delineations and inscriptions on various articles of furniture.

We have, for example, many kinds of bowls, drinking vessels, &c. made of porcelain or earthen ware, on which many foolish inscriptions and devices are engraved. We have likewise carpets, bed-curtains, handkerchiefs, &c. on which groups of fantastic figures, and various distorted representations of natural and artificial objects, are depicted, which serve no purpose but that of exhibiting a gaudy show.-Now, if, instead of such paltry devices, moral sentiments and maxims, pithy sayings, and sentences descriptive of certain historical and scientific facts, such as those formerly specified, (pp. 132-406.) were inscribed on the arti cles to which I allude, useful hints might be communicated and rendered familiar wherever we turned our eyes, and might occasionally suggest topics for useful conversation. In like manner, were real objects in nature and art depicted on china-ware, drinking vessels, printed cotton handkerchiefs, window-curtains, carpets, and similar articles, in place of the fantastical figures usually delineated, which have no prototypes in nature, a considerable fund of information might in this way be imparted. For pictures, when true to nature and correctly delineated, convey useful knowledge as well as books, and sometimes in a more pleasant and rapid manner; and there is no more difficulty in engraving real objects than in depicting the distorted and fantastic objects which are usually represented; and in course of time, every rational person would be induced to consider every thing as beauti ful which is really useful. In following out these suggestions, we might have paper hangings and carpets diversified with maps of the world and of particular countries-bed and window curtains adorned with public buildings, landscapes, views of caverns, grottos, volcanic mountains, cataracts, steam-carriages, air-pumps, telescopes, foreign trees, shrubs, and animals-our plates, teacups and saucers decorated with miniature pictures of similar objects, accompanied with wise sayings, immutable truths and short statements of important facts. In this way a fund of sententious wisdom, in connection with views of interesting scenery, might be introduced into every family; which would tend to excite in. quiry, to lead to improving conversation, and to deter from the pursuit of vicious and criminal courses. A king was said to have been saved from being poisoned by his cup-bearer, by the

following motto engraved on the cup which contained the poison, "Never begin any action of which thou hast not well considered the end."It is evident, that the above hints might be reduced to practice with as much ease and cheapness as silly and licentious inscriptions and clumsy castles in the air; and that almost every article of dress and furniture, every garden bower, and every rural and architectural decoration, might in this way be rendered subservient to human knowledge and improvement; provided society would give encouragement to such devices. But, hitherto, the foolish and depraved character of man has displayed itself in this as well as in almost every other department of his actions.

X. The improvement of society requires that changes and alterations be made in many of our established laws, regulations, and customs.

The laws and practices to which I allude are so numerous, that I shall mention only two or three as a specimen. 1. All taxes connected with the diffusion of knowledge should be wholly and for ever abolished. These include taxes on the materials and the manufacture of paper, which, besides directly adding to the price of this article, are found to be extremely vexatious to the manufacturer, and prevent him from getting his articles rapidly conveyed to the market-taxes on newspapers, engravings, pamphlets, periodical works, and advertisements of books and other articles of trade-and taxes, too, in the shape of entering books in "Stationers' Hall," depriving the author or publisher of thirteen copies of his work, however valuable and expensive, which in certain cases will amount to the sum of £200 or £300. Were these and all other taxes connected with literature abolished, and an economical mode of printing adopted, books might be purchased at little more than one-half of their present price. In this connection, too, it may be stated, that the charges demanded for the insertion of advertisements of books in newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals, are extravagantly high, and add, in no inconsiderable degree, to the price of literature. In consequence of the tax on newspapers there are only 30 millions of them circulated in Great Britain and Ireland, which is but the one twentyfifth part of the number circulated in the United States of America, which contain little more than half the population of the British empire. In England there is only one newspaper to 46,000 inhabitants.-2. The postage of letters should be greatly reduced The conveyance of letters is scarcely a fair subject of taxation, if we wish to facilitate the interchange of sentiment and friendship among mankind. It tends to prevent the poor man from corre. sponding with his friends and relatives at a distance-to prevent