410 
plishing ; nor all which they will accom- 
plish. Besides introducing more adroit- 
hess. and skill in the respective depart- 
ments of the useful sciences, a refine- 
ment,of thought and action will necessa- 
rily'result from altered habits and modes 
of life. When the pipe and the pot shall 
give way to the book and the lecture- 
room, we may soon expect to find, be- 
sides, a disposition to get rid of habits at 
once low and vulgar, and the introduc- 
tion of more delicate ideas, and the ex- 
citement of purer feelings. I calculate, 
also, on a considerable diminution of 
that taste for low buffoonery and thea- 
trical inanities, which is now, unfortu- 
nately, so prevalent ; and although, for 
wise and substantial reasons, no reli- 
gious dogmas are to be taught profes- 
sedly in these seminaries, it does not 
follow that moral truth shall not be 
inculeated: indeed many of the books 
now found in them and circulating among 
the members indirectly do this; but sure- 
ly it would be quite consistent with these 
establishments to direct the minds of 
their members, either by lectures. or 
otherwise, to an occasional considera- 
tion of that moral fitness and pro- 
ptiety of conduct which becomes all, 
and which so materially contributes to 
individual, as well as general happi- 
ness. 
This being done, as I dare say it ulti- 
mately will be, and I think ought to be, 
there can be no doubt of the beneficial 
tendency of these large, and in every way 
powerful associations. The more those 
who labour become capable of thinking 
and reasoning justly, the more readily 
may they be governed by rational motives 
presented to their understanding ;. and 
consequently the less refractory and 
turbulent will they become; and the 
more also must they become convinced 
that violence is, of all means, the least 
calculated to operate beneficially. It is 
the quality of well-directed knowledge 
to produce peaceful dispositions, and 
submission to unavoidable accidents and 
privations. 
Away then with the anility, the folly 
of opposing the education of the people. 
Ignorance is one of the most prolific 
sources of vice, crime and misery. That 
government is the best, is the most 
stable, which is built, not upon the igno- 
rance, the prejudices, or passions of the 
people, but upon their interest and their 
knowledge ; and that government which 
promotes these in the best manner, will 
be most likely to render a people hap- » 
py; and, therefore, contented and or- 
‘Literary Societies. 
(Dec. I, 
derly, That Great Britain is in the 
way of doing this I sincerely hope; and 
I also hope that no one will throw any 
obstacle in the way of ,so beneficial a 
consummation. : ly sty 
——g 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
Sir: 
At a time when new literary esta- 
blishments. are springing up in 
every part of the metropolis, it may, be 
useful to call the attention of those 
who are secking for improvement, to 
those which are already existing, ,and 
some of which are possessed. of adyan- 
tages which, perhaps, some of the new 
have not. as 
The utility of debating-societies: has 
been frequently proved in the pages of 
your valuable Magazine, and, therefore, 
requires no farther commendations of 
mine. One of the oldest, and best ar- 
ranged societies of this description, and 
the one to which I wish now to eall the 
attention of your readers, is the Philo- 
mathic Institution, in Burton-street. It 
was founded in the year 1807, under 
the patronage of H. R. H. the Duke of 
Sussex; and consists of subscribing 
and honorary members, both of whom 
are proposed to, and elected by, four- 
teen directors, who are themselves 
chosen every half year. 
The society meets every Tuesday 
evening, for the purpose of discussing 
literary and other questions, previously 
selected by a majority of votes, and 
from which, such as refer to religion and 
party politics are (as usual) excluded, 
Besides these meetings, there are others 
on Fridays, in which original compo- 
sitions are read, or lectures given, by 
the members. Of these, and of the de- 
bates, the best. are selected, and pub- 
lished quarterly in the Society’s journal, 
lately established, which also contains 
reviews, written by members. of the in- 
stitution.* This. journal shows many 
of its articles to be the work. of inex- 
perienced writers, although of such as 
have eyidently thought. for themselves, 
and are earnestly and honestly seeking 
for truth, and, therefore, deserve public 
encouragement, 
To give your readers a better idea of ~ 
the labours of this institution, I tran- 
scribe a few of the questions, &e: of 
; “the 
* The last number of the Philomathie 
Journal contains the substance, of a dis- 
cussion on capital punishment, which may 
deserve your perusal and notice, . 
atliB) VY 
