LANCASTER’S IMPROVEMENTS IN EDUCATION» 
fosition must be concisely and closely demon- 
strated, without admitting those analogies 
whicl are best fitted to please the youthful 
mind. But if the propositions themselves 
require such rigorous. abstraction, we are 
at full liberty to illustrate them, in any man- 
ner we imagine to be most pleasing. Co- 
rollaries therefore should always accompany 
mathematical propositions, and these should 
be calculated to engage the affections and 
please the mind. Experimental philosophy 
requires no additional ornaments, to render’ 
it delightful to the human heart. 
« Whosoever keeps these principles con- 
stantly in view, and feforms in pursuance of 
them any department of literature or of sci- 
ence, may Slain to himself the title of a be- 
nefactor to humanity. The author of this 
work intends to devote a large portion of his 
time to this truly momentous and interest- 
ing subject, directing his attention more 
especially to the abstract sciences. He shall 
however be glad to find himself anticipated 
by more able hands, whose powers may be 
better adapted for this undertaking. ‘The 
“highest object of his ambition is, to be enu- 
merated as one among the first to assert the 
rights of human nature, and the last to re- 
ltnquish them.” 
We think the work might advantage- 
ously be compressed, for Dr. Cowan has 
too often expended. his time in proving 
what no reader would be. disposed to 
deny or deubt. We would also recom- 
mend to him more prudence: he speaks 
of all persons employed in tuition with 
an indiscriminating and illiberal aspe- 
rity, and the reasonable disgust which 
such passages must excite, cannot fail to 
Occasion a general prejudice against the 
rest of his treatise. His remarks on the 
practice of physic savour equally of youth 
and presumption. But the most extra- 
ordinary part of the book is his scheme 
for public worship. 
“* T consider music to be the only rational 
‘means which can be used in public worship 
to excite true devotion. Articulate language 
is quite inadequate to produce this‘end. » It 
tends to arrest the attention to the contem- 
Piation of sounds degraded by vulgar use, 
and to those objects which are little calcu- 
4 mys to kindle in the breast the pure flame 
of devotion. Music, when employed’ in 
- public worship, possesses the important ad- 
aA 
ot 
r 
* 
ioe 
JOSEPH Lancaster is. the Count 
Rumford of schoolmasters ; his main ob-- 
Arr. V. Improvements in Education, as. it respects the industrious Classes of. the Com-, 
munity. By Josers Lancasrer. &vo. pp. 66. Nahe 
451. 
vantage peculiar to itself, that all men, of 
whatever sect or denomination, may equally 
participate its influence. No particular creed 
which a person may happen to entertain can_ 
unfit him for enjoying this mode of worship, 
in case he entertains no particular prejudice , 
against it. This species of public worship 
seems more conformable to the spirit of 
Christianity than any other which ever can, 
be adopted. Christianity tends directly to 
level all religious distinctions among imen, 
and to render true devotion the genuine off- 
spring of the heart. Music excites all the 
finer and more .noble feelings of the soul, 
and affords that enjoyment which cannot be 
augmented or diminished by the opinioas or 
influence of men. For this reason it tends 
to allay the furious spirit of sectarianism, 
whose influence goes directly to pervert and 
destroy the heart, and unqualify her for the 
enjoyment of every refined and every hea- 
venly emotion.” 
The exceeding oddity of this passage 
disarms all resentment for its absurdity.’ 
Dr. Cowan is for taking the people by 
the ears, supposing, we presume, that 
they have been too ae led: by the noses 
Were our hierarchy to be reformed upon 
this truly original idea, Mrs. Billington 
would without dispute be made Arch- 
bishop of Canterbury, and Inicledon ap-: 
pointed to the see of York. ‘The other 
sees would be filled from the Opera- 
house, and this would afford a happy 
opening for a reconciliation..with the 
church of Rome, as no objection would, 
be made on the part of the new bishops: 
to the celibacy of the clergy. ‘Theres . 
would indeed be some difficulty in dis-° 
posing of the present bench. It cannot’ 
be expected that any one of them should’ 
qualify himself for first. fiddle, but some 
might appropriately beat the drum or 
sound the trumpet, others be furnished 
with tinkling cymbals, others again be 
employed as bellows-blowers, having been 
used to blow the coals, and beyond all 
doubt, all might very soon be taught to 
join readily in chorus. ‘he admission of 
the bag-pipes would destroy presbyte- 
rianism, the. children , of Israel would be 
converted by. the Jews-harp, and .we 
might hope to see the church in har« 
mony. 
> 
he seems successfully to have veeceme 
plished. <4 , 
«« Supply twenty boys withslates dnd pen- 
cils, and pronounce any word for them to 
Gg2 
jects are to save time and expence in edus 
eating the children of the poor, and these 
