76 On the Institution of Literary 
principle, though differing from it as to the particu- 
lars to which it relates, may be alleged respecting 
societies of the description now under consideration. 
They bring literature and philosophy from the col- 
lege and the closet into public view, into the walks 
of common life, into scenes which would otherwise 
have been merely the haunts of business or of dissi- 
pation; and subject numbers to the influence and 
enrich them with the treasures of learning and 
“science, to whom little was previously known of 
either but the name. When once such an institu- 
tion is planted in a soil congenial to its growth, the 
studious member, whatever be his line of research, 
has an additional security. against the danger of em- 
ploying himself in a barren or indiscriminate perusal 
of bulky volumes: he feels himself admonished to 
be judicious in the selection of the authors and of 
the topics on which he bestows his time and atten- 
tion; to direct his thoughts into some regular and 
promising train, to point them to some predetermin- 
ed and beneficial end; and, perhaps, to read less 
than formerly, that he may weigh, digest, and re- 
flect the more. He is excited to a perseyering ex- 
ercise of his talents.by the laudable example of his 
associates ; and by the desire (a desire far from re- 
_ prehensible when kept under the control of proper 
motives) to be qualified to bear his part in the dis- 
cussion of the various subjects which will be sub- 
mitted to the society at its periodical meetings, and 
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