NEW ENGLAND FARM:E11. 



I'ublislied bv JoH.N B. Russkll at tlii.' corner oi' ('.niori'.ss uiul Li/Hl:ill Stri-rls, (riiti:iiu-o iVom Liiidall ytroet). — TiIuhaj '.'•. Fkssk>dj>n, Editor. 



VOL. V 



BOSTOrV, FRIDAY, DECEMCEK 1, 1826. 



No. 19. 



OillGITSAL PAPERS. 



USEFUL KNOWLEDGE. 

 \c have received tlie following Prospectus of 

 ■tain coiitomplated associations for the diffu- 

 n of practical science, which meets our cordial 

 probation, and we shall ever be happy to afford 

 r cooperation to the extent of our means. We 



not better introduce the subject to which we 

 uJe, tliau by the tbllowing extract of a letter 



Mr IloLBROOK, the gentleman with whom the 



n originated, to the Editor. 



■ We have suspended operations at our Agri- 

 Itural School in Derby, Con. not for tlie want of 

 pils, for we were tilled to overflowing while we 

 itiuued, but because our situation was not quite 

 ; most eligible to build upon. I had a wish also 

 spend a short time in trying an experiment, 



n a project which you will find in the pamphlet 

 :ompanying this note. I am happy to have it in 



power to say, that the experiment has so far 

 >veJ successful, beyoml my highest expectations. 

 lecd I beaeve the point is settled, that the plan 

 1 be a<to;<tcd extensively through our NewEng- 

 id villages. If so they may possibly form an 

 3-iue for agricultural improvement : and why 



eventually make an agricultural, as well as 

 ilogical survey of the various sections of our 

 uilry ■' One object, as you will see, is to make 

 lections in geology and mineralogy, and these, 

 d very naturally to a collection of facts in agri- 1 

 ture. Indeed the grand object is, to apply sci- 1 

 •e m all its departments to practical purposes. 

 R advantage of this plan is, that collections, 

 h of specimens and facts, may be made with- 

 . expense, and even by the sportive rambles of 

 jths. In many instances it has already led 

 this result. And if the several small streams 

 lid be connected, and brought to a general re- 

 voir, much information might be collected for 

 : benefit of the public, especially for practical 



lMERICAN LYCEUM OF SCIENCE AND 

 THE ARTS. 



The undersigned agree to associate, under the 

 neofThe Branch of 



: Am-rican Lyceum of Science and the Arts, and 

 jpt the following Articles for their Constitution: 

 \nr. 1. — The object of the Association is the 

 provenieut of its members in useful knowledge, 

 d to aid in diffusing it generally through the 

 namunity. 



-To effect this object, they will hold meet- 

 rs for the purpose of investigating and discuss- 

 ; subjects of knowledge, and may choose for 

 citssion any branch of Natural Philosophy, such 

 Ivlechauics, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Optics, 

 leraistry. Mineralogy, Botany, Mathematics, 

 story. Geography, Astronomy,Agricu!ture, Mor- 

 ;, Domestic or Political Economy, or any other 

 bject of useful information. 



3. — As it is found convenient, they will procure 

 oks and apparatus for illustrating the sciences, 

 llectioi's of minerals, or other articles of natural 

 artificial production. 



4. — Any person of good moral .-buracter maybe 

 a uiember of the Lyceum, by paying into the 

 Treasury, annually, One Dollar ; and Ton Dollars 

 piid at any one time, will constitute a person a 

 member for life. Persons under eighteen years of 

 acre will be admitted to all the privileges of the 

 Society, except of voting, for one half the annual 

 sum above named. 



.5. — The monies collected for membership, or 

 othfrwise shall be appropriated to the purchase of 

 books, apparatus, or to some other object for the 

 benefit of the Lyceum, or the interests of educa- 

 tion. 



G. — The OSicers of this Branch of the Lyceum 

 shall bo a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, 

 Recording and Corresponding Secretaries, three 

 or fii'e Curators, and three Delegates, to be ap- 

 pointed by ballot, annually, on the first Wednes 

 day of September. 



7. — The President, Vice-President, Treasurer, 

 and Recording Secretary, will perform tiie duties 

 usually implied in those ofiices. The Correspond- 

 ing Secretary '.ill correspond with ether Associa- 

 tions, or with individuals, aa circumstances shall 

 require. The Curators will have charge of the 

 Library, Apparatus, Cabinet, and all other proper- 

 ty of the Lyceum not appertaining to the Treasu- 

 ry. They will also be the general Agents of the 

 Association, to purchase books, apparatus. Sic. and 

 to draw monies from the Treasury for the samt^, 

 by order of the President, under the direction of 

 the Society. The Delegates will meet Delegates 

 from other Branches of the Lyceum, spmi-annual- 

 ly, toadopt Regulations for the general and mutu- 

 al benefit of their several Associations, and to con- 

 sult upon measures for carrying into effect any 

 plan for the general diffusion of knowledge, or 

 the improvement of intellectual and practical edu- 

 cation. 



8. — The -Association will have power to adopt 

 such Bye-Laws and Regulations as are necessary 

 for holding their Meetings, the management and 

 use of the Library, Apparatus, Cabinet, &c. or 

 otherwise for tlieir benefit. 



9. — The foregoing Constitution may be altered 

 or amended, by vote of two-thirds present at any 

 regular -meeting, said alteration or amendment 

 having been proposed to the Lyceum, at a meeting 

 not less than four weeks previous to the one at 

 which they are acted upon. 



CONSIDERATIO.NS. 



Institutions for Mutual Instruction have some 

 advantages over any others which can be formed. 



In the first place, they can diffuse information 

 more generally. They may extend it to nearly 

 every member of the community. The old and 

 young, the male and female, the parent and child, 

 the learned and illiterate, the clergyman and 

 physician, the lawyer and statesman, the merchant, 

 mechanic, and farmer, may each benefit others, 

 and, at the same time, confer a double benefit up- 

 on himself 



Secondly — the information they communicate is 

 practical. As each Association, from one meetin^J 

 to another, chooses their subject of attention, and, 

 as the instruction is communicated principally by 

 (li.^ussion and conversation, they will be likely to 



be of a practlcu' .lature, and directly and thorough-' 

 ly applied to the various avocal.ons and pursuits 

 of those concerned. They also furnish u strong 

 inducement to icad, and tu apply what they read 

 to tlieir present and future benefit, and thus ren- 

 der a Library a hundred tola more useful. 



Thirdly — they have a good moral tendency. — 

 This is tlie most important consideration. Indeed, 

 the morals of the young, in particiilar, demand, 

 most imperiously, something of this nature ; for 

 there are at this moment,in our country, thousands, 

 and many thousr.uds too, the pride and the hope 

 of parents and friends, who are going rapidly to 

 destruction, for the want of some object of suffi- 

 cient interest t^ivert their attention from places 

 and practices, fllBulated to fix upon them habits, 

 which will leadto their ruin «itaasmuch cer- 

 tainty as falling bodies are drawn towards the 

 centre of the earth. 



It is not frowns, it is not arguments, that will 

 correct or prevent these practices. It is present- 

 ing a sub.ititute, which is not less interesting bui 

 more useful, that aione will prove an effectual Bul- 

 wark against vicious habits in the young, and set 

 them in a way that leads to usefulness, respec.a- 

 bility and happiness, in this and the future world. 

 Consequently, Associations for mutu.il improve- 

 ment in useful knowledge are the best moral so- 

 cieties that can possibly be fo.-m-jd. 



Fourthly — they have a good political tendency. 

 The prosperity, and probably the existence, of oui 

 Government, depend upon the general diffusion of 

 kuowlcdge. T !<i upon the ignorant, that the as- 

 piring demagogue acts to effect his designs, and 

 usurp the rights of a nation. The intelligent are 

 better able to see through the pretences and in- 

 trigues of an usurper,as wftll as to uniierstand and 

 support their riglits. If all the members of our 

 nation should beco;iie enlightened, they would 

 view the principles of their Constitution as invio- 

 lable as the unnd that planned it, and be ready to 

 defend it with the same boldness and energy as 

 the hand that drew it. 



Fifthly — Associations for mutual improvement 

 arc economical. If all sfiould unite in thcui who 

 ought, One Dollar a year each would be sufficient 

 to defray all the current expense attending them ; 

 and, as this dollar is to be appropriated to books 

 and other valuable property, it would be a per- 

 manent fund for the future use and benefit of the 

 members and their posterity. In many cases it 

 would beau actual saving of expense; for, as it 

 would turn the attention of the members to s.ib- 

 jects of general utility, it would, consonuenrlv, 

 divert it from others which are more expen^ii\'e, 

 and less useful, if not pernicious. The economy 

 of time IS not less in their favour : t :• many it 

 W'Ould be a saving of time ; lo none .vould it be a! 

 loss. And yet, notwithstanding the expense of 

 time or money wo;. Id in no case be perceptible, 

 and in many there would be an actual saving of 

 both, it is confidently believed that a youth, grow- 

 ing op to manhood, under the advantages and in- 

 fluence of an Association well conducted, w-ould 

 frain wore useful, practical inform: tion than he 

 A'ould be likely to obtain in a College course. 



