No. 216.] 387 



age. They would furnish delightful occupation for the hours of leis- 

 ure; turn aside the temptation vrhich wounds the idle; give expansion 

 to ideas narrowed by ignorance; cultivate a taste for solid reading; 

 and make many a winter evening more charming than a morning of 

 spring! 



DEVEIOPMENT OF TALENT AND GENIUS. 



Their effect upon the future destinies of many young persons would 

 be most salutary. Many are born with high capabilities, whom neg- 

 lect and ignorance doom to obscurity, perchance to ruin. These vol- 

 umes would find their way into the hands of thousands of these neg- 

 lected oneSjkindle in them the latent fires of genius, and call into action 

 the faculties of a future race of Franklins, Fultons, Whitneys, and 

 Wests. Napoleon owed his success mainly to his rare discernment 

 of qualities, and his tact in putting every faculty of the millions to 

 its appropriate use. Nations too, become great by applying the 

 talisman of education to individual character; throwing down the 

 barriers of inferior caste; and stirring in the bosoms of the young, the 

 instinct which will guide them to the paths for which nature has 

 fitted them. One of these volumes, well read, would impart more 

 real knowledge and mental vigor, than all the novels in the language. 

 Many a peasant boy will begin by spelling out in solitude the pages of 

 these volumes, and will distance the college dunce in the end. 



INCREASE OF GENERAL INTELLIGENCE AND WEALTH. 



The benefits which would accrue' to the country, would admit of 

 no human estimate. To increase the intelligence of a people, is to 

 promote social virtue and happiness. To enlighten private industry, 

 is to augment public wealth. To call out the latent talents of all 

 ranks, is to develope the true sources of a nation's glory. Such ef- 

 fects would, to some extent, follow from the adoption of this plan. 

 Education among the masses, for the most part, ceases with the years 

 of childhood; but these perpetual serials would furnish the means of 

 a continued adult education; — the only means which can be made to 

 reach the millions — the only education their labors will admit. 

 While educating the man, they would mend his fortune, and put bread 

 upon his board. They would lead to the exploration of new mines 

 of w^ealth; enriching the country, by enriching the citizen. They 

 would add millions to the common wealth, by improvements in agri- 

 culture — millions by the introduction of new staples — ;millions by ex- 

 tending and perfecting our manufactures, and that which is better 

 ihan millions, by cultivating the national taste and conducing to the 

 .advancement of the^ne arts. 



