ment of native' talent, as objects richly meriting the attention 

 of the Institute. 



The severe studies to which scholars and professional men 

 are required to addict themselves, have comparatively but lit- 

 tle influence on the character and conduct of the great mass of 

 the community. It is the every day reading, the works of 

 amusement and instruction, the newspapers and other period- 

 ical publications, which give tone and direction to the public 

 sentiment. It was upon this principle remarked by a saga- 

 cious observer, "that if he could write the ballads of a na- 

 tion, he cared not who wrote its laws" This reference to a 

 particular department of popular literature, was doubtless too 

 strong ; but it may truly be said, that the laws and every other 

 institution, take much of their complexion — especially in free 

 states — from those works which form the aliment of the read- 

 ing public and which are selected in accordance with the pre- 

 vailing literary taste. It requires, therefore, but little reflec- 

 tion to perceive, that the cultivation among us, of a correct 

 literary taste, is intimately connected with the growth of the 

 nation in manly and virtuous sentiments, and of consequence, 

 in prosperity and honor. So far then as we may be able to 

 influence the public mind, let us endeavor to promote a taste 

 for those kinds of composition which are best fitted to enlarge 

 the understanding, to improve the affections, and to quicken 

 and call forth the nobler faculties of our nature. 



Efforts of this sort are the more important, especially in re- 

 ference to our youth, because there are many things in the 

 present state of the world, unfavorabte to the acquisition of 

 sound knowledge and to the formation of a correct taste. 



A great part of the popular literature of the day, has no 

 higher object than amusement ; and much of the first talent in 

 this country, and the greater part of the eminent writers in 

 Europe, are engaged in the composition of works of this na- 

 ture. Many of these works are distinguished by splendid 

 powers of description, just delineations of character, and great 

 beauty of style. Many of them are unexceptionable on the 

 score of morality, and not a few are professedly intended for 

 the promotion of religion — yet nothing can be more certain, 

 than that the constant perusal of these works—even of the 



