6
DIRECTIONS FOR USING THIS INDEX. 
1. Read nothing which is not worth remembering, and which you may not wish hereafter to review. 
Have your Index at hand, and when you meet with any thing of interest, just note it down,
the subject, the Book, and the page, and any word designating its qualities, which you may please,
according to the method hereafter described. The Index should be your constant companion when
you read. 
2. Make your Index according to subjects as much as possible, selecting that word which conveys
the best idea of the subject. 
3. You will find the Index ruled with blue ink, with a wide margin on the left hand of each page. 
The margin is to contain the word selected as a guide to the subject noted down. On the corners
of the page, you will find the letters of the alphabet (capitals) and in the centre, the first five vowels,
a. e. i. o. u. Each letter of the alphabet has two pages to each of the vowels, and of course, each
letter has ten pages. 
4. When you read any thing which you may hereafter need, place the principal word in the margin,
under the first letter in that word, and the first vowel in it. I will here give some examples as
they stand in my own Index. Suppose I wish to note something relating to America. I turn to A. 
and the vowel e. because A. is the first letter, and e. is the first vowel�thus: 
America, supposed to be known in the time of Homer : Thomas' Hist. Print, vol. 1. p. 20. 
Atheism, of France, picture of : Schlegel's Lect. v. 2. p. 199. 
Bradford, Governor, notice of: Am. Quart. Rev. v. 2. p. 497. 
 this under B. a. 
Brougham, graphic and powerful description of: Port. Rhet. Reader, p. 248. 
Clinton, De Witt, Memoir of, &. c. (good) Am. Quart. Rev. v. 5. p. 475. 
 this under C. i. 
Christian, religion, services rendered to mankind : Chateaub. Beaut. Christianity, p. 453. 
Daniel, analysis of the book of: Con. Ev. Mag. v. 4. p. 46. 
 this under D. a. 
Difficulties, of our probation considered: Butler's Anal, part 1. ch. 4. 
Destruction, of Jerusalem, accurately described ; Smith's view of the Hebs. Chap. 1. 
Eloquence, remarks upon, (good) Goldsmith's Bee, p. 173. 
this under E. o. 
English, composition, examples of its steady improvement: Irv. Elem. Comp. p. 206. 
Eloquent, remarks on slavery : Cunningham's World without Souls, p. 87. 