14 
A Pian for efablifing a Repesitory of 
- “ cheafp Publications, on Religious and Moral Sub- 
jects ; which will be fold at a Halfpenny, or a 
Penny, and few to exceed Two-fence, each. 
“GREAT BRITAIN has long been diftin- 
guifhed, above other countries. for an attention to 
perfons of-the lower clafs. Hofpitals, difpen- 
faries, and humane foc'eties, prove her care of 
their bodies; while Sunday, as well as other 
charity fchools, and a var-ety of inftitutions for 
communicating inftruétion, among which the 
excellent focieties for promoting Chriftian and 
religious knowledge ftand confpicuous, manifeft 
fer folicitude for their fouls. 
«< Though the plan here offered to notice, isy 
in its prominent feature, diftinguifhed from all 
exifting rel gious inftitutions, 1t may be made an 
auxiliary to each; as its general objeét is the 
fame, though its means are more humble, and 
the good propofed by it is expected to be done 
at a peculiarly ealy rate. — 
“ The object of this inftitution isthe circulation 
. ef religious and ufeful knowledge, as an antidote 
to the poifon continually flowing through the 
channel of vulgar and licentious publications, 
Thefe, by their cheapnefs, as well as by their 
being, unhapp ly, congenial to a depraved tafte, 
abta n a mifchievous popularity among the lower 
ranks.—-It is not the impure novel orromance 
which attracts the commom labourer’s ear, or 
dcfiles his cottage; but his grofs and poliuted 
phrafes may often be traced to thofe profane and 
indecent fongs, and penny papers, which are 
hawked about our cities, towns, and villages. 
“ When we confider the multitudes whofe 
reading is limited to thefe corrupt performances ; 
when we reflec that the temptation is obtiuded 
on them in the itreets as they pafs about their 
bufinefs, or invitingly hung out upon the wall, 
or from tne window; and that the gratification 
is obtained at fo cheap arate; the evils we de- 
fire to counteract will appear to be fo exceed- 
ingly diffufed, as to juftify our earneftneis to 
redrefs them: and the means of redrefs are 
likely to become effectual in proportion as they 
are adapted, both by their fimplicity and mi- 
nutenefs, to the nature of the cafe. 
“ Be ng well aware, that fermons, gatechifms, 
and other articles of preceptive picty, may be 
had from the great focieties already formed, we 
fhall prefer what is ftriking, to what is merely 
didactic. Inftruftive incidents, lives, deaths, 
remarkable difpenfations of providence, ufeful 
narratives, will form a confiderable part of the 
plan ; from which will be carefully excluce 
whatever is enthufiaftic, fuperftitious, or abfurd. 
Thefe tracts, by interefting and affecting the 
heart, may, under a divine influence, help to 
give it arignt tendency. And, in our choice of 
materials, we muft ever bear in mind, that our 
prime object being the counteraction of an exifiing 
. evil, of which the poifon is but too palatable, 
we muft labour to render our antidote the more 
pleafant. 
“ In the circulation of our traéts, the idea of 
fale is preferred to that of donation ; becaufe 
there is reafun to conclude, that books beitowed 
Cheap Repofitory for Publications. 
[Jans 
by charity are too feldom read, and that men’s 
Opinion of the value of a thing is apt to be en- 
hanced by the expence or the toil of its acqui- 
fition. 
“¢ Brevity, cheapnefs, and a neat and agreeable 
appearance, are the harmiefs allurements’ we 
fhall'employ. By fupply ng religious and moral 
tracts uniting all thefe advantages, we hope ta 
draw off, in fome meafure, the venders of corrupt 
ballads from their pemicious traffic. For the 
fame perfons who have hitherto hawked vice 
and foliy through the country, will, mo doubt, 
with equal readinefs, circulate what.is pure and 
virtuous, fhould they find it no Jefs gainful. 
“Let the experiment be fairly tried. — Let the 
fubftantial dealer—tet the retailers of papers and 
fongs in the obfcurer parts of a town—let thofe 
who occupy a ftall at a fair for the fale of books 
and ballads—let the poor woman who travels 
with her matches and her cakes—-be a!l encou< 
raged to try whether they cannot, at once, aflifé 
themfelves and the caufe of virtue. 
¢ But though the fecu/iavity of cur plan confifts 
in the enceuragement it helds eut to common - 
venders, we anticipate much affiftance from the 
generofity of thofe who can afford to purchafe 
with a view of giving away. - Such will be fup- 
plied, at an eafy rate, with ufeful prefents for 
their fervants, workmen, charity {chvols, and 
the poor at iarge. It may alfo gratify many te 
be furnifhed with papers fuited for diitribution 
‘on a journey, in hofpitals, work-houtes, prifons, 
on board ihips, and among foldiers. 
“ Thouzh thefe articles will net be delivered 
from our repofitory gratis, the terms will be fuch 
~ as to invite purchafers. 
« A {mall fund is already raifed. Additional 
fabfcribers will enable us to extend our views = 
nor do we exclude the hope of awakening fimilar 
defigns in diftant parts, beyond the immediate 
influence of the original fociety. 
‘Every remark, tending to improve the infti- 
tution, will be cheriuily converted to ufe. And 
even thofe whorather defire than expect its fuc- 
cefs, may be fatished that, in giving their mite, 
they carnot at leaft, encourage evil: for no caufe 
of any particular party is intended to be ferved 
by it; but general Chriftianiry will be pro- 
moted, upon practical principles. And it is pre= 
fumed there can be but one opinion, among ald 
thinking perfons, of the importance: of improving 
the morals and principles of the people.” 
The repofiory has been opened almoft 
two years, during which period the cir- 
culation of its traéts in England, Scotland, 
and Ireland, has exceeded all hope, if not 
allexample. They are printed monthly, 
and difpatched to fubfcribers with the 
regularity of the other monthly produc- 
tions. The authors—the objeéi—the me- 
rits of fuch as have appeared, are various. 
But, though each of them correfponds 
_ with the main defign, .it will not be invi- 
dious toremark, that, perhaps, in an equal 
{pace, never were falfe pretenfions to cha- 
racter more fuccefsfully expoied, than im 
the 
