ee a — 
fo SSS 
‘ 
304. 
The firft ftep towards effeSting a recon- 
‘ciliation betwixt the people and the efta- 
blithed clergy therefore. isy to transfer the 
catechifm from the hands of .the fchool- 
matter into thofe of the minifter; and to 
fubftitute fuch works of tafte as, by en- 
gaging the affeClions, and exciting the 
powers of fancy, may raife literary cu- 
yiofity, and gradually wean) the vulgar 
from thofe barbarous compofitions to 
which they are at prefent fo much attach- 
ed. ‘The next ftep would be to eftablith 
reading-focieties, on fuch an economical 
plan as to place them within the reaclt of 
the labouring clafs. I am ferry to ob- 
ferve a prejudice in the public mind againft 
thefe ufefulinftitutions, from an impreffion 
that they are often employed as vehicles 
for the diffemination of irreligious and un- 
conftitutional principles. ‘That they are 
liable, like every thing excellent and effi- 
cacious, to be mifapplied by defigning 
perfons, cannot be difputed; but there is 
every reafen to believe, that their general 
tendency is highly favourable fo human 
happinefs, and even to the proper fubor- 
dination of ranks in fociety. But in order 
to prevent all fuch fufpicions, in regard to 
the eftablifhments here propofed, it fhould 
be made a primary article in the regula- 
tions of thele focieties, that they be under 
the fuperintendance’ of the minifter of the 
parifh, who fhould have power to reject 
any publication which he might deem im- 
proper to be admitted into the collettion. 
The liberality and well-known loyalty 
of the clergy of Scotland entitle them to 
this confidence. 
Should that refpe&table body become 
jenfible of the critical fituation in which 
they are placed, and concur in any com- 
mon pian of remedy, I hope they will not 
be deterred by the fenfelefs clamour of the 
ignorant and narrow-minded, from purfu- 
ing fuch meafures as may appear moft 
likely to attain the end propofed, even 
though they fhould extend to the abolition 
of fome ancient cuftoms. jePcs. 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magaziue. 
SIR, 
AVING obferved that you noticed 
| i with approbation, in your laf Ma- 
‘gazine, a {mall inftitution in Leicefter (yet 
quite in its infancy), for the purpofe of 
enabling the poor toread ; and as a wifh is 
there exprefled for fome account of the 
plan, I venture to fend you a few particu- 
lars relative to this Lilliputian charity, 
ardently wifhing that the fchemé may be 
improved, and acted upon, ia’ every town 
Library for the Poor at Leiceffer. 
[May f, 
and village, till that grofs’ ignorance,’ 
which fill fubfifts in many parts, and which ' 
would appear incredible to perfons who’ 
‘have had no opportunity of obferving it, 
is wholly banithed the ifland. 
By the univerfal encouragement given 
to parochial and Sunday-fchools, it feems 
to be the general opinion, that a// our poor 
ought to be taught to read ; and if taught 
to read, during the period" of education, 
it is_prefumed they are expeéted to read 
afterwards ; but the impoffibility of pur- 
chaling books at the prefent advanced 
price, puts it almoff out of their power to 
profit by the attainment the public genero- 
fity has enabled them to make. Anxious 
that fuch fhould not be wholly excluded 
from the pleafure they were trained to ex- 
ped, and at the fame fime unwilling to 
folicit contributions when. economy is on 
the ftretch to fupply the neceffities of the 
moment, the propofal was made to a few 
benevolent perfons, to contribute any 
book or books they chofe for the efta- 
blifiment of a {mall library. This was 
readily complied with, and about forty 
volumes have been fent in. A fmall fa- 
lary is allowed to the perfon who has the 
care of them. The names of thofe who 
requeit books are written down, and the 
date when they are given out. The time 
each is to be kept is written within the 
book, and on its being returned a half 
penny or penny, according to the fize, is 
paid by way of acknowledgment. No- 
tund has been at prefent railed, but the li- 
berality of the inhabitants of Veicefter is 
well known, and it is prefumed they will 
not be backward to patronize an inititu- 
tion which every fub{criber to a charity- 
{chool tacitly declares to be neceffary. 
Where this is not done, and a tafte tor 
reading has been excited, it is to be fear- 
ed, that recourfe will be had to the trafh 
of common circulating-libraries*, the ex- 
tenfive mifchiefs of which are not eafly to 
be calculated; for what can be more 
injurious than to inflame the paflions 
where the jadgment is uninformed, and 
the affeftions uncontrouled? . If the inha- 
wee a ee ee ee ee 
* It is a well-attefted fa&, that taylors’ 
boards, milliners’ fhops, and even charitable 
inftitutions, are fupplied frem thefe fources! 
‘That perfons who are ignorant of the firft ru- 
diments of thofe arts and fciences which 
might be applied to daily ufe, and even of the’ 
juft principles of a€tion, fhould be corrupted 
by falfe pi€tures, factitious fentiment, and 
improbable adventure, is an evil, whofe bane- 
ful influence muft be felt by all clafles of 
fociety. Mekte: 
bitants 
