442 
few of the diet Greek and Roman clas- 
sics. These can never be considered as 
superfluous, while the knowledge of the 
ancient languages is held to be a necess 
sary part of education of the clergy; a 
knowledge however, which is often imper- 
fectly acquired; and soon totally lost. 
The study of these authors in riper years, 
gives vigour and elevation to the mind, 
and inspires it with the love of excellence 
in every pursuit. Ifit would not increase 
toomuch the expence, a few books on 
gardening and botany might be added. 
The former would contribute to the com- 
fort of the clergy, and the latter afford 
them a source of rational amusement. 
The choice of the books proper to con- 
stitute the clerical hibraries, might, in the 
first instance, be jeft to the collective 
wisdom of the archbishops and bishops; 
and all future additions, to the discretion 
of the bishop of each particular diocese. 
It is impossible to determine what works 
they would judge to be necessary, and 
consequently what would be the extent of 
the expence. The Bishop of Lincoln, in 
the preface to his Elements of Christian 
Theology, has givesa list of books, which 
he says every clergyman ought to possess 
together with their prices. They amount 
to seventy-two pounds fifteen shillings 
and sixpence. The selection appears ju- 
dicious; yet as economy must not be 
overlooked, I doubt whether all the books 
would be deemed necessary at first; and 
the libraries ought undoubtedly to con- - 
tain many not mentioned in this list. I 
suppose the value of the works which 
may be at first omitted, to be ten 
pounds, and the value of those to be add- 
ed to be twenty; then, taking the Bishop 
of Lincoln’s Catalocue as the basis of the 
library, the value- of it would be about 
eighty-three pounds, estimating it at the 
present prices. But asit would be neces- 
sary to print new and very large editions 
of all the books, the price of each would 
be considerably dimmished; and if a 
drawback of the whole of the duty paya- 
ble on the paper used in printing them. 
were allowed, the diminution in price 
could not be stated at less than a third, 
which would reduce the value of each li- 
brary to about sixty-six pounds, and of 
the libraries to something more than half 
a iillion; a sum which would not defray 
the expence of wara fortnight. ‘The fand 
necessary for carrying into effect this im- 
portant plan, might be raised either by a 
parochial tax, or paid out of the general 
supply voted for the public service. The 
On Par ochial Libraries for the Use of the Cierzy. [Dec. 1, 1 
latter method seems to be, on many ac= 
counts preferable and would be more po- 
Ana The nation would not gradge the 
money destined to an end so laudable and 
disinterested, the utility of which would 
not be édnfined to the present age, but 
extend to the remotest pesterity. For 
the reception of the libraries thus furnish- 
ed by the pubhe, commedious places 
should be prepared at the expence of each 
bel Ss parish; at whose expence like- 
wise all future additions should be, on a 
“mandate being received from the bishop, 
specifying the books to be added. If 
these additions are limited to new publi- 
cations, the expence will only be occa- 
sional, and productive of no imconveni- 
ence. Provisions must also be made for 
the preservation of the libraries ; as they 
would be under the sole direction of the 
incumbents, they should be responsible 
fer any loss or injury which might happev — 
to them in the way of dilapidations. To 
prevent the books from being stolen, or, 
if stolen, trom being disposed of, they 
should be uniformly bound, and the name 
of the parish to which they belong im- 
pressed in legible characters on the co- 
vers and other conspicuous parts. That 
the libraries may at all times be kept in 
good order, fit to answer the end to which 
they are established, they should be in- 
spected once five years, by persons 
appointed by the bishops of the: diocese. 
Thus, Sir, I have given you my opinion, 
at full length, concerning “parochial libra- 
ries, and should your exertions prove suc- 
cessful in recommending the measure tc 
the approbation of the legislature, you 
will thereby be adding security to the 
throne, draw from obscurity many a gem, 
whose radiance will reflect true honour 
on the national genius, and bring forth to 
public view many a flower, which will 
otherwise: be, as Gray says, * Born to 
blush unseen, and waste its sweetness in 
the desert air.” I have the honour to 
be, Sir, Your’s, &c. 
Ww. MACKENZIE. 
Halsted, re ootscray, Kent, 
Oct. 21, TaOr Gat 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, ; 
OUR numerous readers have, of 
course, been highly gratified by 
the perusal of Mr. Mann’s communica- 
tions relative to the Institutions for the 
Education of the Deaf and Dumb: To me 
at least they have been particularly in- 
teresting ; 
