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4
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^.tk THE X

BEAUTIES AND UTILITIES

% f ibrarg:

FOKMINO

I THE STUDENT'S GUIDE

f iteatart, ^mm, anb

AND CONTAINING

AN ANALYSIS OF THE CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY

LIBRARY.

BY GEORGE VASEY,

Author of ** Delineations of the Ox Tnhe,''—Vasey'8
^^ Elementary Seria," ^c.

TORONTO:
THOMPSON i CO.. PRINTERS, KING STREET EAST.

18 6 7.

•V

INTRODUCTION.

The pleasures and advantages of Literature and
Science have been often and eloquently set forth, even
from the days of Aristotle — (himself the famous ancient
Colossus of both Literature and Science) — down to the
times of our own Verulam, the no less famous modern
Colossus, who — (combining the fascinating familiarity
of Socrates with more than the dignity of Plato)
—boldly exposed the barren sophistry of the school-
men, and pointed out the only true methods of
investigation and reasoning, both in science and phil-
osophy. Since that glorious era many a rare and able
pen has felt a pride in extolling the pleasures and advan-
tages of Literature and Science ; and not only so, but
many have also taken the most effectual means of dis-
seminating and extending the opportunities of enjoying
those pleasures to all sections of the community, by the
establishment of public Libraries.

Books ar(f the universal exponents of all that is great
and good. If it be objected that they are also the means
made use of by wicked and designing men to sap the
religious and moral foundations of society, we may
answer — that this objection can only apply to the fleet-
ing and ephemeral literature of the periodical press, and
the trashy novels which maintain but a short-lived
existence even among the ignorant and degraded — and
has no reference to those works which compose the
entire bulk of either public or private Librari<>s. Those

who establish Libraries, either public or private, are
rarely bad men j and the worst of them would shrink
from placing on the shelves of any Library works of an
immoral or vicious character. Such works are mostly
secreted away in drawers, or boxes, or dark closets ;
even those persons who indulge in them are usually
ashamed of them ; and after being read, they are gen-
erally destroyed.

This being the case — when we look at a great Library,
we then contemplate a monument of greatness, the
most perfect that human intellect and philanthrophy can
erect ; it is a Beauty and a Utility — whether we regard
it in the light of conferring present happiness, or as pro-
moting the progressive amelioration of human beings
in future ages.

The place that does
Contain my books — the best companions — is
To me a glorious court, where hourly I
Converse with the old sages and philosophers.
And sometimes, for variety, I confer
With Kings and Emperors, and weigh their counsels ;
Callmg their victories — if unjustly got —
Unto a strict account ; and in my fancy
Deface their ill-placed statues. Can I then
Part with such constant pleasures, to embrace
Uncertain vanities ? No : be it your care •
To augment a heap of wealth; it shall be mine
To increase in knowledge.

The following pages are devoted to a brief enumeration
of the various sections of the Parliamentary Library,
and to a summary analysis of its contents.

/i%-

THE
BEAUTIES AND UTILITIES OF A LIBRARY.

SECTION I.

TheologieSf Mythologies^ and Religions.

The first section of this splendid Library contains over six-
teen hundred yolumes, which consist of Theology, Religions,
and History of Religions, together with learned and antiqua-
rian researches into the Religions, Mythologies, and Philoso-
phies of the East. The importance of the present section will
be at once perceived when we make the reflection, that the
foundation of all sound morality is true Religion — not the Reli~
gion of forms and ceremonies — of cant and mere profession —
but the Religion which is manifested by faith and good works.

It will readily be acknowledged (and almost universally)—
that every question relative to the great interests of the human
race should be based on Christian principles. Thou shalt love
the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy mind, and
}yith all thy strength ; and thy neighbour as thyself. A new
commandment I give unto you, saying — Love one another.
Again, — Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye
even so to them.

These sentiments and principles should be at the root, and
in the pith of all our institutions — they should be the Alpha
and Omega of all our transactions ; and in no institutions
should they be more conspicuous, and in no transactions
should they be more blended, than in those institutions and in
those transactions which are established and carried on for
the formation and support of laws to regulate human conduct,
and to ameliorate the condition of the helpless and unfor-
tunate.

Theoretically this is universally acknowledged ; but it is
precisely because it is not recognized practically that the
a2

wisdom of nations has failed so miserably to produce that
happiness among mankind — to insure which ought to be its
grand and only aim.

Every intelligent human being (but more especially such as
are invested with the dignity and responsibility of legislatmg
and governing) should be thoroughly imbued with a sincere
love of their fellow men, and with a never-dying anxiety to do
them every possible good.

Those legislators, who are not profoundly impressed with
those sacred principles so sublimely set forth in the Divine
Word, are not worthy to take upon them, nor are they capable
of performing, such exalted functions as the control and gov-
ernment of the human family.

The entire education and training of those in power should
be based on Divine Truth ; and it is on this account I consider
that great judgment has been shown in both the extensiveness
and variety of the theological and religious department of the
Library : — that no man in so elevated a position as that of
law-maker should err from want of knowledge. Let him be
thoroughly and practically impressed with the justice and
benevolence of the Divine Laws, and he will never dare to
enact Human laws of a contrary spirit, — his words will har-
monize with the word of Truth, and his actions will show forth
a noble example-
Here, — in the Theological and Biblical sections of this
Library, is all that can be wished to delight and edify the
young and aspiring politician, and to confirm and encourage
the mature and experienced veteran ; and not only the legis-
lator, but the divine, the scholar, and the philosopher will find
'* ample room and verge enough " to gratify their most refined
tastes.

The two most popular, and perhaps the two most important
books in the English language, on the subject of Theology and
its Philosophy, are the Natura' Theology of Archdeacon Paley,
written about 60 years ago, and the Physico-Theology of Der-
ham, written above a century ago. More recently, works of

-f^

*■ *

-i-

p. *

a similar character have been brought before the public, more
elaborate in their details, and exhibiting a host of new facts
which recent researches and improvements in science have
furnished ; in addition to which they have been embellished
with engravings and diagrams so as to surround this subject
with an attractive halo which it never before possessed.

As a first-rate sample of the highly embellished works just
referred to, I may mention those known under the name of the
Bridgewater Treatises, which were presented to the world
under rather peculiar circumstances ; that is to say, they were
prepared or *' got up " according to a bequest by will of the
Earl of Bridgewater, who died in 1829, — the object and scope
of which Treatises were to be " the power, wisdom, and good-
ness of God as manifested in the Creation." Men of approved
talent were to be selected, and they were to be rewarded by
the sum of £1000 each for their Treatises. Volunteers were
soon found to undertake this, and the following named works
are the result of their labours : —

1. On the Adaptation of External Nature to the Moral and
Intellectual Constitution of Man ; by Thomas Chalmers.

2. On the Adaptation of External Nature to the Physical
Condition of Man ; by John Kidd.

3. Astronomy and General Physics considered with refer-
ence to Natural Theology ; by Wm. Whewell.

4. The Hand — its Mechanism and Vital Endowments, as
evincing Design ; by Sir Charles Bell.

5. On Animal and Vegetable Physiology; by Peter Mark
Boget.

6. Geology and Mineralogy considered with reference to
Natural Theology ; by Wm. Buckland.

7. On the History, Habits and Instincts of Animals; by
Wm. Kirby.

8. Chemistry, Meteorology, and the Function of Digestion,
considered with reference to Natural Theology ; by William
Prout.

However, notwithstanding all these extraneous advantages,
(which are, indeed, the prominent feature in these modem
productions) — the books of Derham and Paley still maintain
their high standing ; and it may be safely said, that they have

neyer been surpassed in the following important items, namely,
the accuracy of their facts — the ^ppositeness of their illustra-
tions, — and their unanswerable logic.

Having crept through many bushels of philosophic and
literary chaff (as every genuine book-worm is compelled to
do) in order to discover and appropriate a very few grains of
wheat, — I am enabled to lighten the labor of the young student,
by directing his attention to the best and most easily accessi-
ble sources of information. And now, having invested myself
with the character of an Index in this important matter, I have
no hesitation in stating, that a careful perusal of the books
named in the subjoined list will put the Tyro in possession of
what may be denominated a " gentleman's knowledge " of this
interesting and universal topic. As a matter of course, if the
student wish to obtain a critical and profound acquaintance
with it, he will have to enlarge the sphere of his investiga-
tions ; he will have to sift the wheat from the chaff — (or at
least endeavour to do so) — of all the theological writers from
Plato and Cicero down to Archbishop Whately; in fact, he will
have to devote his life to the study.

But the undermentioned will be found amply sufficient for
the popular reader : —

1. Derham's Physico-Theology, or a Demonstration of the
Being and Attributes of God, from his works of Creation.

2. Paley's Natural Theology — with Notes, and a Discourse
on Natural Theology, by Lord Brougham.

3. Harmonies de la Nature, by Bernardin de St. Pierre.

4. Etudes de la Nature, by the same.

6. Butler's Analogy of Religion, Natural and Revealed, to
the constitution and course of Nature.

6. Small Books on Great Subjects — ^viz. :

Man before Christianity.
Man subsequent to Christianity.

Christianity in the 2nd and 12th Centuries ; and Chris-
tian Sects in the 19th Century.

7. Ecclesiasticcl History of Eusebius Pamphilus.

8. Cave's Lives of the Fathers.

.^>

♦■ s

9. Leibnitz— Essais sur la Bonte de Dieu, la Liberte de
THomme, and I'Origine du mal.

10. Histoire de la Vio, des Ouvrages, and des Ecrits de
Calvin.

.*»>

The great Fenelon, when in company with some superficial
critics, was censured for repeating himself in certain of his
works. He modestly requested to have the repetitions pointed
out— this was readily done. "Ah!" said he, "I perceive
you recollect the passages ; and that they might be recollected was
my reason for repeating Ihem."

This anecdote refers only to particular and individual pas-
sages ; but it would be well to apply it (in the instance of
every good book) to the whole contents of such book. Many
young students think they are acquainted with a book after
a single reading : as well might an incipient musician imagine
he is acquainted with an opera, on his first rehearsal. If you
wish to master a piece of music, you must study it diligently,
with many repetitions; just so the literary student, — if he
wish to master an author, he, also, must study him diligently,
with many repetitions. If a thing be worth doing, it is worth
doing well. This maxim applies with the greater force, in
proportion to the greater importance of the thing to be done.
And what can be of more importance than the cultivation of
the mind ? more especially in relation to the most important
of all human studies.

The books pointed out in the foregoing list, I earnestly
recommend to the perusal of every one who has the least
ambition to enlarge the understanding. They are adapted to
the improvement of all classes of readers, whether they be
under the influence of the Koran, or Veda, or Bible: Jew,
Christian, Mahommedan, or Brahmin ; or of any sect — Boman
Catholic, Quaker, or Unitarian — Swedenborgian, Presbyterian
or Episcopalian — Arminian or Socinian ; — even if they be of
no religious denomination whatever, or proiess no creed in
the world— Deist, Pantheist, or Atheist — all, all will be highly

benefitted by a diligent study of the works referred to. And,
more than this, I do not scruple to assert, that no one is
capable of either believing or disbelieving (in either theology
or philosophy), on anything like a rational foundation, -with-
out having previously gone through the course of study which
I have indicated, or some vei'y analagous course.

SECTION II.

Metaphysics, or Philosophy of the Hwrnan Mind.

The next section of this Library consi jts of upwarc^s of five
hundred volumes on the subject of the Philosophy of the
Human Mind.

From Religions and Mythologies the transition is by no
means abrupt to Metaphysics — or mental and mo-al philoso-
phy — a theme which, although abstruse (nay, perhaps I may
say from its very abstruseness), has captivated the master-
minds of every age, from the time of Homer down to the
present.

Thousands of volumes have been written upon this subject,
which, instead of placing it in a clearer light, have only served
to envelope it in greater obscurity. Crude and imaginary
speculations have usurped the place of close observation and
careful experiment: and thus century aft<?r century has
faded away, and metaphysics has become a by-word of re-
proach to its exponents. According to popular credence, this
reproach remains. Metaphysics is still, by many, considered
to be synonymous with nonsense. But it is not so. Meta-
physics — or the stu dy of the operations Df the human mind, by
an analysis of the organs and functions which subserve man's
thinking and sensitive being — is of all sciences the noblest
and most beautiful ; it is however, at the same time, the most
difficult ; and it is just in conbcquence of this difficulty that it
has been held in such contempt by the vulgar and superficial^
and that its advancement has been so ♦'eebie and tardy — so
that even now its very elements are oniy beginning to be
uuderst'jod.

The truth and correctness of the Newtonian system of the
Universe, is not now questioned by one in a million, yet it has
required centuries of investigation to establish it. Centuries
of observation on the sidereal sphere had been made before
the least idea of it was conceived ; and when the first rude
elementi3 of a correct system were at last hit upon, they had to
pass through the ordeal of centuries of opposition and ridi-
cule — witness the struggles of Pythagoras — witness the strug-
gles of Gallileo— witness the struggles of Copernicus. The
true relation of the planetary bodies to each other have only
become manifest in proportion as the mathematical sciences
have been improved and made to bear upon astronomical
observations.

Just BO it is with the study of the ht.man mind. It is beset
with difficulties, and those difficulties have been regarded as
insurmountable. Thus, although it has been frequently taken
up, it has rarely been pursued ; and col sflouently small pro-
gress has been made. It is however, the inevitable tendency
of all study — (no matter on what subject)— to enlarge the
capacity and strengthen the judgment ; and every study has a
tendency, in a greater or less degree, to develop and exhibit
some peculiarity of the thinking faculty ; and in this manner
it is that the successful and persevering study of any branch
of knowledge throws a ray of light on the modus operandi of
the human mind.

Physiology has been of slow growth as well as mental Phil-
opophy ; it is only within the last fifty or sixty years that
either of them has been successfully followed up. The phil-
osopher had confined all his attention to mere manifestations,
and results, and states of consciousness ; and the physiologist
had been content to plod away upon the nature of the animal
functions, as exUibited by the animal organs — drawing all his
conclusions fiom observations made at the dissecting table.
But whatever may be the essence of the human mind, its
phenomena are all — and invariably — manifested through the
iuHtrumeuiality of the animal organism; ana tnereiore it ib
that a successful and correct system of Metaphysics can never

be obtained without a thorough knowledge of the corporeal
mechanism ; and on the othar hand, the science of Physiology
can never be brought to perfection, without studying it in con-
nection with mental phenomena. This being the case the
metaphysician must become a physiologist, and the physiolo-
gist a metaphysician ; it is in consequence of this having been
done to some extent during the last half century that the pro-
gress of both these sciences has been considerably accelerated.
The writings of such men as Sue, Dostutt de Tracy, Cabanis,
Bichat, Blumenbach, MuUer, Abernethy, Walker, Sir Charles
Bell, Professor Owen, and Todd and Bowman, furnish ample
evidence of this.

The Parliamentary Library is particularly rich in this class
of books, consisting of the best authors, ancient and modern,
and could hardly be surpassed, for extent or choice, in either
Edinburgh or Glasgow, the scene of the labours of Reid,
Dugald Stewart, Adam Smith, and Thomas Brown.

The young literary student, who aspires after Philosophy,
must avoid desultory reading as he would avoid a waste of
time ; he must study Philosophy as a lawyer studies law —
sedulously and methodically. His first book must be the Con-
duct of the Understanding, by John Locke, which will occupy
him about a month ; his second will be the same author's
Essay concerning the Human Understanding, to which he
must devote two separate hours every day for at least twelve
months. When he has made himself master of these two
books, he will have laid a foundation upon which he may
raise an intellectual superstructure of any magnitude what-
ever. But, indeed, a knowledge of Locke's celebrated Essay,
is indispensable to any one who has the least pretension to
education.

The first book, and the first and second chapters of the
second book, are the most important paits of Locke's great
Essay. They form the most unassailable portion — that por-
tion which is, in fact, irrefragable. The principle there set
forth and demonstrated, is simply thus: Thpt there is nothing

n '

in the intellect which was not previously in the senses ; that
is to say, that no idea can enter the mind through any other
avenues than those of the senses ; that no state of conscious-
ness can be induced but by or through the medium of the
external senses, nervous system, and brain. This is the grand
proposition, which had, indeed, been stated and confirmed, to
some extent, by the ancient philosophers in by-gone ages ;
but it was reserved for an Englishman in the 17th century so
to propose it, and so to surround it with Lemma, Corollary,
and Scholium, as to render it for ever impregnable. It is,
moreover, written in such clear and direct terms that none
but those who are wilfully and obstinately perverse, or who
are interested in the propagation and support of error, can
even pretend to object or deny.

This portion (namely, the first book, and the first and
second chapters of the second book) is decidedly the master-
piece of the Essay. Had Locke written nothing more, it
would have sufficed to place his name in the highest rank of
philosophers. The subsequent chapters (though generally
excellent) are by no means of so high a character ; many of
them still only occupy debatable ground ; and in a few
instances he is inconsistent with himself, and appears to be
even absolutely self-contradictory. Having made so bold an
assertion, it will be indispensable that I should prove it, in
order to avoid the charge of excessive presumption.

In Book II, chapter 23, he says: — " We can't conceive any-
thing but impulse of body caL move body; and yet that is
not a sufficient reason to make us deny it possible, against the
constant experience we have of it in ourselves, in all voluntary
motions which are produced in us, only by the free action or
thought of our minds ; and are not, nor can bo, the eflFects of
the impulse or determination of the motion of blind matter in
or upon our bodies, for then it could not be in our power or
choice to alter it. For instance, my right hand writes while
my left hand is still, — what causes motion in one and rest in
the other? Nothing but my will — a thought of my mind.
My thought only changing, the right hand rcsiSf and the loft
B

moves. This is a matter of fact, which cannot be denied;
explain this, and make it intelligible, and the next step will
be to underbtaud creation."

The first proposition in this paragraph has the appearance of
being incontrovertible. Locke evidently thought so himself.
He could not have expressed it in simpler or clearer phrase-
ology — *• We can't conceive anything but impulse of body can
move body." It seems to carry conviction with it. It appears,
Indeed, self-evident. That two and two are equal to four,
does not seem to be more unquestionable '..ban that it requires
impulse of body to move body. And, indeed, the converse of
this appears an imposibility — namely, that body can be moved
without impulse of other body. I dwell upon this, even to
prolixity, that it may be fully understood. Being thus fully
convinced of the truth of this, — so fully, indeed, as not to be
able to conceive the posibility of the contrary, we yet, as Locke
immediately says, have daily and hourly experience of facts,
which appear to be (to all intents and purposes) diametrically
opposed to it. We seem to see body moved without the
impulse of any other body, as in the example, given by Locke,
of the motion of his hand in writing, which he says is caused
by his will, a mere thought of his mind. Locke here is evi-
dently out of his depth — he considers the matter inexplicable.
Explain this, he says, and make it intelligible, and the next
step will be to understand creation.

Having thus clearly and forcibly expressed himself in this
place, we find him in another section of the same book as
clearly asserting *' that the will is nothing but one power or
ability, and freedom another power or ability ; so that to ask
whether the will has freedom, is to ask whether one power
has another power — one ability another ability — a question at
first sight too grossly absurd to require an answer ; for who
does not see that powers belong only to agents, and are attri-
butes of substances, not of powers themselves. So that this
way of putting the question — whether the will be free ? — is in
effect to ask whether the will be a substance or an agent?"

When we carefully compare these two passages, we per-
ceive, that in the former he has considered the Will as the
agent or subject itself; although it is obviously an abstract
term, merely denoting a particular state. He appears to be
thoroughly aware of this in the second passage, in which he
regards it only as a power or predicable — a quality or attri-
bute of the agent or subject. In the first passage he has
ascribed so much power to volition, as to make it the very
cause of motion and rest in bodies ; while in the second he
reduces it to its abstract condition, and treats it as a mere
attribute or quality — absolutely incapable of any action or
causality whatever.

It is probable that this mistake, in making volition or
thought the cause of the alternate motion and rest of the
right and left hands, may have arisen from the consideration
of the action being the consequence, or immediately following
the desire to move either of the hands, which is, in reality,
taking an effect for a cause. For thought or volition, being
mere predicables, or abilities, can have no power to cause
either motion or rest in bodies ; for thought or volition are
simply the abstract names of those states or conditions which
have themselves been produced in the human mind by some-
thing antecedent. Therefore to affirm that thought or will
can have power to cause either motion or rest in bodies, is, in
effect, to say (in the language of Locke already quoted) that
one power or ability has another power or ability — which is
an affirmation too grossly absurd to need an answer ; for who
does not see that powers belong only to agents, and are
attributes of substances, and not of powers themselves.

Locke saw clearly enough that thought and volition are
merely abstract terms, denominating states of consciousness,
the result of previous impressions. This is, indeed, the irre-
sistible inference to be drawn from the whola of his first book :
there is nothing in the intellect which has not previously
been in the senses. It i ^Iso equally true that he likewise
thought he saw daily and hourly instances of facts which
clearlv iiiflinnt,«fl tiiA nnnoait" of this- as in the examnle oriven

of voluntary motion. It does not come ■within my present
scope to attempt to reconcile this apparent contradiction. In
this place, I will only add, that however specious appearances
may be, we must never allow them to control or even bias our
minds, if we can peiceive that they are directly contrary to
some really established principle, which has been demon-
strated, and of which we have no shadow of doubt. What
can offer a more specious objection to the truth of the solar
system (as based upon our present knowledge of Celestial
Mechanics) than the apparent rising and setting of the sun ?
To the untutored, this appearance passes for a reality ; it is
to them a demonstration. Just so in Ethics and Metaphy-
sics — there are many appearances equally specious, and
equally false. When we are in doubt (if the subject be im-
portant) we must investigate ; and if, after patient investiga-
tion, we still be in doubt — better remain so than rashly
decide. If Astronomy had to wait centuries for a solution of
its important problems, is it to be wondered at that the still
more subtle and difficult problems of moral and intellectual
science have yet many of their solutions in tempore futoro ?

The conduct of the life is always in perfect accordance with
the conduct of the understanding, and the control it exercises
over the feelings. The difference between a fool and philoso-
pher, — between a savage and civilian, — ^between a rogue and
an honest man, — between a murderer and a philantropist, —
is entirely owing to the difference which has existed between
them in the education of their intellects and in the training of
their feelings, as it respects both their quality and quantity.
I may, indeed, go a step farther, and add, that a vast amount
of the difference which exists between a handsome face and an
ugly one, — between a physiognomy attractive and a physiog-
nomy repulsive — is precisely owing to the same difference in
the cultivation of the mental and moral. This will be fully
corroborated by observing the superior expression of both
intelligence and beauty which is apparent iu iudividuais of

both sexes who have had their intellect well cultivated, and
their manners well formed, compared with those who (unfor-
tunately for society as well as themselves) have been neglected
in these particulars.

It will thus be seen that too great importance cannot be
attached to the cultivating and perfecting the study of the
human mind :— that upon the teaching and training of the
inner man, depends the form and beauty of the outer man ; —
that upon the proper treatment of human beings, in relation
to their principles and sentiments, actually depends the ratio
that shall obtain between moral good and avil. What is phy-
sically wrong cannot be morally right, and vice versa. That
the moral depends upon the physical is equally true, as that
the physical depends upon the moral— they are mutually
dependent — they move in a circle ; injure the one, the other
suffers a corresponding injury.

I cannot better conclude this little exordium than by an
important application of the words of Solomon—" Train up a
child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not
depart from it." The grand desideratum is, that all should
be qualified to " train up a child in the way he should go ;"
but the actual fact is, that not one in ten is so qualified, and
herein consists the gist of these observations. Let all at
least endeavour so to educate and train themselves as to be
enabled to perform this paramount duty to the rising ~onera-
tion ; and let them not forget that this qualification cometh
not but by patient, persevering, laborious study. If it be
objected that there are thousands to whom this would bo im-
possible—granted ; this advice (it must be admitted) cannot
be given to these; but it may be urged upon those who,
through apathy or ignorance of the importance or means,
neglect to improve the opportunities they possess.

In subsequent articles (in treating of the various sections of
this extensive Library) I intend to present to the young
scholar, and indeed to all those interested in mental culture,
a list of such introductory Treatises in each department of
knowledge, as will serve to convey a thorough acquaintance
t2

-with its fundamental principles ; and thus form the basis of a
sound scientific, literary, and .philosophical education. Hav-
ing proceeded thus far, the student will then be enabled to
select that department to nrhich (from its being congenial to
his naturo, tastes, and prospects) he will thenceforth give a
more undivided attention.

It is a much more difficult task to give a selection of authors
to constitute a concise course of study on Ethical and Meta-
physical Philosophy, than to give a list for a Theological
course : the reason is obvious — the standards of appeal are
not so settled in the former as in the latter. However, I may
pretty confidently name the following, as being admirably
adapted to initiate the student, and impart to him the leading
features of this exalted and exalting science.

1. Archbishop Whately'g System of Logic.

2. Taylor's Elements of Thought.

3. Small Books on Great Subjects :

Philosophical Theories.
Vulgar and Common Errors.

Connection between Physiology and Intellectual Phil-
osophy.

4. Lewis' History of Philosophy.

6. Hamilton Edition of Reid's Philosophical Works.

6. BrQwn's Lectures on the Philosophy of the Human Mind.

The Educational section of this Library will form the sub-
ject of the next article : — a subject of equal importance with
that of the preceding section — of which, in fact, it is to be
regarded rather as an extension or continuation than as a
new or separate subject.

^•i^*.

SECTION III.

Education — its Object and Importance.
We now approach that department of books which treats of
education — its history, statistics, and discipline ; its methods,
objects, and rationale ; and above all, its advantages, conse-
quences, and importance.

The importance of education, although often and loudly

expatiated upon, has never yet been truly felt and appreciated;
and, consequently, education has never been adequately pro-
moted and encouraged.

Everything that may be done or enjoyed — labour, study, or
pleasure — is important ; there is an importance in every human
pursuit. But the amount of importance to be attached to
each individual pursuit must be estimated according to the
influence it possesses in producing and promoting human well-
being ; and as the grades of well-being are various, ascending
^^ from the lowest degrees of lethargic content and animal com-

fort, up, through imperceptible gradations, to the highest
degrees of intellectual enjoyment,— just so will the amount of
importance vary which we ought to attach to the various
labours, studies, or pleasures which, in their exercise and con-
sequences, produce those various grades of human well-being.
Thus, though all pursuits are of importance, they are not all
of equal importance ; every pursuit having only its relative or
comparative degree. When we have ascertained (as far as our
faculties and means will allow) the relative importance of our
various employments, studies and pleasures, it is, of course,
our duty to give our attention to them in proportion to their
greater or less importance — devoting our best energies to those
pursuits which are of the greatest importance, and which pro-
mote, in the greatest degree, our best interests.

Many human pursuits are of little comparative value, and,
*consequently, of small importance ; whilst many of the pur-
suits which strongly attract a great majority of mankind are
positively injurious and degrading— to wit, all the great cur-
rent vices, as well patrician as plebeian. Unfortunately the
majority of mankind have strong passions and weak judg-
ments, and consequently their estimate of the relative import-
ance of human duties and pleasures is generally in the inverse
j ratio of their real value.

^ On the other hand, those duties and pleasures which are

best adapted to promote and establish man's highest nhvsical

4^ state, as well as his purest moral, and most refined intellectual

^ ^

enjoyments, are precisely those which require the soundest
judgment to appreciate and select ; and judgment is precisely
that faculty of the human mind which is of the slowest growth
— which requires the longest time to develope itself, and which
consequently is the very last in arriving at maturity ; this,
indeed, is wisdom — the highest of human attainments.

But before vrisdom can be practised, science and art must
be studied and applied. Wisdom (properly so called) is
unknown among ignorant savages ; they lead a life of warfare,
and plunder, and sensuality, and brutality — which are the very
antipodes of wisdom. But when science has been studied, and
art practised, then comes wisdom, which is the grand and
crowning consummation — ^namely, the right application of
science and art.

Solomon's beautiful eulogium, which is full of truth as well
as poetry, deserves to be written in letters of gold in every
academy and college in every land, and we might add, in
every house of legislature also :

Wisdom is the principal thing ; therefore get wisdom ;
And with all thy gettings, get understanding :
Exalt her, and she shall promote thee ; —
She shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her,
She shall give to thy head a graceful ornament, —
A crown of glory shall she deliver thee.

Now the grand object of Education is the attaintment of
wisdom, which is, to know truly and to act justly. By a good
educ ition, and by no other means, can this be accomplished.
Thus we arrive at the conviction of the immense importance
of education, which, indeed, cannot be over-estimated.

The books of the Parliamentary Library, in the Educational
Section, are not class-books, or text-books, or elementary
treatises on the different branches of art, science, or philoso-
phy ; but are chiefly books of advice and direction to parents
and teachers, heads of schools and colleges, committees and
councils, and boards of education ; and consist of the history
and statistics of Colleges and other educational establishments;
— of the history and management of Literary, Scientific and

Mechanics' Institutions; reports of Boards of Education;
books on the philosophy of education ; on theories of educa-
tion, and on the means and methods adopted at the various
celebrated educational establishments for the accomplishment
of the great object which they all have in view.

Of the two hundred volumes constituting this department of
the Library, the following will be found to possess the greatest
amount of interest to the general student. When the student
becomes a Professor, he will find them all interesting.

1. Memoire sur I'instruction publique chez les anciens, et
particulierement chez les Eomans, par M. Naudet.

2. Locke on the education of children.

3. Col. Amoros, I'education physique, gymnastique, et mo-
rale.

4. Clavel A., Traite d'Education physique et morale.

6. F. D. Maurice. Has the Church or the State, the power
to educate the Nation ?

6. Isaac Taylor on Home Education.

7. Lectures on Education, by Whewell, Faraday, Latham
and others.

8. Andrew Amos's Four Lectures on the advantage of a
classical education as an auxiliary to a commercial education.

9. F. D. Maurice's Lectures on Learning and Working,

10. Small Books on Great Subjects — on the Philosophy of
Kagged Schools.

The series of works under the head of " Small Books on
Great Subjects," are really first-rate Treatises, produced by
men who have not written their books for the purpose of be-
coming acquainted with their subjects, but by those who wero
thoroughly acquainted with their subjects before they wrote
their books.

■*

SECTION IV.
Legislation and Jurisprudence.

The next genus of books we are called upon to examine is
that which takes cognizance of human action, as it regards

both its national and civic relations. This genus is divided
into the following species, namely :

1. General and Foreign Jurisprudence.

2. International and Maritime Law.

3. Constitutional and Public Law.

4. Statute and Common Law of Great Britain.

5. Colonial and Provincial Law.

6. American Law, Government, and Politics.

7. French Law.

8. Ecclesiastical Politics and Law.

Legislation is the science of making laws to govern human
beings, and to regulate their conduct ; Jurisprudence is the
science of administering those laws, or of applying them to
particular cases.

That there should be so frequent a necessity to make laws,
and that there should be so frequent a necessity for their
administration, are simply proofs that there is something very
rotten in the social fabric. Fortunately there are some few
individuals — so organized — so taught— so trained — that they
pass through a long life of usefulness, turning neither to the
right nor tO the left^-but going straight forward in the path
of integrity ;— loving truth— doing justice ; and consequently,
performing all their various duties, without violating, or ren-
dering themselves amenable to any human law whatever:
these are, indeed, a law unto themselves. If a minority are
thus "trained up in the way they should go"— why may not
a majority ?

Were the fundamental principles of justice and well-doing
properly and thoroughly inculcated — were the good example
invariably given ; — were those principles and these cxxropleR
kindly set forth and firmly enforced in daily and hoiTrly prac-
tice ;— the intellect stored with noble sentiments, «,ii*i the
manners formed to acts of justice and benevolence; were
these teachings and trainings carried out with the same zeal
and indxistry that are exhibited in the hoarding of lucre, or in
the pm-s ait OS enervating luxuries and degrading pleasures;
were t u; 'V md: tions of intelligence and fine feeling timely
and securely established,— then indeed might we expect,—

;

that peace on earth and good-Trill towards men, would be the
general rule, instead of being, as they now are, the rare
exception.

On the one hand it hai been said— (and very plausibly, no
doubt)— "As the institutions, so the men;" on the other hand,
it has been asserted, with equal plausibility — " As the men,
so the institutions." Although these propositions appear to
be the very antitheses of each other, it requires no very
elaborate logic to show that there is truth on both sides.
Obviously society existed before its institutions : society is the
source — institutions the emanation, ergo — '* As the men, so
the institutions." But a little reflection may also show us,
that the institutions of a society are the oflFspring of the few

the most knowing and powerful ; — and that the character

of the great majority, who are of course ignorant, is almost
entirely formed by the influence of those institutions, combined
with the influence of the manners and examples of the powerful
few ; whose manners and example, it may fairly be presumed,
will be of the same character as the laws and institutions
which they themselves have constructed.

In proportion therefore, to the noble or ignoble character of
the few who form the institutions ; in proportion to their in-
telligence and honest integrity ; and more especially in pro-
portion to their acquaintance with that most important of all
sciences — the science of Human Nature, — so will be the
character of the great masses of mankind. We may therefore
arrange or combine these two propositions thus: — "As the
powerful and active few, so the institutions ; as the institu-
tions, so the ignorant and passive multitude."

From the foregoing statements (if they be allowed to be cor-
rect), I think we are fairly entitled to deduce the following,
namely, that inasmuch as the evils {as well as the benefits) which
are current in society are generated and fostered by the insti-
tutions of that society ; and inasmuch as these institutions are
framed by the wisdom, and kept up by the example, of the
enlightened few who possess the power,— just so are all the

evils (as well as the benefits) which belong to tb?.t socinty, to be
attributed to, and charged upon, the wisdoni (or the lack of
it), the example, and the power of that knowing few : that is
to say (briefly), that the powerful /eif who make and establish
those laws and institutions which govern and form the charac-
ter of the many, are entirely responsible for the evils resulting
from those laws and institutions ; that is to say (more briefly
gtill)_the evils of society are chiefly owing to the mismanage-
ment of the managers.

The laws of every country (almost without exception), both
ancient and modern, have been founded upon false or imper-
fect principles—upon the narrow interests of a party or sec-
tion, instead of the broad interests of the whole human family;
in fact, it must not be disguised that laws, hitherto, have been
framed in the supremest ignorance of the nature (physical,
moral, or intellectual,) of that being to whom they were to be
applied. Ignorance and barefaced cupidity (usurping the
place of enlightened benevolence) have been the generating
impulses; and the off'spring has invariably been a hydra-
headed monster, vomiting up all manner of vice and crime.
Illustrations (which would be out of place here) will readily
suggest themselves to the minds of all the intelligent. The
present state of society will afford ample material for these
illustrations, and at the same time furnish incontestible proof
of the truth of our present observations.

From what has been now advanced, it will naturally be in-
ferred that the books forming this section, namely, those on
Legislation and Jurisprudence, are the least interesting por-
tion of this great and beautiful library. Of a verity, small
would be the damage, if (with a very few exceptions) the
books in this department were made use of to enhance the
brilliancy of the next grand exhibition of fireworks. But the
intelligent Pyrotechnist might, perhaps, object to the use of
them, on the ground that, from the dulness and obscurity of
the ideas they contain, they would possess but a very small
amount of illuminating power, if indeed they could be expected
to produce anything beyond mere smoke.

The number of volumes in this section is, indeed, very great,
amounting to many thousands, and forms quite a ladicrous
contrast to the extreme littleness of their contents. The bind-
ings, too, are very beautiful, increasing one's chagrin at the
want of beauty so obvious within ; forcibly reminding us of
that remarkable fruit whose rich and glossy texture is so
tempting, but whose in&ide is full of rottenness.

The following is a list of the exceptions already referred to,
which comprises everything of interest to the general student,
that is to be found in this department .

1. De I'origine des Lois, des Arts et des Sciences, et de leurs
progres chez les anciens peuples, par A. Y. Goguet.

2. Esprit des Lois — Montesquieu.

3. Philosophie du Droit — Lernimier.

4. Legal Maxims, classified and arranged— H. Broom.

5. On the Study of the law of Nature and Nations, by Sir
James Mackintosh.

6. The Law of Nature and Nations as affected by the Divine

Law.

7. DeLolme on the Constitution of England; or an account
of the English Government, in which it is compared both with
the Republican form, and with the other Monarchies of Europe.

3. The Elements of the Art of Packing, as applied V7 Special
Juries — Jeremy Bentham.

9. The Doctrine of Equity, a commentarv on the Law, as
administered by the Court of Chancery.

10. Defence of Usury — Jeremy Bentham.

11. Medical Jurisprudence, by Allied Taylor.

12. On the law of Scotland, as applicable to Husband and
Wife, Parent and Child, Guardian and Ward, Master and Ser-
vant, Master and Apprentice.

13. The Constitution of the United States compared with
our own, by Tremenheere.

14. On Liberty and Slavery, by Bledsoe.

15. The American Slave Code; its distinctive Features,
Decisions, and illustrative Facts, by Goodell.

16. Despotism in America, an Inquiry into the Nature, fte-
sults and Legal Basis of the Slave-holding System in the
United States, by Hildreth.

16. Coleridge on Church and State.

17. Baptist Noel on the Union of Church and State.

The next subject will be that of Political and Social Science,
and will open out to us an extensive field of highly interesting
iuvcstigation.

SECTION V.

Political Economy and Social Science.

The department of books, consisting of Political Economy
and Social Science, forms a cognate gemis with that of Legis-
lation and Jurisprudence ; but the books in the former depart-
ment are incomparably superior to those in the latter — the
reason of which disparity is simply this — that whereas the
latter have been chiefly written by those who are interested
in the abuses necessarily concomitant with class legislation —
the former have been written chiefly by the philanthropist and
philosopher, who have labored disinterestedly on behalf of
humanity, and who are, indeed, the leaven which is destined
ultimately to "leaven the whole lump."

It is to the writings and exertions of the scientific philoso-
pher, and the enlightened philanthropist — and not to the
enactments of legislators or the policy of diplomatists, that
we are to attribute all the blessings of civilization that we now
experience ; and we may with equal truth charge all those
existing evils which are remediable by human means upon the
ignorance and selfishness of the wealth-accumulating legislator,
and the ambition and false pride of the diplomatist, who, in
lieu of promoting the progress of human improvement, pre-
sent, in too many instances, an inveterate and perverse opposi-
tion to all improvement save that of the balance at their
bankers.

I have endeavored to show, in a former section that the
morality and intelligence of the lower classes (who, of course,
form the bulk of a nation), are in the direct ratio of the intel-
ligence, morality, and institutions of the superior and powerful
few ; and if I am correct in the very low estimate I have taken
of the legislative character, it must be quite clear to a very
moderate degree of penetration, that before we can expect
much amelioration in mundane aff'airs, we must have a vastly
superior class of legislators to the one now current. Honesty
and benevolence they must have, to begin with, or they will
not have the desire to do good ; knowledge and wisdom they

(•«

(-«

must possess in the second place, or they will not be able to
select the appropriate means.

When we shall have legislators endowed with these attri-
butes, they will doubtless perceive, that education is the grand
and only lever by which humanity can be raised, and that,
therefore, the promotion of the cause of education should be
their first and most important object ; they will thus become
philosophers as well as legislators— philanthropists as well as
diplomatists. The education they will insist upon (as well for
themselves as for those whom they govern), will be such as to
promote wisdom and goodness as much as wit and le.^.rning ;
such as will produce prudence and virtue as well as teach
their etymologies ; an education that will enable us to select
and prefer those books which impart and instil into our minds
the truest opinions and the soundest principles, rather than
those that are written in the loftiest and most clasbic diction ;
recognizing and appreciating the fact— that an industrious and
virtuous education is a better inheritance than a great estate.

I have read in a book, of which I now forget the name, that
— as the beautiful art of sculpture is to a block of marble, so
is a good education to the human being ; the poet, the philoso-
pher, the man of science; the good, the wis3, the great — are
often hid and concealed under the poor and despised plebeian :
whereas, with the advantage of a proper education they would
have been brought to light.

All the evils existing in society, which are the eflFect of
human agency, either immediate or remote, may be, (in a
moral point of view) divided into two great classes ; namely,
those that are produced by bad or malicious feelings, and those
that are simply the result of ignorance. If we desired to gen-
eralize still further we might, perhaps, be able to reduce the
category to unity; for in almost every case that we have
experience of, the immediate cause of the bad or malicious
feelings has been the result of a mistaken idea of the nature
of some or all of the circumstances of the case upon which the
ill-feelinor haa been eThihitfl

nnf

thus it ma" h

V rrtrs-l l-.

the resnlt of ignorance. But indeed, the ignorant (by reason
of their ignorance, and in proportion to their ignorance) are
continually inflicting evil both on themselves and others.
Moreover, in the ignorance of the statesman and law-giver, it
has been considered necessary in all ages of the world to co-
erce or cajole the ignorant. It ought, however, in this age of
the world, to be clearly perceived, that the most efl&cient way
of managing human beings, and, at the same time, the most
compendious way of reforming them, is, by giving to all a
good education ; this, indeed will be an effectual prevention of
evil, whereas all other methods are merely palliatives.

When our Statesmen shall have cultivated with sufficient
diligence the science of Anthropology, which is the most sub-
lime science — which is, indeed, the science of all sciences —
then will they perceive the necessity of applying the National
Revenue to its legitimate object ; and, instead of a few paltry
thousands, we shall have millions devoted to the cause of
Education, and the promotion of Literature and Philosophy,
which are the choicest fruits of Education. Happy will that
Statesman be, and immortal will be his name, who shall take
the initiative in this glorious cause.

Tbia class of books in the Parliamentary Library is a very
complete collection ; it has been selected with great liberality
of sentiment and opinion, and very excellent taste. The fol-
lowing list contains the names of the most important works in
this department, forming a little library of literature on the
subjects of Political Economy and Social Science. They may
be read very profitably in the order in which they are here
enumerated :

1. Essays on the Formation and Publication of Opinion — S.
Bailey.

2. Two Treatises on Government — John Locke.

3. Passive Obedience, or the Christian Doctrine of not resist-
ing the Supreme Power.

4. The Spirit of the Laws — Montesquieu.

5. Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations.

6. The Aristocracy of England, a history for the people-
John Hampden, Jun.

7. Sophi^mss Pftrlem^itaireB— Benth^v.

8. Political Essays, vith Sketches of PuWic Characteraw^,
WiUiam Hazlitt

9. Perils of the NatioB ; an Appeal to the Legislature, the
Clergy, and the Higher and Middle Classes.

10. Remedies suggested f(^ some of the Evile which oonsti-,
tuite the " Perils of the Nation."

11. Morality of Public Men; two letters to the Earl of
Derby — ^by DeVere.

12. De la Vraie Democratic — Bartholomew Saint Hilwre.^

13. Popular Tumults, iUustrative of the Evils of Social
Ignorance.

14. Swear not at all — Bentham.

16. Bacchus, an Essay on the nature, causes, effects and
cure of drunkenness — K. B. Grindrod.

16. Dr. Carpenter on the Use and Abuse of Alcoholic liquors
in Health and Disease.

17. Peace — Permanent and Universal: its practicability,
&c. — Macnamara.

18. The opinions of different authors on the Punishment of
Death — Basil Montagu.

19. Philosophic de I'Economie Politique — Dutens.

20. Economie Politique — Destutt de Tracy.

21. Benjamin Franklin's Essays on Political Economy and
Commerce.

22. Natural Elements of Political Economy^-^Biohard Jen-
nings.

23. Lectures on the Nature and Use of Money — J . Gray.

24. Money and Morals, a book for the Times— John Lalor^
26. Du droit de Vivre — par \m ancien manufacturier Lyon-

nais.

The next section comprises Chronology, UniyersaJ History,
and Philosophy of History.

SECTION VI.

Chronology — History, and its Philoaophy.

Chronolgy is comparatively a simple and mechanical affair,

involving a moderate acquaintance with mathematics and

astronomy. It is the name of that branch of knowledge which

treats of the various divisions of time, and the order and

succession of events The study of chronology comprises an

examination of the divisions of time that have been adopted

by all civilized nations ; of their methods of subdividing the

year into months, weeks, days, hours, &o. ; of the various
eras, eppihs, or periods which have been made use of in dif-
ferent ages and nations; and the cycles, circuits, or other
periodical revolutions of years. Chronology calls in the
assistance of the numismatist to decypher the dates, mottoes,
legends, or other devices which are found on coins and medals.
It also enlists the services of the astronomer in calculating
the various eclipses which have been recorded in relation to
certain events. In faet, it comprises all those researches
which have for their object the adjusting and arranging of
events according to the order of their succession.

The following list of books contains all that can be desired
on this branch of study: —

1. Rudimentary Chronology of Civil and Ecclesiastical His-
tory, Art, Literature and Civilization, from the earliest period
to 1864. — Weale's Series.

2. The World's Progress ; a Dictionary of Dates with tabu-
lar views of General History. By G. P. Putnam.

3. Todd's Historical Tablets and Medallions, illustrative of
a system of artificial memory ; exhibiting a connected outline
of historical and biographical chronology, &c.

4. Sir William Jones on the Chronology of the Hindus, with
a supplement.

5. Syn-chronology; the History, Chronology, and Mytholo-
gy of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Phoenicians, and the
harmony between their Chronology and that of the Holy
Scriptures.

Those who have not the means or the time to study more
than one book on this subject, will find " Rudimentary Chron-
ology," Weale's Series^ a most excellent work. [I may here
be allowed to mention, parenthetically, that the series pub-
lished by Mr. Weale includes some of the best elementary
treatises in the English language. ]

SECTION VII.

History — Political^ Scientific^ and Social.

That History is not generally so interest'cg as several of
the subjects we have passed in review, is because it has never

•

11
e
I

8
1

e
I
1
1
1
1
i

been treated in a manner equal to its importance. It pro-
fesses to render a faithful account of all human transactions
and institutions, — apolitical, scientific, and social ; and were
it to perform truly what it professes, it would be a valuable
embodiment of the rationale and philosophy of these three
interesting subjects — giving to each that amount of attention
and elaboration which its relative importance demands. But
historians in general have beer carried away by the glitter
and show, and pageantry and ostentation, of the events con-
nected with the political sphere, because of their noise, and
bustle, and flashy externals ; courts — embassies — camps —
battles — conquests. The whole resources of science, and the
blood and muscle of the great body of each nation have been
made subservient to the contentions of great rival powers ;
and the historian has too often mentioned science and "the
people" as merely subsidiary and accessory to the pride and
pomp of crowns and sceptres.

Thus the great triumphs of science, and the social history
of the people have been almost entirely ignored. For one
volume that has been written to record the discoveries and
progress of science, or social amelioration, there have been
a hundred written to trumpet forth the glory of combats, and
sieges, and spoliations.

But this is absolutely reversing these subjects in the order
of their importance ; for who does not see that the prosperity
and happiness of a people, and the progress of science, are of
infinitely more importance than all the affairs of diplomacy
that were ever transacted, added to all the battles and con-
quests that were ever recorded. To remember the various
discoveries of science that have been made in ancient times, is
obviously of the greatest importance. To remember, and
have continually placed before us, the various resources and
arrangements for the production of domestic and social feli-
city, is also of the utmost importance. But that we should
recollect that such a battle was fought at such a time, and
fhp.t Huoh a number were slain on either side, — ^that such a
general or such a king won that battle — that such a number

were made prisoners, who were either shot after &e battle, or
reduced to slavery, to satisfy the revenge, or add to the luxury
of the conqueror-— Is it of the least import««M5e that such hor-
rors should be had in remembrauce ? I imagine enlightened
benevolence will a|i once answer—decidedly not. Would it
not be infinitely preferable that the memory of all such trans-
actions should be obliterated for ever ? Should we not gladly
rather drink of the Lethean cup, in regard to all such abomi-
nations ? Would it not be better far to. begin, de nouveau,-^
to turn over a fVesh loaf— to commence a new page of his-
tory — unstained by such sanguinary records ? I have always
had a supreme contempt for all such details. I pride myself,
at this moment, in not knowing the history or details of a sin-
gle battle that ever was fought ; and so far from this ignorance
being any loss to me, I look upon it as a decided gain. Those
who have devoted themselves to the study, and have got pos-
session of those histories and details, have, of course, used up
a considerable amount of time in the acquisition of them,
which, undoubtedly, they might have spent in acquiring
knowledge of a much superior character. To take up with an
mferior acquisition when you might have a superior one at the
same cost, is evidently a decided loss, equal in amount to the
difference in the value and importance of the respective
acquisitions.

When Listory comes to be written with judgment and t^ste
^^illustrated by the lives of great and good men — enriched by
the never-ceasing discoveries of science, and replete witii the
i;olden precepts of ** divine philosophy"— it will then be as
entertaining as a fairy tale, and as instructive as the fountains
of wisdom.

The Parliamentary Library contains a very superior coUecr
^n of books in every department of ancient and modern his-
tory, amounting to several thousand volumes. Mr. Todd hap
shown his extensive knowledge of books, and excellent judg-
ment in their selection, which offers a rich treat to the diligent
mad critical student.

The works named in the following Ust, will impart as com-
plete a knowledge of this important subject as the genertd
student will require.

1 Tytler's Universal History, from tho Creation of the
world to the beginning of the eighteenth century.

2 Tytler's Elements of General History, ancient and mod-
em, continued to the death of William IV. *,„^ ♦>,«

3 Ramsay's Universal History Americanized ; ft^om J^»
earliest records to 1808 ; to which is annexed a brief view of
historv from 1808 to the Battle of Waterloo. , , ^

5 View of the World; a delineation of the natural and
artificial features of each country, and a ^a^Tf^V^ f ^^J?^^'
ferent nations, their revolutions and progress, by John Bigland.

6 Bell's N^w Pantheon ; or an H storical I>ictionary of the
Gods, Demigods, Heroes, and fabulous persons of antiquity,
with their temples, priests, altars, oracles, &c. ^

7 Neibuhr'? Lectures on Ancient History : the History of
the Asiatic Nations-the Egyptians, Greeks, Macedomans, and

^^r^Nfibuhr^s Lectures on Ancient Ethnography and Geogra-
phy, comprising Greece and her colonies, fPi^J^S' Macedonia,
nivricum; Italy, Gaul, Spain, Britain, North of Africa, &c.
9 SS and actions of Alexander the Great, by J. WlUiame.

10. The destruction and Re-discovery of Pompeu.

11. Secret Societies of the middle ages. . ^ „ . ,

12. W. F. P. Napier's History of the War in the Peninsula,
and the South of France. . . „ .

13. The Gael and Cymbri; or the ongin and history of the
Irish, Scots, Britons and Gauls, and of the Caledonians, Picts,
Welsh, Cornish, and Bretons, by Sir Wilham Betham.

14 The Pictorial History of England, being a history ot

,a People as well as a History of the Kingdom ; by George L.

iik and Charles Macfarlane ; from B. C. 55 to A. D. 1»^U.

m 'index to the same, forming a chronological key to
events, the Lives of remarkable persons, and the Progress of
the Country, by H. C. Hamilton.

16. Continuation of the same during the 30 years Peace
*rom 1815 to 1846, by H. Martineau.

17. Lives of John Pym and John Hampden.

18. Life of Oliver Cromwell, vide Forster's British States-
man, vols. 6 and 7. ^ , _.,, . . -n ^i.^*

19. The Comic History of England, by Gilbert A. Becket,

with engraving by Leech.

[N. B. In this Comic History, there is much matter for
serious reflection.]

20 Thomas Moore's History of Ireland from the earliest

*^2l! T^^ffl Ve'lt in ; a Pictorial aad Literary Sketch
nf thp, T^ritiah Emnire. published by Charles Kmght.

22 Ss ; iS^histJrical Buildings and its Revolutions,
revised to the present time--1849.

23. Memoir of the Life of Peter the Great.

24 India: Cries to British Humanity, relative to the Sut-
tee, infanticide, Idolatry, Ghaut M^f rs and « w^^
Hiits for the melioration of the state of society in Britisn

^?6%hl Thugs? niustrations of their History and Practices;
andVoSis for the suppression of the crime of Thuggee.

26. History of Java, by Sir T. S. Raffles.

27 History of Sumatra; of the Government, Laws, Cus-
toms*, fnd Manners of th^ native Inhabitants, by William

^28.'^Les Harvis de I'Egypte and les Jongleurs de I'Inde.

^'29.XS:; Tasmania, &c., their rise, progress, and

^To."poJynesian Mythology, and ancient traditional history

^'ai'SftrynSn Researches, during nearly eight
years on the Society and Sandwich Islands.

SECTION VIII.

The Philosophy of History.
It is a rare qualification in a Naturalist to be able to describe
accurately and intelligibly the conformation and peculiarities
of a plant or an animal; but it is one of the rarest quahfica-
tions in the worid to be able to relate the particulars of an
event exactly as they occurred. When we consider that His-
tory takes cognizance of the moral and intellectual character
of tiie individuals engaged in the events which it descnbes,-
the — ious interests and motives which influenced these mdivi-
duals-the antecede It drcumstances whichledto those events,
-the numerous collateral incidents which took place simul-
taneously with those events, and the consequences resulting
from all those combinations :— when we have taken all these
circumstances into consideration, we cannot >oo highly esti-
mate the difficulty involved in the task of those who have

undertaken the duties of the Historian; and we need scarcely
be surprised at the very few instances which have appeared of
those who have prosecuted this task successfully.

An anecdote is related by Sir Walter Raleigh, which will in
some degree illustrate this matter :-This celebrated courtier
was one day seated in a window in his house in London when
a skirmish took place in the street exactly opposite his house,
which was followed by the arrest of some of the most active
parties concerned. Sir Walter saw the whole affair from his
window directly above the scence of action. Immediately after
the melee was over, two or three of Sir Walter's friends who
had also witnessed the affair, called in to see him, and each
cave a detail of the most prominent circumstances : singular
to relate, their accounts differed very materially from each
other in the majority of the particulars ; and Sir WaWs ver-
sion of the matter differed in an equally remarkable degree
from the whole of them !

Now, if it thus appears, that from eye-witnesses of the facts,
(and that, too, immediately after the occurrence) we find it
impossible to obtain more than a very brief and imperfect ac-
count-what degree of accuracy and minuteness can we
expect from a recital of those events which have taken place
in distant countries, at remote periods: and frequently on no
more foundation than mere hearsay ? Yet such is the material
of which a great part of history, both ancient and modern, is
composed. It therefore behoves us to be extremely on our
guard, in the study of history, and not to take for granted,
whatever may be set down ; we must make every page of his-
tory a lesson whereon to exercise our judgmeni in determining
what to accept and what to reject.

If we may be allowed to regard history in the light of a
science, and compare it with the physical sciences, we shall
discover a remarkable difference between the former and ttie
latter The physical sciences are made up of never-ceasing
facts, which can always be appealed to, and of which expen-
ment can be made at any time ; aud these Q^ycv.m

Repeated and re-repeated, until we arrive at satisfactory evi-
ddnoe of the truth; but with respect to history — the facts
have passed away, leaving no vestige behind, and can never
be recalled. Again — the facts of science can be brought into
material relation with the senses ; but the facts of history can
only be seized by the imagination, and retained by the memory.
Thus, we perceive that there is an important distinction
between the evidence which is presented by the facts of physi-
cal science, and the evidence which is presented by the records
of past events ; in physical science it amounts to a certainty
— in historical records, it only amounts to certain degrees of
probability.

In estimating the truthfulness of history, and the degree of
reliance we may rationally place on its details, there are two
farther considerations which must also be particularly attended
to ; In the first place, we must enquire, are the facts recorded
consistent with the nature of things ? Are they in accordance
with the lex naturce ? Are they within the sphere of possibi-
lity ? Secondly, were those individuals (who have taken upon
themselves the duties of historians) intellectually qualified for
their tasks ? Had they the means of gaining the necessary
information ? Were they men of integrity, and free from pre-
judice ? The facts and events related, although very possible,
— are they, at the same time, very probable ? We cannot read
history with much advantage, unless we take all these points
into careful consideration. The application of the foregoing
remarks are, of course, strictly confined to the records of pro-
fane or secular history.

How much soever history may present us with heroes in all
respects fitted to '* adorn a tale," it will have failed in its most
important object, if it do not also present, in the most promi-
nent manner, heroes who are qualified *' to point a moral." —
We are not satisfied with knowing the history of kings and
warriors — legions and cohorts — we desire to have the history
of the employments and enjoyments of all classes of men, from
the King to the beggar ; and in our eager pursuit of knowledge
we may be all allowed to ask — What is the difi^erence between

actory evi- ]
—the facts
can never
•ought into
listory can
le memory,
distinction
s of physi-
the records
, certainty
degrees of

3 degree of
e are two
y attended
<s recorded
iccordance
of possibi-
;aken upon
lalified for
necessary
from pre-
y possible,
annot read
lese points
foregoing
rds of pro-
roes in all
in its most
ost promi-
moral." —
kings and
he history
men, from
knowledge
le between

'33

and origin of this evi , -f * °\»™ ' ,;, „„» indeed, the

suggest to said histonan that "' ^'^ "^i i,e to write

only) method of traeing thie evil to its sowce, will

„ Jly minute and eareful histo^ ome^Uve. o^^^^^^^^^

raoters which constitute the two extremes ol on.

namely: the Mng and the -^-^-X^;^^^^

.as heen f.,«ently -^-^^e: t^:r:^U ^

r^e z rp":;:^ttrr.. wm .a. t„ the write, of

history to decide. ., ^ -n v^ ;„

uL to apply the remedy-by remo^g the cause. We

heartUy wish them both-God speed 1

The books, whose names are hereto appended, «" ""
Jstndent i the mysteries and attractions of this highly in-
teresting and important snbject :-

i ^^l^Trct^^'orio'^^^o^'^^' a lecture by

^TBunsen's Outlines of the Philosophy of Univeral History

applied to Laaguage ™* ?«^;^1";„_ jn » course of Lectures.

\ ed~t'e?^^°S"= dela phUosophie de

I'histoire.

END OF PART I.

VriLL C0MPEI8B THE FOLLOWINO SECTIONS:

1. Biography.

2. Heraldry and Genealogy.

3. Voyages and Travels.

4. Natural Philosophy and Chemistry.
6. Mathematics.

6. Natural History.

7. Geology, Mineralogy, and PaleBontology.

8. Anthropology and Zoology.

9. Botany, Agriculture, and Horticulture.

10. Medical Sciences.

11. Fine Arts and Architecture.

12. Useful Arts and Manufactures.

13. Philology, Criticism, and Rhetoric.

14. Classics, Poetry, and the Drama.

15. Bibliography.

'^-C ' //

^ ^-^

.. ^''

^9m