as they, or at least be on a general footing of equality with them; and if those who are about us are not of literary habits, it will then also behove us to read, in order that we may know more than they, and secure the advantages, the fair and honorable advantages, which superior knowledge will confer. Books fit a young man for the company of his seniors, and they make an old man doubly instructive to his juniors. They assist a person in his profession or trade; for though a mere theorist cannot stand in competition with a practical workman, yet one who joins study and practice judiciously together, will most usually far surpass one who depends alone on his own invention and experience. And if he should extend his reading beyond the confines of his particular calling, he will probably find it for his interest to do so, inasmuch as it will strengthen his capacity, enlarge his views, and qualify him for a general intercourse with society, and a reputable standing in it. Eminence in any profession or branch of knowledge, however, is, without doubt, only to be attained by an almost exclusive devotion to that profession or branch of knowledge, in all the ways of reading, thinking, and actual practice. A man can become a thorough master, we presume, on no other terms, than by acquainting himself with all that is already known and published on his subject, and by determining to find out all that there is to be known. The first he must accomplish by reading, and the second by reflection and experiment; and though books cannot take the place and answer instead of experiment, yet they are often useful in teaching us, by hints and principles and precedents, how to conduct experiment. Books will furthermore give us a considerable insight into human character, and join with experience in teaching us a knowledge of the world. There is a common notion, that books cannot impart this kind of knowledge, and that a student must necessarily be unacquainted with the varieties of character, or, at any rate, unable to discern them in real life. As applied to students of very recluse habits, and to those men of very simple minds, who whether students or not, would always be liable to deception in the thronged world, this notion is correct; but to any greater extent we believe it to be wholly false. We believe that a person who knows books, will know men sooner and more thoroughly, on mixing with them, than one who has had no such preparation; because we believe, and indeed know, that there are many books in which men are painted to the life; and to tell us that we do not learn something of mankind from such books, is the same thing as telling us that we have learnt nothing of a face, after we have been examining a portrait of it by the hand of a master. There are many particulars of deportment in our intercourse with society, many pleasant graces, and many minute but useful items of behaviour, which, it is granted, books cannot teach. Nor can they teach human character and the world, in hardly any respect, so thoroughly, alone, as in connection with experience. But it is altogether idle to say, that books can furnish not a drop of that knowledge of character and knowledge of the world, of which so many of them are confessedly full to the brim. There is, however, a certain kind of knowledge of the world; a practical acquaintance with low characters, low tricks, and low vices, scenes of excess, and haunts of profligacy, which books, unless they are of the vilest description, do not pretend to teach. But although this is a kind of knowledge, on which some have the effrontery and folly to plume themselves, the acquisition of it can only be the object of a most pitiable ambition. It almost inevitably degrades the mind and sensualizes the heart. It is a knowledge of the world, in short which makes those, who are adepts in it, worldly and criminal; a knowledge, which every wise man, instead of coveting, will most heartily eschew-evincing his wisdom by choosing to remain in ignorance. This kind of knowledge excepted, then, a knowledge of the world is certainly to be obtained from reading. We do not say that a perfect or intimate knowledge is to be so obtained, but a knowledge of the same sort with that which we obtain of a coast from charts, or of buildings from views, ground-plans, and elevations. These remarks, few as they are, may be sufficient to show the importance of books to the character of society, and their value to individuals in their connections with society; and we have before spoken of their uses in filling up our solitary hours, and increasing domestic happiness. To man by himself, and to man in his family and social relations, they constitute an inestimable treasure, from which may be drawn continual supplies to meet the demands of our nature, and the calls and exigencies of life. CHARITY. THE Soul, whose sight all-quickening grace renews, She speaks of him, her author, guardian, friend, But still a soul thus touched can never cease, Heaven held his hand, the likeness must be true. When one, that holds communion with the skies TO THE URSA MAJOR. WITH what a stately and majestic step Joined the high chorus, from thy radiant orbs Who thus had cast another sparkling gem, The seas have changed their beds-the eternal hills Nor touched the firmness of thy tread; youth, strength, To watch earth's northern beacon, and proclaim I wonder as I gaze. That stream of light, Exhaustless flood! forever spent, renewed |