to their consideration, the propriety of a chymical analysis of that essential article of life, whenever any doubt can reasonably be entertained of its salubrity; and to stimulate their minds, by the contemplation of the pleasure which they may derive, from carrying increased comfort into the mansions of the cottager, and exercising the divine attribute of giving health to their fellow creatures. November 2, 1807. No. CXLI. Extract from an Account of a Parish Library, at Hunmanby, Yorkshire. I FRANCIS WRANGHAM. By the Rev. HAVE lately founded a small parish library, which I keep in my vestry, consisting of the twelve volumes of the Christian Society's Tracts, the Cheap Repository Tracts, the Cottage Library, two volumes, the Pilgrim's Progress, Gilpin's Lives of Truman and Atkins, Doddridge's Gardiner, Susan Gray, Lucy Franklin, &c. &c. under an idea that the lower classes delight more in concretes than in abstracts; or (in other words) that sermons are less read than tales. It would be important to ascertain what other volumes may have been found useful and popular in similar institutions. My present collection is already nearly all in circulation. The schoolmaster attends on Sundays for half an hour prior to the beginning of the morning ser vice, to receive and give out such books as are returned, or required; and fifteen or twenty volumes are usually exchanged or issued upon these occasions. The masters of families read them to their children, &c. in the evenings; and thus a few visitors are perhaps detained from the ale-house. OBSERVATIONS. Instead of offering to the reader any observations of my own, on Mr. Wrangham's useful and exemplary plan of a Parish Library, I shall submit to his perusal some remarks on this subject, extracted, with very little variation, from a volume of sermons* recently published. "A little money (says our author) may be usefully laid out in well chosen books for lending to the poor. The poor have leisure hours, and some of them love reading; but they cannot purchase books, and may fall on * Sermons of Samuel Charters, D. D. minister of Wilton, printed for Rivingtons, &c. change h bo improper ones. By being properly supplied, fif they escape the temptation to idleness, and vain thoughts, and foolish talking; their minds are improved, and conversation furnished. A minister of religion can in this way bring home the ministry of advice, and reproof, and comfort. master en, & rs are "Parish libraries would be an useful institution. Reading forms the mind. The influence of books at the Reformation was mighty, and is at all times great. In the dawn of knowledge, it was an object with Leighton, and others, to supply the clergy with books. By private and circulating libraries, the middle ranks are now supplied; by a Parish Library, knowledge would descend. Under a minister's direction, poisonous books would be excluded, and good ones chosen, suited to young, the thoughtless, the busy, the sick, the mourner, the melancholy, the aged. An appetite for controversy will subside when better food is provided. the "The expense of such a plan, if properly vice, to receive and give out such books as are returned, or required; and fifteen or twenty volumes are usually exchanged or issued upon these occasions. The masters of families read them to their children, &c. in the evenings; and thus a few visitors are perhaps detained from the ale-house. OBSERVATIONS. Instead of offering to the reader any observations of my own, on Mr. Wrangham's useful and exemplary plan of a Parish Library, I shall submit to his perusal some remarks on this subject, extracted, with very little variation, from a volume of sermons* recently published. "A little money (says our author) may be usefully laid out in well chosen books for lending to the poor. The poor have leisure hours, and some of them love reading; but they cannot purchase books, and may fall on *Sermons of Samuel Charters, D. D. minister of Wilton, printed for Rivingtons, &c. |