monthly journal, and a collection of memoirs, which are distributed gratuitously to the Titular and Honorary members. Prizes, of gold, silver and bronze medals are distributed annually to authors of works entitled to dis

tinction, which are printed at the expense of the Society.

7. THE ATHENÆum of ForeignERS. Formed for the prosecution of every branch of science and literature, and in every language.

8. THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Established in [1827, to promote the improvement of kitchen and pleasure gardens, the cultivation of fruit trees, plants and vegetables, destined for food, roots susceptible of employment in the arts, etc. It publishes a monthly journal, distributed gratis to members. The annual subscription of members is 30 francs.

9. THE GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY. This consists of an indefinite number of members, who pay 25 francs entry, and an annual subscription of 36 francs. It publishes monthly, a Geographical bulletin, gratis to members; and a collection of memoirs, which they may procure at half-price, all aiming at the promotion of Geographical Knowledge.

10. THE NATIONAL EDUCATION SOCIETY. This Society is engaged in the perfecting 'every branch of instruction, and meditates a complete system of national public education. To this end it has established an "orthomathique" school. Members pay 25 francs per annum, and receive gratis, a bulletin and journal of education,

11. THE ASIATIC SOCIETY; for the encouragement of the Asiatic languages. The mininum subscription of members is 30 francs, which entitles them to a copy of the "Journal Asiatique," published every month, and to the privilege of purchasing, at cost price, the works printed by the Society,

12. THE SOCIETY FOR THE FORMATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN FRANCE. Subscription of members 25 francs per annum, and entitles the subscriber to receive the monthly publications of the Society.

13. THE ROYAL ACADEMICAL SOCIETY OF SCIENCES. Devoted to the improvement of the Sciences, Arts and Literature, and embraces many of the most distinguished literati of France.

14. THE SOCIETY OF BELLES LETTRES.

15. THE SOCIETY OF THE INSTITUTION, &c. &c.

CONCLUSION.

Our object in presenting these sketches of European Societies, has been to show how much talent and philanthropic enterprise are employed abroad, in associated efforts to advance the interests of literature, science, and the arts; and to diffuse among all classes of the community, select publications, adapted to the popular taste, and calculated to promote the highest welfare of men.

If in England, such Societies have been found desirable, and such results have attended their labours, surely similar ones may exert a most valuable influence, in a country like ours, where intelligence and virtue are acknowledged, by common consent, to be the only pillars of all that is valuable in our Institutions.

The already protracted length of this pamphlet, precludes any further notice of foreign Societies, or the insertion of Statistics relative to the progress of the Press in our own and other countries. Suffice it to say, that the annual issues of the English Press, average about twelve hundred volumes : those of the French and German, five thousand each. In ten years to come, estimating from the increase during ten years past, there will be issued in England, France, and Germany, more than one hundred and fifty thousand new books.

There are more than eighty periodicals in Great Britain, devoted to all the various departments of useful human knowledge. Many of them are conducted with great ability. The number also in France and Germany very considerahle.

is

From all these foreign resources, as well as from the increasing productions of American talent, the Committee hope to bring together, and to issue in the most attractive and substantial manner, whatever may subserve the best interests of society, in its social, intellectual, and moral relations.

The details of the proposed plan of operations, are necessarily left, to be determined, as the enterprise proceeds. The course pursued by the Societies which have been described, suggests many things, which may properly engage the attention of this.

The American Society, being now duly organized, propose to commence their operations in the following manner:

They are making arrangements for immediately commencing the publication of a District School Library for the United States, to consist ultimately of from 50 to 100 Volumes of instructive works on various subjects, calculated to interest and benefit the young, which they hope to introduce extensively into the District Schools of our country. They are also now making arrangements with Authors, in different parts of the

United States, for the preparation of various works, and especially for proposing plans of works adapted to the purposes of the Society.

A Library for Mechanics, another for Farmers, one for Seamen, one for Children, &c. &c. will engage attention so soon as they can be advantageously commenced. Some of the proposed works, it is intended to carry through the press as speedily as they can be prepared.

It is expected also that the Secretary will proceed to Europe, to obtain in England and France such facilities as can be commanded there, for the efficient prosecution of the objects in view. He will confer extensively with authors, publishers, and publishing institutions, purchase books, and make such inquiries in respect to stereotype plates, cuts, engravings and artists, as shall enable the Society to avail itself of all the advantages which can be derived from that quarter, in carrying forward its designs.

It is expected that in the ensuing autumn, the Society will be prepared, after having received the Report of the Secretary, and examined such works and plans of works as shall be laid before them during the summer, to exhibit to the community a somewhat extended outline of their proposed operations. In the interim, they ask the co-operation of the friends of the Society, in raising a few thousand dollars to sustain these preliminary movements, and enable the Committee to carry on efficiently those parts of the plan which require immediate action.

The Executive Committee respectfully invite your attention to this subject, and solicit your aid and co-operation in the great work proposed. They believe that the magnitude and importance of this undertaking justify the expectation that an enlightened and benevolent community will cheerfully furnish the necessary funds to prosecute the enterprise.

The Committee earnestly solicit your consideration of the subject, and will gladly receive from you such aid as you may be willing to render. By order of the Executive Committee.

JAMES BROWN, Chairman.

GORHAM D. ABBOTT, Secretary.

TIMOTHY R. GREEN, Secretary.

APPENDIX.

THE CIRCULAR.

The following is a copy of the Circular Letter addressed to gentlemen in different parts of the country, by the Committee appointed to draw up a constitution for an American Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.*

"SIR:

A meeting of citizens has recently been held in this city, for the purpose of considering the present condition of the American Press; the prospects of our country, as likely to be affected by its influence; and the practicability and expediency of establishing a National Institution, on an extended scale, for the Diffusion of Knowledge, in connexion with pure and salutary principles, similar in its structure and design to European Societies for the same purpose. A Committee was appointed at that meeting to draft a Constitution for such a Society, and to take measures to secure extensively the union and systematic co-operation of wise and good men in every section of our country, in furtherance of the principles and objects it is designed to promote. As that Committee, we take the liberty of addressing you, respectfully inviting your attention to this subject, and your counsel and aid in the great work proposed.

It is universally acknowledged that the press is the most powerful agent now acting on the human mind. - That our country is to be a field where its power will be pre-eminently exerted, is equally clear: the extensive circulation of newspapers, magazines, and other publications of every description, is creating among our population a general habit of reading hitherto unparalleled in the history of nations; and it inevitably follows, that individual and national character will, in a great measure be formed, by the kind of publications which gain the most general circulation among us; and that consequently, the destinies of our country, and its influence on other nations, will very much depend on the direction which may now be given to the press.

The principle adopted by the Committee, is that the Universal Diffusion of Knowledge, imbued with the spirit of Christianity, is indispensable for bringing any people to the full enjoyment of the best civil and social institutions. And that, in a country whose institutions depend for their prosperity and stability, not on the arm of power, but solely on the elevating and conservative influence of a pure, enlightened, and well regulated public mind, where the VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS SUPREME LAW, the importance of diffusing information connected with sound and virtuous principles cannot be overrated. Intelligence and Christian principle constitute the palladium of American liberty.

Among the incidental advantages that may be expected to follow from the labours of this Society, will be the increased attention it will naturally excite towards the cause of Education. Already a deep interest throughout our land, in the subject of Universal Education, based upon the principles of the Bible, has begun to appear, and the importance of a more liberal and expansive provision for the wants of our rising population is imperatively felt. The mass of uncultivated mind rising up among us, of foreign as well as of native origin, indicates the necessity of some more adequate system for the mental and moral improvement of the community.

It is known that a large proportion of our juvenile population is coming forward with the rapidity of time, to exercise the rights and perform the duties of American citizens, without any adequate culture either of mind or heart. With multitudes of such character about to exert their influence on the state of society, what can be expected, but

*Note. See Page 8.

that they will fill our cities and villages with crime, and our whole land with the evils and the sorrows attending an ignorant, vicious, and unprincipled population.

In some other countries, less favoured than ours, may be found a far more liberal and generous provision for the instruction of the people, than exists among us, if we take into view the whole extent of our territory and the aggregate of our population; and the Committee feel convinced, that the moral and intellectual condition of the people, even in the most favoured portions of our land, is below the standard which is requisite for the permanent prosperity of our Republican institutions. To extend, therefore, the means of diffusing widely among our people, USEFUL KNOWLEDGE, the Committee cannot but regard as an imperious duty devolving on every good citizen, as a patriot, philanthropist, and Christian."

In view of such considerations, it is proposed to establish a National Institution on the plan developed in the subjoined Constitution, to which the Committee particularly invite your attention. They also solicit your views of the principles it involves; your opinion of the probable reception, by the community at large, of publications to be issued under such sanctions; and of the sympathy and co-operation, both of a literary and pecuniary nature, in your district of country, which such an enterprise may be likely to secure.

REPLIES.

The following extracts are from the replies received by the Committee:

FROM HIS EXCELLENCY Gov. VRoom, Somerville, N. J.

I have long thought such an institution was greatly needed; and, if I can judge rightly of the moral tendency of those agents which are now operating most strongly in the formation of character in our country, I should say, there is no time to be lost. The influence of the press is becoming very powerful,- especially the periodical press. And we cannot but be sensible, that in too many instances, it is prostituted to the basest purposes. Periodical productions, whether they be books, magazines, or newspapers, which circulate most extensively among the least informed classes of society, will necessarily accomplish much for good or for evil. And it is much to be lamented, that among them, there are so many of a decidedly irreligious and immoral character. These are read by the young, the inexperienced, and the ignorant. They almost strip vice of its deformity and crime of guilt. Skepticism and infidelity are encouraged, if not openly inculcated, and every ligament of moral principle unloosed.

How shall this crying evil be met? The press must not be muzzled. Freedom of thought and speech, and the liberty of the press are among our most sacred inheritances, and they cannot be abridged. I see no other way, than for truth and virtue and religion to make use of the same mighty engine, and to wield it with all the energy and force they can command. The antidote must quickly follow, if it do not accompany or precede the poison. The friends of order must act in concert, and under a deep sense of the responsibilities that rest upon them.

I rejoice that action has commenced on this important subject, and upon a scale so broad and liberal, as to invite the co-operation of all good men. I will not entertain a doubt of its success; for I think there is enough of soundness and intelligence in public sentiment to sustain it, and sustain it well.

How the objects of the Association may be most effectually promoted and attained, is a matter on which there may be an honest difference of opinion. Without going into detail, I would give it as my judgement, that the press should be made subservient to the best interests of all ranks in society, as far as practicable. A purifying process is needed throughout. There is too much corruption in the popular literature of the day, even of the higher order. A pure standard should be raised, and every effort should be made to render it attractive. În literature of a lower grade, there is much to condemn, and something to approve. What is good should be cherished, and strong efforts should be made through the medium of very cheap, popular, and well executed publications, to counteract what is bad, and reform public taste and sentiment.

Whatever form or shape the publications are made to assume, I deem it indispensable, that they should all rest on the broad basis of the Bible. Among a Christian people, no system of education or instruction should be countenanced, that is not founded on the great principles of the Christian religion. They are essential to the preservation of morality, order and good government. Civil liberty has no security without them.