young friends from placing this book by the side of the Bible when they commence the formation of a library for their own reading. Paley's Natural Theology is not only an admirable specimen of conclusive reasoning, but one of the most entertaining books ever written. It contains a selection of curious and striking facts, as the basis of his arguments, conveyed, not in technical and philosophical, but in plain and popular language. His work on Moral and Political Philosophy is written in the same delightful style. Whitaker's popular edition of this treatise is sold at a surprisingly low rate, considering the amount of matter. In extending your collection of books on serious subjects, you will naturally have recourse to the standard productions of the early English divines. Jeremy Taylor's writings are not less remarkable for their devotional spirit, than the richness and beauty of the style. His Holy Living and Holy Dying are in the hands of almost all serious people. A Life of Christ from his pen has recently been published in a separate form, and bids fair to become equally popular. The all-pervading interest of the subject gives this small volume a strong claim to your notice. The writings of Doctor South and Doctor Barrow are scarcely less celebrated than those of Doctor Taylor. The reputation of all these writers is richly deserved. We can never spend an hour in the perusal of their writings without feeling that we have been conversing with great minds, and catching something of that fervor which eloquence in any form is sure to communicate. Among the more recent English divines, the Reverend Sidney Smith is one of the most distinguished. The brilliancy and power displayed in his style are only surpassed by his admirable good sense and genuine piety. We are surprised that no American edition of his sermons has appeared. If once made known here, they would soon pass into general use. Dr. Chalmers is well known to the American public-so well as to render any commendation of ours superfluous. Whatever opinion may be entertained by different portions of the Christian community respecting his particular theological opinions, all unite in commending his fervor, eloquence, and disinterested devotion to the good of mankind. We could go to an indefinite extent in commending excellent works on practical religion to your notice, but we must hasten to the other departments of your library, with only this concluding admonition concerning serious reading, viz. read for the heart more than for the head; and strive to imbibe the spirit of the great divines, (or rather the spirit of true religion) more than to become thoroughly versed in their speculative notions and theories. So wide a field of literature and science is now opened to the general reader, that we are almost at a loss where to begin our choice of books. History certainly claims early attention, not only as supplying materials for conversation, but as furnishing subjects for profitable reflection and study. One should commence this branch of reading with some local history, because it is more interesting, and because the inductive is generally the proper method of study, not only in natural but in civil history. Dr. Ramsay's History of the Revolution, the translation of Botta's History of the War of Independence, Marshall's Life of Washington, or Wirt's Life of Patrick Henry, may serve to com. mence with. Robertson's History of the Discovery and Settlement of America, and of Charles the Fifth, and Washington Irving's histories, are among the most fascinating of all historical compositions. Sir Walter Scott is a delightful author. His novels and historical tales abound with moral truth and just views of life; but his Life of Napoleon is any thing but a sound work of History. His History of Scotland is undoubtedly more to be relied on, and is truly a most delightful and instructive composition. Novels, in general, however, are very unprofitable reading. When exclusively read, they enfeeble the mind and unfit it for serious exertion; just as a continual round of amusement destroys the virtuous energies of our nature. Novels, therefore, should only be resorted to occasionally, as a recreation or relaxation from more profitable and severer study. Most of Scott's novels, and all the works of Miss Edgeworth and Mrs. Opie, may safely be recommended for occasional reading, when one chooses to spend an idle hour on a work of fiction. Miss Edgeworth never loses sight of utility, and if this were made the standard of value, hers would claim the brightest place among writings of this class. Mrs. Opie is a very fascinating writer, always directing her efforts to the advancement of genuine morality and virtue. To return to the subject of history. The following works may be taken up in any order which your inclination may prompt: Rollin's Ancient History, Ferguson's Roman Republic, Gillies's Greece, Frost's History of Greece, Hume's Eng land continued by Smollett and others, Mackintosh's England, and Russell's Modern Europe. The following translations from the Greek and Roman historians are of course ancient authorities : Beloe's Herodotus, Langhorne's Plutarch, Baker's Livy, Murphy's Tacitus, Whiston's Josephus. In the study of ancient history Lempriere's Classical Dictionary will prove an invaluable auxiliary; and the Encyclopædia Americana may be referred to with equal advantage on this, as well as on innumerable other topics of useful knowledge. The histories of England, France, and the Netherlands, you will find treated by deservedly popular writers in the Cabinet Cyclopædia; and you can obtain any of these histories separately. When you have carefully perused the histories of several different countries, it would by all means be advisable to take up some general his. tory of the world, in order to see how the different periods, events, and countries stand related to each other; and to take a sort of bird's eye view of the whole. For this purpose a recent publication, entitled, "The Outlines of Universal History," may be recommended with the utmost confidence. It is written with great ability and impartiality; and comprises more information in a moderate sized duodecimo, than we have ever seen condensed within the same narrow compass. It is a sort of grammar of history, which, used as a book of reference, will serve as a guide through your whole course of historical reading, and will furnish a retrospective review at the end. Natural history, and a view of the manners and customs of nations, will claim some of your attention. Buffon's Natural History is a work of deservedly popular character from its fascinating style, and its numerous embellishments. Dr. Godman's Natural History possesses an additional interest from the circumstance that the materials are drawn from original sources in our country. own You will require some standard work on the subject of Natural Philosophy, to refresh your recollection of what you may have learned at school, or to serve as a guide while you are attending a course of lectures. Arnott's Physics will answer this purpose admirably, as it accomplishes the difficult problem of treating a scientific subject in a popular style. Chemistry will claim some attention, as every well-informed person is expected to know something of this science, which is not less pleasing as a subject of study than useful in the ordinary pursuits of life. Conversations on Chemistry is an excellent popular treatise on this subject, especially for beginners; as it anticipates the usual objections, and removes the difficulties which naturally present themselves to the mind of the learner. You will think that it is high time for us to recommend some works of poetry and eloquence. But we have thought proper to place the useful before the fanciful-the scientific before the imaginative. Cowper is certainly the poet whose works we should first place in the hands of a young man; then Milton, Scott, Wordsworth, Southey, Coleridge, Campbell, Rogers, Montgomery, Beattie, and Thomson; Mrs. Hemans, Kirk White, and Joanna Baillie. Scott's poetry you will read, we think, with unmingled pleasure, and Cowper's with continual improvement in all that warms and ennobles the heart. The others are |