before them this great object-the improvement of their minds. Thus it is that, while they may read much, they are like those individuals who have a keen appetite, but a bad digestion. They consume far more food than the strong and the healthy, but they receive far less nourishment from it. They remain, consequently, weak and emaciated on much, while the man of sound constitution grows vigorous on little. Food nourishes the blood, and the blood flowing through the system, imparts vigour to it. So the proper perusal of suitable books nourishes and invigorates the mind.

Books, whether in prose or poetry, whether in history or fiction, which enunciate immoral principles, and have a tendency to lead into immoral practices, which contribute to pollute the imagination and inflame the passions, and, consequently, enervate the higher powers of the mind, ought to be undeviatingly repudiated.

No doubt a book may be read to improve our style of composition, or for mental excitement, or, as a temporary relief from severe engagements; but then information ought ever to be the object that is mainly sought.

A danger arises from reading too many books, and Mr. Locke strongly expresses his disapproval of the practice in the following passage:-"I do not say this to undervalue the light we receive from others, or to think there are not those who assist us mightily in our endeavours after knowledge; perhaps without books we should be ignorant as the Indians, whose minds are as ill-clad as their bodies. But I think it is an idle and useless thing to make it one's business to study what have been other men's sentiments in things where reason is only to be judge on purpose to be furnished with them, and to be able to cite them on all occasions. However it be esteemed a great part of learning, yet to a man who considers how little time he has, and how much to do, how many things he is to learn, how many doubts to clear in religion, how many rules to establish to himself in morality, how much pains to be taken with himself to master his unruly desires and passions, how to provide himself against a

thousand cares and accidents that will happen, and an infinite deal more both in his general and particular calling; I say to a man that considers this well, it will not seem much his business, to acquaint himself designedly with the various conceits of men that are to be found in books even upon subjects of moment."

In his dissertation on study, he makes these observations on historical research,-" Antiquity and history deserve consideration as far as they are designed only to furnish us with story and talk. For the stories of Alexander and Cæsar, no further than they instruct us in the art of living well, and furnish us with observations of wisdom and prudence, are not one jot to be preferred to the History of Robin Hood, or the Seven Wise Masters. I do not deny but history is very useful, and very instructive of human life; but if it be studied only for the reputation of being an historian, it is a very empty thing; and he that can tell all the particulars of Herodotus and Plutarch, Curtius and Livy, without making any other use of them, may be an ignorant man with a good memory, and with all his pains hath only filled his head with Christmas tales. And which is worse, the greatest part of history being made up of wars and conquests, and their style, especially the Romans, speaking of valour as the chief, if not the only virtue, we are in danger to be misled by the general current and business of history; and, looking on Alexander and Cæsar, and such-like heroes, as the highest instances of human greatness, because they caused the death of several hundred thousand men, and the ruin of a much greater number,-overran a great part of the earth and killed the inhabitants to possess themselves of their countries, we are apt to make butchery and rapine the chief marks of the very essence of human greatness. And if civil history be, a great deal of it, and to many readers, thus useless, curious and difficult inquirings in antiquity are much more so; as the exact dimensions of the Colossus, or figure of the Capitol, the ceremonies of the Greek and Roman marriages, or who it was that first coined money,-these, I confess, set a man well off in the world, especially amongst the learned, but set him very little on his way."

IMAGINATIVE LITERATURE.

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"With the reading of history I think the study of morality should be conjoined-I mean not the ethics of the schools fitted to dispute; but such as Tully in his 'Offices,' Puffendorf ' De Officio Hominis et Civis, De Jura Naturali et Gentium,' and above all, what the New Testament teaches, what is the business of ethics, and not how to define and dispute about the names of virtues and vices." It may be that there are but few books from which something important may not be gleaned; yet from the haste which extensive reading requires, and the confusion of mind it is apt to produce, it will be found in the end, that he who has read. a few well, has acquired more knowledge than he who has hurried through a multitude. It should be matter of constant care, then, to select a few substantial books on the subject on which information is desired-books whose excellence has been ascertained and accredited by previous competent inquiries. In making the selection, the influence of political party or religious sect ought not to be allowed to deter from acknowledged standard works.

Books of fiction may not be wholly repudiated, else the Parables in the Old Testament, the Drama of Job, and the Canticles of Solomon, and the Parables of Him who is "the light of the world," and some of the noblest efforts of human genius;— as the truthful, endlessly varied, and inimitable creations of Shakespeare the pure and majestic revealings of Milton,-and the exhaustlessly suggestive allegory of the unrivalled Dreamer, -would have to be excluded. Yet the inferior works of this class should not be entertained; because, in addition to the usual mischievous results that arise from reading many works of fiction, the time devoted to them might be much more profitably employed. The habit of reading these productions dissipates and weakens the mind, and unfits it for severe study. It will not improve the matter much that the work of fiction is professedly religious. No doubt, a religious spirit may be infused into a work of fiction, or an allegory,-as in the " Pilgrim's Progress." But, in general, the fiction thus associated, " will be unbearably dull, and the religion will be indecently gay." The truths of history are better-more healthful and invigorating than the creations

of fiction. And if phenomena, new and marvellous, are desiderated to excite and recreate without moral detriment, then the limitless and gorgeous architecture of the heavens-the sumless creatures in a drop of water-the delicate and amazing processes of the chemist-the enchanting fields of the botanist-the explorations and discoveries of the geologist-the dissections and descriptions of the anatomist, exhibit an indescribable profusion.

In reading, if the book be our own, it may be proper to employ certain pencil marks on the margin, designed to indicate certain views of what the part contains, and its claim, for some important reason, to future consideration. Then we should review what is read, and classify the important matters that have been found in a book. An index of things arranged on some fixed principle, will be found of very great service. By this means any subject that may have been formerly considered, may be readily revised, when it is required. When a fitting opportunity occurs, the leading and more striking points in a book may be made the subject of conversation with a well-informed friend. This will rivet them upon the mind more deeply, and may elicit fresh trains of thought. But all affectation of much learning must be sedulously avoided.

It is not, however, the large amount that is read that will insure profit. The book read should be a standard work in the department to which it belongs; if it be not, then, to a great extent, it is a perversion of your faculties, and a waste of time to examine it. But if the book be useful, then the reading of it will induce you to think. This is the main thing. Superior works bring you into contact with great minds, and call to reflection, patience, and effort. You must revolve the subjects brought under review, methodise them and search into the meaning of every portion as you go on, and appropriate the ideas evolved and the instruction given. In the acquisition of knowledge an extensive collection of books is not necessary. A wise selection is the principal thing to which attention should be given. It is the proper use of the books read that improves and furnishes the mind.

The person who has a few choice books in any branch of human inquiry-reads them with care and reflection--thinks much on the topics therein presented, and has mastered, though but one of them-is better fitted for intellectual effort and achievement than another who has carelessly read many books. A celebrated French philosopher, when twitted on a certain occasion on the smallness of his library, said, “when I want a book I make it"-by which he meant that he meditated much and deeply on important subjects that conversation or inquiry might present or suggest. Now, all may not be able to make a book after this fashion, and supply any want of the kind that might occur-but we can devote ourselves to frequent and thorough meditation. We should always give more time to close reflection than to reading. Observation attests that universal book-readers are generally shallow, sluggish, and unproductive thinkers. A really thoughtful and useful book should be read again and again. Indeed, a book is not worth reading at all that will not amply repay frequent perusal. The celebrated Robert Hall read "Edwards on the Will" frequently-for a long time, once a year-as a stimulus to his intellect and his reasoning powers; and certainly he could not have gotten a more influential one for the purpose. President Porter is said to have done the same thing, especially in the early period of his life. Most literary men have some favourite book that they frequently read. Gibbon was accustomed from his youth to read, once a year, “Pascal's Provincial Letters," which are replete with original thought, strong reasoning, quiet but overwhelming ridicule, and perfect taste.

In the science of mind, in all its relations and bearings, there may not be much exact truth discovered. But the observation of its general laws, and the examination of its various and varying phenomena, afford the best field for the practice of close induction and logical ratiocination. Nor is the exercise without much refined pleasure to an inquirer who can appreciate such works. An hour now and then on Reid or Smith, Stewart or Brown, Hamilton, or Abercrombie, cannot fail to invigorate and delight. The study of such works tends to emancipate the mind

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