tomed to contemplate with intelligence the various scenes of nature which pass under their observation, and record them for the information of others-and thus become contributors to science, and benefactors to their species, instead of "increasing," as they often do," the transgressors among men."

XIII. In order to carry into effect the hints suggested in the preceding pages, societies might be formed for the promotion of education, and the general improvement of the social state.

From the operations of Bible and Missionary Associations, it is evident how much may be achieved by the formation of societies for the accomplishment of a specific object. The societies to which I allude, including the Church Missionary, Scottish, Lon. don, Wesleyan, and several others, now raise nearly £300,000 annually. The general object I would propose to accomplish by a new association, is as important as any other which has yet engaged the public attention; for it lies at the foundation of all other philanthropic plans, and they can never be brought into extensive operation till it be accomplished. If all ranks were thoroughly instructed in knowledge and religion, and, consequently, led to appreciate the importance of Christianity, and the necessity of its universal propagation, the funds of our mission. ary institutions, and the energies with which they would be conducted, would be increased tenfold more than they now are, and few individuals would be found altogether indifferent to such noble enterprises. Such an association might be instrumental in calling the attention of the public to the subject-in diffusing information respecting it-in detailing plans for accomplishing the grand object intended-in illustrating the noble and beneficial ef fects which would flow from its accomplishment-and in exciting the more wealthy members of the community to contribute a portion of their substance for carrying forward the requisite arrangements. By such a society, with all the auxiliaries that might be formed throughout a nation, it would scarcely be too much to expect that a million of pounds might annually be procured, which would render society nearly independent of the caprices and partialities of civil rulers, or of the grants of money which governments might either withhold or bestow.

XIV. Before any plan for the improvement of mankind can be brought extensively into effect, the principle of avarice, as it now operates in society, must be counteracted and subdued.

The great object of the majority of mankind appears to be, to acquire as much wealth as possible, not for the purpose of apply. ing it to the service of God and the good of society, but to gratify a selfish principle and an avaricious propensity-to make a

splendid figure in life, to lay up portions for children, or merely to glory in the idea of having hundreds or thousands of guineas or bank-notes deposited in a chest, in the stocks, or other place of security. Every one seems to think that he may use his money just as he pleases, without being responsible to a higher Power; and even many of those who call themselves Christians, are glaringly guilty of that "covetousness which is idolatry," although they are pointedly admonished that "the love of money is the root of all evil," and, consequently, the prevention of much good; and that "it leads into many snares and temptations, and foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." Nothing can be more irrational and degrading than for an immortal being to hoard up treasures which he never applies to any useful purpose, and who only feasts his imagination with the idea that he has them, to a certain amount, in his posses. sion. Yet thousands of such characters exist even in the Christian world. What should we think of the man who took it into his head to lay up, in a large shed or garret, which was carefully locked up from public view, 5000 pair of boots, 10,000 tea-cups, 20,000 coffee-pots, or 30,000 cork-screws, with no other view than to please his fancy, and to tell the world that he had such a number of articles in his possession? We should, doubtless, consider him as an arrant fool, or even as a downright madman. And what is the difference between hoarding thousands of guineas, dollars, or bank-notes, which are never brought forth for the benefit of mankind, and accumulating fifty or a hundred thousand pair of boots, spurs, or knee-buckles? How ridiculous would it appear if all that could be said of a man when he died was, that the great object of his life was to lay up in store 25,000 teakettles, which were never intended for cooking, and 30,000 greatcoats, which were never intended to be worn? Equally foolish and contemptible is it, to lay up thousands of pounds or dollars that are never consecrated to the glory of God or the good of man. I know individuals who are worth £1000 a year, and whose annual expenditure does not amount to above £150; and I know others who are worth ten times that sum, who do not spend above two or three hundreds a year;-yet it is sometimes difficult to obtain from them a guinea, or even a few shillings, for a religious or philanthropic object; and, were you to call in question their Christianity, it would be considered as little short of an insult.*

The late distinguished philanthropist, J. B. Wilson, Esq. of Clapham Common, was once heard to say of one who had been looked up to as a good man and Christian, "He died wickedly rich,"-evidently implying, that he thought such a man's Christianity was extremely doubtful.

It becomes Christian churches and ministers seriously to con sider this subject, if they wish to see the principles of pure Chris. tianity reduced to practice, and worldly maxims undermined, and if they would be instrumental in preparing the way for the universal propagation of the gospel, and the arrival of the predicted Millennium. Were it not for the prevalence of the debasing prin ciple of avarice, we should, ere long, have seminaries of all de. scriptions established among us, for training both the young and the old in knowledge and virtue, and "to glory and immortality" -we should have our towns and cities cleared of every nuisance -our roads and footpaths improved-our deserts turned into fruitful fields-new towns and villages erected on spacious plans -intelligence speedily and cheaply conveyed-the physical aspect of the country beautified and adorned-and the whole frame of society transformed and remodelled, in conformity with the prin ciples of reason and religion. Were I to enter into minute calculations on this subject, it might easily be shown, that the wealth presently possessed by civilized nations, were it properly distributed and applied, would be more than sufficient to introduce every improvement in society, physical, moral, and intellectual, of which the terrestrial state of man is susceptible-to raise the degraded mass of this world's population to intelligence and virtue-to bring into a state of cultivation almost every waste on the face of the globe-to intersect every country with canals and rail-roadsand to transform the whole earth into a paradise, scarcely inferior in beauty to that which appeared at the first creation. And those who expended their superfluous wealth in such noble achievements, so far from having any of their sensitive enjoyments dimin. ished, would enjoy a happiness, both physical and mental, far surpassing any thing which they formerly experienced.

Recapitulation and Conclusion.

In the preceding pages I have endeavoured to illustrate a variety of topics in reference to the education and general improvement of all classes of society-particularly the physical, moral, and intellectual instruction of infants-the advantages which would result from the universal establishment of infant schools-the seminaries which require to be erected for the instruction of youth from the age of six to the age of fifteen years-the plan and arrangement of school-rooms, and the objects and apparatus with which they should be furnished-the principles on which schoolbooks should be constructed-the modes of teaching, by which substantial knowledge and moral principle may be communicated the branches of knowledge which should be taught to ali

classes of the community-the rational and intellectual processes by which a knowledge of them is to be conveyed-the moral and religious instruction of the young-the manner in which Sabbath schools should be conducted, and the qualifications requisite for every teacher in such institutions-the seminaries which require to be established for young persons of both sexes from the age of fifteen to the age of twenty years or upwards-the qualifications requisite for teachers of all descriptions, and the seminaries which ought to be established for their instruction-the practicability of establishing all such institutions-the utility of such improvements in education, in counteracting crime, raising the moral and intellectual character of man, and preparing the way for the ap proach of the millennial era-the principles on which national systems of education should be established-mechanics' institutions, and the improvements of which they are susceptible-with a variety of miscellaneous hints in reference to the diffusion of knowledge and the improvement of general society.

Were such institutions once established throughout every part of our country and of the world at large, thoroughly imbued with the spirit of Christianity, and conducted with activity and zeal-there can be little doubt that they would, ere long, be accompanied with the most interesting and beneficial results. We should soon behold ignorance, foolish prejudices, superstition, enthusiasm, bigotry, and intolerance, with all their accompanying evils, gradually evanishing from the world, as the shades of night before the rising sun. We should behold the human mind aroused from the slumber of ages, exerting its energies on objects worthy of its high dignity and destination, and conducive to the improvement and the happiness of the social state. We should behold science enlarging its boundaries, the useful and ornamental arts carried to perfection, and the universe more fully explored throughout all its departments. For we should then have a thousand experimenters, and a thousand intelligent observers of the phenomena of nature, for one that exists in the present state of intellectual debasement. New and interesting experiments would be instituted, new facts explored, new regions of the universe laid open to view, and a nobleness, a vigour, and a lofty spirit of independence, on every subject of thought, displayed by the human mind. We should behold avarice, pride, ambition, revenge, and other malignant passions, in a great measure extirpated; and a spirit of love, affection, liberality, and harmony, pervading every department of the moral world. We should behold the Christian world approaching to a harmonious union-the spirit of jealousy and dissension laid to rest-the demon of persecution chased out

of the world-the truths of religion and its holy principles recog nised in every department and arrangement in society-the great realities of the eternal world contemplated in their true light, and men of all ranks walking hand-in-hand, as brethen of the same family, to the same glorious and incorruptible inheritance.

In the progress of such institutions-when they shall have been brought into full operation-I behold, in the prospect of future ages, the most important transformations, and the most glorious results, in the improvement both of the intellectual and of the physical world. I behold the surface of the earth, at no distant period, adorned with vegetable and architectural beauties and embellishments-our deserts transformed into fruitful fields-our `marshes drained-our moors and heath-clad mountains adorned with fruitful trees-our gardens producing the fruits of every clime-our highways broad and spacious, accompanied with cleanly footpaths, and at the distance of every half-mile furnished with seats and bowers for the shelter and refreshment of the passing traveller, and every bower furnished with Penny Magazines and other works for the instruction and amusement of every one who has leisure to peruse them—our abominable lanes and closes, the seats of physical and moral pollution, completely demolished and laid open to the light of heaven-our narrow streets expanding into spacious squares, cheered with the solar beams, and with rural prospects, and ventilated with the refreshing breeze-our densely crowded cities almost completely demolished, and new cities arising from their ruins, on noble and expansive plans, corresponding to the expansive state of the human mind.

I behold the climates of the earth meliorated by the hand of genius and industry-by the cutting down of forests, the draining of marshes, the improvement of sandy and rocky wastes, and the universal cultivation of the soil-the thunderbolts of heaven, wielded by the philosophic sage, and the forked lightnings, directed by the hand of art, to play in harmless coruscations in the regions of the clouds.-I behold locomotive engines, steam carriages, and air balloons, brought to perfection, transporting mulitudes of human beings from one city to another, from one nation to another, and from one continent to another, with a degree of velocity which has never yet been attempted.-I behold the savage restored to the dignity of his moral and intellectual nature, no longer roaming the desert wild and uncultivated like the beasts of prey, throwing aside his warlike bows and his battle-axes, directing his faculties to the improvement of his species, and to the most sublime investigations.-I behold men of all nations and kindreds cultivating a harmonious and friendly intercourse ;-the