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ness of man, and devotedness to God. After he was 45 years of age, during the short period of sixteen or seventeen years, at an expense to himself of thirty thousand pounds, he travelled between fifty and sixty thousand miles, for the sole purpose of relieving the distresses of the most wretched of the human race!!"

THE HISTORY OF LYNN. BY ALONZO LEWIS. Boston: J. H. Eastburn, pp. 260.

There is no shade, or there need be none, over the history of our Republic. Americans can trace back their pedigree-and it is a proud one-to Christian heroes, self-exiled for their liberties and religion. Of all nations we should be careful to search out the record of the past, and industriously collect materials which the future historians of our country may employ when the fabric of our national character shall be more firmly established, and the tendencies of those great and singular events which have thus far marked our progress, shall be more fully developed. The industry and talent thus employed will be appreciated, when many an idle lay that now floats on the wings of our newspapers as "beautiful” and “ sublime” and “sweet" effusions, the productions of " talented"--and “gifted”--and "promising" young bards, will be no more found than the dust of Nebuchadnezzar's image. Such have been our impressions while looking over this neat volume; and we hope the example of Mr. Lewis will be followed, and the histories of our towns be generally preserved. The knowledge of our own country, next to the knowledge of God, should be the first lesson of American children; and the thorough understanding of the manner in which their own town had been settled and governed and improved would be an excellent method of preparing the minds of children to comprehend the history and government of the whole Union. The familiarity of names and places, greatly assists the minds of children, and moreover awakens an interest which imprints the facts on their memory, as being connected with their own home. For the people of Lynn, this work must possess deep interest, as the record of two hundred years, and probably containing the names, at least, of most of the families in that town. It is very handsomely executed with several plates and a beautifully lithographed map, surveyed and drawn by the author of the book, who certainly deserves much praise, but the best we can give is an extract from the introduction, as a specimen of its pure style, and the lofty and generous feelings which the writer cherishes himself and would awaken in the hearts of his readers.

"Among the pleasures of the mind, there are a few which afford more analloyed gratification, than that which arises from the remembrance of the loved and familiar objects of home, combined, as they always are, with the memory of the innocent delights of our childhood. This is one of the few pleasures of which the heart cannot be deprived-which the darkest shades of misfortune serve to bring out into a fuller relief-and which the uninterrupted passage of the current of time tends only to polish and to brighten. When wearied with the tumult of the world, and sick of the anxieties and sorrows of life, the thoughts may return with delight to the pleasures of childhood, and banquet unsated on the recollections of youth. Who does not remember the companions of his early years-and the mother who watched over his dangers-and the father who counselled him-and the master who instructed him and the sister whose sweet voice reproved his wildness? Who does not remember the tree under which he played-and the house in which he lived-and

even the moonbeam which slept upon his bed? Who has not returned, in sunlight and in sleep, to the scenes of his earliest and purest joys, and to the green and humble mounds where his sorrows have gone forth over the loved and the lost who were dear to his soul? And who does not love to indulge these remembrances, though they bring swelling tides to his heart and tears to his eyes? And whose ideas are so limited that he does not extend his thoughts to the days and the dwellings of his ancestors, until he seems to become a portion of the mountain and the stream, and to prolong his existence through the centuries which are passed ?"

BLAKE'S GEOGRAPHY FOR CHILDREN. With eight Copperplate Maps and thirty Wood Cuts. Boston: Richardson, Lord & Holbrook, pp. 64. For simplicity of plan and perspicuity of arrangement, this little work may safely challenge a comparison with any Geography yet offered for the younger classes of our schools. The execution of the maps, in particular, deserves to be commended, and the excellence of the work, combined with its cheapness, will we have no doubt give it, as it deserves, a wide circulation. Its respected author has labored ardently in the cause of education, and such efforts should be rewarded.

JUVENILE LYRE OR HYMNS AND SONGS, RELIGIOUS, MORAL, AND CHEERFUL, SET TO APPROPRIATE MUSIC. For the use of Primary and Common Schools. Boston: Richardson, Lord & Ilolbrook. Hartford: H. & F. J. Huntington, pp. 72.

If it be found judicious to introduce singing as a branch of elementary education, which we are inclined to believe will be done, this pure and beautiful collection of songs for little children must be appreciated.

SCIENTIFIC TRACTS.

The fifth number of this useful work is on" Animal Mechanism-the EYE." By Dr. J. V. C. Smith. The Essay is illustrated by a number of well-executed wood engravings; and by the perspicuous manner of the writer, as well as the importance of the subject, is rendered highly interesting.

The LIBRARY OF ENTERTAINING KNOWLEDGE, Vol. VI. Part 1, is on INSFCT TRANSFORMATIONS. The number is embellished with numerous engravings. The usefulness of this work is securing, as it deserves, an extended patronage.

The NATURALIST, edited by Daniel Jay Brown, a periodical lately established in Boston, and devoted, as its title imports, to the science of Natural History, pro. mises to be a publication of much interest and worth. It is the object of the editor "to select the most useful and in eresting topics of Natural History, to express them in a manner adapted to the capacity of the general class of readers for whom the work was designed, to illustrate the subjects by appropriate lithographic representations, and to do for the whole all that is possible to render the work useful and entertaining." Such is the plan, and we doubt not it will be deserving of public encouragement.

The "List of New Publications," and several other articles, were omitted for lack of room.

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THE necessity for female education is imperious, and, were we to designate the most certain sign that the world is actually improving, we should unhesitatingly refer to the efforts now making to instruct equally both sexes. We repeat, there is a necessity for female education; for, till women are permitted to become rational, men will continue fools. We use the term in the scriptural sense, meaning ignorant, weak, wicked, unstable, perverse. That the mass of men are thus foolish, that they have not understood their own nature, nor the true method of improving their faculties, and securing their best interests, is certain. The history of the world is that of error, wickedness and misery. Yet there are, in human nature, high capacities for goodness and happiness; and even in this life, the means of exquisite felicity, social and intellectual, are within human attainment, but always connected with purity, and goodness, and knowledge; this we think will hardly be disputed by any one who is intelligent and virtuous.

How then must education be conducted, in order to make men wise to discern their true interests, and inflexible to secure their best enjoyments? The answer is obvious—it must be managed by those who are themselves instructed in the worth of the objects sought, and in the way by which only they can

VOL. IV.NO. IV.

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be obtained. It is not enough that woman understands the domestic department,-for if that be her chief knowledge, she will certainly pamper the physical, and neglect the moral and mental capacities of those with whom she is connected.

this exciting the animal appetites of the young, and instilling, as it were, into the very heart's core, the love of self and sensuality, which keeps the world degradingly ignorant, and subjected to the dominion of violent passions. And this early initiation into vice, (every inordinate predominance of the appetites is vice in rational beings,) is the work of mothers-affectionate mothers, who love their little ones as their own souls, and only administer the poison because they are themselves unconscious of its deadly effects. They have sinned through ignorance, which has been their misfortune rather than fault; but the consequences have been not the less terrible. This is not overrating the importance of the female influence on education. Woman has the sole control of mind at its formation. Every human being is committed to her superintending care, at the age when the impressions that decide the individual bias are given; and it must be through ignorance of her duties, rather than the neglect of her office, that bad habits, wrong principles, and false conclusions have so universally prevailed, and incited men to the pursuit of folly and wickedness, in the hope of obtaining happiness. There is no way to remedy these evils, but by giving to females an education which shall make them aware of their influence, and its effects. The more they feel the importance of their station, as the "helpmate" of man, the more assiduous, as well as capable, they will become of discharging their duties. They will understand their responsibleness, as well as their privileges. Nature has provided a barrier against the abuse of the almost omnipotent influence of woman-even when she shall know,what she does not now, her moral and intellectual power. Her love is stronger than her ambition. There is no danger that the wife, mother, daughter, or sister, will wish to usurp authority over the husband, son, father, or brother whom she loves. The idea that education will make women discontented with their station, and disinclined to the performance of their household duties, originated in the same false premises which decreed that men were unfit to govern themselves, and must be subjected to the arbitrary will of despotism, in order to have their social state truly enlightened and comfortable. Education among the people has been proscribed as producing discontent and disorder.

We republicans know such conclusions are unsound, and have only been advanced and supported by those who selfishly sought their own interests, and not the improvement and happiness of the world. The question respecting the judiciousness of bestowing education on females, has not so long been decided in the negative because men were united in the wish to tyrannize over them. Certainly, in our country, women have always been cherished with tenderness, and regarded with respect. But men have not themselves been, till very lately, at all aware of the tendencies of early education. The Puritans provided schools and colleges in which their sons might be instructed in knowledge, and trusted that, for their daughters, piety would be sufficient to secure them heaven. That the purest and most acceptable worship of God requires we love him with mind as well as heart, was scarcely considered; certainly the moral effect which intellectual culture is capable of imparting to the Christian character, had not been estimated, or those pious and politic men would have provided for the education of their daughters as well as sons. Indeed, the subject is now only beginning to attract public attention. But let the beneficial influence of female intellect, rightly disciplined and directed, be once fully experienced, and we have no fear that woman will again be consigned to ignorance, with the view of making her more useful, amiable, or attractive. It will be found that to cultivate her reason, is the best method to make her reasonable; and that in elevating her mind and sentiments, man will acquire a corresponding elevation of soul and character.

But many obstacles are yet to be overcome, and many improvements adopted. The useful and ornamental in education, must be made to harmonize more accordantly. An acquaintance with every department of "household good" must be considered as fashionable, for the thorough-bred young lady, as to touch the keys of the piano with grace; and a skill in plain needle work as indispensable to her cultivated and refined taste, as skill in drawing or painting. There is time enough, from infancy to maturity, to learn all these things; the difficulty is how to introduce them advantageously, so as neither to perplex nor disgust, into the course of the young lady's education. We have given this subject a good deal of attention, and though not certain we shall benefit the age much by our remarks, will yet hazard a few of the reflections which have occurred. If the value of these ideas might bear but a small proportion to the

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