There are some persons, who now dread their active zeal, their indefatigable industry, and their unceasing activity, in the propagation of tenets, which it is but christian candour to suppose, they think conducive, if not essential, to salvation. If this is a time for apprehension, what must we look forward to, if we do not now supply all our own poor with the inestimable benefit of education? What must we expect if we leave part of them without instruction, and part to receive it from other hands? What must be the effect, when in a a very few years, myriads of our children, indebted to sectaries for the advantages of education, shall enter on the stage of life ;— more instructed, more informed, and more animated by religious zeal and ardour, than the ignorant and untaught members of our own church! If the outworks of the establishment appear to the timid mind to be now in danger, what arms will then be found to defend the citadel against such numerous and powerful assailants ? 1 It is not one of the least advantages which will be derived from our own clergy taking the lead Selections of books. in the new system of education (a system, I should observe, originating from one of their own members, and fostered in the very bosom of the church), that the selection of books for the pupils, will be in the hands of the friends to religion, morality, and civil order. At the time of the French revolution, the greatest danger that existed, was *To such subscribers to "the Society for promoting "Christian Knowledge," as are desirous of supplying books to their poor neighbours, and to schools in their vicinage; I beg leave to recommend the following list of 2150 books, the expense of which will be FIVE GUINEAS. 300 Child's first Book, Part I. 300 Ditto, Part II. 400 Ostervald's Abridgement of the Bible, 400 Chief Truths of Religion, 100 Catechism broken into Questions, 200 Our Saviours Sermon on the Mount, o 8 170 The Order of Confirmation, o 8 100 Trimmer's Spelling Book for Boys, o 8 Ο The Subscription to the Society is One Guinea a Year, from the pernicious falsities, which were industriously circulated among the poor. That power is still in existence; and the most pernicious effects might be produced by disseminating false principles of conduct, and habituating the mind to scenes of debased sensuality or unfeeling barbarity. THERE are few who have not felt the Danger from im- truth of what LONGINUS has proper books. said on the sublime ;-that "it habituates the soul to grandeur, and « impregnates it with generous and enlarged "ideas." By studies of this kind the intel lectual powers are purified and strengthened, and the soul acquires a foretaste and preparation for spiritual existence. As these improve, so do books of a contrary tendency degrade and enfeeble the faculties. The mind which has fed on licentious description, -on narratives of cruelty, or on false morals, becomes diseased and corrupted by the noxious food. In mature life these are, indeed, the consequences of depraved habits. I leave to him, who can sate himself upon celestial food, and prey on garbage, to select studies congenial to his own feelings. No eye was ever gratified by scenes of barbarity,- -no ear by descriptions of licentiousness, no mind by display of corrupt principles of action,-unless the taste for evil had been first established in the heart, by the destruction of the higher and nobler feelings of man. I therefore do not refer myself to mature life, but to youth;—to those, whose principles and habits do still depend on the communication which they receive. To them, I say, it is of the utmost importance, that the books which are placed in their hands, shall be correct in principle, and pure in respect of religion and morality. AS to the funds requisite for an universal system of education, I feel no anxiety. Upon the plan Funds for education. adopted in Chester, and at Auckland ;* our The following are the queries, as to the endowed and other schools in this diocese, which the Bishop of Durham has recently circulated in his Bishoprick :1. What schools are there in your parish and immediate neighbourhood; and what is the nature and 1 endowed charity schools, without at all interfering with the original objects, would supply a great part of what is wanted; especially upon Dr. Bell's plan, which reduces the expense of a day school to a mere trifle. At the same time, one cannot too much deplore the timidity or supineness of those, who with a conviction of existing abuses, omit to direct a general and national inquiry, into the present state of SCHOOL ENDOWMENTS, AND OTHER CHARITIES:* an inquiry, which amount of their respective funds? 2. What is the average number of children which have been educated in such schools respectively, for the three preceding years; and how many of them have been clothed, and how many clothed and boarded? 3. How far are such schools adequate to the education of all, or what proportion of the children in the several places where they are situated? 4. Are you of opinion that any practicable improvement, or extension of the beneficial effects of any such schools can be adopted, consistently with the terms of the original foundation? * In the first volume of the Society's Reports, I offered some remarks on the situation of charitable endowments in this country, and referred to the Report of the Committee of the House of Commons of the 10th of June, 1788. In this Report, it is stated that "many charitable donations have been lost; and many "others, from neglect of payment, and the inattention "of those persons who ought to superintend them, are |