clusion at which I have arrived. 1. The constitu- wishes. It not unfrequently happens in such a tion and character of the public meetings by which case, that a clergyman finds that a meeting of the the business of the society is carried on. 2. The Bible Society is to take place in his parish. The manner in which its operations frequently interfere dissenting chapel is perhaps the place of assembly. with the good order of the Church, and obstruct || Of his own parishioners, the chief supporters of the the ministry of the parochial clergy. 3. The ten- cause are the leading dissenters. But members of dency of the society to obscure the office of the the Church from other parishes, who are supporters Church in relation to the word of God. I will, as of the society, also attend. Perhaps some neighbriefly as I can, explain what I mean on each of bouring clergy are induced, even under such cirthese points. Whoever has been in the habit of cumstances, to take part in the proceedings, which attending the meetings of the Bible Society, is aware thus practically assume the appearance of giving a that they are composed of persons belonging to sanction and support to the system of dissent; tend every variety of religious denomination, and hold- to lower the influence of the clergyman with his ing every shade of opinion which is compatible parishioners; and to make the very distribution of with the acceptance of the Holy Scriptures as a re- the Scriptures a means of upholding those "errovelation from God. All these persons meet toge- neous and strange doctrines contrary to God's ther, and, from the nature of the occasion which word," which every clergyman is bound by his orassembles them, with an appearance of recognised dination vow "with all faithful diligence to banish equality in a matter touching upon the foundation and drive away." I have had repeated and painful of religious belief. The Independent, the Baptist, experience of such cases in the course of the last the Quaker, the Socinian, assemble on the platform five years; and I have felt that, while I continued by the side of the members of the Church, on a a member of the society, the sanction of my authocommon understanding that their differences are rity was indirectly given to proceedings which I pro hac vice to be laid aside, and their point of could not but regard as very detrimental to the agreement in receiving the Bible as the word of good order of the Church, and the influence of the God, and being zealous for its distribution, is to be clergy in their respective parishes. Reflection alone considered. Do not let me be misunder- upon these two great practical evils in the working stood as implying that a dishonourable compro- of the society, will, I think, shew that they both mise of opinion on the part of any one is required proceed from the same fundamental error, that, by the constitution of the society. On the contrary, viz., of forgetting that a body so constituted is not I know that "Union without compromise" is a properly capable of performing functions which essort of watchword in it. But what I do say is, that sentially appertain to the Church in her character the necessary tendency of a meeting so composed of "witness and keeper of Holy Writ," and are is to magnify the point of agreement between its capable of being satisfactorily discharged by her members, and to sink, as of comparative insignifi- alone. I mean satisfactorily discharged on the cance, their respective differences. Whoever has principles which a member of the Church is bound to recognise because the indifference to positive doctrine, and the unlimited license of private judgment, both in points of faith and discipline, which it is the effect of the system of the society to foster, are as much at variance with the spirit of the Church, as they are agreeable to the views of some of the bodies that are separated from her. this is the third ground which I mentioned, as having influenced my judgment in coming to the decision I have done. I have now stated the reasons which brought me to the conclusion that the British and Foreign Bible Society is not so constituted as to enable it to discharge in the best and most satisfactory manner the great office it has undertaken; and that, sensible as I am of the importance of the object proposed, and anxious to promote it, I cannot properly co-operate with this society in doing so, or continue a member of it consistently with my duty in other respects. have the honour to remain, my dear sir, your very faithful servant, E. SARUM. been in the habit of attending meetings of the Bible Society must be familiar with such expressions as that the members of the society are only separated by "unimportant differences," and are joined in "essential unity;" whereas an examination of what these "unimportant differences" are, will shew that, in one quarter or another, they comprise most of the chief doctrines, and all the ordinances, of the Christian religion; and are so clearly recognised in the constitution of the society, as to make it impossible for a meeting of persons assembled to promote the distribution of God's word to unite in worshipping him in prayer. I have felt, therefore, that the practical tendency of such meetings is to foster a spirit of indifference to the most vital doctrinal truth, as well as yet more clearly to exhibit a disregard of the distinctive character of the Church, as the body to which that truth is intrusted. A member of the Church, at such meetings, is always liable to hear statements made on these topics which must either be replied to at the risk of a very inopportune discussion, or apparently be sanctioned by being passed over in silence. The second point on which I proposed to remark is, the manner in which the operations of the society frequently interfere with the good order of the Church, by being obtruded into the parishes ofclergy who do not feel at liberty to take a part in them. A very great proportion of the clergy are not members of the Bible Society; but, from the constitution of that body, its operations are necessarily carried on without reference to this, and meetings are holden in the parishes of such clergy contrary to their Wilton Crescent, March 2, 1842. And -I TO CORRESPONDENTS. Several articles, though in type, are unavoidably postponed. LONDON: Published by JAMES BURNS, 17 PORTMAN STREET, PORTMAN SQUARE; and to be had, by order, of all Booksellers in Town and Country. PRINTED BY ROBSON, LEVEY, AND FRANKLYN, GREAT NEW STREET, THE ENGLISHMAN'S MAGAZINE. No. XVIII. Contents. JUNE, 1842. CHAP. X.-Difference of Disposition. WE left our worthy schoolmaster descanting with Mr. Wilmot, the squire of the parish who was a sensible and right-minded manon the different dispositions of boys, and on other circumstances arising out of the historical expedition to Kenilworth Castle. "What an extraordinary difference there is," said Mr. Primer, " in the dispositions of boys! Look at George Freeman and Harry Scamper. They are both as nice-tempered lads as I have ever had in my school; yet a more entire difference of character, and ideas,|| and pursuits, it would be impossible to conceive: their minds are set on quite different things. Look at this production of Freeman -(it was the account he had drawn up of the castle at Kenilworth)-see how carefully he has made these plans and drawings, and the trouble he has taken in finding out all about the ancient history of the place, of which Mr. Kimberly, the usher, gave him the heads. Now, all this information will stick to him for life; besides the trouble which he has taken accustoms his mind to industrious habits of investigation. Whereas, all that Harry Scamper did, was very nearly to break his neck in climbing up the ruins after a jackdaw's nest. And yet Harry does not want ability; only he is such a harum-scarum fellow." 66 "Very likely a good deal may be attributable to early education or example," said Mr. Wilmot. "I have no doubt it is as you suppose. George has been brought up by excellent and industrious parents, who have imbued PRICE 4d. him with a desire to improve himself, so that he may be the better able to do his duty to God and man: he looks, as it is natural, for their approbation; and his industry is in a great degree attributable to an habitual desire to please his parents, and, I may say, to please me. Harry Scamper, on the other hand, was very much neglected when young, and fell into the hands of those who laughed at industry and plodding habits, and thought enterprise and daring the most praiseworthy. That rattling uncle of his is always talking about horses and dogs, ferrets and rats; and Harry has imbibed the same set of ideas, which, it is probable, will last him his life, though, I hope, modified by better views. It is an unlucky thing to get a lad like Harry Scamper into a school. He is sure to put wild notions into the minds of the rest; and yet I cannot find in my heart to expel him, for he is really a good-natured, high-spirited youth." 66 "The principle of the two boys," said Mr. Wilmot, seems in some degree similar; and it is no bad principle in youths up to a certain age; namely, to seek the approbation of those to whom they look up. Unfortunately, Harry has been encouraged in idle, foolish habits by those who ought to have taught him better." 66 Exactly so; and it shews the immense responsibility which devolves on parents from the very earliest years of their children's lives -the necessity of accustoming their sons and daughters to desire and aim at what is good and excellent-and the grievous folly of scoffing, even in sport, at virtuous, prudent, and regular habits. I question whether Harry will ever thoroughly get over the mischief he has received. It is a hard thing for a schoolmaster to correct the errors of parents." "I can readily imagine that you, as a schoolmaster, would approve most of those boys who do you the most credit, and profit most by your valuable instruction; and would not much like such a wild rogue as Harry Scamper; and, of course, George is infinitely the better of the two, and more likely to do well in after-life. His conduct deserves all praise; and it is much to be feared that the other will come to no good. The same spirit which now leads him into mischief will, when he grows older, lead him into vice, unless an important change takes place in his mode of action. In G spite, however, of being thought to speak too worms. On the other hand, some boys' minds are set, even to an unnatural excess, on their books. They go moping about the playground when the other boys are engaged in sports, and so lose the light-heartedness and buoyancy of youth; and very generally their bodily health suffers in consequence. In this, as in all other things, it is difficult to hit on the right mean. I never had a boy who was nearer what I like than George Freeman. He is full of life and spirit in the playground; foremost in any enterprise which has my approval-as you see, from his improvement of the Kenilworth exhibition; while, at the same time, in the schoolroom his whole mind is devoted to his studies." "He is just the boy to make a distinguished man. But he, too, will have his trials. He will be tempted to become ambitious and covetous. The desire which he now rightly cherishes for the approbation of his parents and master may, if not duly controlled, lead him to seek popularity and the applause of men.". "Ah," said Mr. Primer, with a sigh, "mine is indeed a responsible office! I feel how much I have to answer for, and am aware "That I allow, and also that there is great that nothing but the power of religion is able danger of their taking altogether bad courses." to mould the heart of youth. It is only a "The truth is, they lose too much valuable conscientious fear of God which can save such time in youth, and then find themselves infe- a boy as Harry from evil ways, or keep even rior to other boys who have been plodding on George in the right path. Meanwhile, as rewhile they were idle. Perhaps," continued gards their learning, as well as in other matMr. Primer, "the difference of natural ability ters, I make it my business to watch very in boys is not so great as is commonly ima- carefully the dispositions of my boys, and engined: it is more a difference of attention, deavour so to manage as to give them an inand the power of fixing the mind on their terest in their studies, without impairing that studies, which distinguishes one from anc-joyous heart and liveliness of spirit which a ther. One boy shall have his whole mind set merciful God has bestowed on the season of on his play. Instead of minding his lessons youth." even during his school-time, he shall be playing at odd-and-even under the table with his next neighbour; or, if his neighbour will not play with him, he will occupy himself with cutting the form, or drawing ridiculous figures in the blank-leaf of his lesson-book. In short, he will do any thing but mind his book. This boy, of course, makes little or no progress in learning, and remains a dunce, or, at least, a very inferior scholar; while his more industrious schoolfellow is laying in stores of knowledge, and enlarging his powers of understanding." "One great cause of inattention to their learning, in many boys, is want of faith. They do not see the use of Latin, Greek, mathematics, &c., and will not believe their parents and teachers, who tell them of the value of such attainments. Present amusement is to them all in all--present interests occupy their whole mind; and in after-years they bitterly rue their loss of time, when they find themselves inferior in acquirements to boys whom, perhaps, they once despised as book || "I observe," said Mr. Wilmot, "that you contrive to turn even their play-hours to good account, by encouraging a taste for gardening and other industrial occupations, as they are termed. That is a very excellent plan." They went on to talk about the plans which Mr. Primer adopted in order to convey information to the minds of his pupils, and turn their time to the best account-plans which are of sufficient importance to detail in a separate chapter. CHAP. XI.-Useful Knowledge. THOUGH Mr. Primer directed his principal attention to the moral training of his pupils, and to the enlargement of their faculties, by a regular system of careful instruction, yet he was always anxious to encourage them in the acquisition of such knowledge as is to be picked up by casual observation-such, I mean, as relates to the different trades, and arts, and professions, and other matters which met their view in their walks or during leisure-hours. As the good schoolmaster's mind and heart were set on the improvement of his boys, he would take every opportunity of explaining to them whatever came under their notice. "Look here, boys!" he would say, as they walked out in the spring; "see how busily Farmer Crabstock is working his land! Ah, he is the right sort of man for a farmer. I like to see a man who is not ashamed to hold his own plough; and it is no bad thing that our farmers are getting back to their old ways, instead of riding thorough-bred horses, and setting up for fine gentlemen, as they were too apt to do in the time of high prices. Well, Mr. Crabstock deserves to have a good crop of barley on this piece of land. See how clean it is!-not a bit of weed to be found any where. This part, which has been harrowed, looks like a garden. I see my friend keeps to the five-crop system of husbandry." And so Mr. Primer would go on explaining to his boys about the five-crop and fourcrop system, wheat and bean-land, barley and turnips, the use of fallows (though they caused a temporary loss), with a number of other particulars which he had learnt during his intercourse with his neighbours, and which he now pointed out to his attentive pupils, moralising on them as he went along. It was a part of Mr. Primer's system thus to exercise the observation of his boys, and teach them to have their wits and eyes about them. Some people go through the world with their eyes shut, and observe nothing but what is forced on their notice; others, who are exercised in noting what they see, gather without difficulty a vast fund of information. The worthy schoolmaster promoted also the knowledge of horticulture amongst his boys, and gave up to them a good piece of garden; but as he could not afford to let them have it for nothing, he taught them to cultivate the plot of land, so that their labour should be profitable, and help to keep the house in vegetables. It is surprising what a variety of interesting and useful information may be gained in this manner; besides, gardening is a very healthy labour, as well as being interesting to the mind. Mr. Primer taught them to graft and bud, and make layers and cuttings, and preserve seeds and roots, and lay out beds by rule and line. There was not a garden better kept in the neighbourhood. || Then there were two or three beehives-one || of them with a glass door at the back, so that the boys were able to observe the operations of those ingenious creatures, which Mr. Primer, following the example of King Solomon, would take care to improve as a lesson of industry. There was also attached to the playground a shed, with a tolerable assortment of carpenter's tools, in which the bigger boys were privileged to work; but not the younger ones, lest they should cut their fin- || gers. It was a sort of privilege to get into the class which was allowed to use the workshop; and each boy, when he arrived at that dignity, was bound apprentice for a certain time to one of the elders, whose business it was to teach him to use the plane, the saw, the chisel, and other tools. Some of them really worked very cleverly. The most workmanlike performance which they accomplished was a new wheelbarrow for their garden, which, when well painted, might have passed for the work of a regular carpenter. Those boys who had a turn for mechanics were encouraged by Mr. Primer to observe the operations of various workmen and artisans, when occasion offered itself and they were able to do so without interference with the business of the men and as both Mr. Primer and his pupils were great favourites in the parish, the boys had ample opportunities of gaining information in this way. Some of them would watch Snowball, the blacksmith, as he was making a horse-shoe, and fastening it to the hoof of the horse; others would learn the construction of the different parts of a cart or waggon, and watch John Spokes, the wheelwright, as he fitted the red hot tire to the cart-wheel. But what perhaps delighted them more than any thing was, to observe the operations of old Lathbury, the turner; and the boy who had a little money would sometimes order a new top, for the pleasure of seeing it made. On one occasion the whole school subscribed together for a set of nine-pins; and then, as all the boys were interested in the order, the old man was sadly incommoded by the numbers which crowded into his narrow workshop. After a while it fell out that old Lathbury died; and there was sad lamentation, not only for the old man himself, who was a particular favourite, but also because his lathe was stopped, and they could no longer watch him at his occupation. However, when the sale of the old man's goods came, Mr. Primer, to the great delight of the boys, purchased the lathe with all its apparatus, for the use of his pupils, some of whom had already become very tolerable workmen, under the instruction of their friend the turner. But now came the difficulty, where they could set up the lathe; for old Lathbury's house was sold to another occupier; and the small shed, in which the boys had worked with their carpenter's tools, was not able to contain the additional apparatus of the lathe. In this difficulty George Freeman hit on an expedient, which was received with acclamation; namely, that they should build a workshop themselves. Mr. Primer's consent was easily obtained; and the boys set to work in high glee to accomplish their undertaking. The first thing was to draw a plan, with specifications and measurements; and some of the boys made very ingenious designs. George Freeman's, though exceedingly clever, was rather too elaborate; and another, of a simpler character, was selected. The house was to be built of turf; which, as the soil in the immediate neighbourhood was of a stiff, tenacious nature, would make very durable walls. Fortunately, there was an these inferior classes of creation there is a difold rough common broken up by marl-pits, ference in capacity not less than in their modes where they obtained permission to cut as of life-one bird, for instance, building its much turf as they pleased. The wheelbarrow nest more neatly or commodiously than anwas placed in requisition, and as some pre-other; one being a solitary, another a gregapared the lumps of turf, others employed rious animal-yet, whatever may have been themselves in conveying them to the school- their propensity since the first day of their yard. When the wall was raised three or creation, such does it still remain, without four feet from the ground, it was necessary to improvement or alteration in their habits or leave apertures for the windows, and then to their manners. Thus we find the ostrich, place transverse beams over the top. At last which leaves her eggs in the sand that the sun the walls were built up to the requisite height. may hatch them by the warmth of his beams, Meanwhile, some of the more skilful carpen- described as acting in precisely the same manters had been preparing the roof, which was ner in the book of Job, one of the oldest books first laid out in due order on the ground, and in existence.. She is described as the bird then raised, piece by piece, on the building; which "leaveth her eggs in the earth, and and the whole was covered in with a roof of warmeth them on the dust, and forgetteth ling or heath from the common. Altogether that the foot may crush them, or that the wild it was a very creditable piece of workmanship. beast may break them." "She is hardened," The most difficult part was the fitting in the continues the inspired writer, "against her doors and windows; and these they could not young ones, as though they were not hers: manage without the help of the blacksmith her labour is in vain, without fear, because and glazier. But old Snowball gave them the God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hinges and latches for nothing; and the gla- hath he imparted to her understanding." zier charged them only the cost-price of the Hence we agree that that Almighty God who glass and lead, which did not come to more called all creatures into existence in such than a few shillings. Scarcely a month had manner as seemed unto him good, has imelapsed after the first proposal of the plan, parted to the inferior animals of the world when the new workshop was completed and we inhabit no power of improving their situthe lathe in full work. ation for any useful purpose with each other. nicating their ideas, they are incapable of looking through a series of means to the end which those means are calculated to produce; that they are incapable of being acted upon by the desire of improvement, or the benefits of civilisation; that they are incapable of any || moral distinctions. It is true that among ON THE NATURE AND PROGRESS OF They, then, are thus unable to enter into those social contracts which are among the moving-springs which urge on and mature society. One of the principal of these is, the SOCIETY may be defined to be, a number of absence of all recognised property—a distinct rational and moral beings united for their recognition of property being peculiar to the common preservation and happiness. And human race. Its effects are of the utmost imsuch a definition implies that society, in the portance, because this it is that leads to comproper sense of the term, is, so far as this sub-merce, to exchange, to all those mercantile lunary world is concerned, peculiar to the human race. For there are many reasons why inferior animals do not and cannot for any useful purpose unite in society. One of the first causes is, their want of an articulate language; i. e. the want of the means of communicating their ideas to each other. Although we hear of animals assorting together in herds, in flocks, in flights, and so on, we can hardly say that they are social; we rather call rooks, beavers, rabbits, and suchlike, gregarious animals. They may, indeed, have cries and other sounds by which to express pleasure or pain, yet they have not, like man, any formed speech by which to hold converse with each other. As in their modes of living they make no improvement, we conclude that, deprived of the power of commu transactions which occupy this busy world, and which enlarge, though sometimes, we fear, they contaminate our ideas. It is common to all men, but is to be found distinctly in no other race of animals, which seem to know neither this nor any other species of contracts. Two greyhounds, indeed, in running down the same hare, have sometimes the appearance of acting in some sort of concert, each turning her towards his companion, or endeavouring to intercept her when his companion turns her to himself. Yet this is not the effect of any previous contract-being, in fact, nothing but the accidental concurrence of their passions in the same object at that particular time. And to the same cause,— passion, propensity, instinct, or whatever else it may be termed,-we may attribute those |