increased by erecting observatories in every town and populous village.

to the nature of man, that any human beings should be doomed to spend their lives in such wretched These observatories might be furnished, not only habitations. It tends, not only to debase the moral with some of the best achromatic telescopes for character, but to prevent the expansion of the huviewing terrestrial and celestial objects, but like-man intellect. Instead of an extensive landscape, wise with several articles of philosophical appara- adorned with flowers and verdure, and the view of tus, and specimens of natural history. In studying the expansive canopy of heaven-the inmates of the science of the heavens, there is nothing more such dwellings, for months and years, have nothing gratifying to those who have acquired a relish for presented to the eye but a dead murky wall bespatthis subject, than to view the telescopic objects de-tered with filth, which confines the range of their scribed by astronomers, such as the moons and belts vision within the compass of a few feet, and preof Jupiter, the ring of Saturn, the crescent of Ve- vents them from becoming acquainted even with nus, the mountains and vales of the moon, the ne- the common scenes of nature. What has been now bulæ, the double stars, and other interesting celestial stated will apply in a greater or less degree to alphenomena. Such views tend to produce a higher most all our cities and large towns, and even to relish for astronomical studies and rational investi- some of our villages. Were we to inquire into the gations; and no pictorial representations can serve circumstances which led men thus to immure themas a substitute, or convey the same ideas as actual selves in gloomy holes and corners, like bats and observations by good instruments. But the majori- owls, we should doubtless find that the abominable ty of rational inquirers and of the community at system of warfare has been one of the chief causes large are deprived of such views, on account of the of the evil of which we complain. Man, living at expense of such instruments. An establishment of enmity with his fellow-man, judged it expedient to this kind might be set on foot, either by a grant of surround his habitations with a huge wall for promoney from a public fund, or by subscription. All tection against the inroads of his hostile neighbors; the instruments requisite, in the first instance, would-and the problem to be solved, in this case, seems be, a large achromatic telescope for viewing celes- to have been, 'In how small a space can we comtial phenomena, and an equatorial telescope, for illus-press the greatest number of inhabitants, so that trating practical astronomy, and viewing the stars our wall and fortifications shall cost us the least and planets in the daytime. These might be pur-trouble and expense?' Small towns and villages chased for about forty guineas, (see article Astro- which were afterwards built, and which required nomy, pp. 80, 81,) and if an hundred and twenty no fortifications, copied the plan and dimensions of individuals were to co-operate in such an under- their streets from the fortified towns, and thus the taking, the subscription would be only seven shillings whole of our cities, towns, and villages have been to each, and, if an additional subscription of about bungled and deranged. two shillings a-year were paid, in the course of a Great cities, especially when ill-planned, may be few years the apparatus might be considerably in- considered as great evils. The Creator evidently creased. One special advantage arising from the intended that the population of the globe should be universal establishment of observatories would be, more equably distributed than it is at present. We that the true time might always be accurately as- are told that " He created it not in vain, but formed certained, and the public clocks regulated accord-it to be inhabited." But, how monstrous a disproingly-on which circumstance depends, in certain portion is there in the distribution of its population, cases, the determining of the altitude of certain when we find a mass of human beings, as in Lonatmospherical phenomena, such as a fiery meteor, don, compressed into a space of little more than or a luminous arch, when seen by different observ-20 square miles, and a similar mass, in another part ers in places distant from each other.

VII. The improvement of towns, villages, and roads, is intimately connected with the advancement of society.

There are few circumstances in the state of society which exhibit the folly and depravity of man in a more striking point of view, than the state of most of the cities and towns of Europe and other parts of the world-not even excepting the British empire. In some of our cities we have palaces, churches, colleges, and public buildings, of the most magnificent description, while the great mass of the population around are living in miserable habitations in narrow dirty lanes, which are seldom or never visited by the rays of the sun, or the refreshing breeze. In the High street of Edinburgh and its environs, which contain a greater number of human habitations than any other spot of the same extent on the surface of the globe, the inhabitants appear to be huddled together like so many rabbits in their cells. The houses are from five to eight and ten stories high, with numerous narrow lanes or closes, from four to six feet wide, branching from the street, and running down a great extent towards a hollow on each side. In these closes there is neither light nor pure air, but a continual gloom and noisome exhalations; and the physical filth and darkness which abound are generally emblems of the moral pollution and scenes of depravity which are too frequently exhibited in such habitations. Such abodes are incompatible, not only with physical comfort, but with any attempts at improvement in knowledge; and it is a kind of degradation

of the same island, spread over an extent of 20,000 square miles! There appears to be no reason, except in a very few cases, why any city should extend beyond a population of a hundred thousand inhabitants; and a city containing such a population should occupy five times the area that it does at present. Towns distributed at nearly equal distances over the face of a country, would be of far more importance for the general improvement of society than a few crowded cities with an overgrown population, and more conducive to the health and morals of the inhabitants.-There is one circumstance that characterizes almost all our cities, towns, and villages, except in some recent instances; and that is, the extreme narrowness of the streets, some of which do not exceed 15 or 20 feet in width. Even in the United States of America, where the towns have been more recently built, and formed on more expansive plans than in Europe, this evil is found to exist. The street Broadway in New York, which is so much celebrated, and which is 3 miles in length, is only 80 feet broad, and most of the other streets are considerably narrower. Most of the streets in Philadelphia are little more than 50 feet broad, except Broad street and Market street, the latter being 100, and the former 113 feet in breadth. Most of the small towns, however, in the Northern States, such as New-Haven, Northampton, and others, are described by travellers as having broad streets and spacious squares, and remarkable for their cleanliness and beauty. In Great Britain, most of the streets, especially in sea-port towns, are wretchedly narrow and dirty. In North-Shields,

County of Northumberland, the main street is near-ing, promenading, and other purposes.--10. Cerly a mile long, but so narrow that in many places tain streets might be allotted for houses of one or two carriages cannot pass each other. The New two stories, for the accommodation of those who Town of Edinburgh, which contains the most spa- have it not in their power to occupy more stately cious and elegant streets of any city in Europe, is mansions, so as to preserve uniformity in every disgraced with two or three long narrow streets, street; but such streets should be equally broad, and not above one-fourth the breadth of the others, in- adorned in the same manner as the other streets.tended for the residence of the lower classes; as if 11. Between the different streets should be gardenthey had no right to enjoy a frec light, pure air, and plots for every family, and accommodation for washa cheerful prospect, as well as their superiors.-ing and bleaching, as also for erecting workshops The following hints are suggested in relation to for smiths, carpenters, weavers, &c. wherever they the improvement of towns and villages; though I are required.-12. Encouragement should be given have no hope of living to see them realized in my in the neighborhood of large towns, and throughout native country. the country at large, for building towns on such 1. Most of our crowded towns should be demo- plans, and for transforming our present hamlets and lished, or at least their streets ought to be widened, villages into more convenient and pleasant places of at an average three times their present breadth.-residence. If mankind were united by the bonds Extravagant as this proposal may appear, there is of Christian affection, and if all were as anxious to nothing that stands in the way of its accomplishment promote the happiness of their fellow-men, as the but selfishness and avarice. If the promotion of the greater part are to hoard up wealth and riches which comfort and happiness of our species were the great they can never enjoy, all the improvements now object of our ambition, all difficulties would soon suggested could casily be accomplished within the evanish, and all obstructions would speedily be re- course of a few years, or, at farthest, within the moved; and why call ourselves Christians, if this limits of the next generation. But so long as avaobject is not kept in view?-2. No street in any rice sways its sceptre over the human breast, no extown or village should be less than 80 feet wide.tensive improvement, either in knowledge, religion, In large towns, where the houses are above two or or physical comfort, can be effected. three stories in height, the streets should not be less than 100 or 120 feet in breadth.--3. Narrow lanes The following engraving exhibits a plan of a town and closes, of all descriptions, ought to be for ever of a moderate size, which, with a few modifications, banished from all our towns and cities.-4. The according to circumstances, might be copied, in the practice of sinking stories below the level of a street, formation of new towns and villages. In this plan unless for cellars, should be laid aside. It has be- all the streets cross one another at right angles, and come an almost universal practice in Edinburgh, are supposed to be at least 80 feet broad. In the and other towns, especially in genteel houses, to have centre there is a circular space about 240 feet diamea sunk story for the kitchen and servants' rooms, as ter, from which four streets diverge to each quarter if they were unworthy of enjoying free light and of the town. The central part of this circle might pure air, and their health in no danger from the be formed into a bowling green, diversified with dampness of such apartments. There is something shrubs and flowers; or a circular tower might be absurd and preposterous in being at the expense of erected in the midst of it to overtop the surrounding digging a hole for the under story of a house, when buildings, on the top of which a large camera oba kitchen and laundry could be built behind the scura and some telescopes might be placed, for the house, on the level of the street, which would be purpose of surveying the heavenly bodies, or the more convenient and salubrious.-5. Houses might surrounding country. The four openings into this be built with flat roofs, with a parapet surrounding circular space might be about forty feet wide, or them, breast high, which would form a promenade half the breadth of the streets, which would afford for families in towns, where they would enjoy an the houses at each end of the four crescents a comairing and a prospect of surrounding objects, with-manding view, not only of the interior of the circle, out removing from their own dwellings. It would but of the whole street in both directions. Instead also serve for drying clothes, contemplating the of a circle, an octagon, if judged more convenient, heavens, and various other purposes. In Eastern might be adopted. Directly opposite this central countries, where the houses are constructed with circle, on the north and south extremities of this flat roofs, they form the sleeping places of the fami- town, are two squares, each of whose sides is about ly during the summer months. The rain that falls 170 feet long, and at the east and west extremities upon them might be so conducted as to supply every two crescents, about 360 feet in diameter. In each family with water for washing, and cooking victuals. of the squares, and in the middle part of the cre-6. Squares, crescents, or octagonal spaces, should scents, a church or other public building might be be appropriated in different parts of a town, for erected; and the entrance to these squares, &c. bazaars, or shops where all kinds of merchandise from the country, might be by a broad arch-way should be sold; each shop having an apartment or under one of the buildings. The principal shops two connected with it, for the temporary accommo- might be placed, and the principal business of the dation of a family.-7. The streets more particu- town transacted, in the squares, crescents, and cenJarly appropriated for dwelling-houses, should have tral circle. The spaces between the backs of the verandas or garden-plots in front of the houses on houses in the different streets might be set apart each side, diversified with shrubs, flowers, and ever- either for gardens, washing-houses, or workshops greens, and, at certain regular distances, a few forest for the different mechanical professions. These trees, so that the street, although 80 feet broad, spaces should be from 120 to 150 feet wide. A would require only about 40 feet of pavement. walk should be made to go round the whole town, 8. In every large city, open spaces, within the city, decorated with trees, shrubs, and bowers; and on should be set apart for pleasure walks for the citi- each side of the town should be a large common zens, and diversified with trees, evergreen shrubs, or bleaching green. The extent of such a town seats, and bowers for shelter from the heat or rain. would be about a mile and a quarter in circumfer In small towns, such rural walks should be formed ence, but might be indefinitely extended according to go quite round them.-9. A square plot of mea- to circumstances. Such a town would undoubtedly dow ground, at each end of a town, might be set be much more commodious, pleasant, and salubrious apart for public meetings, amusements, or exhibi- than most of the small towns and villages that now tions, which might also serve for grazing, bleach-exist.

pictures, when true to nature and correctly delineated, convey useful knowledge as well as books, and sometimes in a more pleasant and rapid manner; and there is no more difficulty in engraving real objects than in depicting the distorted and fantastic objects which are usually represented; and in course of time, every rational person would be induced to consider every thing as beautiful which is really useful. In following out these suggestions, we might have paper hangings and carpets diversified with maps of the world and of particular countries-bed and window curtains adorned with public buildings, landscapes, views of caverns, grottos, volcanic mountains, cataracts, steam-carriages, air-pumps, telescopes, foreign trees, shrubs, and animals-our

wants of the whole population. And what would such a sum be to the British Government, which is extravagant enough to waste twenty times that sum every year in bestowing pensions on those who neither deserve them nor stand in need of them? The great object of these libraries is to promote the interest of religion, in connection with the study of history, biography, voyages and travels, and all the popular and useful branches of science. They have been supported and patronised by the most respectable persons in the country, and have met with almost unprecedented success. They have been introduced into several other counties in Scotland and Ireland, and in some of the West India islands, and even in South Africa. The number of volumes connected with the East Lothian itine-plates, tea-cups and saucers decorated with minia rating libraries now amounts to nearly three thou- ture pictures of similar objects, accompanied with sand. In some of the divisions every volume has wise sayings, immutable truths, and short statements been issued about 120 times, and many of them of important facts. In this way a fund of sentenmuch oftener. Mr. Brown, who has directed and tious wisdom, in connection with views of interestsuperintended these libraries for eighteen years, de- ing scenery, might be introduced into every family; serves the thanks of his country for his benevolent which would tend to excite inquiry, to lead to imand unremitting exertions. In several cities and proving conversation, and to deter from the pursuit towns in America, such as Philadelphia and Al- of vicious and criminal courses. A king was said bany, libraries have been established for the use of to have been saved from being poisoned by his cupapprentices, both male and female. The appren-bearer, by the following motto engraved on the cup tices' library in Philadelphia contains above 8000 which contained the poison, "Never begin any acvolumes. Although well-selected libraries are of tion of which thou hast not well considered the end." immense importance for the diffusion of knowledge, It is evident, that the above hints might be reduced yet no person, who has it in his power to purchase to practice with as much ease and cheapness as silly a few good books occasionally, ought to confine his and licentious inscriptions and clumsy castles in the reading to the books of a public library; but, in air; and that almost every article of dress and furconjunction with the use of such books, should en- niture, every garden bower, and every rural and deavor to furnish himself with selections of some architectural decoration, might in this way be renof the best standard books in the language, which dered subservient to human knowledge and imhe may study at leisure, and to which he may improvement; provided society would give encouragemediately refer for any particular information of which he is desirous. Every general reader should, if possible, be furnished with an English Dictionary, a portable Encyclopedia, a summary of universal history, and some of the best systems of popular science.

IX. Knowledge might be promoted by delineations and inscriptions on various articles of furniture.

ment to such devices. But, hitherto, the foolish and depraved character of man has displayed itself in this as well as in almost every other department of his actions.

X. The improvement of society requires that changes and alterations be made in many of our established laws, regulations, and customs.

The laws and practices to which I allude are so numerous, that I shall mention only two or three as a specimen. 1. All taxes connected with the diffusion of knowledge should be wholly and for ever abolished. These include taxes on the materials and the manufacture of paper, which, besides directly adding to the price of this article, are found to be extremely vexatious to the manufacturer, and prevent him from getting his articles rapidly conveyed to the

We have, for example, many kinds of bowls, drinking vessels, &c. made of porcelain or earthenware, on which many foolish inscriptions and devices are engraved. We have likewise carpets, bed-curtains, handkerchiefs, &c. on which groups of fantastic figures and various distorted representations of natural and artificial objects, are depicted, which serve no purpose but that of exhibiting a gaudy show.-Now, if, instead of such paltry devi-market-taxes on newspapers, engravings, pamces, moral sentiments and maxims, pithy sayings, phlets, periodical works, and advertisements of and sentences descriptive of certain historical and books and other articles of trade-and taxes, too, scientific facts, such as those formerly specified, in the shape of entering books in "Stationer's Hall," (pp. 46, 58,) were inscribed on the articles to depriving the author or publisher of thirteen copies which I allude, useful hints might be communicated of his work, however valuable and expensive, and rendered familiar wherever we turned our which in certain cases will amount to the sum of eyes, and might occasionally suggest topics for use- £200 or £300. Were these and all other taxes ful conversation. In like manner, were real objects connected with literature abolished, and an econoin nature and art depicted on china-ware, drinking mical mode of printing adopted, books might be vessels, printed cotton handkerchiefs, window-cur-purchased at little more than one-half of their pretains, carpets, and similar articles, in place of the fantastical figures usually delineated, which have no prototypes in nature, a considerable portion of information might in this way be imparted. For

sent price. In this connection, too, it may be stated, that the charges demanded for the insertion of advertisements of books in newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals, are extravagantly high, and add, in no inconsiderable degree, to the price of Mr. S. Brown is a son of the Rev. John Brown literature. In consequence of the tax on newspaof Haddington, well known as the author of the pers there are only thirty millions of them circu"Self-Interpreting Bible," "Dictionary of the Bi-lated in Great Britain and Ireland, which is but the ble," "System of Divinity," and many other works. His exertions, and the beneficial effects which have flowed from them, show how much even an individual engrossed in an extensive business has it in his power to perform, when his aims are directed to promote the good of mankind.

one twenty-fifth part of the number circulated in the United States of America, which contain little more than half the population of the British empire. In England there is only one newspaper to 46,000 inhabitants.-2. The postage of letters should be greatly reduced. The conveyance of letters is