MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. Young Men's Mercantile Library Association of Cincinnati Dwellings for the Laboring Classes. The Ten Hour System Literarium Office. Public Libraries Working Men's Protective Union. Library of Female Writers Life Insurance. Competition between Free and Slave Labor Mechanics' Mutual Protections. Agricultural Schools American Association of Naturalists and Geologists The Needlewoman's Friend. Longevity of Farmers Revival of Music in Scotland. A Free Trade Congress American Ingenuity. Good Signs at the South Provision for the Poor in Russia. Mechanics' Institutions LITERARY NOTICES. The Anglo Saxon. Brownson's Quarterly Review Songs of the Sea. Spurzheim's Phrenology. Guizot's History of Civilization. Ollendorf's Methods of learning German, French and Italian Murdoch and Russell's Vocal Culture The Island Bride. Tappan's Poems Scenes and Songs of Social Life. Cyclopædia of English Literature Prescott's Conquest of Peru. Voice of Solomon to Young Men. Hague's Christianity and Slavery. Phonographic and Phonotypic Books. Memoir of Swain. Literary World. Louis Fourteenth and the Court of France Chambers' Miscellany. Budget of Letters. Modern Painters Bushnell's Views of Christian Nurture The American Review- Hudson's Lecture on Macbeth Longfellow's Evangeline. Willis's Poems. Life of General Hull Halleck's Poems. Real Life in England. Goldsmith's Poems Chambers' Miscellany. Massachusetts Quarterly Review PROSPECTUS. THE leading purpose of this Magazine is, to awaken a more general interest in SELF-IMPROVEMENT-Physical, Moral, Intellectual, Industrial and Prudential; and to meet the wants of those who are more or less engaged in that noble work. But while it will aim to embody in its pages-by means of original contributions, and careful selections and compilations from able writers-a good share of the best self-educational spirit and talent of the age, no effort will be wanting to make an entertaining and useful MISCELLANY OF PROSE AND POETRY for the general reader. It will seek to impress deeply upon the minds of all persons engaged in the Practical pursuits of life, the importance, the duty, and the practicability, of EDUCATING THEMSELVES, in a manner worthy of beings created in the image of God and provided with illimitable means of improvement. It will endeavor to disseminate correct views of the kind of education best suited to Republican citizens in general, and to each of the Practical classes of Society in particular; and to point out the best course to be pursued in its acquirement. We believe it will be able to demonstrate that the Useful Avocations of Life, instead of constituting any obstacle to the best kind of Self-Education, may and should be so regulated as to contribute eminently-as Providence doubtless designed they should-to the highest Intellectual and Moral, as well as Physical, interests of those engaged in them. It will therefore repudiate the notion, that true elevation of condition requires the quitting of any useful employment; and do what it can to break down the foolish, not to say wicked prejudice against healthful Labor, which still so extensively prevails, as well as to check the over-weening veneration for Professional life, so common among all classes. Recognizing the cardinal Christian doctrine of Human Brotherhood, its whole spirit will be opposed to Oppression and Depression in all their forms, whether their victims be of any caste or of any color. It will show that sound policy, no less than duty, calls sternly upon the more prosperous classes to take the most generous interest in the elevation of every branch of Society. In all this it professes no novelty. Taking its stand upon those two grand principles of American Institutions, the Right of the People to Self-Government in the State, and to Private Judgment in Religion, it will show that these principles may not be put aside as mere rhetorical flourish. They not only mean but command something They involve the doctrine that all classes of the community (when in a condition to exert their powers) are CAPABLE OF FITTING THEMSELVES TO JUDGE WISELY UPON THE HIGH AFFAIRS OF STATE AND THE DEEP THINGS OF RELIGION. This is true-let temporal and spiritual despots sneer at it as they will and no one can neglect the responsibility this truth fastens upon him, without proving false to his country and to the Kingdom of God. The life of Liberty depends upon acknowledging and living up to it. "Here the free spirit of mankind, at length, Throws its last fetters off; and who shall place Or curb its swiftness in the forward race?" The social means now in operation for the elevation of the mass of Society, together with such new schemes of improvement as may be proposed to the community from time to time, will receive the most serious, and we trust candid consideration. Special attention will of course be devoted to Lyceums, Mechanic Institutions, and other popular educational Societies. As to the attention we shall devote to Literature and Science in general—as well as to some other matters which there is not room here to discuss-we need only say, that we shall be guided mainly by the leading design of the Magazine. We have explained the peculiar features of our plan, and it is the less necessary to go further into particulars, as the work will soon be found speaking for itself. It is natural that we should wish to become early and familiarly acquainted with those who have most to do with our happiness, and with whom it is most necessary for us to associate. And this desire is no more natural than the acquaintance is important. So far, also, as it may be our duty to benefit and improve such persons, this acquaintance becomes of moment to them as well as to us. No one will doubt this. But it is too seldom perceived that, for the same reason, an acquaintance with OURSELVES is not only desirable in the highest degree, but of the first and most pressing importance. Who, except our Maker, can have so much to do with our happiness as ourselves?— and with whom are we so absolutely obliged to associate? What can be more indispensable than our own improvement?—and how can we improve ourselves except in proportion as we know what we are? We can neither get rid of ourselves, nor escape the responsibility that rests upon us to make the best use of all our powers. |