The National Register.
London, England, 1817-04-28 00:00:00

NATIONAL CIRCULATING LIBRARIES.

TO TIII: EDITOR OF TII NATIO% ‘L nrcisTErt.

Sin,—Through the inolium of your paper permit
site to draw the attenti•nt of the public to a new and
powerful machiae for the diffusion of useful mid reli-
gious knowledge throughout the community. It con-
sists in the application of those well-known establish-
ments, wtr ircreinting Libraries, to the use and ad-
vantage of the labouring ostlers. How is it, Sir, that
our Religious Tract Societies have never alopted this
cheap amt comprehensive method of disseminating their
publications? A tract which is bought anti given away
is never heard of again, and it is read perhaps only by
a single individual; beat if it be lodged in a circulating
library, it might be preserved till it was fairly worn
lout, and thus it might be read by multitudes.
But the excellence of-this discovery, as it relates to
the Established Church, consists in its offering a centre
:of union, by firming one great national catalogue of
. all such books and tracts as are tit to be placed in the
hands of the common people. The National Society
having led the way to the general education of the
people, and being now in connexion with more than
two thousand schools, it is proposed that this catalogue
should he drawn up under its immediate patronage and
inspection. The chief' difficulty in this work would
he overcome lw their adoption of tl:e list of bttoks of
the Christian I.Cnowledge Society, fin the religious de-
partment; and thus, also, all jealousy between these
two Societies would be. completely taken away. Surely,
Sir, this is a very noble and comprehensive scheme,
deserving of the support of every member of the
Church of England. Is is also, not less recommended
by its econo:ny than its utility. It is like the im-
provement of machinery in labour. It accomplishes
the same work at a touch smaller expense, by substi-
tuting the cheapness of knding for the extravagance of
...giving; and making the criterion of its usefulness de-
pend upon the rapidity of circulation, and not upon the
number of books printed or re-...whited.
• Consider, Mr. Editor, the amazing energy which is
'contained in the principle of these circulating libraries.
How many hundreds can read the same identical copy!
Of the most popular works there are not above five or
six copies in the largest circulating library; and yet
.these arc sufficient, in a short time, to go through the
hands of countless individuals.

• Apply this principle to the use of the poor, anal what
a saving will be made in all our Tract Societies. A
few tundra pounds would go a great way to supply
even this vast metropolis with a great variety of such
short publications us might amuse and instruct the
bulk of the people. What a blessing would it be, if
several of such libraries could be established in differ-
ent parts of London. I low much it would tend to
soften the passions, and amuse the curiosty of the
•people: But to accomplish this desirable purpose, it is
requisite that a general catalogue should be Noma,
under the direction of that Society, which is connected
with every part of the kingdom. By means of its dis-
trict school committees these libntrips might he soon
-formed in every populous town. The expense would
be extremely trifling at first, for the books would be
small and popular, and afterwards a small annual sub-
scription (say 2s. per annum) would pay all its expen-
ses, end provide for the wear and tear of the esta-
blishment.

I have been given to understand that some persons
lave pretended to object to this scheme, as if it were
presuming to dictate to the people what they should
read. Nay, one gentleman hinted to me that he
thoftght it hare some resemblance to an Index Expnr-
galorias. Hut what resemblance is there between
them? We offer books to those who hove none; we do
.not forbid their getting others, but we put into their
hands those which we think the best. Can uny Oily;
be more absurd than to compare it to a tyrannical edict,
forbidding you to real books which you already posses.:,
;and cutting and mangling publieeions to suit the taste
.of an inquisitor? The National Society is called upon
to do no more than what every public librarian does
-for the subscribers to his library. Every catalogue
most have its limits. After haviog educated more than
two humlre4 thousand children by mean:: of its schools,
the public safe!), demands that this Saiety should pro-
pose to them such works as may improve and instruct
*hew when they have left school; but in the course tf.
a fear year:, a large proportion of our population will
lave parsed through their hands. Ts it, then, not ex-
pedicat Cfat ttul should draw up this national fiirec-
tory for the poor? When it is published, still every
Jinn is tree to partake of its -benefits or not. If one
fbetfk does not please him, perhaps another may ; if
nil dkpleaiie him let him draw up another catalogue in
,opplsatton.
Really, Mr. Miter, something must be done to em-
ploy those energies of the people which education has
called into exercise. If you ;mild not encourage
people to read, you should not give them this capaelty;
but to suppose that the poor eon be contented with
str!rely religious books, is to suppose that they are con-
stituted difli.rentiv from other men. It is neither
table nor practicable to chain down the mind to ony
4ingle topic. Furnish their also with moral tales,

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