The Arkansas advocate., 1830-06-16
From khe Bostoa Courier.

From kte Bosf0n C0uTler.
 DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE.
 We have read with great satifaction an article in the last number of the North American Review, on the Ditfu- sion of Knowledge, one of the most elo- quent and persuading essays of the kind which we have met among the multitu- dinous efforts of the present day, to make men fall in love with science, and to seek for instruction as for hidden treas ures. It's basis is formed of the publi- cations of the British Society for the DiitiH;ssiier,a sJeffu Useful iik1owiedge but the criticisms on those works is by no means the most attractive part of it. It is af- ter the writer has lest sight eht end even the recollection of the books whose ti- ties, for forms sake, he has written at the commencement of his essay, that he becomes instructive, enthusiastic, and convincing; and comes out in defence of the great projects, to which they had invited his attention, of communicating scientific knowledge to the whole intel- ligent portion of the mass of society," projects which have aroused the ener- sgies of the moral and social world as they have never been aroused before. 1t is said, and said truly,
 z The records of Greek and Roman literature give no example CT hint of productions or projects such as these. The splendid fables of Arabic learning and genius, though royal halls gave an- dience to them; the mystic lore and cumbrous philosophy of the East, fur nish nothing that can enter into the com parisost Fhe Lyeeam thai was first built on the pleasant banks and among. the shady groves of the Illissus, where Aristotle taught philosophy, was design ed only for a few studious youths. These sequestered retreats were never inya. ded by the footsteps of the Athenian ar tizan or tradesmen, nor by fruiterers or1 hnshandmcn from the fields of Attica. The noble projeetof bringing down high philosophy andholy science to the mass of the people has been reserved for this age. It is novel enterprise among mankind. It is an unwritten page on the history ofthe world. Itisa project. we do not think 1t too much to say, which never before entered into the con captions of men; for it is an attempt to pluck from the sun, sin the highest heaven of philosophy the Promethean fire, to burn on the common hearth-stone in the humblest abodes of mortals.
 The error of past ages has been, to accumulate power, wealth, learning. and even religious responsibilities and trusts, in 8 few hands. Monopolies have not been confined to property : they have extended to knowledge too. Science, as well as religion, has said to the mass of mankind, " stand by thyself for 1 arss holier than thou The paths oi tlle scholar have led far away from the beaten track of common life. He has conceived himselft to have little to do with the world at large; he has had a few sympathies with it; he has felt lit, tie interest ln 1t. He has compared sci enceindeed to the light of heaven; he has talked eloquently about its proper ties: he has talked in figures: he has notactually felt that its one ofthe liahts that men daily walk by. Indeed. these primary interests and blessings of the " eslal tse ttse ssii which we have referred. have not failed of.iifusion because they have not been duly appreciated; but because they have been held by the possessors in sort of selfish estimation; because they have been considered as too good for the mass of mankind, or because i, has been imagined that they would be solled by common use. But tis the strong tendency of all liberal thought and feeling, atthis day, to bring ever, human acquisition to a practical ac count; to make men in politics theil own T, ,lssrs, iia religion their own guides to spread wealth, by. abolishing the laws of entail and primogesiturcs, into general competence and comfort; and