The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-03-09

tcentra governments without mourning their uan-
gers and abuses. The patronage Of literature, and
the promotion ofgreat objects Of pablio utility mas
in most other times and communities, dePended
on moharehies and rich missionaries These, con-
centrations of power and wealth are OF course IN
known under our free institutions. The wants OF
society have given birth to substitute for them
lin the form of voluntary associations. These have
manifestly been the. offspring of liberty. They
were unknown under the monarchies and arlsto:
Icratic republics of ancient times. : They are still
unknown and forbidden under heavy penalties un-
lder the iron governments of Europe. They first
took their rise In England, and were thence trains
Iplanted to this country, where they multiplied and;
developed themselves with raPidity and energy
WHICH showed that the soil was congenial TO them.
The Society WHICH we have the honorto repre-
sent Mr.. Chairman, is one of;this class. Its field
| of labor is. America-its materials and instru-
ments will, as far as possible, be. American. 1T
aims at the Diffusion of pure and wholesome
knowledge, mbued with the spirit Of Christianity,
(the soul and energy of all true virtue9 through
the vast and rapidly increasing population OF our
country. =. 81, .
The Secretary of the Society, Mr.. G: D. ABBorf,
then rose and said, he wasrequested to state to the
meeting the circumstances Of the origin and orma-
| ton Of the Institution, and that he would briefly
state, that while making the tour of the United
States, during the years. 1881. lS3. and 1888, his
attention had been directed to the, power and in
! hueEce of the press in this country and that IN
subsequent visits to England in the years 1884
1885 and 1885, he was led to make similar obser:.
vatons there He had also opportunity to learn
som ethng Of the operations and. usefulness OF
foreign societies, engaged In using the press, and
the art Of engrarIng to promote the intellectual
and moral improvement Of the great mass Of So.
~ r.. ~,
nected with one of thoSeInstitutions, remarked to
him. on one occasion that he should consider his
life we'll spent, though he should do nothing else
If he could only be the instrument Of establish
ing similar Institution in America. and urged
strongly the adoption Of suitable measures to ac-
eomplish so desirable an object: h. .,..:
Mr.. A. stated that on his return TO this country,
he commenced careful examination of the issues
Eof the American Press in all its departments, in
Guiding newspapers, magazines. reviews pam
Ephets, ballads, and books. careful analysis was
made of the various issues of the press, in VOL
umes, during the years 1893 half of 1884, and
1885; and tabular view drawn up, exhibiting
the proportions of books IN each department..
Mr., A. then exhibited mass Of statistics rela.
ting to the publications in England, in France
lin Germany, and in this country,
magazines aud books, showing that ours is one
of the most reading communities in the world.
He exhibited facts relative to the extensive opera
tons of European Societies, engaged in the work
proposed by this and showing the province and the
importance Of similar institution in. OUR own
country, and the inestimable good which might
be accomplished by the systematic measures which
such an Institution only, likely to adopt for secu-
ring every advantage that may be obtained from
what European Governments and Institutions are
ongt promote the great interests of popular edu-
&b, &c
In this way whateveri found valuable,and adapted
to our Institutions, may be introduced and initiated
by us: We may obtain all the valuable publica-
tions that are issued abroad that deserve repubiica
ton and general circulation here And, by system
ATTIC efforts, may collect and dffuse information on
the great subject Of education in all its departments:
ascertain the actual operation and success of the
various systems now in operation in the different
States of the Union: and Of the systems establish
ed, and the improvements made, in other coun- |
tries we may thus bring from every quarter and
diffuse far and wide a knowledge Of whatever may
be, useful to the great cause Of public instruction
throughout our land. These, and similar facts
and considerations, presented in various circles of
literary and benevolent men, in different parts of
the country awakened a conviction of the inn
portance and practcabity ola national Institution
of this kind and led to the organization Of the So
ciety and its incorporation by the State of New
York. - :. = -
Mr.. A. said the first great object of The Society
was the publication and general. introduction of a
National School Library. It's estimated that there
are at least fifty thousand schools in the United
States, and it is now generally, If not universally,
admitted, that every one should be supplied with
an appropriate library: For this purpose, the So
cety proposed, from the outset, the publication Of
a series of popular works upon all those branches
| Of knowledge Dost interesting and useful TO- the
great body Of the people ;-including History
Voyages and Travels, Biography Natural, History,
the Physical Intellectual, Moral and Political Sci
ences, Agriculture; Manufactures Arts, Commerce
Bellies Lettres, the History and Philosophy of Ed
ucaton, and the Evidences of Christianity: 1t aims
thus to bring before the minds of the entire pop
ulaon Of the country, the richest means of social,
intellectual, and moral improvement; and in the
view, of the Committee, there are few ways in
which more extensive, substantial and lasting good
can be conferred upon our country.
Who, for instance, can estimate, the benefits to +
the present and the coming generation, from the
.wde-spread diffusion of the best productions of