re-union of soul and body, where knowledge shall not be withheld, but perfected in every individual.

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and he will not depart from it" the way of religious wisdom, in which all morality is included.

In every system of education, morals form a principal part or prominent feature of it; but, as principles, morals are subordinate to those of religion. It is highly important, therefore, when schism is dispens d and dispersed through the kingdom, to express and explain the distinction between moral virtues and Christian graces. A moral man may not be refigious, but a religious must necessarily be a moral man. The one loves justice and temperance, the other lives by faith rooted in charity. The one conforms his manners and actions strictly and uniformly towards all his fellow-creatures in this world; the other early in the morning,' "as one day telleth another," " directs his prayers, as he looks up," to his Creator and Preserver; and in the evening of a well-spent life, lies down reposed in hope and confidence of an eternity of happiness"in another world."

This distinction obviously presents itself in adopting a general plan, and national institution, of schools for edu. cating the poor, and in tracing it through all its varieties of captivating ingenuity and comparative excellence. The plan, imported from abroad, is a scion of an Eastero' indigenous plant, committed to the care and culture of "two persons," eminently qualified to propagate it, The exceeding pains taken by Mr. Lancaster are so meritorious in the cause of humanity, and of the unlettered poor, as to transcend common praise and commendation; in drawing forth latent sparks of mind, and hidden talents; in furnishing means, and pointing to materials hi therto unnoticed and undistinguished in this climate; and in putting them literally into the hands of the poor, by which they learn to "delineate" legibly, what is to be "imprinted on the mind indelibly," through the exercise of human faculties, and to the probable extent of them.

Thus instructed, he "that runs may read," and the sense of ingenuity in

the original plan is the first to be acknowledged, and the first to strike the opening mind with wonder: but there is" improvement" that succeeds to invention, and superior excellence, comparatively, surpasses the merit of original imperfection, The minds of the illiterate poor, capable of receiving "moral instruction," are as capable of imbibing "religious elementary principles and though in the "dawn" of understanding, and by the light of Nature, the Almighty Maker of the Universe and Creator of Mankind is discovered by Revelation only is learned the rule of faith and universal redemption. The tribute, therefore, of the most grateful thanks from the poor is universally the same, and due to Mr. Lancaster and to Dr. Bell; the scale of instruction liberally the sanie; that, in their own way, Mr. L.'s brethren may be instructed “to speak or to keep silence;" that hymns may remain in the hands of Dissenters, as in the kirk of Scotland; and that the Church Catechism may be put into the hands as early as possible of children educated in the principles of the Church of England,

Here commences a competition, and not compromise, in pursuing the best means to attain the same good end, "the education of the poor, and the edification of their minds." The book, of inestimable value, "the Bible," is the first put into the hands of all, rich and poor; that sacred volume of truth, of religious duties, examples, and directions according to the Holy Scriptures. The reflection and result, therefore, in the mind of Dr. Bell, was in unison with the sentiments of all sound men hers of the Established Church, and "his" explanatory plan of instructing the poor was as necessary as it is commendable, to inculcate, to spread, and to maintain the truth of Creeds, and Orthodoxy in abiding in them.

Admitting it to be true, of children educated in the schools of Mr. Lancaster," that numbers have been added yearly, and considerably," it is averred with equal truth and success, that thousands and ten thousands of

the poor instructed in the principles of the Established Church, previously to the improved plan of Dr. Bell, have been initiated and educated in useful and religious knowledge, either in charity schools, in most of the large

towns,

Admitting freely the merit of Mr. Lancaster, and the benefit and success of his schools for reading, writ ing, and arithmetic, and the Holy Bible put into the hands, or permitted, of the poor, as the first and iuitiatory book, it is in candour and equal justice due to Dr. Bell, in his improved" plan, to admit Creeds, Liturgy, and the Church Catechism, in his school, and mode of instruction, in order to have his scholars grounded in sound faith, and upon principles of the Established Church. He who has founded rights will not compromise them; and he who would compromise "religious principles," in times of danger, deism, secession from the church, and even persecution, is like the suppliant in a storm at sea, who would then compound his safety for genudexion and instant prayer.

It is unnecessary to speak to Mr. L. of Articles, Creeds, Tenets, Rubric, and Formularies, excluded from his plan of education, though he professes "not to prevent instruction in them." He must not escape, however, from notice of his words, and Mr. Pope's wish added to them. Mr. L. had said, "I long to see men who profess Christianity, coutend not for Creeds of faith-words and names." Mr. Pope had uttered the same sentiment a century ago. The immediate observation is as obvious as true, though Mr. Lancaster is a man of sense, he is a Quaker-Mr. Pope, a man of genius, was a Roman Catholic" and Dr. Bell is a sound member of the Established Church.

alertness, misinterpreted for alarm, are ready to repel the open attacks of the adversaries of the Established Church, or, if such there be, of Revealed Religion..

In closing the subject of the Eastern system, and mode of instructing the poor, less could not be expected from the mind and activity of Mr. Lancaster, or more from the improved plan of Dr. Bell. In commending both, highly and justly, and their exertions, as first and fast friends of the poor, and at length, in preferring the plan of Dr. Bell to that of Mr. Lancaster, we leave it to posterity to be deter mined, that Mr. L.'s plan was the epoch that ends where the era of Dr. Bell's improved plan begins: but in the present age, we must all unite in the same wish and hope, that, through the exertions of the two competitors for preference, in doing the most and best for the poor, knowledge" nay break forth, and be diffused, as the Sun, "with irradiations of genius and national talents," and that Christianity may be as universal as knowledge in all quarters of the world.

I am, Mr. Urban, of the Church Militant, MILES EMERITUS.

MR. DIBDIN'S BIBLIOMANIA. Mr. URBAN,

Feb. 12. AVING received considerable pleasure, as well as information from this entertaining work, I am happy to see your pages, on more occasions than one, doing justice to its merits. I was lately much surprised, on accidentally opening one of our Reviews, among other, what appeared to me, irrelevant observations, to find a particularly frivolous charge brought against the texture of the dialogue. I would ask, in what manner the subject-matter was to be conveyed? Would a dry detail of catalogues, and names of books and dates, have answered the end? Or is it not obvious that many of its present readers would have been prevented looking into it? Every one must see and acknowledge, that the dialogue is only a convenient vehicle for the more important substance of the notes; and the lively and agreeable manner in which this part is executed, has led many a reader to seek for information upon a subject to which he was before an entire stranger

stranger. Mr. Dibdin is not writing for those who altogether despise book pursuits, but for those whose taste is congenial with his own. There is no question, therefore, upon the value of the pursuit itself; but what is the extent of the obligation which these latter owe to the author. The best answer to be given will be found in the work itself. I will venture to affirm, that there is no where to be found a greater quantity of matter, a greater multiplicity of anecdotes, or a greater variety of useful information within the same compass. He has contrived, at the same time, to set off and enliven his subject by that gentlemanly temper, and that good-natured vivacity, which we never lose sight of, and for which qualities Mr. D. is himself, in private life, so distinguished. It was too true an observation of Dr. Johnson's, that the pioneers in literature are often trampled upon and forgotten by those whose progress they have been facilitating: nor must Mr. D. complain that he may in some instances meet with a sinilar fate: humani nihil alienum; he can claim no exemption. His labours, however, have not been frustrated: he has the satisfaction of knowing that he has secured to himself the grateful acknowledgements of a large description of readers, to whose favourite study he has contributed a fund of pleasing and useful informaYours, &c. S. P.

tion.

Mall, on Thursday the 6th of February last, and was witness to a most extraordinary transaction. Mr. Christie, the worthy and skilful auctioneer, seemed himself to be lost in amazement: the biddings flew, like shuttlecocks, from one side of the room to the other. "On, gentlemen, on; as fast as you please: the pleasantest pace imaginable"—was Mr. Christie's remark; while surprize sparkled in his eye, and joy set his heart a dancing. The lot was the Philosophical Works of Cicero, printed for the Use of the Dauphin, in 1689, 4to; but the TRUE EDITION, Mr. Editor: mark that, I beseech you; the true edition : not the best (for it is an indifferent one*); but the true edition. I thank you, Mr. Dibdin, "for that word.”

Who should be the purchaser of such a lot? and for what sum was it knocked down? Posterity will be incredulous, when they hear it was Mr. D. himself; and he gave 591. 6s. for the volume: so said the Morning Chronicle and the Courier, for the subsequent day and evening. From these too we find, that the purchase was made for LORD SPENCER; a Nobleman of whose book-spirit and book-treasures, the publick can never hear too much in commendation. Well, Mr. Editor, the volume now ornaments the shelves in St. James's Place; and its utility and rarity are no doubt justly appreciated by its noble possessor.

I was much diverted on hearing the remarks that were made immediately a learned voafter the purchase. "Here is Mr. D.

lume, to distinguish the symptoms, and trace the history, of Book-MADNESS, himself giving public demonstration, that he is as deeply infected with the disease as any of his brethren!" I expect to read many sharp squibs against him, for so extraordinary a conduct; but I already hear