more facility, when subjects are spread out unto their widest dimensions, than when distilled and concentrated into their ultimate elements. And this may be, after all, the true secret which solves the objection sometimes made, that thoughts and notes are apt to be so very concise, and to have so little of narrative or illustration, as necessarily to be deficient in life and interest. Sage critics! the authors of such productions must indeed, plead guilty of the fact, but still, not guilty, as to the matter really at issue, since they have made no promise to give thee any thing approaching unto tales or narratives; so that, it would be quite as reasonable in thee to complain of a treatise of algebra, for that it is not poetical, as for thee to find fault with Thoughts and Notes, because they are not modelled into the fashion of pleasing tales !

And yet, in partial conformity to the spirit of our times, I have done my poor endeavour, in the previous little volume, as also in the present one, to blend with the philosophy of thought, and with condensation of style, such a measure of sprightliness, and of dramatic interest, as might harmonize with that species of production. And if it suits not the taste of some centre-table literati, I confess it hath been made what it is, under, perhaps the arrogant, hope of gradually improving their taste! The literature of the centre-table is quite susceptible, and eminently worthy of improvement. It silently exerts a more powerful influence on society than, at first, may be imagined. Why should novels, and poetry and the offerings of monthly

scribblers, and the recherché articles of taste, and magnificent engravings, (often, indeed, accompanied by good matter, seldom carefully read, and sometimes not even glanced at, the pictures, and the binding being quite too splendid, and, therefore, too engrossing to invite unto study,) why, let me repeat, should all these be permitted to occupy the tables of our élite, to the almost total exclusion of works of a more thoughtful and instructive character?

To elevate the standard of popular literature, and especially of that daily and hourly family reading, which is taken up at such intervals of comparative leisure as are snatched from the more urgent and regular occupations of life, it would seem to be essential that the works should be, not only entirely moral, but that the topics should be various and concisely treated, the learning a distillation of thought treasured up from extensive reading, the style animated and smooth, and the mechanical execution of the volumes sufficiently good to be pleasing, without the least distraction, either of mind or purse. Illustrative and splendid engravings should be either very sparingly indulged in, or be found in distinct volumes; and, indeed, would be more appropriately placed on the shelves of the library, for occasional consultation, since all experience reveals the fact that, when they are combined with the volumes on a parlour table, they are extremely apt to seduce the mind from the more solid matter, and to content the butterflylookers into books, with knowledge gained picto

rially, and without mental exertion, rather than with that which may be acquired typographically, but at the expense of some thought! True it is, this mode suits the erratic rapidity of our age; but still the artist must be very clever, if he can convey much instruction, unassisted by the letterpress.

This is no slander of the fair sex, nor is it uttered to the disparagement of the numerous class of petit maître admirers of the beautiful books, so garishly displayed on these tables; for with truth may it be said, not one tithe of the reading contained in these highly embellished and illustrated volumes, ever meets so much as the passing notice of those even, who most commune with them; and until this table-library be nearly divorced from such attractions, the hope is vain that the fragments of our time will be profitably improved; and this is the more to be regretted, as the casual moments thus unprofitably occupied, will insensibly influence and fashion the mind to a still greater disregard of solid reading-so that the more extensive library of the family, or even of the office, becomes gradually less inviting, than if no centretable, with its diverse and ever-changing accompaniments, had ever been introduced! How much the mind, especially when young and untrained, may be injuriously affected by such apparently trivial influences, can only be known to those who have closely observed the matter.

The literature of the reading-table ought to have produced a most salutary effect; but it is

my firm conviction that there is far less useful reading, and even less of genuine taste, since its introduction, than when the old-fashioned, select family library used to be resorted to; whereas, if the literature of this table were rendered somewhat more solid, and if the book-binder were not permitted thus vauntingly to domineer over the author, the larger library would be oftener resorted to; and works of fine taste, and of elegant fancy-splendid engravings and beautiful illustrations, would be coveted and studied, not as the source of mere visual gratification, but of high intellectual improvement.

Methinks I hear PAPILLA, when reading the above, exclaim, 'is not this the most inordinate vanity imaginable?—the Goth would actually expel from our tables the 'BooK OF BEAUTY,'--the 'GEMS OF BEAUTY,' the 'FLOWERS OF LoveliNESS,' and all of the splendid 'ANNUALS,' and 'KEEPSAKES!' and give us, in exchange, his moral reflections, and philosophical distillations, as he is pleased arrogantly to style them!' 'It is indeed,' replies WHISKERANDOS, 'positively shocking; how can the man hope for such a thing! surely the world is now too wise to go back to such stuff!' Soft and fair, dear Miss Papilla, and sage Mr. Whiskerandos! my love for the fine arts, for the elegancies of polished life, and for all the beautiful books you speak of, is quite as ardent as your own; we, perhaps, differ only as to the use we would make of them: but let us compromise matters; you may delight in all the lovely engravings,

and fanciful gildings on the exterior, provided you also carefully read, learn, mark, and inwardly digest' that for which all books are made; and on the further condition, that you fail not to do the same part by mine, though they will never have any such ornate accompaniments. You see, I am far from being a monopolist, of which I will give thee a further proof-in that my simple desire is, to win thee to reading and reflection; and if thou wilt do this, I shall be altogether content, shouldst thou never cast thine eye on any one of the pages of my little volumes-and thus, as I hope, I have now made the amende honourable, for my momentary departure from gallantry.

But, with the leave of Papilla, and of all her class, let me be a little more grave, and to my purpose.

In the following pages my readers will find I have, in some degree, consulted the prevalent taste, by endeavouring, occasionally, to convey my moral, or instruction, as the case may be, in something after the fashion of a tale! and, when this is not the case, by imparting to each theme as much of life and ease, as may consist with the nature of my topics-and of my own nature. And yet truly, I have never seen any reason why the gravest, nay, even the most recondite subjects, may not be popularly, and sometimes even sportively handled; and I believe that the writings of the philosophers, of the school-men, and even of the early fathers of the 'mother church,' might be thus dealt with, and profitably withal, yet without