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The Village Pastor, from Goldsmith's Deserted Village, 95-notice of Goldsmith, ib.

Unfading Beauty, by Thomas Carew, Esq.-Notice of the author, 96.

No. III.

Penn's Advice to his Family.-Notice of the author, 134.

On the Management of Bees.-Bees, of all insects, most to be admired, 137-anecdote
of a queen bee, ib.—custom of suffocating bees, ib.—deprecated, ib.—more profit-
able to preserve them, ib.-method of securing honey, 138-Huish's hives, ib.
The Dog. Its character; and recollections of a favourite one, 139-cruelty to
them condemned, 139–40

Early Virtue and Talent, from Evelyn's Memoirs, 140.-Account of his son, Richard

Evelyn; at two years and a half old read English, Latin, and French, ib.-his

pious ejaculations before he died, 141.

Advice to the Sedentary, from Buchan's Domestic Medicine, 141.

English Months.-March, 143-oor ancestors observers of the influence of the
weather upon husbandry, ib.-activity of the farmer necessary this month, ib.-
our general neglect of the delights of nature, 144-song of praise suggested by the
spring, ib.

The Cotter's Saturday Night, by Burns.-Extracts from, 145-notice of Burns, ib.

No. IV.

Twelve true old Golden Rules, from the Reports of the Society for Bettering the Con-

dition of the Poor, 185.

Account of the Shipwreck of the French Frigate, Meduse, from the Quarterly Review, 187.

English Months.-April, 191-trees appear clothed this month, ib.-beauty of the
orchards and gardens, ib.-poem on the cuckoo, 192-migration of birds, ib.

Bees. Anecdotes of their instinct and sagacity, 194.

The Dog.-Account of, 194-story of a dog in France, 195--Anecdote of a poodle

belonging to Lord Lynedoch, 196-dogs and cats will live together on good terms,

ib.-Monks of St. Bernard on the Alps, their use of dogs, 197-learned dogs,

cruelty used towards them in training, 198.

Morning Hymn.-Notice of John Milton, 199.-Stanzas, 200.

Advice to Masters and Apprentices, by the Rev. Dr. Glasse, 243.

Account of the celebrated slide of Alpnach, constructed by M. Rupp on Mount Pilatus,

from the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, 245.

English Months.-May, the month of gladness, 248-lines on May, by Cowper, ib.-
general appearance this month, ib.-instinct of birds, 249-sagacity of bees, ib.
appearance of the glow-worm, ib.-Nightingale and Glow-worm, by Cowper, ib.

Notice of John Clare, abridged from the Quarterly Review, 251.

Effects of Negligence, from the French of M. Say, 252.

The Shepherd Boy, a poem, ib.

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INTRODUCTION.

THE character of a Plain Englishman is one of the most upright and admirable in the world. Whether we find this character among those worthy people of the present day, who are content to do their duty in that state of life into which it hath pleased God to call them,' or look back upon it in the times that are past, we can have no doubt or difficulty in perceiving its value or describing its quali ties. The Plain Englishman is the native of a country that has long been highly favoured and distinguished amongst the nations. He is subject to a Government which has for many years insured to its people more real freedom, more impartial laws, and more universal security and happiness, than any other system of human policy. He is attached to that Government, not only by its positive advantages, and by a comparison of the state of himself and his countrymen with those of other nations, but by a thousand feelings and recollections, which tell him how great and glorious this country has been, and how much the humblest of its children share in that greatness and that glory. But further, the true character of a Plain Englishman has something still higher in its claims ;-it means that the owner of it is a Christian. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is professed in his land, in its original purity ;-its truths are held as the surest road to happiness and respectability here, and to perfect joy hereafter. The great principles of his Religion, and the simplicity of its practice, are supported by Institutions founded by the wisdom and piety of past generations. The English Christian feels that the trust of maintaining this Faith and these Institutions has been rendered doubly sacred by the sanctity of the lives, and very often by the fortitude of the deaths, of his righteous ancestors. These are the honourable distinctions of the Plain Englishman; and from these he derives the blessings of Industry, Fidelity, Domestic Quiet, Brotherly Love, Courage, Patience, Obedience to the Laws, and Fear of God.

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The Plain Englishman of the Working Classes, some years ago, had but an imperfect knowledge of the foundations of his respectability. But he felt, if he could not describe them. His fire-side endeared to him by the ties of husband and father, and perhaps consecrated by the remembrance of parents gone down to the grave, reminded him of the happiness peculiar to his course of peaceful labour. The security which rendered him master of his own possessions, however small, told him the value of the Government under which he lived. A kind look, or a benevolent visit from his wealthier neighbour, cheered him in his humble station. He viewed the difference of ranks without envy, convinced that as subjects of the same laws, sharers in the same infirmities, and heirs of the same Salvation, the rich and the poor of England were all equal. The church-yard where the ashes of his fathers reposed was, in his mind, the ever-present emblem of the close of all earthly toils and pleasures.-The white steeple which rose above the trees of his village pointed upwards to the heavenly object of his devotions.-The messenger of God from whose lips he received the lessons of his Faith, was the constant object of his reverence and his love. It may be feared that the changes of Society have in some degree impaired these sentiments;-but no changes are capable of destroying them in hearts still Christian and still English ;—in a few perchance they may slumber, but they will soon revive in all their morning freshness.

It has been thought by some that the progress of knowledge has deadened those natural feelings which once animated the Plain Englishman. It is not knowledge which has effected this evil, but the abuse of knowledge. In the present times thousands of children are receiving education; and this gift is circulated among them by some of the highest, and wisest, and best of men.-There are also thousands of young people who have already received this benefit. But the mere ability to read and write was never considered by these charitable persons as the principal object of their care. It was Religious Education which they intended to bestow; it was the knowledge of Christ and the love of His Gospel which they wished to spread. The good seed' has been sown, but the enemy has sowed tares among the wheat.' Wicked men, by abusing the means of knowledge, have in many cases ruined the character of the Plain Englishman. They have taught the ignorant (for those who pervert the power of being able to read to bad purposes are amongst the most ignorant) to be disobedient to the Laws of the State, and to hold in contempt the promises and threatenings of God. But even this change of a blessing into a curse will not turn the benevolent aside from their good work. They will go on bestowing Education with the same activity; they will redouble their zeal to give it a right direction.

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We have already said that the great object of National Education is to enable all people to read the Holy Scriptures. Our venerable King, with that fervent piety and love for his people which has ever since distinguished him, expressed a wish at the commencement of

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his reign that every child in his dominions should be able to read the Bible. By the blessing of God that day is come. Let none abuse the high privilege they have thus obtained. Thousands, but for this great act of benevolence, might have gone through life without being able to read the Sacred Volume. Let none neglect to profit by this advantage. All the longings of a pure heart are satisfied-all the duties of a righteous life imparted-all the errors of a frail creature corrected-and all the hopes of immortality confirmed, in the Book of Divine Revelation. This knowledge alone is perfect Wisdom.

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But the Bible does not form the only reading even of the most pious men. There are stores of useful, innocent, and necessary knowledge, in the printed thoughts of the wise and learned of every age. In our own language especially, are preserved some of the noblest exercises of human intellect. An Englishman's Library is full of the writings of Divines, who strengthen his faith and confirm his practice, by the soundest argument and the most eloquent persuasion; of Historians, who record the great actions of his ancestors, inspire him with a high sense of his country's glory, and teach him, by example, the true value of whatsoever things are lovely and of good report;' of Statesmen, who explain the foundations of our freedom, and the real interests of kingdoms; of Philosophers, who elevate the mind to a contemplation of the wonders of Nature, and add to the clearer light of Revelation, their evidence of the Majesty and Goodness of the Creator; of Poets, who call up the most pure and gentle feelings of the heart, and kindle our love and reverence for all that is beautiful and virtuous. A studious man knows that knowledge such as this strengthens instead of weakening his piety; and the nearer he approaches the limits of human wisdom, the more is he grateful to the Divine Author of that Revelation, which is the dayspring from on high,' to light our imperfect and erring reason.

But the Books in which real knowledge is stored up are generally beyond a Labouring Man's reach. We propose to unlock these stores. While the evil agents of impiety and disloyalty have done great mischief by preparing cheap poison, shall we neglect to satisfy the desire for information by offering cheap nutriment? We intend to do this in the same spirit with which Education has been bestowed upon all classes-the spirit of friendly equality. We shall take from our shelves the books in which the highest and the wisest have delighted; and we shall chuse from them the most instructive and amusing Extracts. We think highly of the understandings of our countrymen. We shall address them therefore not as children, but as men and women. If we combat Infidelity, we shall look for our arguments in those volumes which have made the deepest impression on the wise and learned. If we would disprove the falsehoods which designing persons have propagated against our Government, we shall republish those reasons for a reverence of its Forms and Institutions, which have convinced the ablest minds, and shewn them its practical excellence. If we would awaken all the noble feelings which belong to the real patriot, we shall go back into the chronicles of old for a

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