is nothing that stands in the way of its accomplishment but selfishness and avarice. If the promotion of the comfort and happiness of our species were the great object of our ambition, all difficulties would soon evanish, and all obstructions would speedily be removed; and why call ourselves Christians, if this object is not kept in view?-2. No street in any town or village should be less than 80 feet wide. In large towns, where the houses are above two or three stories in height, the streets should not be less than 100 or 120 feet in breadth.-3. Narrow lanes and closes, of all descriptions, ought to be for ever banished from all our towns and cities.—4. The practice of sinking stories below the level of a street, unless for cellars, should be laid aside. It has become an almost universal practice in Edinburgh, and other towns, especially in genteel houses, to have a sunk story for the kitchen and servants' rooms, as if they were unworthy of enjoying free light and pure air, and their health in no danger from the dampness of such apartments. There is something absurd and preposterous in being at the expense of digging a hole for the under story of a house, when a kitchen and laundry could be built behind the house, on the level of the street, which would be more convenient and salubrious.-5. Houses might be built with flat roofs, with a parapet surrounding them, breast high, which would form a promenade for families in towns, where they would enjoy an airing and a prospect of surrounding objects, without removing from their own dwellings. It would also serve for drying clothes, contemplating the heavens, and various other purposes. In Eastern countries, where the houses are constructed with flat roofs, they form the sleeping places of the family during the summer months. The rain that falls upon them might be so conducted as to supply every family with water for washing, and cooking victuals.-6. Squares, crescents, or octagonal spaces, should be appropriated in different parts of a town, for bazaars, or shops where all kinds of merchandise should be sold; each shop having an apartment or two connected with it, for the temporary accommodation of a family.-7. The streets more particularly appropriated for dwelling-houses, should have verandas or garden-plots in front of the houses on each side, diversified with shrubs, flowers, and evergreens, and, at certain regular distances, a few forest trees, so that the street, although 80 feet broad, would require only about 40 feet of pavement.-8. In every large city, open spaces, within the city, should be set apart for pleasure walks for the citizens, and diversified with trees evergreen, shrubs, seats, and bowers for shelter from the heat or rain. In small towns, such rural walks should be formed to go

quite round them.-9. A square plot of meadow ground, at each end of a town, might be set apart for public meetings, amusements, or exhibitions, which might also serve for grazing, bleaching, promenading, and other purposes.-10. Certain streets might be allotted for houses of one or two stories, for the accommodation of those who have it not in their power to occupy more stately mansions, so as to preserve uniformity in every street; but such streets should be equally broad, and adorned in the same manner as the other streets.-11. Between the different streets should be garden-plots for every family, and accommodation for washing and bleaching, as also for erecting workshops for smiths, carpenters, weavers, &c. wherever they are required.-12. Encouragement should be given in the neighbourhood of large towns, and throughout the country at large, for building towns on such plans, and for transforming our present hamlets and villages into more convenient and pleasant places of residence. If mankind were united by the bonds of Christian affection, and if all were as anxious to promote the nappiness of their fellow-men, as the greater part are to hoard up wealth and riches which they can never enjoy, all the improvements now suggested could easily be accomplished within the course of a few years, or, at farthest, within the limits of the next generation. But so long as avarice sways its sceptre over the human breast, no extensive improvement, either in knowledge, religion, or physical comfort can be effected.

The following engraving exhibits a plan of a town of a moderate size, which, with a few modifications, according to circumstances, might be copied, in the formation of new towns and villages. In this plan all the streets cross one another in right angles, and are supposed to be at least 80 feet broad. In the centre there is a circular space about 240 feet diameter, from which four streets diverge to each quarter of the town. The central part of this circle might be formed into a bowling green, diversified with shrubs and flowers; or a circular tower might be erected in the midst of it to overtop the surrounding buildings, on the top of which a large camera obscura and some telescopes might be placed, for the purpose of surveying the heavenly bodies, or the surrounding country. The four openings into this circular space might be about forty feet wide, or half the breath of the streets, which would afford the houses at each end of the four crescents a commanding view, not only of the interior of the circle, but of the whole street in both directions. Instead of a circle, an octagon, if judged more convenient, might be adopted. Directly opposite this central circle, on the north and south extremities of this town, are two squares, each of whose sides is about 170 feet

long, and at the east and west extremities two crescents, about 360 feet diameter. In each of the squares, and in the middle part of the crescents, a church or other public building might be erected; and the entrance to these squares, &c. from the country, might be by a broad arch-way under one of the buildings. The principal shops might be placed, and the principal business of the town transacted, in the squares, crescents, and central circle. The spaces between the backs of the houses in the different streets might be set apart either for gardens, washing-houses, or workshops for the different mechanical professions. These spaces should be from 120 to 150 feet wide. A walk should be made to go round the whole town, decorated with trees, shrubs, and bowers; and on each side of the town should be a large common or bleaching green. The extent of such a town would be about a mile and a quarter in circumference, but might be indefinitely extended according to circumstances. Such a town would undoubtedly be much more commodious, pleasant, and salubrious than most of the small towns and villages that now exist.

VIII. Knowledge might be diffused at a cheap rate by means of itinerating libraries. Of late years small libraries have been established in most of our populous villages, and in connection with christian churches; but the want of sufficient funds prevents the purchase of such a variety of books as is sufficient to keep alive the attention for any number of years. In the year 1817, the plan of itinerating libraries was suggested by Mr. Samuel Brown of Haddington, and, under his auspices, was commenced in East Lothian and the neighbouring districts. The object is, "to furnish all the towns and villages of the country with libraries of useful books, and to plant them at such distances that no individual may be more remote from one than a mile and a half.” "The books are formed into divisions of fifty volumes each. One of these divisions is stationed in a place for two years, and the books are issued to all persons above twelve years of age who will take proper care of them. After that period it is removed to another town or village, and a new division is sent in its room, which after other two years is again exchanged for another." By this means a perpetual succession of new books is introduced into each town and village, the principle of novelty is gratified, and the interest of the readers kept alive. The books are kept for a few years for the use of annual subscribers of five shillings. They are afterwards formed into divisions of fifty volumes, and are lent the first year for one penny a volume, (provided it is not kept longer than one month) and gratis the second. One of the principal features of these libraries is their cheapness. A single

library of fifty volumes, with book-case, catalogue, labels, advertisements, and issuing books may be procured for about £10 at an average, as they are purchased on the most economical plan. Were a British and Foreign Itinerating Library Society established in London, that could raise £10,000 annually, it is calculated that, in conjunction with the small sums furnished by the readers, there could be established, in the course of twenty years, a library for every 524 persons in Great Britain and Ireland, taking the population at twenty millions; and in twenty-five years, for every 294 persons, which would be a complete supply for the wants of the whole population. And what would such a sum be to the British Government, which is extravagant enough to waste twenty times that sum every year in bestowing pensions on those who neither deserve them nor stand in need of them? The great object of these libraries is to promote the interests of religion, in connection with the study of history, biography, voyages and travels, and all the popular and useful branches of science. They have been supported and patronized by the most respectable persons in the country, and have met with almost unprecedented success. They have been introduced into several other counties in Scotland and Ireland, and in some of the West India islands, and even in South Africa. The number of volumes connected with the East Lothian itinerating libraries now amounts to nearly three thousand. In some of the divisions every volume has been issued about 120 times, and many of them much oftener. Mr. Brown, who has directed and superintended these libraries for eighteen years, deserves the thanks of his country for his benevolent and unremitting exertions.* In several cities and towns in America such as Philadelphia and Albany, libraries have been established for the use of apprentices, both male and female. The apprentices' library in Philadelphia contains above 8000 volumes. Although well-selected libraries are of immense importance for the diffusion of knowledge, yet no person, who has it in his power to purchase a few good books occasionally, ought to confine his reading to the books of a public library; but in conjunction with the use of such books, should endeavour to furnish himself with selections of some of the best standard books in the language, which he may study at leisure, and to which he may immediately

* Mr. S. Brown is a son of the Rev. John Brown, of Haddington, well known as the author of the "Self-Interpreting Bible," " Dictionary of the Bible," "System of Divinity," and many other works. His exertions, and the beneficial effects which have flowed from them, show how much even an individual engrossed in an extensive business has it in his power to per form, when his aims are directed to promote the good of mankind.