cause of the moral renovation of the world. The time is fast coming, when the usefulness of every publication will be tested by its adaptedness to this object. This is the great design of our Creator in his providential government of the world, and it ought to be the main purpose of his intelligent creatures in all their labors. It has not been so much the intention of the compiler to advocate any specific modes of benevolent effort, as to cherish in the bosoms of his readers an enlarged and philanthropic spirit. The good of one's own country is best secured by consulting for the interests of the whole human race. The effort has been made to select such articles as men of a truly catholic spirit, in all countries, may regard with approbation, rather than those of a patriotic or national character. More than THREE FOURTHS of the articles in the Eclectic Reader are not found in any other selection, not excepting Mr. Cheever's excellent compilations. Fifteen or twenty of the most popular reading books have been examined, so that this selection might have the character of novelty and variety. If the articles are of equal merit with those contained in previous collections, an important object is attained, as a new body of valuable English literature is presented to the youthful mind. The compiler has endeavored to keep in recollection the principle, that the young reader should be familiarized with those kinds of writing with which he will most commonly meet in mature life. It were easy to multiply extracts from Dr. Johnson, Dr. Blair, Mr. Alison, and other writers of a stately and formal character. But little preparation could be made in this way for the exigencies of a miscellaneous and widely various reading. The style of writing at the present time is more forcible, direct and unembarrassed than was the case in the days of Queen Anne, or George III. The same objection may be made to the selection of dialogues, except so far as the reading of them serves to give variety and compass to the intonations of the voice. They are not the species of composition with which it is necessary to become very familiar. Unhappily, also, many dialogues are objectionable on the score of morality and good taste. In conclusion, the compiler hopes that the Eclectic Reader will be an acceptable addition to the number of reading books already before the public. Selections might have been made from Milton, Cowper, Shakespeare, Thomson, and other well-known writers, both foreign and American; but it was not necessary. As some compensation, the man of taste will be pleased with the mature and finished compositions of Professors Playfair and Frisbie, the delightful allegories of Jane Taylor, the "wisdom married to immortal verse" of Coleridge and Wordsworth, the manly sense and comprehensive views of Evarts, and the Ciceronian elegance and dignity of Robert Hall. Boston, December, 1832. CONTENTS. LESSONS IN PROSE. 10. Death of Sir Philip Sidney 16. Calista, or Spiritual-Mindedness.. 24. Pledge to abstain from the Use of 25. The Dawning of a better Day. 30. Letter from the Poet Cowper to Mrs. King 31. Moral Destiny of the United States..... Jeremiah Evarts. 69 34. Sublime Virtues inconsistent with Infidelity...Robert Hall. 82 47. Commanding Position of the United States...D. Webster. 99 49. Character of Brainerd and Martyn.. 53. Winter Evening in an Icelandic Family. 55. Forest Trees preparing for Winter... 58. The Glory of God in Creation.. 59. The Landers sailing down the Niger. 61. Qualities of a well-regulated Mind... 64. Improvement in the Science of Analogy... Pres. Wayland. 126 65. Hurricane in Barbadoes in August, 1831. by one of the Moravian Missionaries.... 66. Pilgrim Fathers of New England 77. Memoir of Lady Huntingdon ....... Christian Offering. 150 78. The Power of Christianity..American Quarterly Register. 154 79. New Republics of the South 82. Permanence of literary Monuments..James Montgomery. 161 83. Extract from a Speech on the Indian Bill, in the 85. Prospects of the Cherokees 86. Youth and Studies of Pascal 87. Cruelty of confining Birds 92. Ingenuity of the Ant-Lion. 93. Proper Method of Education 97. Danger of an exclusive Attention to Secular Learn- 98. Effects of a good Government.. 106. Parallel between Leibnitz and Newton 109. Character of Dugald Stewart Sir James Mackintosh. 213 110. Aristotle, Bacon and Luther. 111. Influence of perverted Talents........ 113. Value of Classical Learning.. 114. Letter from Lord Collingwood to his Daughter..... 224 119. Crater of Kirauea in Hawaii 120. Advantages of Decision of Character 121. Discovery of the New World.. 122. Reception of Columbus on his Return to Spain .... Ibid. 247 124. Living without God in the World. 126. Importance of the Union of the States... Daniel Webster. 258 132. The Active Service of Heaven. Nat. Hist. of Enthusiasm. 269 133. Valedictory Counsels of Washington 134. Obligations resting upon the People of the United 140. Thomas Simpson....Library of Entertaining Knowledge. 292 141. Cemeteries and Rites of Burial in Turkey......Hartley. 299 142. Speech in the British Parliament, on the Motion for 145. Colloquial Powers of Dr. Franklin. 150. Examples of Self-taught Men ..... LESSONS IN VERSE. 13. Lines written while sailing in a Boat at Evening... Ibid. 41 14. Obligations of Civil to Religious Liberty..... Ibid. 42 15. Hymn before Sunrise in the Vale of Chamouny. Coleridge. 43 39. Funeral in a new Colony...... 40. The English Church Service.. 90. Night before the Battle of Waterloo.. 94. A Poet's Address to his Youngest ....... 108. The Ocean an Image of Eternity 115. Immortality... 116. The Crucifixion Coleridge. 125 |
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