filled from corner to corner with squadrons of figures, whose oblique ranks are really terrific to common eyes. In these cases, perverse as it may seem, we should most decidedly say, break the slate and put the squadron to the rout-time is wasting in cultivating a talent that has already over-run the else neglected garden. Where, on the contrary, great difficulty is manifested in acquiring a knowledge of figures, I should be much disposed to press it. Because this difficulty implies an incapacity of mind, in a particular point, that may affect it in other matters, beside solving an arithmetical problem. Effort and application will probably overcome this incapacity, and the mind be consequently improved where most it was defective. This child cannot do a sum-she hates figures-it is of no consequence, so she need not learn. But why cannot she do a sum, that another can do so easily? This may be of consequence, though the sum is not. In all matters of education, I think inaptitude for particular studies should be considered in this light, before they are allowed to be relinquished. It is the part of education to supply as far as possible the intellect's deficiencies, as well as to make use of its redundance.

Whether the common and established method of teaching arithmetic is the best or the only way, is, we think, a matter of consideration. All are taught, and with much difficulty we some of us at least know, how to work a sum in any given rule-but no one is told and no one enquires why it is to be so worked; and how, in being so worked, the true answer must be the just solution of the question. Would it not be an improvement if this could be made known? We were much pleased with the article Arithmetick in a work we lately had occasion to mention, The Complete Governess, that in some degree, and as far as it goes, proceeds upon such a plan. We recommend it to the observation of those who have the task of first teaching Arithmetick to children.

Mr. Johnstone's Elements appears to us a very good publication of its kind.

Conversations of a Father with his Son on some leading points in Natural Philosophy, &c. By the Rev. B. H. Draper. Price 1s. 6d. Wightman and Cramp, Paternoster Row, London.

WE very particularly recommend this little work to our friends in the nursery. It is exactly of the kind of books we desire to see multiplied in our children's libraries, and taking place of stories and other trash, than which we are satisfied they will prove as much more interesting as they are more beneficial. We cannot too much commend it.

INTELLIGENCE

FROM A YOUNG LADY IN LONDON TO HER FRIENDS IN THE COUNTRY.

MY DEAR ELIZABETH,

I WENT yesterday to one of the large charitable sales, of which you have heard so much mention. To a domestick, country girl, no sight could be more novel. It was held at one of the publick Assembly-rooms. The street was in an uproar of carriages, the doors thronged with servants and spectators, such as was used to be seen only on some great ball or opera night. The crowd surpassed what was used to be seen any where and if you passed through the rooms at all, it was rather by force than by sufferance. Though there had been a distribution of tickets, it was too abundant to exclude any one; and I cannot but believe every body was there who thought it a better amusement than lounging about the street. To me it was what in our country tongue we should call a strange sight, to find young ladies standing behind the counter, selling goods in regular shop-fashion, amid such a crowd of strangers. I am

*

told, five hundred pounds were received, and I can well believe it, from the many thousands of people that must have visited the rooms that day. This appeared to me so important a sum to be used for good, and obtained for nothing, that my first thought was to tell you we must set about immediately to do the same. With the second thought, there came a calculation of the cost of what could not exactly be produced for nothing. The cost of materials might not be considerable; but time, more precious than silver and gold-than any thing we hold in trust from Heaven-must not stand as nothing in the calculation. In this, as in other speculations, we shall be sorry traffickers, if we do not calculate the cost of production, before we estimate the profit of our trade. As every body's time is not of equal value, it would be difficult to fix a market price on it but I can think of a process by which we might each one settle for ourselves how much we rightly thus dispose of. Let us do this: look carefully over our days-if there are any hours quite disoccupied, they may be seized at once, and confiscated to the publick use, as belonging to nobody. I believe you and I, dear E., have no hours unappropriated. We will proceed, therefore, to look hour by hour through our days; and taking first into account the duties of our condition, devotional, social, and do mestick, to the best of our judgment we will determine which hours or be they minutes, it is all the sameare already occupied with more essential matters. If there be any of which this cannot be proved, let us consider how we can best dispose of them to promote these useful undertakings. Doubtless we shall lay hands on a few, that will have nothing to say for themselves, why they should not be escheated; especially those we spend in preparing useless ornaments, in talk that wants no aid of the fingers to carry it on, &c. &c. To trespass upon hours elsewhere claimed and due, would be rather an act of robbery than of benevolence.

I have certain thoughts too, about the nature of the

goods exhibited at this sale. The value of such articles rests simply in the paper ticket attached to them-and as the motive of the buyer and seller are the same, the rate of exchange is a sort of compromise betwixt them, of which no account needs to be demanded. But it ap

pears to me that an equal expenditure of time and money might produce something more useful, or ornamental, or at least tasteful, than the things I have seen; which, given in fee simple to a tradesman, would scarcely on their own merits bring pence into his till; though here they sold for hundreds of good pounds. Cannot we, dear E., contrive something that the purchaser will like to have, as well as submit to buy. If it could be useful, the time would be doubly repaid in the production, as well as in the appropriation of the gain. Surely something might be given in exchange for the money thus charitably expended, beside the trouble of carrying home what is but an incumbrance when we get it there. This is a hint for your next gossip with our friends-for I own I do not know what better is, though I fancy that better might be.

As to being our own salesmen, I have heard a great deal said against it, by those who really dislike the object, and therefore are not the best judges of the means. I cannot venture to give an opinion, but my feeling on seeing girls, very young, and some very attractive, ranged behind counters in a publick place, to be stared at, remarked upon, and spoken to, by any body who chooses to walk there, was one of embarrassment for them, which in the simplicity of their good intentions, I dare say they did not feel for themselves: it was not relieved when I heard it whispered by some who took no account of the motives, that these were our religious girls, who must not be taken into company to be made a show of who must not be elbowed by the ungodlywho are brought up apart from the world, lest they should share its vanities and excitements. In our village, it would certainly be very different, Every one there is

known to us, and in some sense a part of our domestick world. And if we determine to have our sale in the market town, we can do away all objection, by getting ladies to sell for us, of a certain age, or name, or consequence, that will make their appearance in publick in any task they think proper to assume, no question of propriety, however folly may choose to make it one of ridicule—which signifies nothing.

I am pleased you are so willing to enter into my feelings. We have often talked this matter over, and agreed that what may be "the business" of religion is not that which constitutes its character in the sight of God-that it may go on, make a great noise, and do a great deal of good, while the heart from which it seems to emanate, but does not, holds no communion in secret with its God, and is a stranger to the sanctifying influence of his Spirit-admiring itself and pleasing itself as entirely as when revelling in the dissipations of the world. I am not disposed to change my opinion; but I perceive we came to our conclusions on one proposition where there are two. If activity is not religion, religion is not idleness. We know that He who condemned the Pharisees attending to exterior things while they neglected the weightier matters of the law, said, "These ought ye to have done, and not to have left the others undone.” We have time, and money, and talents, as well as others. I think before we hold ourselves excused for not assisting these publick institutions, on the plea that it is no essential of piety, we should simply ask ourselves, what we have done instead that is better. If this can be satisfactorily answered, it is enough: but if not, we are guilty of dishonesty towards Him who has hired us into his vineyard, and from whom hereafter we expect our wages.

BAKER AND SON, PRINTERS, SOUTHAMPTON.