Extent and choice of studies.

Choice of books.

cultivation of his mind both in science and literature; for any acquisitions of knowledge cannot fail to be useful to him, directly or indirectly, sooner or later. And the chief advantage which the gentleman of wealth and leisure enjoys over his fellow men, is in the greater means of improvement as the means of greater usefulness-neglecting which, he abuses the gifts of Heaven, and incurs the censure of the unprofitable servant who hid his lord's

money.

A liberal education properly includes some general knowledge of every branch of philosophy-of its objects, its uses, and the mode of its pursuit. After acquiring this, the aspiring student is at liberty to devote himself to his favorite branches; and will be the better prepared for them by these preliminary studies, from which he may derive extraneous aid when his favorite resources are exhausted. A well selected private library, therefore, should contain at least one good book on every branch of knowledge. Beyond this, professional works, or works of literature may predominate, according to the proprietor's peculiar taste and pursuits.

Perhaps at the present day there is danger of dissipating our faculties, and after acquiring general ideas of all the sciences, attempting to master them all-which is impossible. He that would excel, must devote himself to one pursuit. Let him examine all before making his choice; but having once chosen, he should be as constant to his favorite study, as the lover to his heart's idol, if he would win distinction.

Another prevailing error of the present age, perhaps, is promiscuous and excessive novel reading. We are advocates of novels, of a certain class; not such as paint unnatural scenes of mystery, magic, or erratic passionbut such as describe real life, and thus convey to us a

Discrimination of novel reading.

Classic authors.

knowledge of men and manners derived from the experience of their authors. The works of Scott, Bulwer, Cooper, and some others, we regard as a part of our classic and standard literature. Of Miss Sedgwick's and Miss Edgeworth's novels we would record our unqualified approbation. But though many other novels are worth reading, we would suggest that there are many other books much more so; and we cannot approve the taste which runs after every new novel, while such works as the Idler, the Rambler, the Spectator, and our classic poets and historians, are neglected. To a mind not vitiated by habit or false taste, the writings of Herodotus, Thucydides and Xenophon-of Livy, Tacitus and Sallust-of Gibbon, Hallam and Russell-of Homer and Virgil of Milton, Shakspeare and Byron-of Cowper and Thompson-of Addison, Johnson and Goldsmithof Marshall, Ramsey and Irving-of Miss Hannah More, Mrs. Hemans, and Mrs. Sigourney,-would be at least as entertaining as a majority of the novels, and far more instructive.

In conclusion, we would suggest, that short as life is, and precious as time ought to be, we should read only the best authors, and read them carefully; select the best of their ideas, and make them our own; remembering that we are thereby forming our minds for usefulness here, and happiness hereafter.

SEMI-MONTHLY RECORD.

PROF. SILLIMAN'S LECTURES.-This valuable course of lectures is just closed. Mr. Silliman's interesting manner, his perfect familiarity with the subject, and his superior experimental illustrations, have attracted very numerous audiences. Of course he was able to compress but a small portion of chemistry into twelve lectures, but he has done enough to place our citizens under great obligations for his labors. They cannot but serve to increase the interest of the community in this important branch of study.

THE LYCEUMS, AGAIN. In addition to the list of flourishing Lyceums, described in our last number, the Dedham Patriot mentions those at Dedham, Walpole, Taunton, &c., and remarks that some of these societies have employed lecturers for the season, and that with others, debates upon the popular questions of the day, and lectures by the members themselves, have been the plan of operation. The members of the Young Men's Lyceum, in the south part of Dedham, have been quite active, and we doubt not have derived much benefit from the association.

MECHANIC APPRENTICES' LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.-The mechanic apprentices deserve much credit, for keeping this establishment in such good order and in so flourishing a condition. An address delivered by one of their number, Mr. Seaver, last summer, is a favorable specimen of what a young mechanic may do, in the way of intellectual improvement, and shows that the author may hereafter be capable of much better things.

WATER. An interesting Lecture on this subject was recently given by Dr. C. T. Jackson, before the Hanover Lyceum. The substance of it, with the result of some further investigation relative to the water of Boston, will doubtless constitute the fourth number of this series of the Tracts, which will appear the 15th of next month.

LEAFLESS PLANTS.-It is a remarkable fact that plants which are without leaves are also invariably destitute of the green color which marks the greater portion of the vegetable creation. It is interesting to observe in this connection the general principle stated by Prof. Silliman in the course of his lectures, that only the green plants exhale oxygen at any time. The connection of these facts gives us a hint (though nothing more, it must be confessed) at the reason of the almost universal prevalence, as well as the mediate causes of the existence of this delightful hue in the leaves of plants. We must undoubtedly ascribe it to the oxygen in them, by whose vitalizing operations the vegetable life is sustained.

EFFECTS OF KNOWLEDGE.—It is not more evident that the body was made to be improved and strengthened, than that the mind was also made to be improved by knowledge. And he who learns, if he learns well, not only finds learning easier the farther he advances, but understands better what he learns. For science is not arbitrary, or composed of detached and isolated parts; but it is all one connected series of truths, centering in Deity, and embracing the largest and smallest, the nearest and the most remote portions of his universe. So he who learns not, or ceases to learn, does not fulfil his destiny— which is, to become acquainted, as far as in his power, with all truth. He can know neither his Creator nor himself; although his greatest happiness depends upon this knowledge.

SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION.-Attempts are making in London to fit out a new expedition of discovery to Africa. The project is to begin at the south, and proceed northward, by

caravan.

A SIMILE.-Associated effort, though much greater than that of individuals, is not powerful in proportion to the amount, so to speak, of the power of its individual elements. We may compare it to the motion of an extensive combination of pulleys-strong enough, indeed, to raise vast blocks and pillars of granite, but operating slowly, and losing an enormous amount of force in the overcoming of friction among its parts. And there is yet this farther disadvantage in these engines of moral power-as the associations of these days may be considered to be that every member of them cannot work with its due force, many of them being comparatively powerless, while a few have almost entirely to themselves the management of the ropes. Still these associations are vastly useful. They are indispensable. Without them, the mountains which lie in the way of our intellectual and moral improvement could not be removed-the pillars of the temples of science and of truth which we erect, could not be elevated.

MANUFACTURE OF SODA.-In France, the demand for soda in the arts is so great, that it cannot be supplied by the ashes of marine plants, from which it is usually obtained. Manufactories have therefore been established for obtaining it by decomposing common salt, which is a compound of muriatic acid and soda.

SUBMARINE REGISTER BAROMETER.-This is the title of an instrument constructed by Mr. Paine, of the Adelaide Street Gallery of Practical Science, in London, to ascertain the depth of water by its pressure on a column of fluid, the graduation of which is into degrees, each equivalent to the pressure of an atmosphere, and subdivided into tenths.

EXPERIMENTS ON STEAM-BOILERS.-The Franklin Institute of the state of Pennsylvania are publishing in their Journal the results of experiments made by them on this subject, at the request of the Treasury Department of the United States. It is probably one of the most able aud satisfactory scientific reports which have been made in our country.