Any thing like romance in life, is of most thrilling interest to such a being. If the evil should stop here, it might be borne by society with some patience. But, a distaste for study, not only destroys the prospects of an education, but it prepares the mind for the most delusive and fatal practices. Dissipation of thought, of time and moral principle, not unfrequently leave the youth, before parents and friends are aware, a perfect wreck, the votary of romance and what the world with an unfeeling emotion, calls pleasure.

2d. Not only is the taste of the student changed by novel reading, so as to lead him to waste his time and neglect his studies, but in the opinion of your Minority the most dangerous moral sentiments are not unfrequently inculcated by these books.-If they do not directly speak out, in so many words, (and some do, to the shame of their authors,) they, in their love intrigues and romantic scenes, present human actions of the most corrupting kind, so covered by gay clothing or the tinsel veil, as to make them almost inviting.—To giddy youth, by a fascinating dress they almost change vice into virtue; — make the midnight revel tolerable, or the improper familiarity of the sexes, as a romantic adventure scarcely to be disapprobated; the exercise of the most unhallowed passions, as rage and revenge, are carried out into frenzy and murders, and treated not only as justifiable, but almost as praiseworthy.

3d. In the opinion of your reporter, the various incidents of human life familiarly disclosed in novels, are such as ought not to be spread before youth, during minority. If books calculated to excite impure and libidinous ideas, are in many countries proscribed by law, what shall we say of three-fourths of all the novels written. The very actions described in all the glow of a lively imagination, are calculated to inspire, what! real virtue? no; but ideas of the lustful kind; to heat and excite corrupt human nature and unquestionably to make it what it ought not to be, far more degraded than before the course of novel reading commenced.

While your Minority thus speaks in regard to novels in general, he is free to remark, that some, though very few, in point of morals, do not partake of the disgusting characters above presented. In regard to Sir Walter Scott's novels, your reporter remarks, that though he has done much to change the general character of this class of writings, yet it is believed by some, that he has done infinite mischief to the cause of education and morals, by perpetuating the existence of novels and romances which, before his attempts, were verging to destruction. Some have attempted to convey moral truth by a kind of fictitious method, and because novels are popular and fashionable, have written their principles in true novel style, thereby giving a countenance to a fictitious manner and furnishing a letter of commendation to that host

of novels and romances which, before all other writings, are spreading a moral pestilence over our land.

If the blighting influence of novels be what has been set forth, is it not the duty of benevolent, moral and religious institutions to look well to the character of the publications they are weekly issuing from the press? Is it not imperiously demanded by their high duties to God and to man, to scrutinize the dress in which religious truth is set forth, and not to follow the multitude to do evil?

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If novels break down the distinction between truth and falsehood and fill the minds of precious youth with trifles and vice, what association has the hardihood to clothe in novel style the most important truths of God? In this respect, he is persuaded, that almost every college and university requires a reform; which, if soon and well made, will redound to the glory of God, and the good of the rising generation. Not a public library within my knowledge is to be found, that does not abound in novels and romances; and from this cause, chiefly, these institutions are silently spreading around, a moral contagion more ruinous to the mind, than were the locusts to the vegetation of Egypt. Look at the libraries of societies for improvement in literature; — look at the apprentice's libraries, and you will find one novel to one book of morals or physical science; - yes, very often the novels are to other books in the ratio of three to, one. Our circulating libraries, professedly organized for the good of the reading community, abound in little else, except romances and popular tales. The works of a Bulwer stand conspicuous in every collection. His heroes, the enquiring youth will commonly find to be degraded villians, and his heroines, females of doubtful virtue; yet these characters are made so fascinating, and embellished so artfully by the happiest strokes of a fine composition, that the inexperienced may mistake them for the most honorable and chaste of the human family-libraries filled with books of such a description, deserve, instead of approbation really, the reprobation of society they are unqualified nuisances; and, unless soon purged, will carry contagion throughout the length and breadth of our land. Quere: If our coffee-houses are to be condemned, and justly, for spreading abroad material poison, what ought even-handed justice to award to such establishments of mental food as are dealing out an immaterial potion which is calculated to derange and stupify the mind, and to break up that moral principle which binds us to society and to God?

Our book-stores exhibit some thing of the same appearance with our circulating libraries, and the contagion seems to be spreading. Not a newspaper or annual can be made to please, without a full suit of romances and relative misrepresentation, which, like the white lies

224

REPORT ON FICTITIOUS COMPOSITION.

of former days, are beginning to be estimated as possessing no moral turpitude. These works, in their dress of fiction, and many of them of most unnatural fiction, are the standard volumes out of which our sons and daughters are to learn morals and virtue. Do we hear the friend of novels earnestlyenquiring, if you discard our long list of novels and romances, the reading community will have no substitute; in consequence, learning will decline, and the youthful mind, unoccupied, will find employment in scenes of dissipation? Your Minority answers, take away these works of fancy and falsehood, and the reading portion of the community will return to the more manly perusal of moral and scientific works, and instead of a direction towards vice, by the force of truth and correct morals, they will be led to practices consistent with man in his most elevated state; besides, it is in the power of learned writers, to furnish a substitute for these books of fiction. Already the work is begun; the popular volumes of a Dick and Turner are doing honor to the heads and hearts of those distinguished philanthropist ; and if qualified authors, familiar with the book of nature, with a chaste imagination and energetic pen, should present the great facts of nature as they really exist, pleasure and profit will be imparted by every hour's reading, and the principles of natural and eternal truth will be fixed on their sure foundation, and the moral department of our youth will be improved in proportion to the dissemination of such salutary mental food.

NOTE. The minority report was occasioned by some difference of opinion, when the chairman's report was first drafted-as submitted, the difference is not so considerable.

XVII. UNIVERSAL EDUCATION.

ABSTRACT OF A REPORT ON THE BEST METHOD OF REACHING AND ANIMATING. THE COMMUNITY ON THE

SUBJECT OF EDUCATION.

So different are thre habits, feelings and situations of the community, that your Committee cannot recommend any one method of operation that can be of universal application. Conversation, extemporary speeches, occasional remarks, addresses, lectures, etc., and communications through the public papers, may each in its proper place be resorted to with advantage. At meetings, whether accidental or appointed, the subject might be introduced, unless there should be something on the occasion that would render it improper. It should be our constant endeavor to impress upon the minds of the uneducated, the immense importance of a thorough and universal system of education, that would elevate the common people to an equal standing with the highest order of professional and literary characters. They should also be made to see and feel that they have the power in their own hands, and can bring about this state of things if they are so disposed.

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But in order to render our exertions extensively useful, your Committee would propose something like the following regulation, viz that the members of this Convention form themselves into one general committee, and appoint a chairman, that every member in the place where he resides, shall endeavor to form a branch committee, of which he shall be chairman, or have some other person appointed to act in that capacity. And he shall also encourage and assist in forming other branch committees, as far as his ability and influence will permit. We would further propose, that all these branch committees should commence operations according to the plan proposed above, or in any other way that shall seem better adapted to the accomplishment of the object in view. And it shall be the duty of all the chairmen of the branch committees from time to time to communicate to the chairman of the general committee, their modes of procedure and consequent success.

And it shall be the duty of the chairman of the general committee to communicate as speedily as possible to the chairman of each branch committee, every successful experiment or mode of operation that shall from time to time come to his knowledge. And it shall further be his duty, to form or cause to be formed, as many branch committees as possible, and to appoint chairmen, or request each committee to appoint its own chairman. And every branch committee wherever it may be, shall, as soon as organized, become a constituent part of the general committee, and be entitled to the same privileges, as any other branch committee. And it shall further be the duty of the chairman of the general committee to take cognizance of all the branch committees, of their various operations, experiments and success, and render a true report to the general Convention at their next annual session.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

THE following article, on the same subject of the above, was prepared by a member of the Committee residing at a distance, and submitted as an independent report. —ED.