It is, we very sincerely assure our readers, out of no wish to triumph in the controversy, or to make an appeal that may be successful with the class of Alarmists to which this writer belongs, but with views of a much higher kind, that we now express the extraordinary gratification we feel at the good effects so manifestly produced by the improvement of the working classes in every part of the country. A most trying season of distress has succeeded to one of unexampled prosperity; and the sufferings of the poor have been, in many districts, as severe as in the worst times of the late war, or the still more depressed state of industry which attended the first years of the peace. Yet in no part of England or of Scotland have there been any of those outrages committed, which, in former times, were the constant accompaniments of sudden and general want of employment. Parliament has met since the distress attained its height; and no one has been heard to complain of the People, in places where such complaints are pretty sure to find a vent, at least as often as there is the least ground for them. Ten years ago, even seven years ago, the short Session that has just been brought to a close, would have been passed in devising means of restraining popular excesses by some new inroads upon the Constitution; and the only question respecting the conduct of the people, would have been, whether their violent demeanour had arisen from their sufferings, or from a spirit of insubordination, and hatred of the Government and the Law. The opinions which, on such occasions, especially in 1812, 1817, and 1819, we always earnestly maintained, was, that the acts of violence complained of, were owing to the distresses of the day; that they were exaggerated, in the greatest degree, by the alarms of those who described them, and in some measure by the machinations of spies, and the arts of designing men in petty situations, for their own purposes; but that no spirit of insurrection existed, much less any plots formed and matured for overthrowing the established Government. Those who opposed us, the Alarmists of every description, the honest as well as the designing, and the class of small statesmen, now happily nearly extinct, who were glad to make such alarms available for their party purposes, stoutly contended, that there existed a deep-rooted and wide-spreading disposition to subvert the existing order of things, and to substitute in its room, under the specious name of Reform, a wild, revolutionary scheme, that from being, in its origin, fantastic and impracticable, must speedily end in universal confusion. Such were the only two doctrines held upon the subject; tertium nullum concilium. The fact of discontent, of violence to some extent,

and of acts on the part of the people requiring vigilance and coercion, whether by the existing laws, or by new powers of control, was admitted on all hands. How different our situation now! Distress has unhappily returned- and not the more easy to be borne that it comes swiftly in the track of gay enjoyment and brighter prospects, and that no man ventures to administer comfort, by propounding a remedy, or even by foretelling better times. It is not too much, surely, to bestow upon the progress of education a portion of the praise which so salutary an improvement is fitted to call forth. Men have been attending more than formerly to the cultivation of their minds: The refinement of their taste, and the softening of their feelings, has been one consequence; the habit of reflecting more upon their best interests, has been another.

If such be the natural effects of their beginning to learn-of their knowing that they have a capacity above the more grovelling pursuits of sense, and feeling a desire to know moreto store their minds with useful and interesting knowledgewhat may we not expect from their further perseverance in the same course? But here a difficulty meets us at the outset-the want of means of instruction. Much has been done of late years, by the friends of education, to supply this; And indeed it is peculiarly incumbent upon those who have been chiefly instrumental in spreading a general taste for knowledge, and in giving to all classes the simple acquirements of reading and writing, by which it is obtained, to take care that the means of using this acquirement beneficially to themselves be also provided. They have already taught the people to read; they have implanted in them a desire of learning; it is their bounden duty to give them the means of gratifying this desire, and of gratifying it in a way not merely innocent, but beneficial. The outcry against teaching all the people to read would have some sense, if, when they are taught, there is nothing useful for them to read, which shall be easily understood, sufficiently attractive, and of a useful tendency. The obligations of this duty, it apappears, have been felt, as they should have been; and accordingly great exertions have been made to promote the scientific education of the people, by the formation of Reading Societies, Apprentice Libraries, and Mechanics Institutions, in various parts of the country. We have, from time to time, given the particulars of the progress made in this most important operation; and we shall, in our next Number, continue the subject, so as to bring it down to this season. At present, we may only observe, that the distresses in many districts, although unfriendly to the formation of new institutions, and retarding also the ad

vancement of those already established, have most fortunately proved far less prejudicial than might have been apprehended; in so much that those best acquainted with the details are, we have good reason to know, satisfied that not one Institution has been discontinued, and not above three or four materially affected, by the privations to which the working classes have been unhappily subjected.

It is however evident, that with every assistance which can be given by means of Lectures, the education of the people is chiefly to be accomplished by reading. The principal use of Lectures is to excite the student, and help him through his book. Many never attend Mechanics' Institutions where they are established; in many places there are none; in many places, from their size, there never can be any founded. The main reliance, therefore, of all who desire the improvement of the body of the people, must ever be on books. But Elementary works, that really answer the description, are rare indeed.

Upon most branches of knowledge, there are none which unfold the subject to ignorant persons-to persons whose habits have not been formed by previous study, and who have not the help of experienced teachers at hand. This is a want felt not merely by the working classes, but by persons of every rank in society. Even the young of the upper classes, who are learners of any science, with every advantage of previous education, of professors, and of tutors, feel it: For a teacher cannot always be at hand, and the most valuable instruction is that in which the student does the most for himself, and by himself. But those of more advanced years, who may have neglected the improvement of their minds by the cultivation of science, at a time when such pursuits were far less attended to, are now prevented from supplying the defect, when they most probably would be glad to learn, if they could find the most interesting branches of knowledge expounded in a plain and purely didactic manner. With such helps, a man, having the advantage of leisure, which is enjoyed by the wealthier classes, would often be led on from step to step, until he had learned the whole of a science; whereas, he is now repulsed at the outset, by seeing a mass of cramp statements in hard words, very fit for the proficient, but unintelligible to the beginner. When Mr Brougham, two years ago, strongly recommended the preparation of such works, he announced the expected formation of an Association for promoting their composition, publication, and distribution. (Practical Observations, p. 9, 10, 11.) We understand that it was soon after established, under the name of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge;' and

that some progress was then made in preparing to carry the plan into effect. The maturity of the measures adopted for this purpose was announced by Dr Birkbeck at the late Anniversary of the London Mechanics' Institution; and it gives us extreme gratification to be able to refer our readers to the authorized Notice from the Acting Committee of the Society, among the advertisements subjoined to this Number.

The Committee there state, that the publication of a series of Elementary treatises will be commenced on the first of February next, under the title of A Library of Useful Knowledge; 'that each will unfold the principles of some branch of sciencetheir proofs and illustrations-their application to practical uses, and to the explanation of facts or appearances; --that, in order to bring each subject within the limits of these treatises, the greater divisions of science will be subdivided into branches, and where any portion is of such practical importance as to require minute details, a separate treatise will be given upon it. Thus Natural Philosophy being divided into the general docrine of the Mechanical powers, and their application to Machinery, Hydrostatics, Hydraulics, Optics, and so forth,-while each of these heads is taught in a treatise, or, if necessary, in two,-the practical subjects of Millwork, Optical Instruments, Dialling, &c. will be taught in separate treatises, leaving the general treatises only to expound the application of the principles to their departments of art. So the doctrine of Heat being taught as a branch of Chemistry, and the theory of Thermometers and of the Steam-engine unfolded under that head, separate practical Treatises on Thermometers and Pyrometers, and on the Steam-engine, will also be given, for the more thorough elucidation of every minute detail of such important subjects. Thus, too, while the principles and practice of Agriculture are taught under the general heads, certain parts, of great local importance, will be selected as the subjects of separate treatises-e. g. Hop Planting-Sheep FarmingPotato and Cottage Husbandry-Timber and Plantations.

Under every head there will be references to the best works, or parts of works, where the subject is more fully treated, in order that the student may be enabled to pursue his inquiries further, if he shall have acquired a taste for it.

The price of each treatise is not to exceed sixpence: And, for this small sum, it is found that 32 8vo pages, printed so as to contain above 100 ordinary 8vo pages, can be given. There are therefore very few subdivisions of science which may not be fully treated in a single work, so as to unfold the principles, and their proofs and applications. The prospectus states a

few further particulars, respecting the order of publication, and the subjects of the treatises which are to appear during the first eighteen months; they comprise the Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, the greater part of Chemistry, Botany, and the greater part of Agriculture. Two treatises are to be published every month, beside separate and extra treatises--and advantages in respect of price are held out to distributors, as Mechanics' Institutions, Reading Societies, and Education Committees in the country.

It is unnecessary to add our opinion upon the great usefulness of this plan, and the important benefits which it is likely to confer upon every class of the community. For a sum so small as to be within every man's power, works may be obtained calculated to teach, or rather giving any one the means of teaching himself, whatever branch of knowledge he may feel an inclination, or have an interest to learn. He may take one or more, or the whole of the treatises belonging to a great division of science, or the whole library-or he may take a single treatise upon some art, as dying, bleaching, &c. in which he is concerned. Those who have no reason to spare their money, may also benefit greatly, by having brought within their reach, the means of easily learning subjects which it is not very creditable to be ignorant of, when the humbler classes are masters of them. Led thus to know something of science, the probability is, that they may feel a relish for it, and their leisure and affluence will be most worthily employed in its further cultivation. The design is truly of a most general description; embracing all knowledge, for its means, and the good-the highest good-the moral improvement of all classes, for its end.

ART. IX. Charte Constitutionelle de Portugal. Paris, 1826. pp. 54. 24mo. (Original, dated at Rio de Janeiro, 19. April 1826.)

THE

HE affairs of Portugal have at this moment a peculiar importance. It is the only country of the Continent of Europe where the Monarch has offered liberty to the people, and where their right to accept that offer is disputed. It is not denied that the offer is made by the Monarch sincerely, freely, of his own accord. His authority to do every other act of sovereign authority has never been called in question at home or abroad. The hottest zealot of legitimacy cannot call him an usurper. He is the oldest male heir of a Royal Family which has filled the Throne of Portugal for near two hundred years. The Constitutional Monarchy which he has conferred