REPORTED FOR THE ESSAYIST.

YOUNG MEN'S ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROMOTION OF LITERATURE AND SCIENCE. In addition to incidental topics, this Association have turned their attention to some subjects of general interest, the discussion of which cannot fail to prove useful and satisfactory. 'The expediency of business Young Men engaging in Literature' and the American Colonization Society,' are, at present, the prominent themes of attention.

The following course of Lectures are to be delivered by members of the Association, to be followed by a general discussion of the subjects of which they treat. They are to commence at 8 o'clock on every alternate Monday evening until completed, and each member is at liberty to introduce friends.

June 4, Literature and Business Young Men. June 18, Poetry. July 2, Cultivation and Application of Thought. July 16, Comparative Intellectual Character of the North American Indians. July 30, Poetical Criticism. August 13, Grammatical Accuracy. August 27, Association as a means of action. September 10, Elocution.

The following Amendments to the 9th, 12th and 13th articles of the Constitution, were recently adopted:

ART. ix. It shall be the duty of the Board of Censors to examine, criticise and amend, such articles as may be committed to them for that purpose by the Association, to recommend subjects to the Association for discussion and essay; to prepare and report notices of new publications; and to perform the duties of a standing committee under the direction of the Association. It shall be the duty of the Chairman of this Board to receive and present such communications on literary, scientific and other subjects which relate to the objects of the Association as may be forwarded to the Association.

ART. xii. The following clause is added: Members who reside at such a distance from the city as will prevent their regular attendance at the meetings, shall be exempt from assessment; and all moneys or contributions to the Room of the Association received from said members shall be considered as donations. ART. xiii. Insert before the word Board,' Chairman of the.'

The following constitute the Rules and Orders of the Board of Censors:

ART. 1. The Board shall be organized by the election of a Chairman and Secretary.

ART. 2. It shall be the duty of the Chairman to notify all meetings of the Board; to collect and communicate, all reports, letters, &c. which require the approval of the Board prior to being presented to the Association. It shall also be the duty of the Chairman to endorse all approved reports, and sign all papers emanating from this Board.

ART. 3. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a correct record of the proceedings, and execute the writing of the Board.

ART. 4. Three members shall constitute a quorum.

ART. 5. The regular meetings of the Board shall be held every alternate Thursday Evening, at such hours as the Board shall determine.

ART. 6. The members of this Board shall be in duty bound, in the performance of their trust, to exercise an impartial judgment, and shall, at all times, make such suggestions to the Association and the reporters as they shall deem expedient, having for their great object the advancement of the best interests of the Association.

At a late meeting, GEO. W. LIGHT was elected Vice President, vice I. MCLELLAN, JR., resigned.

THE NORTH AMERICAN ARITHMETIC. Part Second, uniting Oral with Written Exercises, in Corresponding Chapters. By Frederick Emerson, late Principal in the Department of Arithmetic, Boylston School, Boston. Boston, Lincoln & Edmands, 1832.

It is generally known, that Mr. Emerson's First Part, published in 1830, was confined to the simple elements of Arithmetic, with a view of rendering it a suitable introduction to the subsequent study of the science from books which were then in use, and which were thought to be deficient in elementary exercises. The Second Part does not complete the series; but scholars who shall be properly conducted through this volume, will have acquired a knowledge of Arithmetic adequate to all the purposes of common business. The work is divided into three parts. The Third Part is designed for those whose continuance at school shall afford opportunities for prosecuting a more extended course of study.

The analytical method of teaching pursued in this Arithmetic, may be found in " Pestalozzi's Intellectual or Intuitive Arithmetic," published in London, 1821. It is, however, the principle of analysis only, that the author of the North American Arithmetic has adopted. The illustrations by means of cuts, the explanations, &c., are original. Indeed, all the matter contained in this book is original, excepting merely the common arithmetical truths and tables, and about twenty examples, which have been common property for half a century.'

THE SHRINE. Conducted by a number of Undergraduates in Amherst College. Vol. I. No. I. May, 1832. Amherst, J. S. & C. Adams: Boston, Cottons & Barnard.

ANY work conducted by or devoted to the interests of Young Men, always constitutes a theme of deep interest with us. We have not yet been able to peruse the first number of this periodical, having just received it, and therefore are not prepared to give an opinion of its merits; but we have no doubt with regard to the ability of many of the students of that institution to render such a work creditable to themselves, and interesting to the public.

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THE name of this highly distinguished clergyman has been so frequently, and perhaps almost universally, for many years past, upon the lips of all those persons who take cognizance of the religious aspect of the times, that it may be considered a delicate if not difficult task to enter upon anything like a satisfactory analysis of his character, which shall have reference neither to his religion nor his reputation. Every one is aware that various estimates are set upon both these matters by various parties. But the only notice we intend to take of all or any of such estimates, is in the inference that the subject of them must at least be regarded as what we have already called him, a distinguished clergyman. This, we suppose, pursuance of the design above indicated by our general title, will be deemed a sufficient justification for making certain phases of his merits the theme, not of partizan eulogy or polemical argument, but of a literary and critical essay. If we have ourselves been in any degree influenced-as we certainly have been impressed, occasionally, by his preachingwe may still preserve our pretensions to impartiality by admitting the same fact in regard to other preachers of other sects; and by professing our unconsciousness of any feeling in this connection but such as we conceive necessary to an absolute appreciation of his talents, style and delivery, whatever they may be. Had not the reverend gentleman heretofore effected both impression and influence upon the public at large, as well as upon sundry individuals in particular, it would hardly have been an object with us to notice him at all.

VOL. I...NO. VI.

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Our decided impression is then, in the first place, that Dr. Beecher is a man of much more than ordinary mind. Still, we should scarcely know how to point out wherein, precisely, his superiority consists. It appears to us, however, to be rather a general soundness and vigor of intellect-a constitutional and habitual health and strength-than the possession of any particular faculty in an extraordinary degree. His perceptions are keen and quick. He has also great energy of intellect, and his energy goes farther than any other quality of his mind-though without others indeed, it could do nothing to make him original. He has the power not only of confining his whole attention to whatever subject he undertakes, but of continuing the laborious effort to the utter forgetfulness of every thing foreign to it, till he has completely found or completely finished the precise object of his search or his labor. This power of attention it is, which, in all its degrees and modes of application, is so valuable to every man as being necessary to retention. Dr. Beccher carries it much farther. He not only thoroughly apprehends, and easily appropriates, the results of his reading, observation and thought, but he pursues his reflection, gratuitously, till what is to more superficial minds vagueness and confusion-in other words, no knowledge at all becomes to him clearness and systeman accession of precious and productive domain, not transferred from an elder proprietor, but subdued from the very heart of the forest. This, we say, makes him original. For what is originality but the possession, if you ascribe it to genius, or the production, if you ascribe it to hard work, (as we should have no hesitation in doing universally,) of an insight or inroad into a given subject beyond what our predecessors have seen or effected. Some faculties are made to perform this process more rapidly, and with a less palpable effort, than others; some may be incompetent by any extra exertion to make amends for deficiencies of native strength; but whoever succeeds in outstripping his predecessors or his cotemporaries, must do it by the application of a mental and moral machinery, which in some size or other is common to all.

In introducing these general remarks, we do not suppose it necessary to repeat that we consider Dr. Beecher to be something more than a hard thinker. It is something, indeed, to be able to think hard. It is more, to be able and to be disposed to continue a concentrated attention for a long time. This is intellectual energy. But it is not so much talent, as the power of using talent-whatever it may happen to beto advantage. It is not the machinery itself, but the element

which propels it. Accordingly, it may often be possessed in a degree over-proportionate to what it moves; and the navigation of such a mind is only the more hazardous always, and the more disastrous sometimes, for the very speed of its movements. Not such is the ratio between the intellect and the energy of Dr. Beecher. His faculties are, individually and collectively, well made and well joined. They are sound and compact. They will sustain a high pressure without damage; and a pretty rough and constant usage is really necessary to keep them in good repair.

Rough usage we say; meaning such exercise as may be proper to preserve the faculties in their natural strength, and to allow them their natural developement. Cultivation, as that word is generally understood, does not belong to Dr. Beecher's mind. No arbitrary or artificial refinement belongs to it. It would be repugnant to the intellectual as well as the moral taste of the man. It is a principle with him to consult substance rather than surface or show. In regard to all niceties and clap-traps-especially in language-this principle, or perhaps we should say the habitual practice which naturally ensues from it, is carried to an extent which makes it a fault. His mind grasps eagerly at thought, and at the prominent points and leading outlines of a train of thought. The minutiæ he would rather waive, as he would neglect polishing and refining what he does undertake. His energy makes him impatient at being delayed by what he deems to be trifles; and his strength, and his habit of the hardy exercise of it, cannot be satisfied with mere occupation or mere cultivation. Climbing, and leaping, and turning over a windlass, might eventually give him a suppleness and grace which he certainly does not now possess; but he prefers to content himself with a rude and robust strength, which for its own purpose needs and enjoys only the gymnastics of substantial hard labor.

Nor is Dr. Beecher a man of very extensive information; nor yet does he display frequent workings of that imagination or invention which is vaguely thought to characterize what is vaguely called genius. The cause of the former deficiency is accounted for by circumstances already mentioned. He likes to think, and to communicate the results of his reflection, much better than to pay the tax of industry and dependence upon the importation of opinions elsewhere manufactured. There are disadvantages in such a system. Quotations and citations-a learning to supply authorities, to fill interstices, and divert or delight the hearer or reader who is too stubborn or too superficial for bare reasoning to deal with—and a lib