The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

'•>40LETTERS^ TR.\CTS, IfC.In the firfl pLicC;, we are iiiforired that this aoailemywill infpire us v/ith a tafte for literature.—line accomplilhment, truly, for a man of trade I Willa tafle for literature improve his judgment in checksand handkerchiefs ? Will a tafle for literature makehim a better critic in the quality of tobacco ? Will atafte for literature "bring any thing into his pocket ?We believe it vnll rather be the occafion of drainingit. When once a city is fo far left to itfelf as to contrafta tafbe for literature, it is immediately vilitedvith fwarms of bookfeilers. Like the locufts mentioncdin the prophecies, ihcy will cover the face ofthe whole city. By bookfeilers, however, we do notmean the worthy gentlemen who follow that occupationin this city at prcfcnt. They have a fpirit fortrade, and deal only in catechifms, and fome few ftaplearticles fit for exportation. By bookfeilers wemean your dangerous people who bring down booksfrom England, Thefe books draw the minds of ouryouthentirely off their bufmefs, and introduce herefyiimong them. And young people, by laying out theirmoney on fuch unprofitable articles, gradually wearoff frcm their minds that ferious fenfe of its valueand importance which is the main principle qf thecommercial life.Nothing too can be more pernicious to a youngman's trading principles than the maxims by whichvour men of tafte afcertain the value of bocks. Theydo not value them, by their v^eight, or the quantityof paper and print they contain, though thefe be thethings that conftitute their intrinfic worth. They valuethem, forfooth, by the finenefs of their fentiments,and the eldTgance of their ftyle, circumilances to whichwe pay no manner of regard. Some years ago, acountry clergyman happened to be dining with an e-mment merchant in this city : The converfation accidentlyturned on a political topic that was muchtalked of at that time : The clergyman obferved th^vt