PUBLIC LIBRARY, ABTOR, LE OX AND Southern District of Near BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty-ninth day of July, in the 45th year of the Independence of the United States of America, EZRA SAMPSON, of the said District, hath deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as Proprietor, in the words following, to wit: "The BRIEF REMARKER on the WAYS OF MAN: or Compendious Dissertations respecting Social and Domestic Relations and Concerns, and the various Economy of Life; designed for, and adapted to, the use of American Academies and Common Schools. By Ezra Sampson." "The spacious West, "And all the teeming regions of the South, Akenside. "Those Authors are to be read at School, that supply most axioms of prudence, most principles of moral truth, and most materials for conversation." Johnson. In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled "An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the time therein mentioned." And also to an Act, entitled, "An Act supplementary to an Act, entitled an Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the time therein mentioned, and extending the benefit thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints." GILBERT L. THOMPSON, Clerk of the Southern District of New-York. RECOMMENDATIONS. Extract from "Instructions for the better government and organi sation of Common Schools," published by the Superintendent, December, 1819. "The Brief Remarker is a recent publication, which probably has not yet been introduced, as a reading book, into many of our schools. It is a collection of original essays, 66 on the social and domestic relations and the various economy of life." Its leading object is to convey, in a familiar and easy style, the most plain and practical instruction on the common concerns of common life. Whoever is familiar with the essays of our best authors on the same subjects, will find in this book, what will at least remind him of their peculiar excellencies: he will find the same common sense, dressed in the same simple, chaste garb; and the same original and striking views on the most common and familiar subjects. The book is addressed to the common sense of mankind, in the most simple, unaffected, yet irresistible manner. It is re plete with the most pertinent and striking remarks on the daily concerns of common life; and it contains a fund of moral instruction, which for real substantial value, is not surpassed by any production of a similar kind and equal magnitude. Such a book has long been wanted for the use of common schools, and since it has been obtained from a hand so competent to produce whatever is most useful and excellent in such productions, it is hoped it will be introduced into general use, as a reading book for schools; and it is not doubted, that when it shall become generally known, its intrinsic merits will satisfy the public of the justice of the recommendation now given. As the book was not originally designed for the use of schools, it may in order to render it more suitable for a school book, require considerable modification; and it is un derstood, that the author is about to revise and correct it, with a particular view to the new character it is about to assume.' Since the above recommendation was published by me, the following new and revised edition of "The Brief Remarker," has been submitted for my examination: I have accordingly examined it with care, and had the satisfaction to find it well adapted, in its present improved form, for the use of schools.-I am happy in availing myself of another opportunity to express my decided ap probation of "The Brief Remarker," and to recommend it as among the best reading books for the use of Common Schools. GIDEON HAWLEY, Superintendent of Common Schools. Albany, August, 1820. At a meeting of the Regents of the University of the State of New York, held in the Senate Chamber at the Capitol in the City of Albany, February 2d, 1820. It was resolved, on motion of Mr. Jenkins, that the Secretary be directed to procure two hundred copies of "The Brief Remarker," by Ezra Sampson, and that he draw on the Treasurer for the cost thereof, not exceeding one dollar for each volume neatly bound and lettered, and that four copies be distributed to each of the incorporated academies in the State, as a part of the annual distribution to be made for the present year. I certify the foregoing to be a true extract from the minutes of the Regents of the University, at a meeting held by them on the 24 February, 1820. GIDEON HAWLEY, Secretary of the Regents of the University. PREFACE TO THE SCHOOL EDITION. THOUGH between the reader and the author there is necessarily a communion of ideas, and sometimes of feeling, yet, in one particular, their sympathies are seldom in unison: to the former, the preface is the most uninteresting part, and accordingly is passed over unread, or perhaps is read with a sneer; while, to the latter, it is of peculiar interest, as it gives him a precious opportunity of using copiously the pronoun in the first person. This privilege I would consent, however, to waive, did not certain circumstances imperatively demand that I should make use of it. To publish this edition without acknowledging the kindnesses shown to the prior one, would evince a culpable insensibility; while, on the other hand, it would be fulsome egotism to go into a long detail of particulars: between these two extremes, I would fain steer that middle course in which I may give vent to my emotions. of lively gratitude, and at the same time escape the imputation of inordinate vanity. In one respect, and, to my own feelings, a very interesting one- -I mean that of commendation and encomium-the Brief Remarker has met with success far beyond whatever I had ventured to anticipate or dared to hope. In publishing it, I drew my bow at a venture. I had calculated the risks of mischance, and found them neither few nor unappalling. I knew full well the low estimation in which American literature is held, not only by certain Europeans, but even among ourselves. Full well I knew that, with many, the book must lie under a heavy disadvantage from the unfortunate circumstance of its being of domestic fabric; that those American readers (not less numerous than respectable) who read only for fashion, would scorn to introduce to their libraries and toilets a homemade book, on the same principle that they would scorn to attire their person's and their families with the product of domestic looms. Nor was I unaware, that most of those of my dear fellow-countrymen, who possess such rank or fortune that only a favorable word from them, dropped now and then in the ears of others, might be of inestimable value to an author, were too entirely engrossed in the momentous concerns of pelf or of party, to read, or so much as notice, a homely publication, neither promotive of the art of acquiring money, nor possessing aught of party excitement, but merely inculcating general principles or universal truths. But all this notwithstanding, the Brief Remarker has found favor with a large and respectable number; of which are not a few who stand high in the ranks of literature and taste. Nor is it the least of my satisfactions, that it has found the same favor with those of the different political parties and of the various religious denominations. Gladly do I embrace this opportunity to render my unfeigned thanks to all who have befriended it in any way or manner, and particularly to those respectable individuals in various places, females in part, who have taken an active interest in its success, and with their pens and their types, or by other means, recommended it to the notice of the general community; favors the more estimable, as they were free and sponta neous, and not a few of them from persons with whom I had never any acquaintance. If I may lay claim to any virtues, one of them is, duly to remember acts of disinterested kindness till my expiring gasp. The present edition owes its existence chiefly to two auspicious occurrences, both unsought and unexpected; and for that reason the more highly gratifying: the one, the recommendation of the work for scholastic use by the Superintendent of our common schools; and the other, the Resolve of the Regents of the University to purchase of me two hundred copies and distribute them among all the incorporated Academies of this State, thereby aiding my means, as well as animating my hopes. Of these instances of efficient patronage, I shall never cease to entertain a proper sense, whatever may be the final success of my labors. |