The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, 1829

(Edinburgh Review (Oct. 1829), pp. 181-193; in A. Aspinall and E. Anthony Smith, eds., English Historical Documents, XI, 1783-1832, New York: Oxford University Press, 1959,.pp.720-22. Henry Brougham founded the Society in 1829. Its purpose was the promotion of self-help and improvement through the publication of inexpensive books.)

...... The great objects of the Society are to furnish the means of instruction to those who are desirous of acquiring it, and to excite the desire of those who are indifferent about it. A vast proportion of the community are now sufficiently educated to be able to read, but of these there are great numbers who can hardly be said to derive much benefit from this power. They read but little, and what they read is of little use to them. This arises, in some, from want of time and money; in others, from want of inclination; in not a few, from both causes. Many of the poor are anxious for books of useful learning, but they cannot afford to buy them; or, when they have made a shift to procure them, they find them too abstruse for their understanding, in the limited time they have to bestow on their perusal. Many, in easy circumstances, have money and time at their command, but want books in which they can learn branches of useful knowledge without the help of a teacher. But many are also to be found, both in the wealthier and the poorer classes, whose minds are listless, or engrossed with other pursuits, occupied with business, enervated by indolent habits-and who regard the effort of gaining knowledge as a toil, the pain of which is inadequately recompensed by the acquisition. To supply what is wanted by all these portions of the community, has been the purpose of the Society's operations.

The Library of Useful Knowledge is intended to furnish treatises on every branch of science and history, at the lowest possible price, and suited to every reader's capacity; from him who is ignorant of the first elements of science, to him who would reach its greatest heights. Sixty of these treatises have now been published: among these are nine containing the History of Greece, which, with the Chronology and Index, is sold in a five shilling volume, containing as much matter as is usually contained in three volumes at four-and-twenty shillings. Another volume, containing one half of Natural Philosophy, is also now completed, and only two or three treatises are wanting to finish the second volume, which will complete the whole of Natural Philosophy. It is stated in the Yearly Report that popular introductions to the subjects of astronomy, mechanics and optics, are preparing, for the purpose of teaching as much of these sciences as can be communicated to persons wholly unacquainted with the mathematics. And, in the meantime, the truly admirable Glossary and explanation of scientific terms, which has been published to the first volume of Natural Philosophy, of itself almost supplies this desideratum as to two of the three subjects....

Supposing the remaining parts of physical and mathematical science to require sixty more treatises, while their applications to the arts occupy [an] other sixty, and 120 are given to the other sciences, and ten to history, the whole Library, consisting of 400 treatises, and containing matter equal to that of forty common octavo volumes, will be sold for ten pounds; or for eleven guineas, including an Atlas of sixty maps; while complete works on each separate branch of knowledge may be obtained for four or five shillings; and upon subdivisions of these branches, for a shilling or even sixpence.

There will also be a gradation in the treatises upon subjects of difficulty, so that readers of every class, in respect of previous acquirements, may be suited; and those who have all to learn, may teach themselves, provided they can only read.... It is certain that if you make anything, valuable in itself, cheap, you increase the demand for it; and as the difficulties of acquiring knowledge are another impediment in the way of indolent persons, whatever lessens these, will encourage them to think of learning; so that, by making science at once cheap and easy, a considerable stimulus is given to the desire of attaining it.

This, however, we are well aware, is not sufficient encouragement for the love of useful information; and accordingly, the Library of Entertaining Knowledge has been instituted, for the purpose of turning to some account the reading of that large class, in every rank of the community, who are not averse to all reading, but will consent only to read what is amusing. So large a portion of important information may be conveyed in this shape, that the greatest benefit is to be expected from this Library. Since we last mentioned it, there have been published five parts; that is, a second on Menageries; two on Vegetable Substances used in the Arts, comprising timber-trees and fruits; one upon the Pursuit of Knowledge in difficult circumstances, including Anecdotes of self-taught men; and one upon Insect Architecture, a subject of the most curious and interesting nature, full of science, and yet as amusing as a novel. These works are illustrated with a profusion of the most beautiful cuts. It is not wonderful that the circulation should be extensive; it is said to be twenty thousand monthly. The price is two shillings a part, or four for a volume of above 400 pages-some of the volumes containing above seventy cuts. . . .

We hear in some quarters a charge made against the labours of the Society, originating, as it appears to us, in great want of reflection. The condition, it is said, of the working classes in this country is so wretched, that knowledge is the last thing they require. They are ground down by want and misery of every kind; they have no heart to improve their minds; let them first be better lodged, clothed and fed; and when you have provided for these necessaries, it is time to think of furnishing them with the luxury of learning.

To this we make answer, first, that the Society does not profess to confine its labours to the working classes. Its publications are adapted to an ranks of the community; and as it must be well aware that improvement always begins at the higher, and descends from thence to the humbler classes, so its efforts, in all probability, are likely to be more effectual at first with the upper and the middle, than with the lower ranks....But we should give a sufficient answer to the remark we have cited, were we to say that the distresses of the working classes, which are unhappily severe almost beyond all former experience, afford no reason against providing for their better education. No association of individuals, however zealous in their benevolent intentions, can pretend to relieve those prevailing distresses. But is this any reason for neglecting the good work which individuals, combined like the members of the Society, have it in their power to perform?...