power, in accumulating from various and remote sources and periods, the requisite materials. The candid reader, who meets with several articles in this compilation, with which he has already been familiarized, will excuse its want of total novelty, when he reflects, that nearly all the youth, and a large proportion of adult readers, will find it as new to them, and as useful, as if it were an entire original work. If the sentiments be correct and valuable, and clearly expressed, it is of no importance whether they were first committed to paper yesterday, or three thousand years ago.
One particular object of this work, is to inculcate the necessity and duty of general domestic and national economy and simplicity of manners. It may be confidently presumed, that if the idolatrous and slavish sacrifices of property, to Pride, Fashion, Custom, Tradition, Extravagance, and depraved Appetite, were abolished, Poverty, with its hideous train of calamities, might be expelled from society, and General Plenty, with its smiling train of blessings, substituted in their stead.
Embracing these important purposes, the work is respectfully submitted to the good sense of the people of the United States, for their adoption as a National Code of Morals in schools and families.
The Compiler does not delude himself with the vain hope that it will accomplish the moral reformation of the present hardened adult generations ;-but he does sincerely believe, that the universal dissemination of its impressive precepts among the tender, susceptible, rising generation, cannot fail to produce a salutary influence upon the future national, moral and political character of our Republic. That such may be the result, is the ardent wish of its devoted friend and servant, J. T.
Philadelphia, Jan. 1824.
