tit THE IMJ'IIOVEafENT OF THE. MIND. plete treatises on any subject, should be first read in a more go- neral and cursory manner, to learn a little what the treatise pro- mises, and what you may expect from the writer's manner and skill. And for this end I would advise always that the preface be read, and a survey taken of the table of contents, if there be one, before the first survey of the book. By this means you will not only be better fitted to give the book the first reading, but you will be much assisted in your second perusal of it, which should be done with greater attention and deliberation, and you will learn with more ease and readiness what the author pretends to teach. In your reading, mark what is new or unknown to you before, and review those chapters, pages, or paragraphs. Unless a reader has an uncommon and most retentive memory, I may ventureto affirm, that there is scarceany book orchapter worth reading once that is not worthy of a second perusal. At least take a careful view of all the lines or paragraphs which you mark- ed, and make a recollection of the sections which you thought truly valuable. There is another reason also why I would chose to take a superficial anrlcursory survey of a book, before I sit down to read it, and dwell upon it with studious attention ; and that is, there may be several difficulties in it which wecannot easilyunderstand and conquer at the first reading, for want of a fuller comprehen- sion of the author's whole scheme. And therefore in such trea- tises we should not stay till we master every difficulty at the first perusal; for perhaps many of these would appear to be solved when we have proceeded farther in that book, or would vanish of themselves upon a second reading. What we cannot reach and penetrate at first, may benoted down as matter ofafter con- sideration and enquiry, if the pages that follow do not happen to . strike a complete light on those whichwent before. III. If three or four persons agree to read the same book, and each bring his own remarks upon it at some set hours ap- pointed for conversation, and they communicate mutually their sentiments on the subject, and debate about it in a friendly man- ner, this practice will render the reading any author more abun- dantly beneficial to every one of them. IV. If several persons engaged in the same study, take into their hands distinct treatises on one subject, and appoint a season of communication once a week, they may inform each other in a brief manner concerning the sense, sentiments and method of those several authors, and thereby promote each others im- provement either by recommending the perusal of the same book to their companions, or perhaps by "satisfying their en- quiries concerning it by conversation, without every ones pe- rusing it. V. Remember that your business in readingor in conversa-
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