There are numerous places containing small populations, where the inclination or the means, or possibly both, are wanting to organize an Institution. The obstacles are various: such as the leading inhabitants entertaining a prejudice against such institutes ; the want of a sufficient number of persons to form a good working committee ; the absence of a suitable building for the purposes of the institute; and various other causes might be enumerated. Very often it will be found that the advantages which such an institution is calculated to afford, are not appreciated, simply because they have not been enjoyed. Ignorance is not only a cause, but an effect; and if we could but once put the treasures of knowledge within the reach of many of the working-classes, they would be glad to provide them afterwards for themselves. Too far from the large towns to avail themselves of the help of our larger institutions, and too few in numbers to organize an useful institution for themselves, the inhabitants of many of our small villages must either be assisted by some such association as the Yorkshire Union, or they must be altogether shut out from the beneficial influences which larger places can command.

Nine villages in Cumberland are united under the title of the “United Villages Perambulating Library.” It consists of nearly 300 volumes, and has 400 members, each paying one penny per month. The books are deposited at nine stations, one in each village, under the care of a suitable person; every six weeks a paid messenger removes the books in boxes provided for that purpose.