seen our Prospectus.

"WHEN FOUND, MAKE A NOTE OF," is a most admirable rule; and if the
excellent Captain had never uttered another word, he might have passed
for a profound philosopher. It is a rule which should shine in gilt
letters on the gingerbread of youth, and the spectacle-case of age.
Every man who reads with any view beyond mere pastime, knows the value
of it. Every one, more or less, acts upon it. Every one regrets and
suffers who neglects it. There is some trouble in it, to be sure; but in
what good thing is there not? and what trouble does it save! Nay, what
mischief! Half the lies that are current in the world owe their origin
to a misplaced confidence in memory, rather than to intentional
falsehood. We have never known more than one man who could deliberately
and conscientiously say that his memory had _never_ deceived him; and he
(when he saw that he had excited the surprise of his hearers, especially
those who knew how many years he had spent in the management of
important commercial affairs) used to add,--because he had never trusted
it; but had uniformly written down what he was anxious to remember.

But, on the other hand, it cannot be denied that reading and writing
men, of moderate industry, who act on this rule for any considerable
length of time, will accumulate a good deal of matter in various forms,
shapes, and sizes--some more, some less legible and intelligible--some
unposted in old pocket books--some on whole or half sheets, or mere
scraps of paper, and backs of letters--some lost sight of and forgotten,
stuffing out old portfolios, or getting smoky edges in bundles tied up
with faded tape. There are, we are quite sure, countless boxes and
drawers, and pigeon-holes of such things, which want looking over, and
would well repay the trouble.