All hands were raised in reply, and the resolution carried unanimously.

“I have a question to ask,” said George.  “May we have the meetings twice during the month, instead of once, as before?  It will induce us to be more industrious, as we shall be obliged to work to get up the information.  I can share the labor with Emma now, because I can write easily, and quickly; besides, it will be such pleasant employment for the half-holidays.”

“Very well, my dear,” said Mr. Wilton; “then once a fortnight it shall be; and take care, as the time will be short, that you are thoroughly prepared:  do not reckon on me, for I cannot assist you as Mr. Stanley did, so you must be, in a great measure, dependent upon your own resources.  My library is at your disposal, and I hope you will have sufficient perseverance to investigate each point carefully, before you come to a decision.  Should you require assistance in the preparation of any particular part of the subject, of course, I shall have no objections to render it; but remember, I do not promise to be an active member, as I wish you to exert yourselves, and be in some degree independent.  It will thus be more advantageous to you:  it will not only impress all you learn effectually on your mind, but improve your reasoning faculties, and enable you to understand much that the most careful explanation might fail to render intelligible.”

“And when shall we begin, papa?” asked Emma.

MR. WILTON.  “My engagements until the 7th of February are so numerous as to preclude the possibility of my presence at a meeting before that time; but after the 7th inst.  I shall be more at liberty, and we will, if you please, commence our voyage, and (wind and weather permitting) travel on regularly and perseveringly until we have circumnavigated the globe.”

“Agreed! agreed!” merrily shouted the children.

“I know which of my friends I shall ask,” said George; “and I fancy I can guess who will be Emma’s new member.”

“I fancy you cannot,” returned Emma:  “I do not intend to tell any one, either, until I hear whether or not she can come; therefore check your inquisitiveness, Master George, and wait patiently, for you will not know before the 7th, when I will introduce my friend.”

“Now,” said Grandy, “having settled the most important part of the business, I have a few words to say.  You must all be aware, that in the accounts of seas and oceans, there cannot possibly be so much time disposed of in descriptive facts as there was in our former conversations concerning the rivers of the world, which are so numerous, and require so many minute particulars in tracing their courses, that they positively (although occupying a smaller portion of the globe,) take more time to sail over in our ship ’The Research,’ than the boundless ocean, which occupies two thirds of our world; it will, under these circumstances, be advisable to illustrate our subject largely, and to lose no opportunity of