improvement attained as great popularity as his advanced theological propositions had received abuse. [Sidenote: Success of his _Address_ and production of his text-books.] In 1768 by his _Address on Schools and Studies, and their Influence on the Public Weal_, he called generally upon princes, governments, ecclesiastics, and others in power, to assist him financially in certain definite educational reforms. In addition to suggesting that the schools be made nonsectarian and that public instruction be placed under a National Council of Education, he proposed that, in contrast to the formal and unattractive training of the day, education should be rendered practical in content and playful in method. To assist this reform, he planned to bring out a work on elementary education, which he described in outline. Great interest in his proposals was shown throughout Europe by sovereigns, nobles, prominent men, and others desiring a nonsectarian and more effective education, and a subsidy of some ten thousand dollars was speedily raised, to enable him to perfect his plans. Six years later, Basedow completed his promised text-book, _Elementarwerk_, and the companion work for teachers and parents known as _Methodenbuch_. The _Elementarwerk_ was accompanied by a volume containing ninety-six plates, which illustrated the subject-matter of the text, but were too large to be bound in with it. While in these manuals Basedow included many naturalistic ideas from Rousseau, he also embodied features from other reformers and even additions of his own. [Sidenote: _Elementarwerk_] [Sidenote: and _Methodenbuch_.] [Sidenote: Popular story books for children.]