6.

School Books, published by Dayton and Saxton, corner of Fulton and Nassau streets, New York, 1841.

There is no subject more deserving of regard by the people of the South than the proper selection of books to be used in Colleges and elementary schools. Owing to the greater facilities for publication at the North, most of our books are obtained from that quarter, and generally speaking they could be derived from no better source, as that portion of our country is evidently far before the rest in the attention bestowed upou schools and all that relates to education. Most of the books received from that region, and introduced into our schools, are perfectly unexceptionable, but it is not universally the case. We have seen books, even those intended for very young children, containing not only inuendos, but oftentimes open declamation against the South and Southern institutions. We know of many schools, where books are used for every day reading, containing representations wholly unfounded, and calculated to mislead the youthful mind. This is a matter of no slight importance, and, as it is capable of an easy cure, it should be remedied as speedily as possible. Parents should know what books are put into their childrens' hands,-should be assured that they contain nothing likely to mislead the unwary mind. From books of general science little is to be apprehended, as it is scarcely possible that they should so far overleap their prescribed bounds, as to venture upon matters utterly foreign to their general design. It is to our reading books, to our rhetorical speakers, and to our spelling books, that we should chiefly look. We do not think that we shall be misunderstood in this matter. We are not afraid that we shall be accused, even by our northern brethren, of an attempt to shut the ears of our offspring against the arguments of those opposed to our institutions. It is because we know that children, with minds yet uninformed, are easily swayed by appeals to their sympathies and feelings, that we are unwilling they should be so early exposed to them. We know that the human mind, in its plastic state, is easily moulded into whatever views are most forcibly presented. When arrived at maturity, we care not how much they read and hear from those opposed to our peculiar institutions, because we feel confident that no one can be raised upon the soil of the South, without being conscious, that such institutions are essential and highly beneficent, but with children the case is very different, and we feel it a duty incumbent upon us to guard their young and tender minds against the reception of bias and prejudices.

We have before us several works for schools, to which no objection of the kind above stated can be made: 1st. The Rhetorical Speaker by T. D. P. Stone, containing selections from orations and speeches

both English and American, adapted for the improvement of young persons in public declamation. The book seems well suited to answer the proposed object, and we would recommend it to the teachers of schools in this region: 2d. Sanders' Spelling book, a well arranged book, infinitely superior to Webster's, the one generally used in this country, although disused almost every where else: 3d. Sanders' Scoool Reader, 3d. book, to which we have no objections, and should like to see it adopted in place of the New York Reader, No. 3, now in general use: 4th. Emerson's Outlines of Geography and History, a very useful work: 5th. Gray's Elements of Chemistry, a book highly approved, and in arrangement and execution meriting much praise. We could swell the catalogue of unexceptionable works, to a great extent. Suffice it to say, that we have seen no school books issued by Dayton & Saxton, of New York, liable to any objection in the particular alluded to, in the beginning of this notice; and we would cordially recommend them to the patronage of the people of the South. We have also received some very neat and interesting reading books, published by Hogan & Thompson, of Philadelphia, entitled Rollo Learning to Read, Spell, &c., which are worthy of great praise. They are written in much simplicity of style, and better reading books for young children, we could not wish.

The Family Library, No. 140.-Lives of the Ancient Philosophers, translated from the French of Fenelon, with notes, and a life of the author, by the Rev. JOHN CORMACK. New York: Harper & Brothers, 82 Cliff-street. 1841.

The work with the above title, is now, for the first time, before the public, in an English dress, although nearly a century and a half have elapsed since its publication in the original. It was written by Fenelon, while preceptor to the young Duke of Burgundy, and was adapted to the comprehension of his youthful understanding. It is not such a book as would attract the attention of the scholar, or man of letters, for they would look, in vain, in its pages for any new information, or any original speculations. It may be of value to the unlettered and unclassical, who desire some little insight into the characters and opinions of antiquity; but we cannot think it a work in any way equal to those which usually appear in the highly useful and interesting series denominated the Family Library; a series, which has furnished this country with some of the richest literary material that the world can boast, and which will be an enduring monument of the zeal and literary taste of the publishers.

1842.] Buck's Anecdotes.—Cubi's Spanish Grammar. 267

8. Anecdotes, religious, moral and entertaining, alphabetically arranged, and interspersed with a variety of useful observations, selected by the REV. CHARLES BUCK; from the ninth London edition. New York: Dayton & Saxton, 1841.

We are glad to see an American edition of this interesting and useful work, and we have no doubt but that it will meet with favor and encouragement, more particularly from the religious denominations in this country. There is nothing in it of a sectarian character, but it is, as its title declares it to be,, a collection of religious, moral, and entertaining anecdotes, many of them highly beautiful and affecting, calculated to touch and warm the heart, to solace the mourner's grief, and bid the tear of sorrow depart; to cheer the depressed, and kindle the smile of pleasure upon the saddened countenance. There is scarcely a faculty or condition of mind which is not illustrated by some appropriate and pointed anecdote. The moral qualities, whether good or evil, are clearly exhibited, and well set off for admiration and imitation, or condemnation and rejection. The author's style is unexceptionable, and well adapted to render such a work agreeable and profitable. It is unaffected, simple, and beautiful, unencumbered with needless ornaments, and never hiding the real sense with words of lofty sound, and of inexplicable meaning. It is such a work as every one ought to have, who desires to educate his children in the love of virtue and abhorrence of vice; who wishes his descendants to possess liberal hearts and noble minds; who, in fine, would form the characters of the young, in such a manner as to ensure their highest and most permanent good.

9- A New Spanish Grammar, adapted to every Class of Learners. by MARIANO CUBI I SOLER. Sixth Edition, with Corrections and Improvements. Baltimore.

The Spanish Translator; or a Practical System for becoming acquainted with the Spanish written Language, through the medium of the English. By MARIANO CUBI I SOLER. Third Edition. Baltimore.

We notice these two works together, because they are intended to be used in connection, and to form in combination with another volume, which, we understand, is about to be issued, entitled the Spanish Reader, a complete course of theoretical, as well as practical instruction in the beautiful Castilian. Both these manuals have already been before the public, for eighteen years, during which period, the author has, from time to time, made such corrections and improvements in

them, as experience in teaching, or a better knowledge of his own language has suggested,* until, at last, they are acknowledged to be models of their kind.

The 'Grammar,' as well as the "Translator,' shows great originality of design and arrangement. The explanations and definitions have been prepared with philosophic simplicity. Spanish Grammar, for example, is defined to be, "the collection of rules gathered from, and established by, the writings and conversations of well educated Spaniards." We have never seen more clear, simple, and accurate definitions of Versification and Poetry, than those which the author has given at page 229. But it is in the conception of the whole, in the cast of the entire plan, and fullness of details in a small compass, that the author deserves, and has received the most praise. We cannot, in a short critical notice, like the present, make a full exposition of his plan; still we cannot refrain from mentioning two features of it. By indexes, notes, and observations, the books are always like a map, before the student's eye, a quality which cannot be too highly commended, especially in elementary works.

The second feature of the plan, to which we would allude, is, the adaptation of these works to any system or mode, which the student may be willing to follow, in the acquisition of the Spanish. Whether he purpose to learn by himself, or with the aid of a teacher; whether he intend to begin by translating, by the grammar, or by oral repetition, such is the arrangement of Professor Cubi's Spanish Manuals, that, in either case, they will be found equally beneficial, and equally subservient.

In conclusion, we would state, that, after patient reflection, and a comparison of the above mentioned works, with others of the same kind, we consider them as the best extant; and the author deserves the thanks of those who desire to learn the language in which “the tender Garcilaso sang, and the terrible Granada thundered," for having so much facilitated and simplified the means for the accomplishment of their wishes.

10. Geology of Louisiana.

The Report of the State Geologists is now before the Legislature, and will soon be before the public, in print. We have seen the manuscript copies, from the several members reporting, and are pleased to find them developing so much that is new and interesting to science, as well as to State economy.

It appears, however, that very little time has, as yet, been devoted

*See preface to the fifth and sixth editions of the Grammar, and third of the Translator.

to the subject; that the committee appointed were required to report upon the inducements to a more complete scientific survey,-the plan and probable expense of conducting it; and that no appropriation has been made to compensate them for their services.

From the superficial reconnaissance which has been made, chiefly north of lat. 31°, and west of the Mississippi, the Committee concur in a recommendation for the appointment of a Geologist and Chemist, to prosecute the investigations in the north-western district, which alone, in their opinion, deserves much attention, in the present times of pecuniary difficulty. In this portion of the State, the Committee represent that "those things which are of the first necessity to an industrious people, are found in abundance," and hence conclude, that, "an empty treasury furnishes an argument for any enterprize, which, at a moderate cost, will bring them into requisition." They seem, in their report, to have as strict a view to public economy, as the members of the present legislature, themselves; and we sincerely hope, that their suggestions will meet legislative, as we perceive they do, executive approbation.

The report of Mr. Trastour is presented in the form of a large map of the district he traversed; finished in the most elegant manner of a professional engineer, and delineating the geographical and geological surface and stratification of the Washita region. We have not room for a detailed description, but it will be perceived that his observations for latitude and longitude differ, in many cases, essentially from those of Sir William Dunbar, made many years since, in 1804, if we mistake not, and adopted up to the present time. The delineation of Black River, which connects the Washita with Red River, has never before been correctly presented, the surveys having only recently been completed.

Accompanying the map is a short manuscript, in the French language, containing little else than an explanation of the map, and the result of some analysis. It is to be hoped that the report will be translated, and the map lithographed, for public distribution.

The report of Professor W. M. Carpenter, is chiefly devoted to the botany of Louisiana, and comprises, we learn, the result of several years' labor, as well as his observations under the present appointment. A Flora Louisianana, such as the industry and learning of Dr. Carpenter would warrant us in expecting, is thus added to the record of American science.

We find, in the pages of this report, devoted to geology, the same suggestion ventured, which seems quite demonstrated in the pages of the Doctor's colleague; that the tertiary beds, in northern Louisiana, belong to the first periods of tertiary geology, the eocene and miocene. The report of Prof. Forshey, is almost wholly devoted to geological investigations; and if he has not undertaken more than his limited VOL. I.-NO. 1.

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