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every example which he performs, he is obliged to go through a complete demonstration of the principle by which he does it; and at the same time he does it in the simplest way possible. These observations apply to the remaining part of the book.

These principles are sufficient to enable the pupil to perform almost all kinds of examples that ever occur. He will not, however, be able to solve questions in which it is necessary to take fractional parts of unity, though the principles are the same.

After section sixth, there is a collection of miscellaneous examples, in which are contained almost all the kinds that usually occur. There are none, however, which the principles explained are not sufficient to solve.,

In section eight and the following, fractions of unity are explained, and, it is believed, so simply as to be intelligible to most pupils of seven or eight years of age. The operations do not differ materially from those in the preceding sections. There are some operations, however, peculiar to fractions. The two last plates are used to illustrate fractions.

When the pupil is made familiar with all the principles contained in this book, he will be able to perform all examples, in which the numbers are so small, that the operations may be performed in the mind. Afterwards he has only to learn the application of figures to these operations, and his knowledge of arithmetic will be complete.

The Rule of Three, and all the other rules which are usually contained in our arithmetics, will be found useless. The examples under these rules will be performed upon general principles with much greater facility, and with a greater degree of certainty.

The following are some of the principal difficulties which a child has to encounter in learning arithmetic, in the usual way, and which are seldom overcome. First, the examples are so large, that the pupil can form no conception of the numbers themselves; therefore it is impossible for him to comprehend the reasoning upon them. Secondly, the first examples are usually abstract numbers. This increases the difficulty very much, for even if the numbers were so small, that the pupil could comprehend them, he would discover but very little connexion between them, and practical examples. Abstract numbers, and the operations upon them, must be learned from practical examples; there is no such thing as deriving practical examples from those which are abstract, unless the abstract have been first derived from those which are practical. Thirdly, the numbers are pressed by figures, which, if they were used only as a con:

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tracted way of writing numbers, would be much more dif ficult to be understood at first, than the numbers written at length in words. But they are not used merely as words, they require operations peculiar to themselves. They are, in fact, a new language, which the pupil has to learn. The pupil, therefore, when he commences arithmetic is presented with a set of abstract numbers, written with figures, and so large that he has not the least conception of them even when expressed in words. From these he is expected to learn what the figures signify, and what is meant by addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; and at the same time how to perform these operations with figures. The consequence is, that he learns only one of all these things, and that is, how to perform these operations on figures. He can perhaps translate the figures into words, but this is useless since he does not understand the words themselves. Of the effect produced by the four fundamental operations he has not the least conception.

After the abstract examples a few practical examples are usually given, but these again are so large that the pupil cannot reason upon them, and consequently he could not tell whether he must add, subtract, multiply,' or divide, even if he had an adequate idea of what these operations

The common method, therefore, entirely reverses the natural process; for the pupil is expected to learn general principles, before he has obtained the particular ideas of which they are composed.

The usual mode of proceeding is as follows. The pupil learns a rule, which, to the man that made it, was a general principle; but with respect to him, and often times to the instructer himself, it is so far from it, that it hardly deserves to be called even a mechanical principle. He performs the examples, and makes the answers agree with those in the book, and so presumes they are right. He is soon able to do this with considerable facility, and is then supposed to be master of the rule. He is next to apply his rule to practical examples, but if he did not find the examples under the rule, he would never so much as mistrust they belonged to it. But finding them there, he applies his rule to them, and obtains the answers, which are in the book, and this satisfies him that they are right. In this manner he proceeds from rule to rule through the book.

When an example is proposed to him, which is not in the book, his sagacity is exercised, not in discovering the operations necessary to solve it; but in comparing it with the exam ples which he has performed before, and endeavouring to dis

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cover some analogy between it and them, either in the sound, or in something else. If he is fortunate enough to discover any such analogy, he finds what rule to apply, and if he has not been deceived in tracing the analogy, he will probably solve the question. His knowledge of the principles of his rules, is so imperfect, that he would never discover to which of them the example belongs if he did not trace it by some analogy, to the examples which he had found under it.

These observations do not apply equally to all; for some will find the right course themselves, whatever obstacles be thrown in their way. But they apply to the greater part ; and it is probable that there are very few who have not experienced more or less inconvenience from this mode of proceeding. Almost all, who have ever fully understood arithmetic, have been obliged to learn it over again in their own way. And it is not too bold an assertion to say, that no man ever actually learned mathematics in any other method, than by analytic induction; that is, by learning the principles by the examples he performs; and not by learning principles first, and then discovering by them how the examples are to be performed.

In forming and arranging the several combinations the author has received considerable assistance from the system of Pestalozzi. He has not however had an opportunity of seeing Pestalozzi's own work on this subject, but only a brief outline of it by another. The plates also are from Pestalozzi. In selecting and arranging the examples to illustrate these combinations, and in the manner of solving questions generally, he has received no assistance from Pestalozzi.

THE BOY WITHOUT A GENIUS.

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Mr. Wiseman, the schoolmaster, at the end of his sum mer vacation, received a new scholar with the following letter :

Sir,- This will be delivered to you by my son Samuel, whom I beg leave to coinmit to your care, hoping that by your well-known skin and attention you will be able to make something of him; which, I am sorry to say, none of his masters have hitherto done. He is now eleven, and yet can do nothing but read his mother tongue, and that but indifferently. We sent him at seven to a grammar school in our neighbourhood; but his master soon found that his genius was not turned to learning languages. He was then put to writing, but he set about it so awkwardly that he made nothing of it. He was tried at accounts, but it appeared that he had no genius for that either. He could do nothing in geography for want of memory. In short, if

he has any genius at all, it does not yet show itself. But I trust to your experience in cases of this nature to discover what he is fit for, and to instruct him accordingly.. I beg to be favoured shortly with your opinion about him, and remain, sir,

our most obedient servant,

HUMPHREY ACRES

When Mr. Wiseman had read this letter he shook his head, and said to his assistant, a pretty subject they have sent us here! a lad that has a great genius for nothing at all. But perhaps my friend Mr. Acres expects that a boy should show a genius for a thing before he knows any thing about it-no uncommon error! Let us see, however, what the youth looks like. I suppose he is a human creature at least.

Master Samuel Acres was now called in. He came hanging down his head, and looking as if he was going to be flogged.

Come hither, my dear! said Mr. Wiseman-Stand by me, and do not be afraid. Nobody will hurt you. How old are you?

Eleven last May, sir.
A well-grown boy of your age, indeed. You love play, I dare say
Yes, sir.
What, are you a good hand at marbles ?
Pretty good, sir.
And can spin a top and drive a hoop, I suppose ?
Yes, sir.
Then you have the full use of your hands and fingers ?
Yes, sir.
Can you write, Samuel ?
I learned it a little, sir, but I left it off again.
And why so ?
Because I could not make the letters.
No! Why, how do you think other boys do ? Have they more fingers

than you ?

No, sir.

Are you not able to hold a pen as well as a marble ?
Samuel was silent.
Let me look at your hand.
Samuel held out both his paws, like a dancing bear.

I see nothing here to hirder you from writing as well as any buy in the school. You can read, I suppose ?

Yes, sir.
'Tell me then what is written over the school-room door.

Samuel with some hesitation read, WHATEVER MAN HAS DONE MAN MAY DO.

Pray how did you learn to read ?—Was it not with taking pains ? Yes, sir.

Well-taking more pains will enable you to read better. Do you know any thing of the Latin Grammar ?

No, sir.
Have you never learned it?
I tried, sir, but I could not get it by heart.

Why, you can say some things by heart. I dare say you can tell me the names of the days of the

week in their order.

Yes, sir, I know them.
And the months in the

year, perhaps.
Yes, sir.

And you could probably repeat the names of your brothers and sis. ters, and all your father's servants, and half the people in the village besides,

I believe I could, sir.
Well—and is hic, hæc, hoc, more difficult to remember than these ?
Samuel was silent.
Have you learned any thing of accounts ?
I went into addition, sir, but I did not go on with it.
Why so ?
I could not do it, sir.
How many marbles can you buy for a penny ?
Twelve new ones, sir.
And how many for a half-penny ?
Six.
And how many for two-pence?
Twenty-four.

If you were to have a penny a day, what would that make in a week?

Seven-pence.
But if you paid two-pence out of that, what would you have left ?
Samuel studied awhile, and then said, five-pence.

Right. Why here you have been practising the four great rules of arithmetic, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Learning accounts is no more than this. Well, Samuel, I see what you are fit for, I shall set you about nothing but what you are al. Je to do; but observe, you must do it. We have no I can't here. Now go among your school-fellows.

Samuel went away, glad that his examination was over, and with more confidence in his powers than he had felt before.

The next day he began business. A boy less than himself was called out to set him a copy of letters, and another was appointed to hear him in grammar. He read a few sentences in English that he could perfectly understand to the master himself. Thus by going on steadily and slowly, he made a sensible progress. He had already jcined his letters, got all the declensions perfectly, and half the multiplication table, when Mr. Wiseman thought it time to answer his father's letter; which he did as follows :

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Sir,

I now think it right to give you some information concerning your son. You perhaps expected it sooner, but I always wish to avoid hasty judgments. You nentioned in your letter that it had not yet been discovered which way his genius pointed. If by genius you meant such a decided bent of mind to any one pursuit as will lead 10 excel with little or no labour or instruction, I must say that I have not met with such a quality in more than three or four boys in my lisc, and your son is certainly not among the number. But if you mean only ihe ability to do some of those things which the greater part of man

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