1 RECOMMENDATIONS. etugast 184 From the American Journal of Science and Arts, conducted by Benjamin Silliman, Professor of Chemistry, Mineralogy, etc. in Yale College. The principal object of the authors, in preparing this work, was to give Geography that scientific arrangement which has been so successfully applied to other branches of study. Most works on this subject have presented little more than a collection of facts, grouped by an imperfect method, and so little connected by any associating principle, as to overload the memory and fatigue the mind.Little or no use has hitherto been made, by the greater number of writers, of the important principles of classification, in reducing geography to the form of a science, and thus increasing the facility of acquiring and retaining its details.-Under the two first heads, (Physical and Political Geography,) is contained much valuable information-much that is new, and found in no other geography, though properly belonging to the science. The style is perspicuous and concise, and the matter is so much compressed as to occupy but one volume of moderate size. The work is accompanied by an Atlas on a new plan, exhibiting in connexion with the outlines of countries, their climate and productions, their prevailing Religion, forms of Government, and degrees of Civilization, with the comparative size of Towns, Rivers, and Mountains. The plan is ingenious-and the information thus communicated through the medium of the eye will make a much stronger and more durable impression on the mind than that received by mere description, while it is also acquired with more interest and pleasure. We think Mr. Woodbridge has succeeded well in his design, and deserves the thanks and the patronage of the community. From the North American Review. The work has been drawn up with immense industry and good success.Considering the great number and variety of topics introduced, the author's method is clear and judicious.We doubt whether in any other work so great a mass of facts, on such a multiplicity of subjects, can be found compressed within so small a compass. He that succeeds in condensing the important branches of knowledge, so as to diminish the time and labour of acquisition, is a benefac tor to society, and deserves the approbation and patronage of a generous public. In this light we are disposed to view the efforts of Mr. Woodbridge, and to recommend his work at least to the experiment of Teachers, and also to the occasional use of such persons as would review the knowledge of some of the chief traits of physical nature at as small an expense of time and means as possible.-The tables in which many particulars are brought together and classified, are ingeniously composed, and calculated to aid the learner in acquiring and retaining the most essential facts. Mrs. Willard's part of the work, on Ancient Geography, is perspicuous, and executed with good judgment. The preface is well written, and proves the author to have thought philosophically on the principles and the practical means of education. From the Port Folio, published at Philadelphia. The plan of the work combines the attractions of novelty and ingenuity; and in the facilities it affords for acquiring useful information on the subject to which it relates, it possesses decided advantages over that which is generally in use.--The author appears to have consulted the standard works on geography, and the various admirable dissertations which have been published from time to time, in most of our authoritative journals. We can therefore recommend it without hesitation to parents and conductors of seminaries for the instruction of youth; and this judgment, we are happy to find, is corroborated by the opinion of the Rev. Dr. Wylie, a teacher of long experience, and a scholar of the first orderwho, after dwelling upon the copiousness of its illustrations, the perspicuity of its arrangement, and the variety of its knowledge, does not hesitate in assig th it the first place among the text books which have come under his notice From Rev. Dr. Wylie, a teacher of eminence in the city of Philadelphia. The work is copious in illustration, luminous in arrangement of the mu rious objects of Geographical science, interesting in the descriptions of the rious subjects of natural history, comprised in its plan; and in my op greatly superior as a text book for advanced classes, to any system of Geogr which has heretofore come under my notice. From Rev. John L. Blake, an eminent teacher of the city of Boston. I have examined the system of Universal Geography by Mr. Woodbridge Mrs. Willard. The design of the work is more philosophical and complete that of any treatise with which I am acquainted; and the execution, in my ion, indicates all that correctness, which might have been expected from judgment, unwearied industry, and the most ample resources. From His Excellency Dewitt Clinton, Governor of the State of New Yor I have examined the "System of Universal Geography on the principl Comparison and Classification," and I consider it due to the authors to ex the high opinion which I entertain of this excellent work. The plan is judicious, and the execution evinces laborious research and ability and it is not too much to say that I know of no book of a similar acter that contains more useful, better arranged, and more condensed informa From Robert Walsh, Jr. Esq., Editor of the National Gazette. The Geography recently published under the title of "Universal Geogra Ancient and Modern, on the principles of Comparison and Classification,' W. C. Woodbridge, and E. Willard, is one of the most ingenious and valu works of the kind extant, and is accompanied by an Atlas of correspondent m From the Rt. Rev. T. C. Brownell, Bishop of the Diocess of Connecticu I have examined the enlarged edition of Mr. Woodbridge and Mrs. Willa Universal Geography, and find it to contain important improvements upen smaller edition, concerning which I had expressed my full approbation. ingenious methods devised for impressing the principal facts of the science u the minds of the students, must commend the work to the favorable notice of instructors of youth. From Simeon Dewitt, Esq. Surveyor General of the State of New York. In justice to an enterprise undertaken and successfully prosecuted for im ving the means of instruction in one of the most useful branches of scien cordially give my approbation to this work. The classification of the ra and magnitudes of cities, rivers and mountains, and the easy references to th as well as to the civil and religious characters of countries, by figures and blems on the maps, I consider as a real and valuable improvement. Besides adaptation to ready instruction, it is unquestionably well calculated to les the repugnance of young minds to such studies, and of consequence it must cilitate their proficiency in them. The following remarks are extracted from a valuable foreign journal, the "Re Encyclopedique," published at Paris. The Universal Geography,' and 'Rudiments of Geography,' by Mr. Wo bridge, are not a dry and tiresome list of towns, livers and countries; of na which burden the memory, without interesting the imagination. Instructio presented in all its charms. Physical Geography, the Natural History of e country, the manners of its inhabitants, are placed before the eyes of you and made at once level to their capacity, and a spectacle of the deepest inter A SYSTEM OF Universal Geography, ON THE PRINCIPLES OF COMPARISON AND CLASSIFICATION. BY WILLIAM CHANNING WOODBRIDGE, MEMBER OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY OF PARIS. SECOND EDITION, ILLUSTRATED WITH MAPS AND ENGRAVINGS; ATLAS, EXHIBITING, IN CONNEXION WITH THE OUTLINES OF COUNTRIES THE PREVAILING RELIGIONS, FORMS OF GOVERNMENT, AND AND THE COMPARATIVE SIZE OF TOWNS, RIVERS, AND MOUNTAINS. "The very essence of science consists in generalizing, and reducing to a few class! Hartford: PUBLISHED BY OLIVER D. COOKE & CO. J. & J. HARPER, PRINTERS. |