the same time, so thoroughly scientific." Journal. "It is seldom that a book comes from the press which is designed to meet a more urgent want of the community than this second volume of a Course of Natural Philosophy. At a time when so many books, good and bad, are written, on every variety of subjects, and with particular adaptation to the widely different classes of readers, and especially when the overflowing supply of manuals used seems to leave nothing to be wanted in the work of instruction, it is a little singular that there is occasion for the remark that this volume fills a gap which no one before appears to have noticed, or, at any rate, to have endeavored to close. In elementary treatises prepared exclusively for the use of common schools, acoustics have been considered, in a simple manner, among the other branches of Natural Philosophy. But no work whatever has appeared, designed for the higher places of instruction, and presenting a full and accurate analysis of the principles of sound. There is some occasion, then, for congratulation that we have a really new book, and one which cannot be laid aside; and since it is probably destined to be introduced into all our colleges, as it has already been into one, we are glad to know that it has been executed in such a manner as will leave little demand for another. He tells us written for the "Professor Peirce lays no claim to originality in this work. that he made Sir John Herschell's Treatise on Sound, Encyclopædia Metropolitana, the basis of his own book. In remodelling that work, he has consulted all the works on Sound of any consequence, as well as embodied the very important discoveries recently made by Faraday; in a word, he has wrought a pleasing and symmetrical whole out of all the loose and scattered materials which relate to the subject. The labor of such a task is immense, and it is no small praise to say that it has been done accurately, and leaves nothing more to be desired. "There is one subject connected with acoustics which is extremely difficult, and in which we think Professor Peirce has been remarkably successful; the organs of the human voice. There have been very contradictory theories in regard to the peculiar service of each part of this complex structure. In Mr. Peirce's book it is shown how they may be reconciled. "An unusual degree of attention has been given, of late years, to music. We have almost come to admit it among the branches of popular education. In order that our colleges should keep at a suitable advance, means ought to be furnished for making an acquaintance with the principles of sound, and every well educated man should consider it as a necessary accomplishment."―N. A. Review. Mathematical Tables; comprising Logarithms of Numbers, Logarithmic Sines, Tangents, and Secants, Natural Sines, Meridional Parts, Difference of Latitude and Departure, Astronomical Refractions, &c. By S. P. Miles and T. Sherwin. Stereotype Edition. 8vo. pp. 88. $0 88 "The tables comprised in this volume have been very carefully compared with the best English and French tables; and they will be found, it is believed, not inferior, in point of correctness, to any similar tables in use. Prefixed is a short introduction, explanatory chiefly of the methods of using them." — Advertisement. This work is used in Harvard University, and other colleges, and in the High School in Boston. Woolsey's Greek Tragedies. 4 vols. 12mo. per vol. $0 50 I. The Alcestis of Euripides, with Notes, for the Use of Colleges in the United States. By T. D. Woolsey, Professor of Greek in Yale College. pp. 132. II. The Antigone of Sophocles, with Notes, &c. pp. 134. III. The Prometheus of Eschylus, with Notes, &c. pp. 98. IV. The Electra of Sophocles, with Notes, &c. pp. 142. This Course has been introduced into Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Bowdoin, &c. Of the Alcestis and the Antigone the North American Review says, "The form in which Mr. Woolsey has given these works to the public is neat and convenient; and they are printed with Mr. Folsom's well known accuracy. The text of the Alcestis, selected by Mr. Woolsey, is that of William Dindorf, contained in the Poetæ Scenici Græci, published at Leipzig and London in 1830. This text has received the approbation of Hermann, from whose judgment in such matters there lies no appeal. A well written preface contains a clear statement of the subjectmatter of the play, with a critique on the several characters brought out in the development of the plot. A brief, but comprehensive view of the poetical genius of Euripides, in which his beauties are pointed out, and his faults touched upon, with a discriminating hand, gives additional interest to the volume. The body of notes at the end are remarkable for a union of deep learning, acute judgment, and fine taste. In discussions of the merits of different readings, so far as he enters into them, Mr. Woolsey exhibits a nicely balanced judgment that entitles his opinion to great respect. In unravelling the most curious constructions, his precision and acuteness are admirable. Every Greek scholar feels how much the force and beauty of Greek composition depend on the skilful arrangement of a great variety of particles. In the explanation of these commentators have had but little success, as any one will see by looking into the common editions of Greek authors. But the exactness with which Mr. Woolsey renders single particles and combinations of particles by good English equivalents is really surprising. Those who are wont to think the dead languages, as they are called, widely if not wholly different from the living, will be astonished to see how nearly many of the most peculiar, and, at first view, untranslateable words and turns of phrase are given in the homely but expressive idioms of our own Saxon tongue. "The preface and commentary to Antigone are even more creditable to Mr. Woolsey's ability than those to Alcestis. The sketch of the poem, in the preface, is written with clearness and brevity. The difficulties in this play that call for a commentator's explanation are far more numerous than in the Alcestis. In Mr. Woolsey's commentaries on these numberless knotty passages, he puts them together in a more intelligible form, and shows a sharper perception of delicate shades of meaning, than we have ever met with in explanations of any other edition whatever. "We conclude this notice by again expressing our satisfaction at the appearance of these works. They are not only honorable to the taste and talent of Mr. Woolsey, but will bring reputation to the classical scholarship of our country. Among all the books of this kind, prepared either at home or in England, for students and private readers, we are not acquainted with any which are equal to these in variety of merit. Trollope's Pentalogia does not bear the slightest comparison with them, in copiousness, elegance, or value of the commentary. The series of tragedies for schools and colleges, published by Valpy, and edited by Major and Brasse, are useful books on the whole; but the notes are mostly dry verbal discussions, often showing a curiosa felicitas in misunderstanding the poetical spirit of the passages attempted to be illustrated. We are glad to learn that Professor Woolsey is at work on two more tragedies, the Prometheus Bound and the Electra. When these shall have been published, the lovers of classical literature will be provided with a series of the master-pieces of the Attic drama, illustrated by the blended lights of grammatical, philological, and historical learning, under the guidance of a discriminating judgment, and a ready sympathy with all that is beau· tiful in poetical inspiration, and sublime in moral sentiment. Of the Prometheus and Electra the same Reviewer speaks as follows: "Professor Woolsey has now completed his proposed course of Greek Tragedies. We hope the reception of these admirable works among the teachers and scholars of our country will induce Mr. Woolsey to follow up the career he has so brilliantly entered upon. It is an uncommon thing in any country, for a mind of nice poetical sensibilities to be engaged in critical labors, or to have the necessary patience in the acquisition of exact knowledge, to qualify it for such a task; but so fortunate a conjunction between profound and accurate learning and delicate taste, when it does take place, brings out something which men will not willingly let die." Latin Classics belonging to the Course of Study in Harvard 4 vols. 18mo. University. Edited by III. Ciceronis Brutus, sive de Claris Oratoribus. Charles Beck, Professor of Latin in the University at Cambridge. In press. $0 30 IV. Medea, a Tragedy of Seneca. Edited by Charles Beck, Questions upon the Syntax of Zumpt's Latin Grammar. $0 25 For 18mo. pp. $0 17 The Pronunciation of the Latin Language. For the Use of Students in Harvard University. By George Otis, Professor of Latin in the University. 8vo. pp. 8. $0 06 A Complete Course of French Instruction, for the Use of Colleges and Schools. By F. M. J. Surault, French Instructer in Harvard University and the English Classical School in Boston. In 4 vols. 12mo. I. An Easy Grammar of the French Language. 2d edition. pp. 310. $0 75 II. New French Exercises, adapted to all French Grammars, but more particularly to that of the Author. 2d edition. Pp. 120. $0 56 III. French Fables, with a Key, and a Treatise on Pronunciation, for those who begin to read the French Language. pp. 272. $0 83 IV. French Questions on Sir Walter Scott's Tales of a Grandfather, for the Use of Learners who are beginning to speak the French Language. pp. 230. $0 67 Advertisement to French Questions. "To write and translate the French language are not considered of difficult attainment, but to speak it and to understand it when spoken are accomplishments not so generally possessed as they might be if learners were provided with suitable books. It has been the object of the writer of these French Questions to supply in some measure this defect, of which all who are endeavoring to acquire the language feel the disadvantage. The numerous and interesting facts contained in the Tales of Sir Walter Scatt suggest abundant topics of conversation, and the common objection of pupils, that they do not know what to talk about,' will, it is hoped, be obviated by this publication. By the plan here proposed they may ascertain, without embarrassment, the question put them by the teacher; and the labor of casting about for ideas being spared them by the Narrative from which the answer is to be derived, they will be able to direct their whole attention to the right pronunciation and construction of the French." This Course is used in Harvard University, in the High School in Boston, and very extensively in other schools and academies in the United States. An Easy Grammar of the Italian Language, for Colleges and Schools. By F. M. J. Surault. 284. the Use of 12mo. pp. $0 88 This Grammar has long been the only one in the market, and is that which is generally in use with students of the Italian in the U. States. |