NOTICES. The Eclectic Reader, designed for Schools and Academies, by B. B. EDWARDS, Editor of the American Quarterly Register, Boston. Perkins & Marvin. Philadelphia: French & Perkins. 1832. 12mo. pp. 324. We were somewhat startled at finding a new "reader" upon our table, and felt much disposed to avail ourselves of the occasion presented by a good work of a judicious author, to remonstrate against the inundation that seems to be pouring upon us in the form of school books. Still, we cannot forget the "daily thousand added to the population of our nurseries and schools. We have before expressed our conviction that reading booksought to be varied more than any other school books; and when we recollect that only a few years since, an individual in one of our best schools was confined for seven years to "Murray's English Reader," the superfluity seems a less evil than the famine. Science is positive; its great principles fixed, and their illustrations almost uniform; and therefore a single accurate treatise is better than many. Taste, on the other hand, has a boundless field for selection, and can never exhaust the store of excellent passages which ought to be known to youth, but which they will not be likely to see in the original; or weary the taste for variety which it is deemed proper to gratify in the libraries of adults. - The author's design in this work was to furnish such a selection as would tend directly to promote the moral and religious improvement of our youth, and in this way contribute directly to "the moral renovation of the world," while it should be adapted to cultivate the taste and enlarge the mind. We think he has succeeded. The selections comprise a great variety of subject and style — and a large proportion of recent and novel matter. They are generally made with judgment and taste, and with a catholic christian spirit which distinctly presents some of the prevalent opinions of the mass of christians, but admits nothing which we think could offend any. We cannot but hope that it will form a useful volume in the school library, and serve to extend the travels of pupils in the field of literature, without distracting their minds. Let teachers be cautious, however, in their selection and change of books; and the demand will always regulate the supply with an effect or a manner which cannot be hoped from any other course. Letters to a Student in the first stage of a Liberal Education. Boston: Perkins & Marvin. Philadelphia: French & Perkins, 1832. 18mo. pp. 174. We have met with no recent work, which comprises, in so small a space, so many valuable maxims for the student, whether young or old. The author is Pres. Lord of Dartmouth College. We rejoice to see such sound views of education, especially of physical and moral education, brought forward with the sanction of so respectable an institution; and we are not a little gratified to find so much in correspondence with the opinions expressed in the pages of the Annals. We could gladly present a large part of the work to our readers, but must content ourselves with recommending it most cordially to their perusal. The Infant Teacher's Assistant for the use of Schools and private Families; or Scriptural and Moral Lessons for Infants, with observations on the manner of using them, by T. BILBY and R. B. RIDGWAY, Masters of the Chelsea and Hart Street Infant Schools-Revised for schools and families in the United States by the American Editor. Boston: Monroe & Francis. New York: C. S. Francis. 1832. 12mo. pp. 116. This work contains much that will afford valuable aid to the infant teacher and the parent. It well deserves to be consulted by all who can procure it, especially as it is the result of experience, presented by those who have evidently thought and observed with care. It is not without defects; one of which we think is, the attempt at too much system, and the quaint and mechanical character to which this gives rise. The Ladder to Learning: a Collection of Fables arranged progressively in words of One, Two and Three Syllables; With Original Morals. Edited and Improved by MRS TRIMMER. First American, from the thirteenth London Edition with seventynine wood engravings. Boston: Carter, Hendee & Co. 1833. 16mo. pp. 309. Instruction by means of fables will probably always, in a greater or less degree, be resorted to. There is a great deal of simplicity in the work before us; the morals, whether "original" in every instance or not, are judicious, and there are other obvious excellences; but some of the engravings are bad, both in design and execution, which we think always a serious evil, and above all in books intended for children. Bible Illustrations, or a Description of Manners and Customs peculiar to the East, especially explanatory of the Holy Scriptures. By B. H. DRAPER. Boston : Carter Hendee & Co. 1832. 16mo. pp. 215. This is the title of an English work, with some American improvements, and is emphatically what the title represents it to be. We are glad to see even the long catalogue of new publications lengthened by the addition of works of this stamp. Entertainment, instruction, and moral and religious improvement may reasonably be anticipated. We should be glad to sit down immediately to a second perusal of the book ourselves. The execution of the work is in keeping with the usual style of its enterprising publishers. We could wish, indeed, the engravings were better, but there are two or three whose novel character will induce many readers to forget other deficiencies. A View of the Elementary Principles of Education, founded on the study of the Nature of Man. By G. SPURZHEIM, M. D., of the Universities of Vienna and Paris, and Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of London. First American Edition; revised and improved by the Author, from the third London Edition. Boston: Marsh, Capen & Lyon, 1832. 12mo. pp. 318. This interesting book is the bequest of a stranger, who excited universal interest on his first visit to our continent, and was only allowed to remain long enough among us, to show the extent and depth of his observations on human nature. Whatever views are entertained of Craniology, we have found but one opinion among those who have heard his lectures, concerning the accuracy and common sense exhibited in his views on the faculties and propensities of the human mind. The present work is founded upon these views. It abounds with practical remarks, which are of great value, combined with a theory which certainly gives them additional interest and force; and while we are not prepared to adopt his entire system, or to express our views in detail, (as we hope to do in a future number,) we have no hesitation in recommending the work as richly deserving the attention of the parent and the teacher. Remarks on the Influence of Mental Cultivation on Health. We have been highly gratified by a hasty perusal of this work, on a most important topic in education. Although some of its views, in our opinion are pressed too far, we could wish to see it in the hands of all who are destroying themselves or their children by endeavoring to produce one of those mental prodigies, which are as really monsters, as the beings born with a double head. We promise ourselves the pleasure of making our readers better acquainted with the work hereafter, although we neither hope nor desire to supersede that necessity of perusing it for himself, which we think every parent who is not familiar with the subject will feel, NEW PUBLICATIONS. Remarks on the Influence of Mental Cultivation on Health. By Amariah Brigham. Hartford. F. J. Huntington, 1832, 12mo. pp. 110. The Franklin Intellectual Arithmetic, for the use of Schools. By E. Davis, A. M. Principal of the Westfield Academy. Springfield. G. & E. Merriam, 1832. 18mo. pp. 108. Lectures on School Teaching. By Emerson Davis, A. M. Principal of Westfield Academy. E. Merriam, & Co. Brookfield. 1832. On Teaching Penmanship. Addressed to Parents, School Committees and Teachers. By Wm. A. Alcott. Boston. Lilly, Wait & Co. 1832. pp. 24. Encyclopædia Americana. Being a Popular Dictionary of the Arts and Sciences. Edited by Francis Lieber, assisted by E. Wigglesworth, and T. G. Bradford. Vol. XI. Philadelphia. Carey & Lea. Svo. pp. 612. Lessons in Latin Parsing, containing the Outlines of the Latin Grammar, divided into short portions, and exemplified by appropriate Lessons in Parsing. By Chauncey A. Goodrich, Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory at Yale College. New Haven. Durrie & Peck. 1832, 8mo. pp. 138. The Little Reader, a Progressive Step to Knowledge. Boston. Carter, Hendee & Co. 1832. 16mo. pp. 199. First Steps to History; being Part I. of a Key to History. By Elizabeth P. Peabody. Boston. Hilliard, Gray & Co. 1832. 12mo. pp. 89. Familiar Lessons in Mineralogy and Geology, designed for Young Persons and Lyceums. In two volumes. By Jane Kilby Welsh. Vol. I. Člapp & Hull. Boston. 1832. 12mo. pp. 404. Philosophical Catechism of the Laws of Man. By G. Spurzheim, M. D. late of the Universities of Vienna and Paris, &c. Boston. Marsh, Capen & Lyon, 1832. 18mo. pp. 176. Letters to a Young Student, in the first stage of a Liberal Education. Boston. Perkins & Marvin, 1832, 18mo. pp. 174. A Manual of the Chaldee Language; containing a Chaldee Grammar, a Chrestomathy, a Vocabulary, adapted to the Chrestomathy, with an Appendix of the Rabbinical character and style. By Elias Riggs, A. M. Boston. Perkins & Marvin. 8vo. pp. 180. The Arithmetical Manual, containing exercises for practice, and demonstrations of the rules of written Arithmetic. Prepared for the use of the students in the Seminary for Teachers, Andover, Mass. By S. R. Hall. Andover. Flagg, Gould & Newman, 1832. Calmet's Dictionary of the Holy Bible, as published by the late Mr Charles Taylor, with the fragments interspersed. The whole condensed and arranged in Alphabetical order. American Edition, revised with large additions. By Edward Robinson, Professor Extraordinary of Sacred Literature in the Theological Seminary at Andover. Illustrated with maps and engravings on wood. Boston. Crocker & Brewster. New York. Jonathan Leavitt, 1832. 8vo. pp. 1003. The Greek Reader, by Frederic Jacobs, Professor of the Gymnasium at Gotha, and Editor of the Anthologia. The fourth American from the ninth German edition. Boston. Hilliard, Gray & Co. 1833. First Lessons in Greek, upon the plan of the First Lessons in Latin. By Charles Dexter Cleveland. Boston. Hilliard, Gray & Co. 1832. The Eclectic Reader, designed for Schools and Academies. By B. B. Edwards, Editor of the American Quarterly Register. Boston. Perkins & Marvin, 1832. 12mo. pp. 324. A View of the Elementary Principles of Education; founded on the Study of the Nature of Man. By G. Spurzheim, M. D. of the Universities of Vienna and Paris, and Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of London. First American Edition, Revised and Improved by the Author from the third London Edition. Boston. Marsh, Capen & Lyon, 1832. 18mo. pp. 318. The Infant Teacher's Assistant, for the use of Schools and private families; or Scriptural and Moral Lessons for Infants; with Observations on the manner of using them. By T. Bilby and R. B. Ridgway, Masters of the Chelsea and Hart Street Infant Schools. Revised for Schools and Families in the United States, by the American Editor. Boston, Munroe & Francis ; and New York, C. S. Francis, 1832. 12mo. pp. 116. Tales of the Bible, by a Grandmother. Part II. and Philadelphia, French & Perkins, 1832. pp. 36. Boston. Perkins & Marvin ; Knowledge for the People, or the plain Why and Because. Part 12. Boston. Lilly, Wait & Co. 1832. Bible Illustrations; or a Description of Manners and Customs peculiar to the East, especially Explanations of the Holy Scriptures. By Rev. B. H. Draper, Author of Scripture Stories from the Old and New Testament. Boston. 1832. Carter, Hendee & Co. The Child's Own Book of Tales and Anecdotes about Dogs, with Engravings. Boston, 1832. Carter, Hendee & Co. Sequel to the Spelling Book. By S. T. Worcester. Boston. Lilly, Wait & Co. 12mo. pp. 128. Library of Entertaining Knowledge, Vol. XVI. Parts 1 & 2. Containing Criminal Trials. Boston. Lilly, Wait & Co. 1832. Juvenile Poems for Young Children. By Wm. Wordsworth. Boston. Lilly, Wait, Colman and Holden. 1833. 16mo. pp. 94. Stories about Boston and its neighborhood. By Robin Carver. Boston. Leonard C. Bowles, & Lilly, Wait & Co. 1833. 16mo. pp. 184. The American Almanac and Repository of Useful Knowledge for the year 1833. Boston. Gray & Bowen, and Carter, Hendee & Co. 12mo. pp. 312. The Ladder to Learning; a collection of Fables, arranged progressively in words of one, two or three syllables; with Original Morals. Edited and Improved by Mrs Trimmer. First American from the Thirteenth London Edition. seventyfive wood engravings. Boston. Carter, Hendee & Co. 1833. 16mo. PP. 309. With Conversations on the Evidences of Christianity, in which the leading arguments of the best Authors are arranged, developed, and connected with each other. Adapted to the use of Schools and Families. By Rev. J. L. Blake, A. M. Boston. Carter, Hendee & Co. 1832. 12mo. pp. 274. Book Keeping, suited to the business of Traders, Farmers and Mechanics, mostly by single entry; and designed for schools. To which is added a key to certain parts of the Mercantile Arithmetic. By Michael Walsh, A. M. Boston. Carter, Hendee & Co. 1832. 8vo. pp. 78. The Child's First Book of Spelling and Reading, arranged on a new and im. proved plan; with sixtyseven engravings. By H. L. Barnum. Boston. Car. ter, Hendee & Co. 16mo. pp. 32. Also by the same Author and Publishers: The Child's Second Book of Spelling and Reading, connected with the Elements of Writing, with fiftyfive engravings. Boston, 1832. 16mo. pp. 32. The Child's Third Book of Spelling and Reading, connected with Writing, Numeration, Mensuration, and the use of Maps. Being an easy introduction to Geography and Arithmetic. With Maps and other engravings. Boston, 1832. 12mo. pp. 72. The First Book of Geography, connected with Spelling, Reading and Writing; illustrated by thirty Maps and other engravings, for Schools and Families. Boston, 1832. 12mo. pp. 60. Just published by the American Sunday School Union, Natural History for Infant Schools. No. X. The Hive Bee. pp. 16. No. XI. Insects continued. pp. 16. 5 colored cuts. Anecdotes of Missionary Worthies in the Moravian Church. Related by a Father to his Children. 18mo. pp. 116. 6 plates. Mary Carter, pp. 33. Robert, Margaret and Maria. School Children at noon, in verse. AMERICAN ANNALS OF EDUCATION AND INSTRUCTION. FEBRUARY, 1833. ART. I. LECTURE ON THE BEST METHODS OF TEACHING THE LIVING LANGUAGES. Delivered before the American Institute of Instruction, August, 1832. By GEORGE TICKNOR, Smith Professor in Harvard University. MR PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN: THE most important characteristic of a living language, the attribute in which resides its essential power and value, — is, that it is a spoken one; that it serves for that constant and principal bond of union between the different individuals of a whole nation, without which, they could not, for a moment, be kept together as a community. This great and prevalent characteristic is, therefore, everywhere visible in its structure, arrangements and expression; hardly less so in books, than in conversation. The main object, indeed, to which every other is sacrificed, in the formation of a language is, to facilitate personal intercourse; to enable one human being, in the easiest and most direct manner, to communicate to another his thoughts and his wants, his feelings and his passions; and to this great object every living language is essentially, and, it may almost be said, is exclusively adapted in its vocabulary, its forms, its inflexions, idioms and pronunciation. The easiest and best method, therefore, for persons of all ages and all classes to learn a living language is undoubtedly to learn it as a spoken one; since this is not only its paramount characteristic, but is the only foundation on which the written language has been |