NOTICES.

Outlines of the Constitutional Jurisprudence of the U. S. &c, by Wm. A. Deur, Pres. of Columbia College. New York, Collins & Hannay, 12mo. We have received the title and preface of this work. Its object is highly important. Of its character, a jurist is now the only competent judge.

Inquiries concerning the Intellectual Powers, and the Investigation of truth, by John Abercrombie, M. D., F. R. S. With additions and explanations, to adapt the work to the use of schools and academies, by Jacob Abbott. Hartford. F. J. Huntington, 1833. 12mo. pp. 276.

A work of great value, prepared for the use of schools, by an experienced teacher. We are much pleased with Mr Abbott's simple directions for study; and his plan of contents, instead of questions to each page, is one which we have long considered the best for advanced pupils.

Popular Lessons in Astronomy, on a new plan; in which some of the leading principles of the Science are illustrated by actual comparisons, independent of the use of numbers. By Francis J. Grund. Boston: Carter, Hendee & Co. 1833. 4to. pp. 24.

One of the luxuries in school books, which ought to have a place in every school, and as far as possible, in every family. The execution is on a scale, and in a style, superior to any we have seen; and the character of Mr Grund leads us to place entire confidence in its accuracy.

The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: Translated out of the original Greek; and with the former translations diligently compared and revised. Stereotype edition. Boston: Lilly, Wait, & Co.

1833. 12mo. pp. 453.

Another luxury, which we long to see in the hands of every child in the country. We consider the publishers as performing a great service, in thus guarding against the injury to the eyes produced by the wretched paper and small type, which often render the best of books less useful, and we sometimes feel, almost dishonor it. We earnestly hope they will reduce the size of the paper, so as to bring it, if possible, within the reach of our schools and of the aged poor, to whom the scriptures are often a sealed book, for want of such a copy. We have been favored with the specimen annexed. It has led us to the determination, that we will not hereafter tax the eyes of our readers, as we have done.

In our note concerning the Address before the Institute, we alluded to a formal denial, as it seemed to us and to others, preserved in the printed copy, of a religious opinion held by many of the assembly. We are gratified to learn that it was not so designed; but that the speaker intended to refer, not to opinions, but to methods of discipline alluded to in the same connection. We feel the liability to such inadvertences, because we have one to acknowledge ourselves, which the want of time to re-examine, prevented our noticing in our last number.

We classed the work of Miss Fry with two others, one of whose titles avowed the religious opinions of its author, and observed, that some portions of each involved the religious views of its author,' but that they contained admirable exhibitions of the true principles of moral education and discipline.'

A subscriber has complained to us, that our remarks were not sufficiently explicit, and that he was led to purchase a work entirely opposed to his own relig ious views. We find, on examining the work again, that Miss Fry has introduced the views of the 'Evangelical' party, as it is termed in England, much more than we at first observed, and that our remarks ought to have been more cautious, or more full. We are gratified however, in finding, that one of the most constant readers of the Annals, and of different religious opinion from our own on many points, has found no other instance in which the work has departed from its avowed principles on this subject. If others have occurred, we hope equal frankness will be used in stating them.

TO THE FRIENDS OF THE " ANNALS."

WE avail ourselves of the only method at present in our power, to acknowledge the kindness of numerous friends who have addressed us, and especially of those who have exerted themselves to gain subscribers to the Annals, or have contributed to purchase the volumes on hand. We are also much indebted to those who have so kindly urged its claims, in our newspapers and periodical works; and for the frequent, gratuitous insertion of advertisements.

The strong expressions of interest and confidence in the work, from every quarter, have been peculiarly gratifying, when we have recollected its defects. They are connected, not a little, with the perplexities of our threefold task, of providing for its editorial management, its pecuniary burdens, and our own support; and this we hope will be accepted as an apology for them. It is only on this ground that we have any regret for the sacrifices we have already made. We are still prepared to go on, and to decline lucrative occupations presented to us, provided we can be relieved from a part of this task, by the purchase of the sets of the work now on hand, with an equal number for the ensuing year. But we beg our friends to recollect, that the personal interest of the editor is not consulted 'by sustaining him at a post, which at the best, will require a sacrifice; and we hope their aid will be given, only so far as they regard the object as important.

If they proceed on this ground, they will doubtless meet, as we have done, with indifference and prejudice in various forms. They will find parents who pay more attention to every study, and every object of interest, than to the character of their children: guardians of schools, who consult only for economy or display; and even teachers who have "finished their studies," and stereotyped their opinions and plans, and who do not desire to hear of improvements, lest they should admit their own fallibility, or be led to some labor which they are unable or unwilling to perform. In advocating this cause, they will see the intuitive truth of the maxim, that without elementary and secular education, neither the lecturer, nor the preacher, nor the useful book - not even the bible itself— can exert their proper influence, on civilization or religion. They will understand friends of education at the West, who tell us that Sunday schools often fail for want of the aid of elementary schools, and educated teachers; and that the wildest errors in religion, arise from the same deficiency. And yet they will find men devoted to the cause of humanity, who forget the importance of the foundation on which the whole fabric of civilization and learning and religion rests, and are almost impatient with those who consecrate themselves, or their works, entirely to this neglected portion of the building; who will send hundreds to cleanse the streams of evil, and scarcely ten to purify the fountains, the weekly schools of childhood.

But we hope, that with some, at least, all this will only appear as new evidence of the necessity of exertion as a new motive to urge the employment of every means for diffusing information, and exciting interest on the subject. If a reformation is to be effected in the extent and character of our national education, it will of course meet with opposition, not only from prejudice and apathy, but from ignorance and indolence and pride. And when did ignorance seek for light, or prejudice pay for improvement; or when did indolence or apathy or pride attempt to reform themselves? These obstacles never were overcome- a reform never was effected-except by the untiring efforts and unsparing sacrifices of the few, first interested in the subject, and by their exertions, in carrying home knowledge and conviction to the minds of others.

What would have been done for temperance, if its advocates had waited until the adepts and the novices in drinking had come to buy their publications? What would be done for any object involving the moral interests of our race, if its friends were to wait till their efforts were called for, and paid? The doctrine of the correspondence between demand and supply does not apply here; because the need is greatest, where the want is least felt.

For ourselves, we shall not cease to labor for this great object. If half our subscribers, scattered over the Union, will join us, a host of friends may in time be enlisted; and before another generation has risen, THE WORK MAY BE DONE!

If each will undertake to explore and make known the condition of schools, first in his own neighborhood, and then in his county and state; if he will lay before others, their defects, and the proper remedies, he will soon excite them to action, and establish communication, and form associations, among the friends of the cause. If each will study the subject, and spread around him by correspondence, and by conversation, by reading and lending books, and by lectures, the information he acquires, ignorance must open her eyes, and apathy will be roused, and indolence will be compelled by shame, if not by interest, to act. The results will enable him to conquer prejudice itself, so far as to engage every friend of humanity in the great object; and with the blessing of Providence the thorough education of every American youth may be secured.

Should this journal go on, we shall endeavor to coöperate more directly with them in these effcrts. When it came into our hands, we found a few hundred readers only remaining, who had adhered to it from their deep interest in the cause, even when it was without an editor. We felt that to such persons, already familiar with the subject, we should chiefly address ourselves in regard to the general state of education, and the most recent improvements at home and abroad; and present extended documents and statistical views, which might put them in possession of great facts and principles, rather than the details adapted to immediate use. We have received all the approbation we could reasonably hope in this course; and we rejoice that we have been able to accumulate a mass of materials, which are considered by able educators, as of permanent value. But we feel that it is not so necessary hereafter to add to the amount, as to apply what has been presented to the purposes of social life, of the family, and of the school. To these objects, which are demanded by our extended list of subscribers, we shall devote more of our pages. Still we mean that the work should be substantial in its character, and should serve as a book of reference for the history of education. We are not willing that it should contribute to cultivate the pernicious taste so prevalent, for that which requires no thought, and which for all practical purposes, is banishing everything but the newspaper, from the family library, and retains the rest as mere ornaments. We have hitherto been unsuccessful in our efforts to secure regular contributions. It would gratify us if we could receive the aid of the friends of the cause, in the literary as well as the financial concern of the work; and thus give it greater interest to the various classes of

readers.

We have been asked why our work did not enter more into the subject of religious education. We reply; that we have already many periodicals on this subject; we need one, at least, of another kind.

Public opinion demands that we have general schools, for the communication of general knowledge; and in most cases, it will not admit the introduction of peculiar religious views. To these schools, all sects send their children for instruction. We can see no other mode of reaching, even the children of religious parents, in their weekly and permanent habits, but through the medium of these general schools, and by a work which

corresponds to them in character. We have felt anxious, then, to procure the opportunity of pleading with every parent, and teacher, and school committee, and legislator, that A GoD should be acknowledged, and THE SCRIPTURES, without note and comment, should be a text book, in every school and literary institution in our land. We sought for the privilege of pointing out to all who act on the subject, the alarming defects prevailing in our country in the education of the body, the mind, and the heart, and of the plans of instruction and discipline, which in our view, and in the view of men far wiser and more experienced than ourselves, are preparing the way for a race of feeble bodied and inefficient beings, and thus sapping the foundations of our religious, as well as our political institutions.

In these views, we find ourselves sustained by some of the most able and devoted friends of learning and religion, of various sects; and on these we feel bound to act. We cannot reserve or compromise our own peculiar religious views, where we are called to act on that subject; but we feel that there is a need, in regard to Education, of union among all who venerate the Scriptures, or who value our political and religious institutions; and in publications designed to promote this, we consider such views as much out of place, as in a journal devoted to the cause of Temperance or of Liberty. We have met with opposition, only from presses and individuals avowedly opposed to all religion; we shall always regard this as the best evidence of our faithfulness. We ask only the aid of the friends of religion and morals. THE EDITOR.

PUBLISHERS' NOTICE.

The following proofs of public confidence in the Annals satisfy us that the persevering efforts of its friends may now secure its continuance.

If the expenses already incurred could be paid by the sale of the volumes on hand, with an equal number for the next year, at a reduced price, the interest now excited in behalf of the work is increasing its subscription so rapidly, that it will doubtless go on. If not, it must stop.

A number of distinguished friends of education, have recommended a subscription to purchase these volumes, at $10 per set, of four volumes, (1831, 2, 3, '4, bound in cloth backs) for distribution among our institutions and libraries, in order to preserve the only American periodical on this subject, and to disseminate the information it contains. Single sets for private use, $12. Orders (specifying whether the volume for 1834 would be in numbers or bound,) may be addressed to the Editor and Proprietor of the work, or to ALLEN & TICKNOR, Publishers.

BOSTON, Nov. 1, 1833.

From the North American Review.

"The work before us is, we believe, the only one of the kind that is published in this country, and we regret to learn that the patronage which it has hitherto received, is not sufficient to justify its continuance. We sincerely hope, that efforts will immediately be made, with all the necessary vigor and spirit, by the friends of education throughout the country, for placing it upon a better footing. We consider it entitled, not less by the manner in which it is conducted, than by the nature of the subject, to the support and encouragement of all who are really interested in the cause. Few persons in the United States unite so many qualifications for carrying on such a work as Mr Woodbridge; and no one could employ them with a truer and more disinterested zeal for the object. In this form, the

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work has been continued for nearly three years; and in the value and variety of its contents, has fully realized the highest expectations that had been formed of it. We should regard its discontinuance as a serious public misfortune."

From the Superintendent of Common Schools in the State of New York. This work contains much valuable information in regard to improvements in schools, and in the modes of instruction; and its introduction into every school district would have a favorable influence, in furnishing new views on the subject of instruction, and in improving the standard of education in common schools.

Extracts of Letters from Teachers.

I am convinced that no teacher would be without it, if he were apprized of the advantages resulting from such a publication.

Another says. It is more useful to me than all the other periodicals I receive. Please consider me a subscriber for life.

Extract of a letter from a Mother.

This work comes like a cheering helper in Education. I would not be without it, for twice its price of subscription, which I earn yearly by my knitting needles.

From the Sunday School Journal.

Few periodicals published in this country, present higher claims to patronage than the Annals. The present editor is abundantly qualified for the department he occupies. We have no hesitation in saying, that it is the DUTY of every teacher to make himself acquainted with the contents of the Annals of Education.

From the New York Observer.

This is the only work in our country devoted to the subject of improving the system of school education; and it has been edited in a manner entirely satisfactory to those most deeply interested in the subject. We hope, for the honor of our country, that the friends of education will not permit the work to be suspended.

From the Boston Christian Register.

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We regret to learn from recent notices, that the patronage of this valuable publication is so limited as to prevent its further continuance, unless it speedily receives additional support. We should regard such an event as a public loss, and cannot believe that the intelligent and liberal in our community will permit it to take place.

From the Norwich Courier.

It is an unfavorable omen indeed, for our country, that twelve millions of inhabitants cannot, or rather will not, support one periodical devoted to the interests of education-and yet we are vaunting ourselves as the most enlightened nation of the age. The committee in every school district in the state should take a copy from the commencement.

From the Episcopal Recorder.

The Annals of Education we feel justified in recommending, as entitled in every respect, to public confidence.

From Zion's Herald.

We have long been accustomed to regard the Annals as an indispensable companion to every teacher. We beg every reader, and especially every teacher, to examine it, and say for himself, as a christian, as a citizen of our republic, whether such a work shall be suffered to perish.

From the Presbyterian.

This work, which has been ably conducted by Mr William C. Woodbridge, at Boston, is apparently upon the eve of being discontinued, for want of general interest in its details. This would be matter of deep regret to the friends of Education, and we notice the fact, in the hope that many of our readers may be awakened to consider the necessity of averting this most undesirable event.

From the Christian Watchman.

Can it be that the "Annals" languishes for want of encouragement, when every voice which has been heard publicly on this subject, has been that of approbation?