STANDARD CLASSICAL AND SCHOOL BOOKS, PUBLISHED AND FOR SALE BY JAMES MUNROE AND COMPANY, 134 Washington, opposite School St., Boston. PUBLISHED ANNUALLY. NO. 2. Whately's Logic. Elements of Logic. Comprising the Substance of the Article in the Encyclopædia Metropolitana; with Additions, &c. By Richard Whately, D. D., Archbishop of Dublin. 12mo pp. 360. 'In an age marked for the fertility of its novel theories and doctrines, in science as well as religion, the subject treated of in this volume would seem to recommend itself to every person who desires to reason forcibly or correctly. This elementary treatise holds a very high rank among the educational works of the day, having been introduced into many of the best managed and popular seminaries of learning, both in England and the United States. It is got up in the usually correct and beautiful style of most Boston books.' - Merchant's Magazine. Questions for Examination in Whately's Elements of Logic. Prepared by a Teacher. Whately's Rhetoric. Elements of Rhetoric. Comprising the Substance of the Article in the Encyclopædia Metropolitana; with Additions, &c. By Richard Whately, D. D., Archbishop of Dublin. 12mo. pp. 360. Both have been well received, and that which we are now to speak of [the Rhetoric] is adopted as a text-book in our higher seminaries.'--American Monthly Review. Questions for Examination in Whately's Elements of Rhetoric. Prepared by a Teacher. Whately's Lessons on Reasoning. Easy Lessons on Reasoning, in Seventeen Lessons, by Richard Whately, D. D., Archbishop of Dublin. 1 vol. 12mo. pp. 164. In offering to the consideration of teachers and others the stereotype editions of the above works, the publishers would say, that both works have been carefully revised by a practical teacher. The questions were made by one who has long felt the need of a text book with questions for examination, and it is believed that these will meet the desired object in all respects. Goldsbury's Grammar. A Concise and Comprehensive Manual of English Grammar: containing, in addition to the first Principles and Rules briefly stated and explained, a Systematic Order of Parsing, a number of Examples for Drilling Exercises, and a few in False Syntax: particularly adapted to the Use of Common Schools and Academies. By John Goldsbury, A. M., Teacher of the High School, Cambridge, Mass 8th edition. 12mo. The following, among other testimonials in favor of the 'Common School Grammar,' were received by the compiler while it was in manuscript; from Professors Noyes and Felton, of Harvard University, Reverends A. B. Muzzey, J. W. Parker, E. G. Brooks, J. D. Green, and Dr. A. Hooker. It has already been introduced into the public schools in Cambridge, and in several other towns. 'Dear Sir, Cambridge, September 4, 1841. 'I have given your Grammar as careful an examination as my leisure will permit; and am of opinion, that, for clearness, brevity, happy arrangement, abundance of instructive illustrations, and exclusion of useless or unimportant matter in a treatise for the young, your book deserves a very high rank among the manuals which are in use. If it should displace some of them, the public will be a gainer in several respects. 'Yours, respectfully, 'G. R. NOYES.' 'Dear Sir, Cambridge, September 27, 1841. 'I have read your "Manual of English Grammar" with attention. It seems to me to have the qualities of simplicity, brevity, and clearness to a remarkable degree. All that is essential to an exact knowledge of the English language, and of the practice of the most correct writers, it appears to me you have brought within a very narrow compass. As a practical grammar of the English language, it cannot fail to be useful, both to teachers and scholars. The outline of the principles of Rhetoric, at the end, is concise and intelligible. It contains directions in the art of composition, which will prove valuable, not only to young scholars, but to many practised writers. 'Respectfully yours, C. C. FELTON.' 'Cambridge, September, 1841. This certifies, that I have examined the Grammar prepared by Mr. John Goldsbury, and find it deserving of high commendation for its methodical arrangement and clearness of illustration, and for its union of comprehen siveness and brevity. It is free from extraneous matter, and, at the same time, so simple in its plan and details, that it can hardly fail to interest young pupils in a branch of study usually regarded as dry and irksome. I hope it may soon reach that place in our schools to which its merits fully entitle it. 'Dear Sir, 'A. B. MUZZEY.' Cambridge, October, 1841. 'I have examined your Manual of Grammar with as much care as my leisure would permit. In several important particulars it possesses peculiar merit. It is simple and concise. The definitions, with which it furnishes the learner, are clear, definite, and present the true idea to his mind, as no other manual with which I am acquainted does. With the simple elements for beginners it combines many important principles and suggestions to those who esteem themselves proficients in the science. I earnestly hope you will give it to the public. 'Very truly yours, 6 J. W. PARKER.' A Sequel to the Common School Grammar. A Sequel to the Common School Grammar; containing, in addition to other Materials and Illustrations, Notes and Critical Remarks on the Philosophy of the English Language; and explaining some of its most difficult idiomatic Phrases. Designed for the Use of the First Class in Common Schools. By John Goldsbury, A. M., Teacher of the High School, Cambridge, Mass. 12mo. NOTICES OF THE SEQUEL TO THE 'COMMON SCHOOL GRAMMAR." 'The want of a good system of teaching English grammar has long been sensibly felt. Neither Murray's Abridgment, nor the substitution of an abridged Latin Grammar, has been found to supply the deficiency. The want of success in teaching has not arisen from the dryness of the subject, but the abstractness or imperfection of text-books. Our author's "Common School Grammar" is an excellent work, and has been, we believe, properly appreciated. The work before us is a continuation of that work, and contains judicious and clear remarks on the Philosophy of the English language, on Style, Rhetoric, Idiomatic Phrases, Vulgarisms, general and local, with rules and copious illustrations, under the various heads of Syntax, Versification, &c. Though designed for schools, there are few persons who will not find it valuable and useful both for study and reference.' 'We have not given this work a very critical examination; but, taken as a whole, we like the work well. The compiler is a practical man-he is no dealer in fancy stocks. He knows what is needed in teaching gram mar; and this little work contains the results of his long experience.' 'This is an excellent work, the nature of which is fully explained by its long title. We doubt not it will be generally introduced in our public schools.' 'For simplicity of arrangement, propriety of language, and clearness of style it is unrivalled.' 'We think Mr. G. has well fulfilled his design, and his grammar is commended to the notice of teachers.' 'The Sequel to the Common School Grammar. This work is a far more valuable and important one than even its predecessor-and as the indispensable information it contains is universally expected, and the work can be taken up after any of the Grammars in general use, we trust soon to see it a common text-book in all our English schools. The author has condensed into the small compass of one hundred pages the most important principles of rhetoric, and accompanied and explained them by giving an English dress to those forms of writing which we have derived from the Greek and Latin languages, and to understand which fully, it has been heretofore necessary to study thoroughly the classic idioms. The spirit of these rules has long obtained in the construction of our language, but Mr. Goldsbury has for the first time given them an English form. The work should be encouraged.' The editor of the Christian Review, (Prof. Sears,) in speaking of these two works, (the Grammar and Sequel,) says: 'The titles of these two books are a faithful description of their contents. They fully come up to that which they promise. Murray's grammar is taken for the basis, but the author is by no means confined to one master. He exhibits resources and talents of his own. No work on the subject has pleased us more. The first is wholly elementary. The second introduces the advanced scholar to an acquaintance with some of the most interesting facts relating to his native tongue.' These two works are extensively used throughout New England, and meet with general approbation. WOOLSEY'S GREEK TRAGEDIES. 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.. 12mo. 3d edition. The Antigone of Sophocles, with Notes, &c. 12mo. 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 subject-matter 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. The preface and commentary to the Antigone are even more creditable to Mr. Woolsey's ability than those to the 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 nuinberless 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 the 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 the copiousness, elegance, or value of the commentary. 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 beautiful in poetical inspiration and sublime in moral sentiment.'-North American Review. The Prometheus of Aeschylus, with Notes, &c. 12mo. The Electra of Sophocles, with Notes, &c. 12mo 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.' -North American Review. This Course has been introduced into Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Bow doin, and many other Colleges. |