of the earth. We wish this rational spirit of improvement were permitted to find its way into the study of geography as now pursued, and abolish the unmeaning practice of commencing with the form and composition of 'the terraqueous globe,' instead of with that portion of the earth's surface, which falls under the young learner's daily notice.

Mr. Butler's work does not begin, as we wish it did, with the United States; but it places them so near the beginning of the book, and devotes so large a space to them, that, even in this point of view, we cannot but regard his book as an important step taken towards a desirable improvement in geographical instruction.

The catechetical arrangement is adopted in this work, with a view to render the subject more easy and familiar. The design is laudable, but we doubt whether, in such cases, it is always attended with the desired result. Catechetical instruction renders the pupil's task more light; as it reduces the memory lessons to portions which he can manage. All this may be done, however, and the lesson, which is said, be still as unintelligible as ever; so that, in reality, the subject itself stands invested with all its original difficulty. We confess that we should like to see the method of alternate printed question and answer abandoned, and recourse more generally had to the simple form of consecutive paragraphs, to be enlivened by the oral explanations and questions of the teacher. That is the most efficient kind of instruction, in which the manual furnished by the author is used merely as a book of outlines to be filled up by the teacher's own mind. The writer of a school book should not go before the instructer, and, by a limited number of questions, preclude a wide range of thought, on the part of the pupil.

In other respects, Mr. Butler's Elements contain much that will be gratifying to every teacher who adopts a practical method of instruction. Some of the advantages likely to result from the use of this work, are peculiar. Geography is here combined with history: the former science is thus applied to one of its principal uses, and is rendered more pleasing than it could otherwise be to the young; while the latter is practically and thoroughly taught; and in so interesting a way, too, as to produce a desire for a more extensive knowledge of it.

Another excellent feature in the plan of this geography, is, that half of the book is allotted to America; and much the greater part of that space is occupied with the United States.

The atlas which accompanies this volume, is neatly executed; but it might be better adapted to the work it is designed to illustrate, if care were taken to insert in the maps more of the places which are mentioned in the geography.

The Practical Reader, in five Books. By M. R. Bartlett. Second Edition, corrected from the first, and enlarged. Utica, 1825. 12mo. pp. 336.

THIS work must have cost its author much labor. The first part contains the substance of Walker's Elocution, minutely detailed in the form of question and answer. The second part exhibits an attempt to apply the rules of vocal inflection, by means of printed

accents.

The toils of the compiler have, we are sorry to observe, been but little alleviated by the diligence of the printer; for the typography of the book is shamefully careless. This negligence is to be the more regretted, as there is, perhaps, no work in the English language, in which the utmost accuracy of execution is more imperiously demanded, than in a book of accented reading lessons. This work, though, on the part of the compiler, a minute and careful one, is not, we think, in all respects judicious or happy.

In the first place, the rules of elocution which it lays down, are too numerous. This objection is often made,—and with good reason,-to Walker's treatises. His works on elocution are very diffuse; and his rules are unnecessarily multiplied, and are apt to produce much perplexity, especially in extemporaneous reading. We quote the following just sentiments from the advertisement to the fifth edition of the Elocutionist,* a work by Mr. Knowles, one of the most successful living teachers of this branch of education, in Great Britain.

In the introduction which follows, an attempt is made to simplify Mr. Walker's system of the inflections, with what degree of success I leave it to the critic to judge; but, even if I have failed, I shall still content myself with the reflection, that the undertaking will most probably have the effect of causing that system to be more narrowly inquired into, and of eventually producing-what every teacher with whom I have conversed upon the subject, has acknowledged to be a thing "devoutly to be wished"-a reduction

The Elocutionist, a collection of pieces in prose and verse, peculiarly adapted to display the Art of Reading, in the most comprehensive sense of the term. In cluding, among other original matter, a Debate composed expressly for the purpose of exercising the young student in purely argumentative Declamation; and preceded by an Introduction, in which an attempt is made to simplify Mr. Walker's system, and, by referring his illustrations to more general principles, to reduce the number of his rules. By James Sheridan Knowles, teacher of Elocution, Glasgow, author of the tragedy of Virginius, &c. Fifth edition. Glasgow and London, 1825. 12mo. pp. 328.

in the number, and a more lucid economy in the arrangement, of the rules.'

Mr. Bartlett might have rendered the study of elocution in this country an important service, by pruning the system of Walker, so as to reduce it to a manageable compass. The attempt has been successfully made in the department of inflections by the Rev. Dr. Porter, of Andover.

The subject of emphasis needs a similar simplification; and various improvements might be effected in other departments.

We are sorry to observe in the application of accents denoting inflections, many mistakes for which we are afraid the printer is not to blame. We allude particularly to instances in which the rising inflection is uniformly marked at the end of several of the first clauses, in a sentence, and, particularly, where emphasis requires the falling inflection.

It is but justice, however, to this work, to observe that teachers who feel bound to adhere undeviatingly to Walker, will find the Reader present Walker's system in a more intelligible and practical form than it possesses in the works of the original author, and that consequently Mr. Bartlett's volume is better adapted to school use.

It would afford us much pleasure to see a third edition of the Reader, containing Walker's rules simplified and abridged. We hope, however, that it will appear on better paper, and be issued from a more accurate press. We may suggest, at the same time, what we think would be a valuable improvement in this and every other book on elocution,-we mean double the common space between the lines; so as to leave sufficient room for an easy and unembarrassed glance of the eye along every line with its accents and pauses. Such an aid is very serviceable to the teacher himself, when reading to his pupils; but it is peculiarly valuable to the youngest class of learners.

Analysis of Vocal Inflections as used in Reading and Speaking: designed to render the principles of Walker's Elements more intelligible. Andover, 1824. 8vo. pp. 20.

INTELLIGENCE.

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC LIBRARY.

It is a common observation on the libraries of this city and its vicinity, especially the public ones, that they are of too miscellaneous a character. Books are admitted on all subjects, and unless the library be very large, it contains but few on any one. If intended for general use, such books are sought for as are interesting to the greatest number of persons; and a book, however valuable or important, is not procured if it would be particularly interesting to only a few individuals. As this is the case with the greater part of books on scientific subjects, very few, comparatively, are to be found in our public libraries -Indeed the want of a collection of scientific books has been long and very generally felt, and is peculiarly pressing at the present time, when the boundaries of knowledge are so widely extended, and rapid advances are continually making in almost every department of science. There is no accessible library which contains the translations of even the greater part of foreign learned Societies-those rich storehouses of the labors of men, who, during the last two centuries, have brought to unequalled perfection branches of science which had long occupied the minds of men, and have explored new regions in the kingdoms of nature and art. Nor is the deficiency less striking in the later publications. Many scientific journals and magazines, of the highest value and respectability, are not to be found in any public library, and, if taken at all, are taken only by individuals, and for individual benefit or gratification. Works are continually appearing on improvements in the arts and manufactures, as well as in science, which it would seem to be of the greatest importance for us to have, of which we see notices in the reviews and literary journals, but which every one must long for in vain, who cannot afford to import them.

There has never been so loud and earnest a call as is now heard, for exact and practical knowledge, for scientific principles, and the results of experiment, to guide in the new works of every kind, which the engineer and mechanic are erecting on all sides of us. Every one feels how poor are our means of answering this call. It has not hitherto been answered by the public. There is no tolerably complete collection, open to all, on any ore science that can be named. He who wants books on any science, on any art or branch of art, is obliged to send to Europe to procure them for himself, at great expense, delay and uncertainty, hardly knowing what to send for, or what to expect, aud oftentimes without the means of ascertaining the extent of his own wants.-There is no place to which the artist, or mechanic, or man of science, can resort, where he can ask with any probability or hope of a satisfactory answer, what is doing, or what has been done, on the subject which his curiosity or interest leads him to investigate.

There is no deficiency of talent for these subjects. Indeed, if there be any trait which has decidedly developed itself in our intellectual character, it is that of the quick invention and skillful application of practical principles in the arts:-But how do we allow this faculty to waste itself in discoveries that have already been made. The same genius might be employed in advancing the limits of knowledge, which is now spent in tracing paths which, perhaps, have long and frequently been trodden. While books are so much wanted, one of the strongest motives to bold perseverance in original investigations is lost in the fear, that what seems to be new is already familiarly known to others; and whoever has been led to pursue a subject however little beyond the usual course of elementary reading, must soon have felt himself impeded, if not altogether discouraged, by the want of books.

The most obvious means of supplying this want, is the formation of a library, by subscription, to consist exclusively of scientific books.-Such a library, while it admitted books on all branches of science, should contain entire sets of the transactions of learned societies, which are essential to the completeness of every scientific library. It should also be a principal object to confine the selection at first to one or two subjects of preeminent importance, in order that a complete collection on these subjects might, as soon as possible, be formed. At the same time, as many of the periodical journals of science should be constantly taken, as the funds of the institution would allow such publications being, from their novelty, and from affording the means of tracing, at all times, the progress of discovery, particularly interesting to all.

It should be a circulating library.-A person will derive incomparably more benefit from a book, if allowed to take it to his own study, or his own fire-side, than if only permitted to consult it in a public room.

The advantages that would result from such an institution are so numerous, and, to any one who turns his attention to the subject, so obvious, that it is impossible in this place, to advert to all-and seems almost unnecessary to mention any of them. A well chosen library is a fountain of valuable knowledge, and one of the character here contemplated would send forth knowledge of the most useful and practical kind, such as, if acted upon, could not fail to be of public and private benefit, in developing and perfecting the resources of this section of the country. Neither would the direct influence be confined to this immediate vicinity. Individuals in the neighboring towns, even in those at a distance, might avail themselves of its use. To the committees of the legislature on the subjects of internal improvement-on roads, canals, and railways--on education--indeed on almost all subjects which fall under the notice of the representatives of an enlightened people, the value would be inestimable. To the conductors of literary and scientific journals, and to editors of newspapers of all kinds, the advantages would be no less certain, whether they estimate the value of information by its own excellence, or consider the privilege of receiving it from its original source, rather than from other newspapers. To all engaged, in any way, in the composition of scientific books, a rich scientific library is indispensable. Few books of this kind have indeed been written in New-England-and few ever will or can be written, until the sources are collected from which the materials are to be drawn. Such is the present state of books of this kind, that it is not hazarding any thing to say, that not one of the standard works on natural philosophy which are abroad, not even the best articles in the encyclopedias, could have been written here, without subjecting the author to an immense charge for foreign books.

It is often asked why regular courses of lectures on scientific subjects are not established here, as in some of our sister cities; and many persons are, at this moment, earnestly expecting or hoping for some plan for their establishment.-But the truth is that no one, not provided with a valuable library of his own, could deliver a course on many of the subjects of great interest to the public, which should be worthy of their attention. To our future lecturers, then, a scientific library is indispensable There is another class of our fellow citizens, the instructers of the public schools, who would not fail to be greatly benefitted by this institution, and by whom its advantages would be diffused throughout every part of the community. They cannot afford to provide themselves with many books; and yet it is they who are silently sowing the seeds of the future science of our country.

It may be objected, and it is perfectly true, that most persons of these classes are i not in the habit of reading scientific books; but it is equally true that it is often because they have not access to them-and it would be contrary to all experi ence, if the circulation of such books should not make many, who now hardly know what is meant by science, to become lovers of it. In fact, in this as in most cases, consumption and supply act reciprocally on each other; and a well choser library of science, thrown open to the public, would soon create numerou

readers.