، This useful volume is so clearly arranged and thoroughly practical, that we are greatly mistaken if it has been done to order.' We are inclined to the opinion that Mr. Singleton used it in Ms. form long before it was given to the world. There are eighty-two lessons, forty-three of which are on objects;' seventeen on 'subjects;' and the complement on animals.' Though professedly written for Infants and Standard I., the lessons-at least a fair proportion of them-may be given with advantage to the children in the higher standards. Capital outline sketches, such as a teacher ought to enliven his lessons with, illustrate the text. The book-though, of course, the wise teacher will not confine himself to it for examples, etc.—deserves a wide circulation. It will save the weary teacher many an hour in hunting up his oral lessons. The binding is neat and durable. The Geography of the Oceans. By J. F. Williams, F.R.G.S. London: Philip & Son. This attempt to place the main facts relative to the 'great world of waters' is successful in every way. The book-comprising nearly 250 pages-is not only valuable for the extent and accuracy of its information, but pleasant reading withal. The researches of Captain Maury, together with the more recent results of the Challenger Expedition, are here judiciously blended with the conclusions of modern geographers. Matters that require some detail of reasoning processes are thus treated, and while no statement is left in doubt, there is an absence of excessive explanation, together with the writing down to students that disfigures many books for educational purposes. With this manual in hand the young teacher may 'sail away' most pleasantly over the ocean, and with a common map before him make his class acquainted with the waters of the world. The information brings us down to the successful issue of the Vega, which in 1879 brought honour to Sweden in accomplishing the North-East Passage that Sir H. Willoughby first attempted in 1553. Many other expeditions,' says Mr. Williams, 'from different countries have started on the same errand, always without success, and often with the loss of ships and many brave sailors. After the lapse of 326 years, and after the most experienced seafaring men had declared the undertaking to be an impossibility, the North-East Passage has at last been accomplished without the loss of a single life, without a case of sickness amongst those who shared in the enterprise, and without the slightest damage to the vessel. It has been also effected under circumstances which prove that the feat can be repeated in most years, perhaps every year, and within the space of a few weeks.' This we quote as an example of the pleasant reading and thoughtful writing that characterize these pages. In speaking of the perfect repose that is supposed to prevail at the bottom of deep seas, Mr. Williams adduces in proof the perfect state of the delicate shells of the foraminifera, which, he urges, in case of there being anything like a strong submarine current, would have been ground to powder.' So they are, it may be replied; and a quantity of this so-called fine powder no larger than a pin's head, if placed under microscopic power, displays myriads of these tiny shells. Specimens of these wondrously minute objects were found in all parts of the sand obtained from the borings of a Government well at Sheerness, and displayed marvellous elaborate beauty in all the specimens examined. The fact is, that these objects are too minute to be destroyed by the action of water currents on earthy or rocky materials. Mr. Williams seems to favour the word salinitz in several instances, in preference to the plainer and perfectly accurate word saltness. With this exception there is a remarkable freedom from difficult terms on the one hand, as also from any attempt at excessive plainness of style on the other. Speaking of the changes effected by the erosive action of the sea on the English coast, Mr. Williams instances the cliffs of Sheppey, where, 'at a spot where the cliffs are from 60 to 80 feet high, fifty acres have been lost in twenty years.' This statement, resting on the good authority of Sir Charles Lyell, is correct enough as far as it goes, but conveys the impression of this loss of land being a remarkably extensive instance. Now the Sheppey cliffs rise abruptly from a spot known as Scrop's Gate-due south of the Nore Light vessel to a general height of upwards of 200 feet, and thus continue for 4 miles to the Warden Point, where they descend as abruptly to the beach of Leysdown and Shellness. Instead of 50 acres, the loss in twenty years may be more correctly stated in hundreds of acres. As a striking example of the extent of this change, we may mention that the church of Warden village was built-with the stones taken in 1830 from Old London Bridge-so well inland, it was thought, as to be for ever safe from danger by the sea. Yet this church went to sea,' as the local phrase had it, together with the Government Preventive Station and field after field, some ten or a dozen years ago! The accumulation of shingle and sand is equally remarkable on many parts of the coasts, as at Dungeness, Hythe, Rye, and Winchelsea. Almost while we write this, the inhabitants of Sheerness are imploring Government aid to improve and make good the sea-walls to protect the town from such devastating effects as were produced by recent high tides. Mr. Williams' book contains a goodly number of maps and diagrams. A few well-executed woodcuts would greatly add to the value of these pages. The wood-engraving at page 58, together with the diagram (page 81) on the Tides, are the only ones we have noticed, and both are unworthy of the book. We would also suggest an enlargement of the index, or rather a supplementary one with names somewhat in detail, in addition to the very useful, yet too brief, one of two pages devoted to the principal subjects treated of. The co-tidal chart is clear and distinct. The sectional diagram giving approximate land elevations and sea depressions, represents mountain heights jutting upwards as sharp and regular as church spires. The chart on ocean currents, too, might be improved by being printed like the maps in colours. These, however, are comparatively small matters and trifling defects-if such they may be called. Altogether the work is thoroughly well done, and cannot fail to be highly useful to readers of all kinds as well as to geographical students. The trade and commerce details are wisely given in a tabular summary. We strongly recommend the book. A Series of Practical Standard Copy-books. By Joseph Cox. In 15 parts, price 2d. each. London: Joseph Hughes. We have just had submitted to our notice the above series of copy-books. It has fallen to our lot in past years to examine almost every kind of book intended and designed to teach children to write well, and without doubt many of them are well adapted to accomplish their purpose. But we have never seen a series of copy-books at all equal to those published by Mr. Hughes. In whatever light we view them,-in their 'get up,' the style in which they are printed, their graduation and consequent adaptation to children in all the Standards from the First to the Sixth,-the help they give to the youngest scholar, as well as the occasional assistance they present to the more advanced pupil, are all alike most praiseworthy. In our judgment, these copy-books stand unrivalled, and all destined. to hold and maintain a very high position in our elementary day-schools. Each page is headed with very clear and important instruction to the child, and which cannot fail to facilitate its improvement, while it must likewise save both the time and labour of the master. The subject-matter, too, of these books, and the wise method in which that matter has been arranged, are of such a character as must ensure the interest and attention of the scholar. While he is learning to write, if he use this series of copy-books, he will, at the same time, be making himself acquainted with the elements of grammar, geography, arithmetic, and geological science. We have long held the opinion that the faculty of writing is a gift which, while all may possess it, all do not possess it in the same degree; but we feel confident of this, that to whatever extent the talent may have been conferred, they who use these books will have the faculty educated in the truest sense of the term. We have therefore the greatest pleasure in commending Mr. Hughes' series of writing books to the attention of all masters of elementary schools. A Manual of Music. By J. L. Watson. Hull: Brown & Son; London: Simpkin & Marshall. This manual forms one of 'Browns' School Series,' which includes several useful school-books. Mr. Watson's pages are devoted to explanations of the elements of music, in order to enable pupil teachers and students to pass examinations in musical theory. For this, Mr. Watson's book, if not a full guide, is a safe one, and free from fanciful theories. Some writers on the elements of musical science are continually thrusting forward new notions and attempts to remodel the well-understood nomenclature. Mr. Watson, while avoiding this, explains clearly the principal matters connected with the rudiments of the science. Several of the definitions are terse and happy. Almost the only thing to be regretted is, that the explanations are generally brief-a necessity imposed by having to treat of so many matters of musical science in the limit of one hundred rather largely printed pages. In the chapter on Time, some omissions may be judiciously made, descriptive of varieties of signatures which are not used, as, for instance, time, i.e. two quavers in a bar, which nobody is ever likely to meet with. Again, in giving the twosemibreve time, in which some old ecclesiastical music is written, Mr. Watson rightly enough explains this to be Four-two time, on the principle of regarding the semibreve as the standard of time measurement. But this species of time is usually indicated by the terms Alla Breve, which students should be helped to answer. We would also prefer the sign to In explaining the Italian words commonly used to indicate the rate of time movement, Mr. Watson adheres too closely to the literal meaning of some terms which have outgrown their original signification. Andante, for instance, is now understood to incline to slow and gently-moving time, rather than to be synonymous with Moderato, as Mr. Watson would lead us to conclude. Again, Adagio is understood to be decidedly slow, rather than merely 'deliberately.' These, however, are very minor imperfections. A student who can answer correctly the excellent series of questions and exercises at the end of Mr. Watson's chapters will have attained no contemptible knowledge of musical elements, and be able to pass an ordinary examination thereon without fear of failure. The 'get up' of the book is all that could be desired, Messrs. Brown & Son having done their part of the work remarkably well. By H. R. RicePp. 282, crown 8vo. London: Isbister. The Elementary School Manager. It has often been urged as an objection to our young Inspectors, that they were not familiar with the daily routine of school life. That objection cannot certainly be urged, with any show of reason, against the writers of this useful volume. Few teachers would have credited them with so complete and practical a knowledge of the inner working of an elementary school as this book reveals. There is evidence on every page that the work has been done con amore. No school manager desirous of discharging his duties aright should be without a copy. To the correspondent of the school, it is indispensable. Its use will save him no end of trouble. He has here at his fingers' ends a copy of every useful form, from the Conscience Clause Regulations of the Elementary Education Act, 1870, down to the recently issued circular to H. M. Inspectors with regard to the teaching of class subjects. But the manual is not simply a collection of dry schedules. In the preface we are told that the authors have endeavoured to help managers to detect, to trace to their causes, and to remedy all those flaws in their school which, in spite of precautions, are constantly recurring.' That promise has been abundantly fulfilled. With the spirit of the work we are more than pleased. One feels as they read the following hint (the first of four given to managers in dealing with the troubles and difficulties of the teacher), that the Inspectors who penned it are men of the right stamp: 'He may be depressed by the prospect of the coming examination. If you know him to have done his utmost for the school, a few kindly words may inspire him with new heart for his work.' The book abounds with valuable suggestive hints to the teacher. Our only regret as we closed it was, that the new Code in its entirety had not been inserted. 'The Elementary School Manager' is worthy a place in every schoolmaster's desk, and on every schoolmanager's bookshelf. Walker's Slate-Paper Projection Atlas. London: Walker & Co. Price IS. Price Is. The old pedagogue who taught geography from text-books framed after the fashion of Mangnall's Questions, is, we trust, fast dying out. It is now generally acknowledged that this interesting study cannot be successfully pursued without constant practice in mapping. The objection to the neat outline maps hitherto issued by several well-known firms has been that their use entailed too great an expense. These ten slate-paper maps surmount that difficulty. They are printed in white on a black ground, which serves all the purposes of an ordinary slate. They would have been all the more valuable if about onethird of the rivers had been omitted and the positions of the great watersheds indicated. They will prove a boon to every teacher and student of geography. The Multum in Parvo French Verb Book. Containing all Regular and Irregular Verbs, conjugated in two pages, etc. By L. Nottette, B.A. (Paris). London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. Paper, price 6d. He who contrives to keep his temper after investing his sixpence in this book is indeed a praiseworthy model of patience and long-suffering. It contains thirty-six pages, of which sixteen are devoted to panegyrics on M. Nottette's prolific book-making genius; in other words, advertisements of books which, though possibly everything desirable in their own way, have yet not the remotest interest to us in the present connection. Of the remaining twenty, three are taken up with title-page, preface, and index, while two more form a mere table to assist the student in referring to another book on the same subject. Thus winnowed down to half its not previously Brobdingnagian dimensions, no one can for an instant pretend that to learn this multum in parvo is at all an impossible task. While to some degree admiring the ingenuity, we cannot but deprecate the pertinacity with which our author has interwoven his books one with the other. The preface introduces us to his French Copy-Books, a few pages further on we are referred to French Language Simplified, while to complete this process a portion of the book is utterly valueless except we purchase a third of M. Nottette's performances. To turn now to the subject-matter itself. We have not succeeded in detecting any mistakes except here and there a chance t or s gone wrong, but in no case leading to anything serious. The title, however, raises expectations scarcely gratified on closer inspection. We are led to believe that we are to meet with every mortal verb in the moderate compass of two pages. We begin to think our former difficulties must now vanish under such able tutelage. We find the two pages in question. Eyeglasses and spectacles must come into requisition immediately. It is quite true that we have it all in two pages, but it can be easily imagined that when the primary tenses and meanings, and the singulars of the present indicatives of sixty irregular verbs, the manner of conjugation of all four classes, and multitudinous notes and addenda, are compressed into two pages, it is only done by using diamond type, and producing a result which is utterly ruinous to our eyesight, thus failing through its very success. We Besides verbs, we are treated to new ideas on French and English pronunciation, and various tables of weights and measures, which seem quite irrelevant until we remember that M. Nottette has probably failed to find a suitable place in any of his other works in which he might safely insert them. The tables, indeed, are a model of French fickleness. are told that a decigramme is 15432 grains, but a gramme is given us as 15 grains; and while we gather that a mile (given as 1700 yards!) is 1609 314 metres, we get no nearer to the value of a metre than '3 ft. 3 in. and. This being the case with weights and measures, we are quite prepared to be told that while I franc-9s. d., 2 francs Is. 7d. We might multiply instances, but even the author will not accuse us of doing him injustice by taking too few examples. Consistency, not to speak of exactness, seems to be quite the last thing at which our author aims. We have never had the privilege of visiting any part of England where en in length has the sound of any one of the French words prince, peintre, princesse, or vin. And surely there is difference distinct enough between the English and the French ƒ in actif. But it is useless to multiply instances. We might fill up as much space as does the book we are noticing by mere comment upon its errors, but to do this could only weary. We may therefore only express our conviction that to teach French pronunciation by rule and rote can but prove ruinous. Indeed, it is as a result of this merely that most Englishmen having learnt their French prove as intelligible in Paris as they would in China. In conclusion, we are sorry that not even after considerable efforts in disentangling this confused maze have we reached anything like a sufficient excuse for the existence of this publication. Self-Culture for All In six parts, price 6d each. London: Ward & Lock. In this age of keen competition, no fitter advice could be given than that which heads this splendid serial, 'Above all things study.' Messrs. Ward & Lock, anticipating the anxious enquiry, 'WHAT am I to study' of the perhaps poor but ambitious youth bent on making his way in the world, have made a practical reply in issuing 'Self-Culture for All.' The title is the best explanation of the character and scope of the work. To young students, many of whom have to earn the money they spend on literature, it will be of untold value. Equipped with the information 'SelfCulture for All' contains, any persevering young man or woman ought to make 'success in life' a certainty. Cayzer's 1000 Arithmetical Tests. Price Is. 6d. Cayzer's 1000 Algebraical Tests. Price 2s. 6d. London: Griffith & Farran. Mr. Cayzer's useful and carefully-graduated Arithmetical and Algebraical Tests are so well known, that we must content ourselves with little more than announcing new editions of them. Each manual contains excellent test work, and, used in conjunction with the ordinary text-books, cannot fail to prove valuable auxiliaries. Principals have in these books ample material for compiling model examination papers. As 'Tests,' we award them high praise. Glimpses of the Globe. Fcp. 8vo, 156 pp. Price is. Glimpses of England. Fcp. 8vo, 156 pp. Price is. Glimpses of the British Empire. Fcp. 8vo, 184 pp. Price 1s. 6d. By J. P. Blakiston, M.A. London: Griffith & Farran. Mr. Blakiston's 'Glimpses' are already so well known that a full description of them is hardly necessary here. Suffice then that each book fully meets the requirements of the Education Department in Geography under Art. 19, C. 1. The language in the volume designed for the Second Standard is too difficult,-a fault for which the Department alone, and not the author, is responsible. Mr. Blakiston has adopted a lively, chatty, and interesting style, and given us a series of books which, apart from their special adaptability to the Code requirements, will be highly prized by all lovers of geographical teaching. A few really good woodcuts interspersed throughout the volumes would, in the eyes of the young folk who will use them, have added to their attractiveness. Ably edited, clearly printed, and well and neatly bound, Mr. Blakiston's 'Glimpses' should find their way into many of the places he so graphically describes. The Elements of Geography. By Rev. B. G. Johns. 186 pp. Price Is. London: Crosby Lockwood & Co. Now-a-days one is so accustomed to see elementary geographies chopped up into small sections duly numbered (we had nearly said labelled) ready to be mentally swallowed the prescribed number of times a day, that it is refreshing to come across Mr. Johns' booklet. It is a first-rate introduction to the interesting study, and contains within its 186 pp. a very fair amount of geographical information penned in an interesting style. We, however, think the author has made a serious mistake in following the old-fashioned custom of putting questions at the end of each chapter. The space thus occupied would have been turned to infinitely more advantage by the insertion of a series of rough sketch maps say four times the size of that which appears on the page headed 'Preface to the First Edition.' It is impossible to study geography rightly without maps; every help therefore in this direction should be given. Not the least merits of the book are its size and price; it forms, if we may be allowed the expression, an excellent elementary 'pocket' geography, and may be had in an elegant. binding for a shilling. Grammar. (a) Our host replied, 'Allow me to ask the reason why your face is so discoloured.' The alchemist's servant said that he was so much employed in blowing the fire that the heat had changed his colour. They were continually working at and peering into the fire; yet, notwithstanding their industry, they could not attain their end, for the science was so far beyond their comprehension that, let them strive as they might, they could not solve the mystery. The more they tried to discover it, the more mysterious it seemed to grow; and so much time and money had been spent on it that they expected nothing else but to be left in beggary. (b) The hotë fire illustrates the concord of the adjective agreeing with its substantive in gender, number, and case. (c) The change that has taken place in the pronunciation of science and colour is that these words are now accented on the first instead of the second syllable. The rule for the alteration of the accent is that in English the tendency of the language is to place the accent always towards the beginning of words. The accent placed towards the end of the word is a sign of recent introduction from a foreign language. Other examples are licoúr, prostráte, natúre, theatre, académy. quoth-verb, defective, indic. past, 3d pers. sing. agreeing with subj. hostë. (This verb is no longer in common use. It always precedes its subject. It is derived from O.E. cwethan, to say.) let-verb, trans. strong conj. (let, let, let), imper. 2d pers. sing. agreeing with subj. thou. (It may be considered also as forming with the infinitive talke the 1st pers. of imper.) talke (for talken)-pres. inf. of reg. verb to talke. (The -n of the infinitive is left out.) alchemist's- (Genitive used to end in -es, but afterwards the 'e' was dropped, and the elision is marked by the apostrophe.) poren-1st pers. plur. pres. indic. of the intrans. verb poren, to pore. (-en used to be the plural ending of the present indicative.) science-noun, abstr. neut. sing. nom. subj. of is. (This word is derived from the Latin through the French, and has the accent on the last syllable.) us-Ist pers. pron. masc. plur. obj. gov. by beforn. (Us is a dat. as well as an obj. case.) beforn-prep. gov. obj. case us. (This word, contracted for byforen, is now written 'before.") I. Geography. NOTES OF A LESSON-UNITED STATES. (a) Boundaries.-North, British America; south, Mexico, and Gulf of Mexico; east, Atlantic Ocean; west, Pacific Ocean. Extent.-Greatest length, 2800 miles; greatest breadth from north to south, 1600 miles; area, 3,602,400 square miles. (b) Mountains.-Rocky Mountains in the west; Appalachian or Alleghany Mountains in the east. (c) Rivers.—Mississippi and Missouri, latter generally considered a tributary of the former. Tributaries of the Mississippi -Ohio, from the east (with its branches Wabash, Cumberland, and Tennessee), and lower down, the Arkansas and Red River, from the west. Great rivers of Pacific slope-Columbia or Oregon, the Sacramento, the San Joaquin, and the Colorado. Rivers of Atlantic slope-Potomac, Susquehanna, and Hudson. (d) History.-Previous to 1765 they belonged to Britain; Stamp Act passed; 1768, affairs became threatening; 1773, taxed tea thrown into Boston Harbour; 1775, first contest at Lexington; Bunker's Hill; Siege of Boston; July 4, 1776, Declaration of Independence; General Burgoyne surrenders at Saratoga; 1781, Lord Cornwallis surrendered; 1783, independence acknowledged; General Washington first President; 1812, war with England; 1845, war with Mexico; 1861, beginning of the War of Secession; 1864, Assassination of President Lincoln; 1876, Centennial Exhibition. (e) Constitution.-Republican form of government; President holds office for four years; Vice-President; Congress, consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives; Senate consists of two members from each state, chosen for six years, one-third of them being elected every two years; the House of Representatives elected by the people for a term of two years. (f) Trade.-Foreign trade chiefly with Great Britain, France, British North America, Germany. Imports manufactured goods, wine, colonial produce. Exports-raw cotton, wheat flour, tobacco, timber, agricultural produce. Manufactures.-Cotton in Massachusetts; woollen in Pennsylvania; iron in New York and Pennsylvania; sugar in northern and middle States; india-rubber goods, machinery, agricultural implements, etc. Great Towns.-New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston, New Orleans, San Francisco. 2. The Atlantic Ocean extends from the Arctic Circle on the north to the Antarctic Circle on the south, having the western coasts of Europe and Africa as its eastern, and the eastern coasts of North and South America as its western boundaries. Its comparatively little interruption by islands, its great currents, and its greater extent of coast-line than all the other oceans together, are its distinguishing features. North of the equator its shores are very irregular, while south of it the coast-line is, as a rule, regular and unbroken. The Pacific Ocean extends from the Arctic to the Antarctic Circle, the western shores of America forming its eastern, and the eastern coasts of Asia and Australia forming its western limits. Though nearly twice as large as the Atlantic, the Pacific is not by any means so important. It differs also from the Atlantic in being studded with a vast number of islands. The shores of the Pacific on the eastern side are penetrated by only two gulfs of any importance, while the western side shows a number of considerable indentations. The Pacific, unlike the Atlantic, which has a comparatively free communication with the Arctic Sea, is almost entirely landlocked on the north. The shores of the Atlantic preserve such a remarkable parallelism as to give it the name of the 'Atlantic Canal.' The long contracted basin of this ocean contrasts very strongly with the immense oval-like expanse of the Pacific. History. 1. A very probable explanation why England has not had a second sovereign named either Stephen or John, is that they both brought so much suffering on their subjects that the name of each was detested. They were both usurpers, and the latter was one of the most worthless and cruel wretches that ever lived. 2. Cape Colony was taken by the British in 1806. Up to that year it belonged to the Dutch, who had planted a colony there in 1652. It was confirmed to this country at the treaty in 1814, and has made great progress under British protection. British Kaffraria, formerly a separate colony, was incorporated with it in 1866. Basuto Land was annexed in 1868-71. In 1871 West Griqualand, north of the Orange River, famous for its diamond-fields, was ceded to Britain, and a constitution was framed for it in 1873. Natal was made a separate colony in 1856. The Transvaal was annexed to British territory in 1848, |