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BOOK OF GOVERNMENT AND LAW.

BY S. G. GOODRICH.

PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM ROBINSON,

208 BROADWAY, NEW-YORK.

From Hunt's Merchant's Magazine, December, 1842.

THE YOUNG AMERICAN: or Book of Government and Law; showing their History, Nature and Necessity. By S. G. Goodrich, author of " Peter Parley's Tales." 18mo. pp. 282. New York: William Robinson.

1842.

The design of this little treatise is excellent; and, like everything from Peter Parley, admirably well calculated to secure the attention of children. It begins with the first ideas of government and law, and successively treats of governments and legislation in all their successive stages, and diversified forms. The nature, origin, and principles of government, and especially our own, are here made accessible to all, and at the same time familiar to the youthful student. From the New York Evangelist, Nov. 12.

The object of this little work is described by the title page. In what manner it has been accomplished, the well-known talent, skill, and success of Peter Parley sufficiently indicate. The great elementary principles of Law, Rights, Justice, and Government, are stated and explained by such variety and simplicity of illustration, and such clearness of reasoning, as to be brought within the comprehension of a child. It is soundly republican, Puritan, and scriptural in its doctrine, and is admirably fitted for general reading and for schools.

From the New York Observer, Nov. 12.

This is just the book which has long been wanted for the use of schools and families; drawn up as it is by Peter Parley, it is happily adapted for the purpose, and, we doubt not, will be widely sought af ter and greatly useful. It is on a subject that ought to be studied and well understood, especially in this country where the people are the sovereigns and come early into power.

From the Journal of Commerce, Nov. 15.

The writings of S. G. Goodrich, Esq., have done much to cultivate in the minds of the young people of our country a taste for suitable books, and of learning more extensively with regard to the manners and institutions of those countries of which they here receive a faint idea. Mr. Goodrich is a popular writer, and deservedly such. We have no doubt that this book will be received with as much approbation as any of his preceding works. For sale by William Robinson.

Sunday Morning News, Dec. 12, 1842.

The autho, commences and admirably illustrates his remarks on

the nature and application of law and government by domestic scenes familiar to the mind of all. He then shows the character of government among the people of various nations and the universal admission of its necessity in some form by them all, and also the differences of that government among barbarous and civilized people.

The history and nature of legislation, judicial and executive power are considered and clearly recited and explained. The character of the present forms of government among prominent nations, with a view of their condition, resources and power, is also an interesting portion of the volume; and the contrast drawn between them and the government of the United States is admirably calculated to inspire the mind of youth with a spirit of patriotism, independence and honor.

The exposition of the various departments and tendency of our own peculiar government-the sketch of our rise and progress as a nation -the spirit and letter of our constitution, with its amendments-the functions of our governmental officers-the qualification of votersthe character of political parties-the duties of citizens, with much other pertinent matter, under specific heads, make up the balance of this excellent work.

When we consider the importance of intelligence to preserve and perpetuate our institutions and the advantages of early education to qualify our countrymen to become useful citizens, we must perceive the benefits which this clear and familiar treatise is calculated to confer upon the rising generation.

The work is forcibly illustrated by characteristic engravings, printed in a clear and neat style and strongly bound. With these particulars we are free to say that the publisher must soon exhaust large editions of this admirable work.

Bay State Democrat, Nov. 22, 1842.

The author instead of wasting the time and wearying the attention of the reader with recondite speculations upon abstract ideas, arrays his subject in the plainest garb of facts, and thus renders it acceptable to the young mind. The political institutions of the Hebrews, Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, French, English and Irish, are described in appropriate and intelligible language, and such facts and circumstances are interwoven with the narrative as cannot fail to render it interesting to the young reader. A sketch of the nature and origin of our National Government is also given, and a full and comprehensive account of its various institutions. The Constitution of the United States is presented section by section, accompanied by such explanatory remarks as serve to illustrate the purpose of its provisions. The subject of popular suffrage and the nature of political parties are set forth with the truth and plainness that their importance requires, and in a manner to render them topics of interest to the ng student. So far as we can observe, the work is free throughom any party bias that would call down the censure of whig or rat. It is accompanied by a series of questions upon the most tant topics treated of, to facilitate the labors of the teacher. ork is deserving of the attention of school teachers, committee ts, and others entred with the education of the young.

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