necessity of care and accuracy in the use of words, and in the structure of sentences; and to treat of the qualities of good style, and of the peculiar modes of writing, which characterize the productions of different individuals, or are suited to different subjects and occasions. The plan is judicious; and the plain and practical manner in which the explanations are given, is highly creditable to the judgment and good sense of the author. He has in many instances availed himself of the inductive method, which is now so happily introduced into many books of elementary education, and which, with or without books, may be so usefully employed in teaching every subject of human knowledge. Facts first, and then principles; examples, and then rules;—this is the true method of communication, as well as of discovery.

Historical View of the Literature of the South of Europe. By J. C L. SISMONDE DE SISMONDI. Translated from the Original, with Notes, by THOMAS Roscoe, Esq. In two volumes. New York. J. & J. Harper. 1827.

THIS work, the production of an elegant writer, as well as one of the most accomplished scholars and best thinkers of the age, has been fortunate in meeting with a better translator than falls to the lot of most good French authors. The French of Sismondi is not only exchanged for very good English, but the work is illustrated and improved in value, by notes which show the translator to possess a familiarity with the subject equal to that of the writer himself. That part which is least happily executed consists of the metrical versions of the copious extracts from the poets in the different languages of the South of Europe. These, with some exceptions, are only tolerably done. A few, however, taken from Blackwood's Magazine are spirited, and three or four furnished by Wiffen are very beautiful. A translation of a part of Politian's "Garden of Venus" is given from the Rev. Parr Greswell's "Memoirs of Politiano," and is highly praised by the translator. In the New York Review for May, 1826, is another version of the same passage in the same stanza, the ottava rima; and it is curious to observe, not only with how much more fidelity to the original, but with how much more grace and spirit the passage has been rendered by the American translator.

This work is now the best guide in the English language to an acquaintance with the literature of those European dialects which were formed by the corruption of the Latin tongue. The

author, after a slight notice of Arabian literature as it once flourished in Spain, gives a very full account of the curious, and till lately almost forgotten literature of the Troubadours; then passes to that of France in the age of chivalry; and afterwards considers successively that of Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Not only are the characteristic differences of these several literatures discussed with reference to the state of society in Europe at different periods, but all the celebrated writers in each are made to pass in review, anecdotes of their lives are given, and liberal extracts are made from their works. A note by the translator mentions that M. Sismondi intends preparing a similar work on the literature of the nations of the North of Europe.

Blair's Outlines of Ancient History, on a New Plan, embracing Biographical Notices of Illustrious Persons; General Views of the Geography, Population, Politics, Religion, Military and Naval Affairs, Arts, Literature, Manners, Customs, and Society of Ancient Nations; a Chronological Table, and a Dictionary of Proper Names that occur in the Work. Boston. S. G Goodrich. 1827.

An Epitome of History, with Historical and Chronological Charts. By J. E. Worcester. Cambridge. Hilliard & Brown. 1827.

An Historical Atlas accompanying Worcester's " Epitome of History," containing the following Charts: I. Chart of History. H. Chart of Ancient Chronology. III. Chart of Modern Chronology. IV. Chart of American History Cambridge. Hilliard & Brown. 1827.

THE anonymous author of these "Outlines" (for, by a most singular license, Blair's name is attached to the book, as we are informed in the Preface, only because "it resembles Blair's celebrated works for education, in making a distinction of type between what is more and what is less important, and there is a convenience in having a series corresponding in plan and subject, connected by a general name ") is of opinion, "that it will be found to possess great and important advantages over any method that has yet been devised for presenting ancient history to the mind of a learner." These advantages are said to be the following; "1. It is intelligible; 2. It is interesting; 3. It is distinct; 4. It will enable the pupil to master the difficult subject of dates; 5. It presents a general view of the whole subject that may be easily comprehended; 6. The subject is exhibited in a manner calculated to establish it permanently in the memory; 7. It will lay a strong and lasting foundation for a knowledge of history." It is stated in the Preface, that four years ago a "History of the United States" was published on the same plan, and, as we are

left to infer, by the same author, of which work fifty thousand copies have been sold; and that a "History of Greece" from the same quarter, was published within the last year, the first edition of which is already exhausted. We have not examined those works, but if they are like the one we are now about to consider, we can only say that we are astonished at their success, and sorry for it.

We are satisfied neither with the plan nor the execution of the "Ancient History." Instead of any thing like a regular, connected relation of the political history of any people, we have divisions and subdivisions and repetitions without end. Including the "Chronological Table," and the "Dictionary of Proper Names," the whole work is divided into four parts. The first part contains the general outlines of events distributed into ten periods. The most important facts of each period are first related in large letters, some further details in smaller type then follow, and the whole is concluded by biographical sketches of the distinguished individuals of the period. The second part contains general views of the geography, politics, literature, arts, customs, &c. of the nations, whose history was detailed in the first part. The same events are often repeated in large letters, in small letters, and in the biographical notices, and may not unfrequently be found even the third or fourth time in the second part, the "Chronological Table," or the "Dictionary of Proper Names." Besides the unavoidable repetitions which this plan produces, we think such a division, such a mechanical apparatus, breaks up the connexion, and destroys the unity of all history.

In addition to the confusion arising from this subdivision, we object in general to an adherence to chronological order in an universal history; the history of each people is too much interrupted, and unnecessarily intermingled with the history of other nations; it would be much better to give an independent and unbroken narrative of each. It would be, we think, more intelligible, more interesting, and more distinct; it would present the whole subject in such a manner, that it would be more easily comprehended, and more permanently fixed in the memory.

If we are not satisfied with the plan, neither are we always satisfied with the selection of details. To say nothing of the accounts of the earlier periods of Oriental, Grecian, and Roman history, or of the speculations on the commerce, population, and arts of the antediluvian world, we would refer in particular to such relations as the following;-that Adam's grave is supposed to be on Mount Calvary; that the discoveries of Seth's posterity,

engraved on pillars of brick and stone, were preserved in the time of Josephus; and that the Garden of Eden was situated on the Tigris and Euphrates, any attempt to determine the position of which is always sufficiently absurd; but more particularly so when taken in connexion with the author's opinion, that there were not, before the deluge, those inequalities on the earth's surface which now appear, and that Burnet's notion of a shell looks specious!

We think also, that without looking very far, some inconsistencies and inaccuracies may be detected. The author says in the "History" (page 18), Cain was born in the first year of the world, which, according to his own table, is 4004, B C., and Abel in the succeeding year. In the table we find Cain born 4002, and Abel 4001. In the "History" (page 28), he says, "Assyria commenced [?] about 2229, B. C., and its founder was Ashur, son of Shem; at the same time Babylonia was founded by Nimrod; at length [implying afterwards, we should think], Ninus united the two." The "Table" says, "2227, Ninus, king of Assyria, began to reign; 2217, Nimrod built Babylon, and founded the Babylonish monarchy; and Ashur built Nineveh and founded the Assyrian monarchy."

Latinus is said to be king of Italy; Catiline is metamorphosed into "Cataline," the inhabitants of Carthage into "Carthagenians," the island of Ulysses into " Ithica," the Theban prince of tragic renown into "Etiocles." We are directed to pronounce Eneas, "E'neas;" Æneid," 'neid," &c.

We are furthermore not much pleased with the style. It is often incorrect, and when correct, not always simple and perspicuous. Thus, "In his conduct," speaking of Cain," he set the example of all the blood that has since flowed." "Semiramis stands in the first rank of female sovereigns, though she appears in other respects and scarcely in this an example fit to be imitated." "The most ancient name is Ionia, which the Greeks derive from Ion, but Josephus derives them from Javan." "Arundelian marbles, which were brought from Greece, and now kept."

"I have not attempted," says the learned and profound Heeren, a severe chronological order, in the individual events anterior to Cyrus." This judicious reserve has been imitated in some of the late elementary text books of history. But we have in the chronological table of this work more than one hundred and fifty dates prior to the reign of that prince, which are useless, not only because they relate to isolated events, scattered along the shores of time, but because they are totally without foundation.

In this connexion we would briefly notice Mr. Worcester's "Epitome of History," which, being principally an abstract from his other excellent work, "The Elements of History," has, together with some additional matter, the same general merits that have procured this book so large a share of public approbation. While the "Elements" are intended for academies and the higher schools, the Epitome," as the author states in his Preface, has been prepared "to be used as the first book in history by pupils who might afterward study larger works, and also by a numerous class of young persons, of both sexes, whose means of education are too limited to admit of their studying thoroughly, while at school, a more extended system." It contains a short, yet comprehensive sketch of the history of the principal nations of ancient and modern times. A connected view of the rise and revolutions of each state is given separately, -a plan for which we have already stated the reasons of our preference. The charts, which accompany the "Epitome," are well calculated to illustrate and facilitate the study of history; and, we believe, Mr. Worcester is the first, who has connected them with elementary books, and adapted them to the use of schools.

NEW PUBLICATIONS.

BIOGRAPHY.

The Life of Philip, the Indian Chief. Salem. Whipple & Lawrence.

EDUCATION.

A Discourse on Education, delivered in St. Anne's Church, Annapolis, after the Commencement of St. John's College, February 22, 1827. By Francis S. Key, Esq.

The New York Reader, Number II; being Selections in Prose and Poetry, for the Use of Schools. New York. Samuel Wood & Sons. Letters on Christian Education. By a Mother. New York. 12mo.

pp. 32.

Outlines of Practical Geography, consisting principally of Questions on the Maps. By Joseph Muenscher, A. M., Principal of the Female Classical Seminary, Brookfield.