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SELECT SPECIMENS OF ENGLISH POETRY.

among the most careful and perfect. He does manage to write books which please the learner and delight those who have to superintend the work of Education. The book before us is a charming one-so small that it will not incommode the pocket, yet full of valuable selections.-The Welshman.

This is a very useful volume of select English poetry, with prose introductions, notes, and questions. Considerable taste has been displayed in the selection, which consists of almost all the best short poems in the language. As a whole, the work is worthy of the most extended patronage.Windsor Express.

The volume of Selections in Verse may be used with advantage. The pieces are extracted from our best poets, and each is introduced by a prose quotation, appropriately chosen from some standard writer. They will serve the double purpose of either being committed to memory, or used as reading lessons.-Edinburgh Advertiser.

The design of the elegantly got-up little volume now before us is to adapt the best specimens of the principal British poets to the instruction of youth, in the same way as the poetry of classic times has been made. There can be no doubt that great advantages might be attained by directing and purifying the taste of young persons in schools through a judicious intercourse with the works of the principal English and American poets. The present volume contains from two to three hundred pieces of poetry, principally selected from the works of this and the past age, and each prefaced by an appropriate motto or argument taken from some prose author of eminence. On the whole the book is one of considerable value, and, from the excellence of the selections, will be found of much use not alone to the student but to readers of matured age and refined taste.-Cork Examiner.

In carrying out a comprehensive design, the Editor has produced a work far surpassing anything similar in character, and fully answering the purpose which he had in view.-Norfolk Chronicle.

The selection has been made with great care and judgment; and not only to the teacher and the private student, but to parents and general readers, the volume will be found of vast service in the work of education and private improvement; "the best thoughts," as the Preface says, "in the best language will be rendered familiar to them, and indelibly impressed on their memory; their sympathies will be called forth and properly directed, and their taste at once elevated and improved."-Liverpool Chronicle.

Mr. Hughes has selected a body of poetical pieces upon various subjects, and of various degrees of excellence, each of which he introduces with a prose piece, and appends questions on etymology, syntax, history, &c., which seems to us well fitted to test a boy's knowledge. The book is a very neat one, and independent of its educational purpose, presents a good collection of British and American poetry.-Cambridge Chronicle.

Just published, price 4s. 6d.,

SELECT SPECIMENS of ENGLISH

PROSE,

FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE READING;

Comprising Pieces relating to:-1. Natural History and Geography. 2. Biography and Civil History. 3. Education and the Progress of Society. 4. The Sea and Maritime Adventure. 5. The Imagination and Sympathetic Affections. 6. Science and General Knowledge. 7. Religion and Morals. Small Octavo.

**This book is intended to be a companion volume to the "Select Specimens of English Poetry." The selections are in a great measure from modern works. many of which have not hitherto been introduced into School Books, Though the bulk of the work is prose, yet a few congenial poetical pieces have been interspersed to give variety to the readings. In the volume of Poetry, the prose is subordinate; but in that of Prose, it is the poetry that takes the second place, In each, however, the one throws light on the other.

SELECT SPECIMENS OF ENGLISH PROSE.

13

The distinguishing feature of this selection is the practically instructive spirit which has guided the compiler's choice of specimens without losing sight of the elevated and the philosophical. The older "readers" were purely literary; not only was excellence in composition the first thing thought of, but it was almost the only thing; historical information, or moral or religious instruction, coming as it were by the by. Mr. Hughes has proceeded upon a different principle. Literary merit is not forgotten, but the subject and the matter, sometimes in reference to the affairs of life or the questions of the day, are also considered. Adam Smith, for example, is quoted, and Robertson's "Disquisition on Ancient India" contributes views on commerce; modern travellers and cosmogonists are laid under contribution for geographical pictures or information; a "part" of the book is devoted to education; and those extracts which have a more general character turn upon events or men of the century. The technical points-questions, &c.-are well done.-Spectator.

This work is intended as a companion volume to the author's "Select Specimens of English Poetry." The selections are in a great_measure from modern writers. They are arranged under various heads. To give variety to the reading, a piece of poetry is occasionally given in further illustration of the subject to which the prose extract relates, in the same way that short passages of prose are introduced in the volume of poetry. Explanatory notes and questions are added to each extract, and there is an etymological appendix to the whole. The choice of pieces shows much discrimination and taste. This work will introduce new material for reading into our schools, in which for a long time the same staple pieces have been read over and over again, until they have become entirely hackneyed and void of freshness and novelty. Even adults may take up the book and peruse passages here and there with great interest. The selection is characterized by great variety, both in the subjects and the authors. The list of authors comprises nearly all the great names in our modern prose literature, including many living writers. There are some well-culled passages from Macaulay. We also notice some excellent extracts, both scientific and educational, from the writings of Professor Moseley, and some educational ones from those of Sir James Kaye Shuttleworth.-Educational Expositor.

This is intended as a companion to the author's excellent repertoire of "Selections of English Poetry," which we have before had occasion to commend, in common with the other numerous works which the active master of the Naval School has published. These selections are well arranged and judiciously chosen, so as to combine instruction and amusement.-Britannia.

Books of this description are of great 'scholastic utility, for they materially help in forming the taste while conveying valuable information in a pleasing variety of forms. Such a selection, too, requires considerable judgment, large experience of the wants and inclinations of scholars, and familiarity with the best examples of contemporary literature. The explanatory notes and questions, the selection of the difficult words, and the etymological appendix of Greek, Latin, and Saxon roots, add materially to its teaching value, and render it well worthy of the reputation of so esteemed a provider of school-books. We have no doubt of its obtaining as wide a circulation among schools as the author's "Select Specimens of English Poetry," to which it forms a necessary companion.-Educational Times.

This selection consists of about three hundred pieces of prose, interspersed with choice illustrative pieces of poetry. The plan of the book is to arrange the readings under the respective heads of subjects. Thus, there is about an equal number under "Geography and Natural History," "History and Biography," "Education and Progress," "Sea and Maritime Adventure," "Imagination and Sympathetic Affections," "Science and General Knowledge," and a double portion under the head "Religious and Moral." Words of difficulty or peculiarity are selected from the lesson and placed at the top for grammatical, derivative, and exegetical exercise before commencing the reading, while at the end of the lesson a moderate number of questions and explanations is appended, calculated to lead the reader to a more thorough comprehension of the matter. The etymologi

14

SELECT SPECIMENS OF ENGLISH PROSE.

cal appendix is very useful for the scholar's private study in connexion with the lessons. This book is one of the most useful of Mr. Hughes's series of school books, and is worthy of general use. It is the best school selection we have seen.-English Journal of Education.

The educational works of Mr. Edward Hughes must now, we should think, have found such general acceptance that the appearance of an addition to the series can require only to be known to secure for it also a large circulation. The present work is constructed on the same careful and systematic plan as the others, and includes specimens of most of our recent prominent English writers, as well as of the standard authors on whom the compilers of old school collections were wont to draw.-Scotsman.

Mr. Hughes is the author of several excellent school-books, and his selection of prose specimens is made with a degree of judgment and care worthy of his high reputation. It is distinguished by the same general features of usefulness which have rendered his "Select Specimens of English Poetry " a well-known book; and we cannot doubt that this companion volume will meet with an equally favourable reception.-Morning Post.

This is a companion volume to the "Select Specimens of English Poetry," published recently by Mr. Hughes, for the use of schools and for private reading. In the selection of prose there is room for even more diversity of taste and of judgment than in the case of poetical extracts. The present work contains a great number and variety of pieces, judiciously chosen, skilfully arranged, and adapted for educational purposes. The notes, exercises, and etymological appendix of roots of words, add to the practical usefulness of the volume, which is another valuable contribution made by Mr. Hughes to our school literature.-Literary Gazette.

This work is designed to be a companion to the author's admirable work, entitled, "Select Specimens of English Poetry." The greater part of the work is prose, though, for the sake of variety, a few poetical effusions are interspersed. The author has made a wide and judicious selection, and produced a book which older heads than those at school may peruse with profit. The work has our hearty and unqualified approbation.-Glasgow Examiner.

Fart I., price 1s. 6d.,

MANUAL of EXPLANATORY ARITHMETIC, including numerous carefully-constructed Examples, for the use of Elementary and other Schools.

The standard of educational works is now so high, and masterly handbooks have so completely extinguished schoolmasterly ones, that there is usually but one test which is necessary to apply to a book intended for the student deprived of oral teaching. Is it philosophical? Does the book do a teacher's work? Does it require anything of the student but what it has previously prepared him to accomplish? Does it take for granted that he is acquainted with the precise meaning of technicalities, or does it insist on his understanding the exact value of a term which he is to use in a new process? if it be proved that these questions are satisfactorily answered, it is gratifying to us to recommend the book. We have never found them more satisfactorily answered than upon examination of Mr. Hughes's little work.Morning Chronicle.

A well-planned and digested elementary work on Arithmetic, calculated to convey to youthful minds a proper knowledge of the principles and practice of that science.-Morning Herald.

Mr. Hughes has written a clever little book, with more incentive to thought than most works of the kind, very clear, and in a convenient size. His "Exercises" show much judgment.-Atlas.

The author states that the plan of the work was "adopted from a persuasion that arithmetic, when taught by rules, fails to awaken and bring into play the reasoning powers of children." He starts well with notation,

MANUAL OF EXPLANATORY ARITHMETIC.

15

and clears up the mystery of unit and cipher in a manner that will be welcome to children, and refreshing to most teachers. The book proceeds as promisingly as it opens, and conducts the pupil through Proportion. A second part is to follow, which we trust will be as creditable to the zeal and ingenuity of the writer as the part before us.-Educational Times.

This useful and excellent little work supplies the clearest explanation of every step in arithmetic as the learner proceeds, together with wellarranged practical examples, framed upon the usual occurrences of life, of the workings of the general rules.-Morning Post.

There is nothing more difficult than to explain arithmetic by words. Even when the rule is learned, and young persons can cipher well, it rarely happens that they know the reasons why the process produces the result. These Mr. Hughes has endeavoured to teach, and more successfully than any former attempt we have ever seen. He further improves upon the old methods of teaching, by giving practical examples, and such as are likely to occur in life, and thus to make the sums interesting in themselves. We have been very much pleased with this new school-book-Critic.

There are two good features in this little book: the sums set are on questions with which children are familiar, and the principles of the different formulæ are explained in the simplest way. Mr. Hughes professes to discard rules and so he does literally, but the pupil teaches himself the spirit of the rule.Spectator.

Mr. Hughes tells us, that his intention in composing this treatise is to furnish children with elements of arithmetic; the questions being framed upon "the ordinary wants and requirements of daily life," as better calculated to exercise the ingenuity and intelligence of children, than "calculations based solely upon mercantile transactions." The idea is a good one. Clearness and simplicity in exemplification are of signal importance where very young people are in question; and the examples here given are as simple as could be wished. Mr. Hughes also intermingles examples, deduced from dealings that may take place in the general course of trade. There is a juste milieu in this matter of adapting books of instruction for the young, and we are glad that Mr. Hughes does not lose sight of it.- Weekly Chronicle.

The book on Arithmetic is constructed on a simple method, suited for beginners, and is manifestly the production of one who appreciates the difficulties which the youthful mind experiences at the outset of the study, and is anxious as far as possible to diminish them. His plan is to teach by examples, without, in the first instance, laying down abstract rules. The rationale of each process is explained in a simple manner, and the examples are not only well contrived for illustration, but for awakening and interesting the mind. They relate to familiar subjects, many of them are ingenious and striking. We have not often met with such a sensible school-book.The Scottish Guardian.

The Explanatory Arithmetic, besides exhibiting the methods employed in conveying to young persons a knowledge of the first principles of arithmetic, contains numerous carefully-constructed examples for the use of elementary and other schools.-Bristol Mirror.

Mr. Hughes, the able teacher of Greenwich Hospital, gives us a Manual of Explanatory Arithmetic, which is as simple and clear as elementary instruction could desire.-Literary Gazette.

An elaborate help for elementary instruction in arithmetic.-John Bull. This is indeed "Arithmetic made easy." The explanations are clear and simple; the examples copious, well-arranged, and framed upon objects and occurrences in which children are likely to feel an interest.-Eastern Counties Herald.

Price 1s.

ANSWERS to ARITHMETICAL EXERCISES, Being a Companion to the "Explanatory Arithmetic. Designed for

the Use of Teachers. Small Octavo.

16

NEW EDUCATIONAL WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR.

In the Press,

PHYSICAL, POLITICAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND

COMMERCIAL

GEOGRAPHY of the BRITISH ISLANDS, and COLONIAL EMPIRE of GREAT BRITAIN. Designed for the Use of Schools.

MR. EDWARD HUGHES begs to direct the attention of Teachers to this work, on the preparation of which he has been some years engaged. In addition to a full development of the different departments of Geography above mentioned, the work will contain an historical outline of the British Constitution and social progress of the people.

The following illustrative Maps have been constructed and engraved by AUGUSTUS PETERMANN, F.R.G.S., late of Baron Humboldt's establishment at Potsdam :

I. PHYSICAL MAP of the BRITISH ISLANDS, exhibiting the natural features of the Land with the River Systems. Engraved on Steel, and Printed in Colours by HANHART.

N.B. This Map is reduced from a large "Physical and Political Map of the British Islands," constructed by EDWARD HUGHES, and to which 106 square feet of space were allotted in the Great Exhibition of 1851.

II. POPULATION MAP, upon which the density and relative amount of population are indicated.

III. INDUSTRIAL or OCCUPATION MAP, exhibiting the Pastoral, Agricultural, Manufacturing, and Mining Districts, the Fisheries, &c.

IV. GEOLOGICAL MAP, showing the Geological Formations of Great Britain and Ireland, with the various depths of the British Seas.

V. RAIN MAP, showing the annual amount of Rain in different lo

calities.

VI. MAP of the WINDS, upon which their direction and duration are indicated.

VII, TEMPERATURE MAP, showing the mean monthly and annual temperature in certain localities.

VIII. POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL MAP of ENGLAND and WALES.

IX. POLITICAL and COMMERCIAL MAP of SCOTLAND.

X. POLITICAL and COMMERCIAL MAP of IRELAND. XI. PHYSICAL and POLITICAL MAP of CANADA, the HUDSON BAY TERRITORIES, the WEST INDIA ISLANDS, with the BRITISH POSSESSIONS in CENTRAL and SOUTH AMERICA.

XII. PHYSICAL and POLITICAL MAP of BRITISH INDIA, and the minor British Possessions in the East.

XIII.-PHYSICAL and POLITICAL MAP of AUSTRALIA, VAN DIEMEN'S LAND, and NEW ZEALAND.

XIV. HISTORICAL MAP, illustrating the Roman and Saxon periods. The work will be published at a moderate price, so as to make it available to all classes of teachers.

LONDON: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans.
EDINBURGH: A. and C. Bleck. DUBLIN: Hodges and Smith.