Scnoor, BOOKS.—Shakespeare ' s Henry VIII., with Notes, Examina- tion-papers, and Plan
of Preparation (W. and R. Chambers) Standards VI. and VII., King Richard II., by Charlotte M. Yonge (National Society's Depository) ; King John, with Introduction, Notes,, &c., by Thomas Parry, F.R.G.S. (" Longman's Modern Series")— represent editions of plays prepared for three different classes of students. Henry VIII. is up to the usual standard of Messrs. Chambers's educational books, and, without being overlaid with notes, appears to supply all the assistance required by an ordinary student or reader, including the Shakespearian grammar. The plan of study recommended for "perfect possession" at the beginning of the book will be found useful by the examinee. Miss Yonge's play is " pre- pared and annotated for school use." The historical introduction is good, as was to be expected from that lady. The notes are short and to the point, explaining difficulties in the sense, and touching judi- ciously on etymology where it throws light on the word. We have noticed occasionally the explanation of a simple phrase or word that we think might have been left to the intelligence of the student,—a remark whio'h applies more forcibly to Mr. Parry's King John,. "edited in accordance with the requirements of the Government Code." The Notes generally supply information adapted to the standard of its readers, by whom the illustrations also will no doubt be appre- ciated; but his explanations of words are sometimes quite super- fluous, while it is a loss educationally if nothing is left to the student. The examination-papers at the end are very meagre in their char- acter, and the last twenty pages of the book on word-building bear no reference whatever to this play or Shakespeare generally, affording only information that can be found in any of the ordinary text-books. —Goldsmith's Plays—She Stoops to Conquer. Edited by Harold Littledale, B.A. (" Blackie's School Classics.")—Mr. Littledale's Introduction is good, the appendix is interesting, and the notes appear to contain a resolution of all the difficulties, and a good deal besides, as we find in one page, 85, the following :—" Slice, portion, helping ;" "Scurvy, mean, contemptible ;" "Takes after, resembles ;" " a twinkling, a winking or twinkling of an eye ;' "Reserve, bashfulness, shyness," &a, which may be taken as samples of no small portion of the Notes. As Mr. Littledale's contribution is. otherwise scholarly, we will not enlarge further on this defect.— An Introduction to the Study of Shakespeare and Milton (George Philip and Son).-1 small illustrated book of selections, with lives, and with remarks on genius and language, taken generally from the common. stock. The Notes in this book, again, while explaining the real diffi- culties, are often worse than useless,—e.g., p. 51, "I would be friends, i.e., I wish to be;" "forfeit, the penalty ;" "nominated, named, appointed ;" no doubt "woeful, means full of woe," and "deeming, thinking, judging" !—The1ast on our list of this class of books is Poetry for Children, Third Book, selected and arranged, with ex- planatory Notes, by E. A. Helps. (Bell and Sons.)—The selection, mostly from standard poets, to which we have nothing to object, is " intended for the children of elementary schools, and contains poetry suitable for children of from twelve to fifteen years of age (i.e., corresponding with Standards IV., V., VI., and VII.). It may perhaps be found useful in schools of a higher grade." The Notes, which are merely explanatory of the text, extend to ninety pages, and contain, half as much actual letter-press as the Selections. We give the first six notes verbatim :—" Perplex, trouble ; logician, one skilled in logic (the art of reasoning) ; piteous, sad, mournful; twain, two ; betide,.
befall, happen ; dale, a low place between hills, a valley." To show that they fairly represent Mr. Helps' explanations, we could select a similar half-dozen from any other pages, e.g., p. 332,—"Eternal means everlasting, and cause, that by or through which anything is done," &c., ad lib.; on the other hand, within fifty lines we find " if you will " and "annoyance " (= hurt) left without remark. We should think that ordinary children of thirteen or fourteen must experience a sense of injury and insult at such treatment, which, from the books before us, would appear to be becoming the
order of the day with a certain class of compilers.—The
Essentials of Latin Grammar, with Exercises, by F. A. Blackburn (Ginn, Heath, and Co., Boston), is another addition to the already.
sufficient supply of elementary Latin books. The book has, no doubt,.
been carefully prepared, like most of its fellows, and is described as "the outgrowth of several years' experience in teaching Latin to
beginners,"—the author remarking, "if the plan and arrangement do not justify its publication, there is nothing else to do so." The chief distinctive features of this grammar are that the bulk of it consists?'
of notes in small type, and that the syntax rules given in the body of the book are left altogether without examples, except in the
notes. The former we do not think a happy arrangement ; and rules without examples attached we can only consider a great mis-
take,—holding as we do, in the case of beginners especially, that the examples are even more important than mere abstract rules, which are not likely to be assimilated without such illustrations. Amid the multi- plicity of books of this class, it is well to remember that in the case of beginners it is the teacher himself who must be mainly both primer and exercise-book; and any assistance he may desire is abun- dantly supplied by the existing hand-books. Entertaining these views, we do not see the raison &etre of Pontes (Eton : R. Ingalton Drake), a fragmentary contribution of thirty pages of Latin rules and exercises, which can be got quite as good in any of the ordinary standard books. We cannot, therefore, offer any en- couragement to an extension of the series, as referred to in the author's preface.—The Civil-Service History of England, by F. A. White, BA., and H. A. Dobson (Crosby Lockwood and Co.), has attained to the fifth edition, and has, no doubt, success- fully answered the want it was intended to supply. It does not profess to be more than a "Fact Book,"—thus affording very little scope for the play of Mr. Austin Dobson's fancy. It gives its information clearly, and so succinctly as to be easily repro- ducible by an ordinary examinee ; beyond this the book does not pretend to go. Several useful appendices have been added, chiefly by Mr. Dobson—such as "Inventions and Discoveries," and a chrono- logical "English Literature." Altogether the book contains a large body of "facts," and is furnished with four maps and a copious and useful index.—Highways of History : the Government of England, by Louisa Creighton (Rivingtons), proceeds upon the regular lines of constitutional history through 130 small pages. We had hoped to find the narrative a little enlivened, as we think it might easily have been, under the lighter treatment of a lady's hand. As it is, it is very staid and " constitutional " reading. The facts -appear to be correctly stated,—but with omissions, as, on turn- ing to the index for "Scotland" and " Ireland " we find that the names of those countries do not appear at all ; and the Unions with England are disposed of in two or three lines, without any reference at all to their contributions to the Legislature, i.e., the 4' Government " of England. We think that in a special treatise of this kind, one or two of the original documents, such as Magna Charts or the Bill of Rights, might have been introduced with advantage. The book is wanting in a chronological table.—The Civil Service English Grammar, by W. V. Yates, C.M. (Crosby Lockwood and Co.), like the History of England of the same series, is a useful book for the purpose for which it was compiled. The information it gives is clear and concise, and sufficient for ordinary requirements. It treats in a similar way of the history and etymology of the language, about a fourth of the book being devoted to the deriva- tion of words.—Analysis of Sentences is disposed of in eight pages, a subject on which Mr. John J. Jones has written his Practical and Philological Text-Book (Longmans, Green, and Co.), extending to upwards of two hundred. Grammarians like Prof. R. Morris have found a few pages sufficient for the elucidation of analysis, and we doubt not it is better learnt under the simpler system. We cannot but think that the unduly elaborated terminology which tickets and classifies almost every word, and the labyrinthine appearance of some of the " Forms of Analysis," so far from resolving difficulties, must in many cases actually create and add to them.—Notes of Grammar Lessons, forming a complete course, &o. (National Society's Deposi- tory) is even a still more formidable exposition. The lessons are devoted about two-thirds to method and one-third to blackboard— method being for the benefit of the teacher. We should think the teacher who himself requires so much teaching is unfit for his post : he will certainly become a nonentity if he yields him- self up to this " method." To look at some of these closely- printed, small-typed pages is to contemplate what look as much like puzzles as grammatical explanations. Books of this class no doubt represent a great deal of conscientious labour, but not we feel sure, a corresponding promotion of knowledge or love of grammar. —Chapters on the Science of Language, by Leon Delbos, M.A. (Williams and Norgate), has, we observe, reached a second edition. We select, almost at random, the following as specimens of the original matter (p. 37) :—" Grammar, contrary to the opinion enter-
tained by most people is, however, neither the result of hazard nor of fancy Therefore, the rules of grammar have not been created for the sake of rendering language more intricate, but, on the contrary, to make it more clear and more intelligible ; they have been guessed by the mind." And, p. 49, " It is our duty to work in- defatigably for the enlightenment of all, but we should never attempt to realise things which are far beyond the power of mortal man, for by so doing we lose a time which, if applied to the right thing, would bear fruit, and certainly benefit mankind at large." The second paragraph in p. 51 (we have not space to quote) may be taken as a not unfair specimen of the style, if further illustration is desired. Under such guidance, we do not think that Mr. Delbos is likely to find many readers, acquainted with the authorities or text-books, to follow him in his disquisitions on the "Origin and Formation of Language," Soc., the only value they possess being drawn from the
common stock and acquisitions of that science.—Geographical Readers—Standards IV., V., and VI. (Griffith and Farran's "Educa- tional Series "), by T. R. Blakiston, M.A., who has compiled a great body of valuable and very varied information, amply furnished with maps and illustrations, which no doubt sup- plies the requirements of these standards. In the superabund- ance of details regarding the " surface " of the countries, we fear that much relating to the less salient features will be "read" without being retained. We notice a complete absence of tables in the three volumes, and cannot but think that an occasional abstract in tabular form would be of service to the learner amid the multi- plicity of details. As regards magnitudes, too, we think there ought to be a more frequent reference to one fixed standard. The maps are generally good for their size, and not too full of names ; but we notice occasional important omissions,—such as, Book IV., Leith, in Scotland ; Book V., Cronstadt, in Russia ; Book VI., Knrrachee, in India. Amid so much that is good and correct, it would be almost invidious to remark on individual statements,—such as the wide one that " Africa, for lack of good ports, remains the least civilised part of the world," and similar occasional inaccuracies.— Handbook of Competitive Examinations, by W. T. Chetwode Crawley, LL.D. (Longmans, Green, and Co.), has reached the fifth edition, and is corrected for this year. It gives all the official announcements and particulars regarding "admission to every Department of her Majesty's Service," and is a very full and com- plete production. With the aid of the index attached, inquirers will no doubt obtain all the information they seek about any department, without the necessity of referring to Cannon Row.—Wentworth and Hill's Examination Manuals. No. 1, " Arithmetic ;" No. 2, " Algebra." (Ginn, Heath, and Co., Boston.) These books, pub- lished at Boston, supply each 150 papers prepared by the compilers, and about 60 selected in equal parts from College, University, and other examinations in America and England. The papers are of the usual miscellaneous character, and afford the same sort of mathe- matical practice as the ordinary collections of this class, of which there is hardly a lack,—at least, on this side of the Atlantic.
We have received Revealed Religion, Expounded in its Relations to the Moral Being of God, by the Right Rev. Henry Cotterill, D.D. (G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York), a volume containing the "Bedell Lecture" for 1883, delivered at Kenyon College, in Ohio.—Creed Sermons and a Thanksgiving Sermon, by a Village Rector (Simpkin and Marshall).—In Defence : the Fourfold Life, by H. Sinclair Paterson, M.D. (J. F. Shaw).—Theories of Morals, by Paul Janet, translated from the latest French edition by Mary Chapman (T. and T. Clark).—Considerations of the Wisdom of God, by George Seymour Hollings (J. Masters).—Christianity and Churchism, by Patrick Allan-Fraser (Triibner and Co.), a second edition, "revised, and enlarged."—Gems from the Bible, being Selections Convenient for Reading to the Sick and Aged, arranged by " E. P." (Nisbet and Co.)—Beliefs About the Bible, by M. J. Savage (Williams and Norgate).—Terse Talk on Timely Topics, by Henry Varley (Nisbet) —The Voice of Jesus, Day by Day, by F. M. Macrae (Nisbet).—An Exposition of the Lord's Supper New to the Nineteenth Century, by a Presbyter of the Church of England (Deighton, Bell, and Co. ; Bell and Sons).—Christian Beliefs Reconsidered in the Light of Modern Thought, by the Rev. George Henslow (Norgate).- The Natural Genesis. By Gerald Massey. 2 vols. (Williams and Norgate).—According to its second title, the " second part of a Book of the Beginning, containing an attempt to recover and reconstitute the lost Origines of the Myths and Mysteries, Types and Symbols, Religion and Language, with Egypt for the Mouthpiece and Africa as the Birthplace."—Transactions of the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science, 1883 (Longmans).—Sacred Books of the East, Vol. XV.—The Upanishads, Part 2. Translated by F. Max Muller. Vol. XXL—The Saddharma-Pundarika ; or, the Lotus of the True Law, translated by H. Kern (The Clarendon Press).— Aids to Military Instruction, by Major L. de T. Prevost (W. Mitchell and Co.).—Military Training of a Company of Infantry, by Lieutenant Harry J. Craufurd (Kegan Paul, Trench, and Co.).— Ambulance Handbook for Volunteers and Others, by J. Ardavon Raye (J. and A. Churchill). Insurable Interest and Valuations, by Richard Lowndes (Stevens and Sons).—The A B 0 Digest of the Bankruptcy Act4883, by Alexander K. Sutton (Sampson Low and Co.)—Among books on technical subjects we have Elementary Perspective Drawing, by S. J. Caitlidge (Blackie and Son).—A Practical Guide to Photo- graphy, by Marion and Co. (Marion and Co.)—Wood Engraving : a Manual of Instruction, by W. I. Linton (Bell and Sons). " Written," says the author in his preface, "to help towards forming a school of artist-engravers."—The Plumber and Sanitary Houses, by B. Stevens Hellyer (B. T. Botsford) described as "a practical treatise on the principles of internal plumbing work, or the best means for effectually excluding noxious gases from our houses," and now appearing in a third edition.—The Principles and Practice of Electric Lighting, by Alan A. Campbell Swinton (Longman.)—Geological Survey of the United States, by A. Williams (Government Printing Office, Washing- ton).—Cassell's Illustrated Guide to Paris (Cassell and Co.).—Part 4 of the new edition of Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engraver; edited by R. E. Graves (Bell and Sons).—Part 4 of Letts' s County Atlas, the map of Essex in which shows the parts affected by the recent earthquake.—A Dictionary of Miracles, by the Rev. E. C. Brewer, LL.D. (Chatto and Windas).—This is an addition to Dr. Brewer's series of handy reference books that will prove interesting and valuable to those who take an interest in the origin of the legends and circumstances of which it treats. It contains woodcut illustra- tions of some curious instruments of torture.
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