The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-09 00:00:00

LITERATURE,

Children's Books.

THE HISTORICAL LIBRARY. By Mies Corner.

the Histories of England and Wales, of Rome,
of Italy, of Greece, of France, of Scotland, and of
Ireland.

Scripture History. Simplified by Miss Corner,
revised by Dr. Kitto.
Every Child's history of England. By Miss
Corner, new and improved edition.

Eve7y Child s Scripture history. By Edward
Farr.

Erery Chad's History of France.
Every Child's History of Greece.
.1 very CAlll's History of R9ine. D 3tn and Son.

The name of Julia Corner is familiar and well-
beloved in the schcol-rooms and nurseries of the
present generation. it has bcen her delightful task
to make pleasant the paths of knowledge to myriads
of little footsteps, and to invest with .a particular
interest the historical narratives of almost every
nation of importance. The Messrs. Dean have juot
issued a new edition of the Juvenile Historical
Library, comprising the histories of Greece and
Rome, of England and France, of Scotland, and
Ireland, and Italy, each published separately in a
neat u6efol volume, "adapted," boys the title-page,
"to youth, schools, and families." Nor are the yet
younger members of the community lost sight of.
A still more juvenile series, founded on the model
of Miss Corner's "Every Child's History of Eng-
land"—a book especially adapted for the most
youthful learners of history—has been "adapted for
the junior classes from Miss Corner's various his-
tories above enumerated, by -Edward Farr. Very
excellent histories of every land are thus provided,
histories suitable for the enmity of "every child,"
by the persevering hbours of Edward Farr and
Julia Corner.

Papa and Mamma's Easy Lgssons in Geography.
By Anna Maria Sergeant. With numerous

Illustrations. Dean and Son.

" Ah, I hate geography ! it is so full of hard
words, that I know nothing about it when I have
learned it ' cries the little heroine of this charming
story-book ; and a similar cry in similar tones of
complaint arises continually from many weary little
learners, as the dry task, which " daily turns their
sickening memory," is again and again repeated.
Little Kate Goodwin, whose wcrds we have just
quoted is rescued from her perplexities by her kind
papa, who, begging the governess to excuse the
geography lessons for a brief interval, himself un.
dertakes the tisk, not of cramming his children's
memories with a set of words and names, learned
off by rote, but of informing their minds and ex-
panding their intellects by the infusion of new ideas.
It is an everyday matter of observation that
while many children dislike " learning lessons," all
children delight in "asking questions.' The reason
is obvious; their dawning intelligence is craving
for information, as their growing bodies are craving
for food, but too often the intellectual repast pro-
vided for them is utterly beyond the powers of their
mental digestion, and, consequently, rront repug-
nant to their mental appetite. There is little
nourishment for heart or mind to be gained by a
multiplicity of " lessons." Therefore it is that we
particularly rejoice in the appearance of any works
like this judicious compilation of Miss Sergeant's,
works which endeavour to explain and make intelli-
gible to the youthful understanding what other less
adroit instructors only seek by mechanical agency
to cram into the memory—useless lumber, even if
retained there.

Scripture Aatural History. By the Rev. J.
Young, M.A. Dean and Son.

This little book, very prettily bound and illus-
trated, will be a suitable gift-book for the young.
It contains very interesting descriptions of the
various plants and animas mentioned in the sacred
writings, from the Ass, so memorable in the entry
into Jerus dem, to the great Behemoth and the
patient Camel. Numerous pleasing verses add to
the many attractions of this charming little book.

The Guide to Useful Knowledge. By Charles
Butler. Dan and Son.

This very useful little catechism abounds in prac-
tical every-day information. The little boy, as
well-known to Mrs. Pipchin, who was eaten up by
the mad bull because he was always asking ques-
tions, might have been spared his dreadful fate had
this little book been within his reach. How and
Why and What everything is or may be, from
" Beef and Mutton" (page 1) to " Bain's Telegraph"
(page 180) is here set forth in a most clear and
comprehensive manner. Though ostensibly intended
for the information of the young, many parents and
guardians, many teachers and governesses will find
much to learn from its very multifarious stories.

An Easy Guide to Geography. By Charles Butler,
author of " The Guide to UBeful Knowledge."

Dean and Son.
The same friendly hand to which we are indebted
for the treasury above mentioned, has also compiled
a very useful and comprehensive guide to geography,
well adapted for the little learners who have passed
through the first rudiments of geography under the
friendly tutelage of Anna Maria Sirgeant.

THE JOIST STOCK COMPANIES ALMANAC AND
REGISTER is a very useful:publication, containing, fts
it does, guide notes on the formation and manage.
meat of public companies, a list of joint-stock
companies, and other intelligence of much interest
to the commercial world.
A FULL REPORT OF THE SPEECHES DELIVERED
BY THE REV. H. W. BEECHER has been published
the admirers of that gentleman have an oppor.
by the Union and Emancip
tunity of preserving
,is gpeecbes.
ation Society, so that