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

LITERAtIIRE,

Children's Books.

Papa and Mamma's Easy Lessons in Geography.
By Anna Maria Sargeant. With numerous

Illustrations. Dean and Son.

• " Ah, I hate geography !itis 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 words 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 task, 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 informaticn, 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, rod 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 Autural History. By the BEM 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 Jerusalem, 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. Dean and Son.
This very useful little catechism abounds in prac-
tical every-day information. The little boy, as
well-known to Mrs. I'ipohin, who was eaten up by
the mad ball 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 Useful 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 Sargeant.
THE JOINT STOCK COMPANIES ALMANAC AND
REGISTER is a very useful:publication, containing, Rs
it dots, guide notes on the formation and manages
went 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
by the Union and Emancipation Society, so that
the admirers of that gentleman have an opporg
tunity of preserving his speeches.
NOTIFICATION OF BLOCKADE.

(From a Supplement to the Gazette of last night.)
Foreign-office, March 8, 1864.
It is hereby notified that on the 7th inst., Earl Russell,
her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, received from the Danish Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of St. James's the
announcement, that the port of Neustadt will, from the sth
of this month (March), be blockaded by the Danish naval
forces, together with the other ports and inlets on the east
coast of the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein, mentioned
in his (the said Danish Minister's) note of February 26th
last, and notice of which was given in the (Supplemental)
London Gazette of Monday, the 29th February last.
The following is the official communication received by
Earl Russell :

"Legation of Denmark, London, March 7, 1864.
"My Lord,—l am directed by my Government to inform
your Excellency, that the port of Neustadt will, from the
sth of this month, be blockaded, together with the other
ports and inlets on the east coast of the Duchies of Schles-
wig and Holstein, mentioned in my note of February 26th
last.--I have, &c. "TORBEN BILLE.
" To the Right Hon Esrl Russell, &c.,,

DEATH OF MR. LEONARD HORNER, F.R,S.—We
have to record the death of Mr. Leonard Horner, in
the 80th year of his age. Mr Horner, who herrn an early
age was addicted to scientiflo pursuits, Was in 1827 appointed
Warden of the London Institution, and did ranch to orga-
nise it. In 1833 and 1834 he published several papers on
the mineral kingdom in the Penny Magazine, a periodical
published by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Know-
ledge, of which Lord Brougham was the president. In
1833 he become one of the principal inspectors under the
Factory Act, and has done much towards the physical im-
provement of factory workers and the prevention of acci-
dents. On these subjects he has written many works. The
deceased gentleman was a brother of the celebrated Francis
Horner, M.P., whose works ho edited in 1843.
SIIAKSPERE CELEBRATION IN LONDON.--At the
meeting of the council of the National Shakspere
Committee yesterday, the following arrangements were re-
ported with regard to the festival to commence on Thursday,
the 21st of April. On that day there will be a monster Shale -
sperian mueical performance at the Royal Agricultural
Hall, in which Mr. Benedict, Mr. Sims Reeves, Madame
Lemrnens-Sherrington, Miss Huddart, and other eminent
artistes, and a choir of 2,000 voices will take part. Mr. G.
A. Macfarren has composed a song and chorus especiarly
for the occasion. On the 22d there will be a concert at St.
James's Hall, and a grand Shaksperian masque of a novel
kind and on an extensive scale at the Royal Agricultural
Hall. On the 28ct there will be Shaksperian readings, a
number of special performances at the usual hour fit the
theatres, and one large banquet and a number of: minor
ones in the evening. On the Monday there will be another
monster Shaksperian concert, devoted to the working
classes. An influential committee-in-aid has been formed
in the City, and a separate subscription is to be ope ned
there. The working men's movement progresses meet; ,en-
thusiastically.

THE HISTORICAL LIBRARY. By Mies Corner.
Vie Histories of England and Wales, of _Rome,
of Italy, of Greece, of France, of Scotland, and of
Ireland.

Scripture Ilistory. Simplified by Miss Corner,
revised by Dr. Kitto.

Every Child's History of England. By Miss
Corner, new and improved edition.

Every Child's Scripture History. By Edward
Farr.

Every Chad's History of France.
Every Child's History of Greece.
every Chad's History of Rome. Dean and Son.
The name of Julia Corner is familiar and well-
beloved in the school-rooms and nurseries of the
present generation. It has been 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 just
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 useful volume, " adapted,' says 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 far 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 capacity of "every child,"
by the persevering labours of Edward Farr and
Julia Corner.