State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-09-19
CIRCULAR.

IGnCnGTY,
and Jupeniies Libraries, Legislators, 0fcr-
chants and Young Persons Of both Sores
Uroughom the United StdtcS or etSciphtW. !
ToRREY's AMERICAN SCHOOL Ii
BRARY, Embracing a SYSTEMATIC course
OF Literary, Intellectual, Moral AND PhY'
steal instruction, designed both for class rca-
ding and private study.
The subscriber having recently complet-
ed the compilation and publication OF {"
progressive series OF elementary class hooks
for the use OF schools, academies ana lami-
lies, now respectfully proposes them Tor
public examination and such share OF pat
ronage 40 their merits may be judged emit
tied TO.
The series consists of seven books as
olIows:
No. |. The Primary Spelling Book, thirty
six pages, lS mo.
No. 2. Familiar Spelling Book, 1e0pagcs
l2 mo.
No. 8. A Pleasing Companion for little
girls and Boys, IA pages, mo.
No. 4. A Mental Museum Tor the Rising
Generation, consisting OF tales, fables, &c,
vol. ], l3l pages, IL mo.
No. 5. A Mental Musum, SC. comprising
conversations on natural history, and the
vol 9, 160pages, IL mo.
No. 6. A Mental Museum, &C., including
miscellaneous articles, entertaining, moral
and political, vol. 3, ZIG pages, IL mo.
No. 7. The Moral Instructor and Guide
to Virtue, containing original essays on
knowledge, Temperance and economy, and
absti acts OF the best systems OF morals, an
ccnt and modern, 800 pages, IL mo.
tNbn firo tbir1 md cnvpnt IA numbprS q RI
published by Grigg and Elliott, No. 9 North
Fourth street, Philadelphia, and the whole
set may be obtained by addressing orders
10 the author at Newburgh. They have
been adopted in many academies and Schools
in various parts OF the United States, in pre-
ference to the foreign compilations previous
y used.
The compiler OF the American School
Library, is not so presumptuous as to pro-
pose his books sufficient substitutes Tor all
other compilations for similar purposes.
On the contrary, he would earnestly rec
ommend Il at so great variety OF class
books should be furnished for schools, that
each class might commence every quarter
with n new book. II is a great mistake in
parents to suppose there is economy or any
other advantage in combining their children
TO the use OF only two or three sorts OF
school books during their education. A
new good book, every few months, stlmu-
lates the ambition OF the scholar, and
facilitates his Improvement, not only in the
art Of reading but in the progressive &C
ouirement Of useful Information.
II has been the special endcavor Of the
COMPILER Of the books now offered TO the
public, besides adapting the lessons progress
a. MI n
to combine enter tainment with useful in
struction; and while guiding the plant
juvenile mind in the ways of knowledge,
wisdom, virtue, psty, economy, industry,
temperance, peace and happiness, to exhibit
clearly, and forcibly the inducements and
rational motives Tor pursuing such ways
Dry moral precepts, without illustrations,
are seldom regarded with attention by chill
dren. lie has also carefully, endeavoTed
that nothing should be found in his compi-
lations, partial Tor, or against either OF the
Sects OF religion, but at the same time in
cucating such fundamental, practical and
indsputabe maxims and principles as all
concur in. The introduction OF scctarian
books in scmnaries OF learning would have
pernicious tendency TO destroy the union
and harmony in society go essential TO the
advancement OF education. He has inserted
a considerable number Of lessons designed
to impress the minds OF the rising genera
ton with Just abhorrance Of the prevail
ing custom OF using intoxicating liquors,
which is probably the most destructive and
extensive moral and physical evil that raw
ages our republic at the present time.
The advantages which, in the compiler's
view, are peculiar to his spelling books, are
first, that the elementary sounds are so
clearly and distinctly arranged, and so plain
w explained, by means OF simple new
invented key, that any child who can distin-
guish numerical Figures and pronounce
fourteen OF the most common monoyslla-
bles, may be taught, in a few hours, how
TO pronounce the accented vowel sounds in
all the words OF the regular spelling tables,
whether the sounds are represented by sin
gle, various or dipthongal vowes, without
farther attention from the teacher; second
that words which are seldom or never used
either in books or conversation, are chiefly
excluded, as well as several other cxtrane-
Gus matters (oiten TO be seen in common
spelling books) either useless or unintegi-
BILE, and perpexing to small Children; third,
that the reading lessons comprise, exclu-
sively, subjects familiar and interesting to
young learners, whilemosI Of the spelling
books are clogged with abstract metaphy-
steal pieces, totally incomprchensibe to chill
dren, ard Of course, tedious, disagreeabe
and diScouraging.
In selecting materials for the Sd and 4lh
books, the compiler has taken particular care
that the subjects, as well as the language,
should correspond to the capacities and feel
ings of children from 6 TO 8 years old by
which means they will, at the same time,
make rapid progress in the art OF reading