The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-26
New Publication.

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New Publication.
ELEMENTS OF AoRIcULTuRx for the use Of Primny,,
and Secondary Schools by l.. BESTz and CHRIS,
TIAN DE RovILLE, Of France, translated bu +. G
SKINNER. Cwey g. Hart. 1919.
We have read this little book, and find it highly
interesting to ourselves, who have got our GROWTH
and doubt not that it can generally be made enter
tanning and instructive to juvenile classes, through
the agency of teacher. The credit of its state.
ments, to those who versed in agricultural sci.
ence, will rest upon their naked merits To those
who are not, the names Of its authors, who are
managers and members of normal schools and So
cieties in France, should be some recommen dation
but, if they were not the fact of the work bav
ing passed under the revision OF the veteran Skin
ner, the father Of the translator, ought to, and
doubtless will, be a sufficient guaranty to every
American reader Of the correctness of its teachinea
TREATISE ON PHYSICAL GEooRApHy. bu A. Ban,
Ttngton, edited by Charles Bmden NJ H. Nep.
nan y Co., New York. X. FARNHAM, Vast-
ington.
PHYSICAL Geography seems TO have suddenly be-
come iavorite study with the reading public. 1t
Is only lew months ago since reprint of an Eng
lish work appeared at Philadelphia; now an Anne
ricsn treatise IL published at New York; and we
sec an announcement of third as about to come
out at Boston. Although the work under consid-
GRAFTON bears the same title as Mrs Somerville's
book, 1t is widely different, both in it's general
plan and its contents. A comparison of the two
works has led us to consider the American treatise
decidedly superior to the English, both in the plan
and the execution Mrs Somerville has produ
book too scientific for general readers, and far
too meagre and general fer the man of science
Thus she dcvotes five long chapters to the subject
vUh L. 81 A. IL
monosperma, Bombyr heptaphyli,iu,, Hibiscus rosa
sinensis, Caneiiia sasanqua, Leucodendror. argen-
feum, Hydrogeton fensstralis, &c, &C.; names
which no person understands, except professed
boanists and yet TO this class these chapters are
OF httlc value, since the descriptions SO vague
and the genera mentioned comparatively 20 few.
Another defect in the English treatise is that
while some fayorite subjects occupy an undue
space, others discussed too briefly; and some
OF great interest wholly omitted. Thus she
dwcls on the subject of moun tans till we are hear
tiy tired of it, especially after the su true and
particular" accounts of all the principal chains
inflicted on us by teachers at school, while she
is exceedingly brief volcanoes; the important
subject Of climate is wholly overlooked; and after
devoting several long chapters TO the distribution
OF the lower animals, that Of lie dismissed in
few pages.
ton is by no means worthy of her reputation. Thus
she speaks of the productions of North America in
tone which reminds of the Halls and Troll
lopes, while she pays tribute of praise TO the
biessed institution Of primogeniture and deplores
the ieyellng tendency Of the age, and the recent
temporary subversion Of claw and order" on the
European continent, which have been go signally
and cdifyingy restored in Hungary, Naples, &c
Even on purely physical subjects we meet with ex-
ploded errors. Thus arc told Of the immense
effect of the labors Of man in tempering climate
while news Ia arriving Of the intense cold and
storrnneas OF last winter throughout Europe and
Western Asia. On the subject of ethnography, we
are treated To revival Of the vagaries Of John Pin
kerton, recently introduced from Germany; and
we are grayely told that "pure Celtic blood is con
fined to the Basque provinces in Spain. the south
and southwest of France" after IL has been clearly
demonstrated that the Basque or Iberian race. who
in1nsbt these countries, entirely different from
the Celts, and do not belong even 10 the same gone
raj division.
The American work overlooks no subject belong
ing TO Physical geography which ia of general in.
terest; and II dwelIs every topic just as long az
its comparative importance deserved, and no long.
or. We have met with no instance in which 1t in
oulcates exploded dogmas, or exhibits retrograde
tendency; and il is marked by excellent moral
tendency throughout. The author IL evidently
hrm believer in christianity and has the strongest
Faith in tho gradual advancement Of mankind in
true religion and happiness, while he views every
subject bearing on man from American station.
The style is clear, easy, and remarkably con-
denscd. 20 that the volume contains an immense
amount of useful and interesting information II
VIII form valuable book of rcfcren and general
reading for the community at large, and an excel.
lent textbook for scminaries.
The work contains much Of great practical value;
the directions regarding the proper course TO be
adopted during thunder storms. on page 1856, are
very brief, and yet quite ample. The account
given OF marine currents and storms Is useful 10
the many who are interested in navigation. Tn.
der the head Of Geology we have greater amount
Of varied, useful, and interesting information than
we thought IL possible to compress within such
narrow limits. The mechanical execution of the
book quite prepo.sessing, and il contains good
index. We advise all of our readers who wish 10
possess an immense fund of the most interesting
facts on the various subjects discussed in this vo.
lume within a narrow compass, and at a small OK.
pense, TO purchase the book and we are much
mistaken IL they will ever regret having done so.
sHrrISoros, at the odeon Building, has received
the Pictorial Brother Jonathan for the holidays and
BURGESS edition Of Dovid Copper field he Younger,
complete in cheap volume.
DAVID CoPPgHrfwLp. - Our thanks are duo
Messrs. Lea blanchard, Of Philadelphia, for
copy of this last production Of Charles Dickens IL
contains illustrations by II. X. Browne, and is in
uniformity with the former works of Dickens from
the press Of the same publishers.