chivalry; and I am sure that were a rude act to be done to any one of these gentle disciples it would be swiftly avenged in the most direful manner, by the whole body of the students. We think that in all this we already see an influence that is worth having, bearing steadily in the direction of raising and refining the tone of manliness, without in the least weakening it. There is still among us, undoubtedly, a generous supply of boorishness; but it shows some cheering symptoms of intending to try to get up its first blush.

But how about Scholarship?

Still trying to be historical rather than prophetic, I have only to say at present that on all hands comes in testimony from our professors that on these grounds better recitations have never been made, and in the severest studies, than have been made by the ladies. So far are they from injuring scholarship here, that by their earnestness and fidelity they are, if anything, stimulating it; and their presence is beginning to give to all utterances in the class-rooms just that delicacy, that civil, chaste, and humane tone, which the recognition of women among the readers of books has been giving to English literature during the last hundred years. "M. C. T." in The Nation.

OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND BY TOPICS.

Prepared as a guide

to the study of English History, in the Boston schools, by JOHN D. PHILBRICK, Superintendent.

I. The Roman conquest when and by whom begun and completed. The Saxon conquest when and by whom. King Arthur. The Heptarchy. The Monarchy.

II. The reign of Alfred the Great his character. The Danish conquest. The battle of Hastings.

III. The character of William the Conqueror (Burke). The Norman language. Trial by Jury. The curfew bell. The Forest Laws. Doomsday book.

IV. The first Plantagenet. Eleanor. Thomas à Becket. The Constitutions of Clarendon. The Canterbury Tales. Character of Henry I. Gothic Architecture. The arts of luxury. Richard Coeur de Lion - his character. Magna Charta. Charter of the Forest. House of Commons. Conquest of Wales and the persecution of the Jews. Battle of Dunbar. William Wallace. Robert Bruce. Character of Edward I. Taxation. English Parliaments.

Bannockburn. Battle of Cressy. Calais.

Edward III., and the result of his wars.
Chevy Chase. Chaucer.

Battle of Polctiers. Character of

Chivalry. Wickliffe. Otterburn.

V.-VI. Wars of the Roses-origin and termination thereof. Battle of Agincourt. Joan of Arc. The Art of Printing. Character of Richard III. VII. Sovereigns of the Tudor family, and reign. Character of Henry VII.—his reign.

the dates of the beginning of its The beginning of the English

Navy. Henry VIII. Flodden. Cranmer. Wolsey. The Reformation. Bishop

Fisher and Sir Thomas More. Jane Grey. The characteristic of Mary's reign. Elizabeth. The great names in literature. Mary, Queen of Scots. The Invincible Armada. The maritime chiefs. The statesmen. The favorites and courtiers. Sir Philip Sidney. The character of Elizabeth and her reign.

VIII. The Stuart family — dates of the beginning and end of its reign. The Puritans. Charles I. Tonnage, poundage and ship money. John Hampden. Strafford and Laud. Parliament of 1640. Impeachment of members by the King. Cavaliers and Roundheads. The four battles between the King and Parliament. Cromwell. Dunbar. Worcester. Navigation Act. Admiral Blake. The Little Parliament. The Protectorate. Richard Cromwell. The Restoration. Dunkirk. The Cabal. Habeas Corpus Act. Lord Russell and Algernon Sydney. James II. Jeffries. William III. and the Glorious Revolution. The British Constitution. The Peace of Ryswick. Queen Anne. Duke of Marlborough — his victories. Union between England and Scotland. Whigs and Tories.

IX. The house of Brunswick. Sir Robert Walpole. The Peace of Aix-laChapelle. Battle of Culloden. General Wolfe. National Debt. Lord Chatham. French Revolution. William Pitt. Nelson. Wellington. Navarino. Parliamentary Reform. Abolition of Slavery. Victoria. Free Trade. Corn Laws. Penny Postage. Railroads. The Oppression of Ireland. Catholic Emancipation. Daniel O'Connell. Wars in India, China, and the Crimea. Extension of Suffrage. National Education. Disestablishment of the Church in Ireland.

BOOK NOTICES.

DICTIONNAIRE COMPLET FRANÇAIS - Allemand-Anglais, a l'usage des trois nations. En trois parties. Neuvième édition, entièrement revue et augmenttée. Leipzig: F. A. Brockhaus.

The first part of this dictionary gives the German and English words corresponding to French, as “ Bénir, v. a., segnen, ein weihen, beglücken, preisen, laben,; to bless, consecrate, prosper": the second part translates English into German and French, "Forenoon s. der Vormittag; avant-midi": the third part translates German into French and English, as "Leiten, v.a. conduire, mener, diriger, gouverner; to conduct, lead, guide, govern." The German is printed in Latin type.

French and German are pretty generally studied in our higher schools, both public and private; and very many scholars are pursuing both languages at the same time. To such this book will be found of great advantage, facilitating their progress and saving labor. This bringing together the three leading European languages for simultaneous or comparative study, is an excellent idea, and one which will be appreciated by all who are familiar, or are seeking to become familiar with these languages. We feel that we are rendering a service to many students in bringing this book to their notice. CROSBY & DAMRELL, 100 Washington St., have it for sale. Price $4.50.

BOOKS AND READING, or What Books shall I Read, and How shall I Read them? By Noah Porter, D.D., LL.D., Professor in Yale College. New York: Charles Scribner & Co.

It is enough to give simply the title of this book and the name of its author. This is a reading age; but what books are read, and to what purpose? Never was a guide more needed, and who more competent than Dr. Porter to be that guide? We especially commend this book to young students. It covers nearly the whole ground, and in a manner that leaves but little to be desired. To learn how to read so as to gain the most and the best from reading, is the lesson we all need much to learn.

NEW ANALYTIC ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, AND HYGIENE, human and comparative. For Colleges, Academies, and Families. By Calvin Cutter, M.D., Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co.

Dr. Cutter's physiological works have been long known and favorably received. He has now remodelled his principal work, and adapted it to the present wants of teachers and schools. In matter, arrangement, and illustration, it is just what is needed. The publishers have made it a very handsome book. DR. A. BASKERVILLE'S PRACTISCHES LEHRBUCH DER ENGLISCHEN SPRACHE. Gänzlich umgearbeitet und für den Gebrauch in Amerika eingerichtet von Gustave Fischer. New York. Verlag von E. Steiger, 1870. This English grammar, intended for the use of our German fellow-citizens, is modelled on a plan somewhat similar, to speak roughly, to that of Otto's wellknown German Grammar. We have never taught English through the medium of a foreign language, and hence it becomes us to speak with caution about the merits or demerits of the book before us. We have no hesitation, however, in expressing our decided opinion that it has many positive merits. If we had occasion to use such a work we should certainly adopt this one.

The name of Prof. Fischer is well known as that of a scholar eminently qualified for the task which he has here undertaken.

The subject of English pronunciation - a subject which must be an exceedingly difficult one to present to a foreigner our author has treated with great care, and, we think, with a good degree of success. We doubt if anything better could be done in this direction, though it is very evident, as the author himself would undoubtedly be the first to admit, that the sounds of a language can be properly taught only by the living voice. We should be glad to notice many matters in detail both in this and other parts of the book, but our present limits forbid. Since a part of the critic's duty is to find fault, that he may not seem too tame and "genial," let us express our regret at the appearance in the book of such a solecism (it has defenders, we know, even among ourselves) as the passive progressive form "I am being praised." Why not as well "I have been being praised"? This by the way. We bespeak for the grammar a warm reception among those for whom it was written.

NATURE'S ARISTOCRACY; or Battles and Wounds in time of Peace. A Plea for the Oppressed. By Miss Jennie Collins. Edited by Russell H. Conwell. Boston: Lee & Shepard.

Here are revealed to us the hardships and sufferings of the laboring classes, especially of women, and at the same time the noble traits of character exhib

ited by them even under the most straitened circumstances. For the most part the book is made up of incidents and individual experiences, such as have come to the knowledge of the author, and is well calculated to excite an interest in, and win respect for, those who must labor almost unceasingly for a scanty livelihood. For many of the evils female operatives now suffer, the author finds a remedy in woman suffrage. The subjects presented in her book are worthy serious consideration.

MIRIAM AND OTHER POEMS. By John Greenleaf Whittier. Boston: Fields, Osgood & Co.

This little brochure comes opportunely. Whittier grows dearer every year to the popular heart. His large Christian faith and charity, his love of humanity reach what is best and truest in us all. The old anti-slavery poet, whose battle-hymns inspired the little phalanx of abolitionists with a martyr courage and roused the sleeping North, now with a true spiritual instinct comes into the charmed circle of our inmost experiences, and brings together men of all sects and creeds in a common love of God, a common trust in his unfailing goodness, a common charity, a common humanity. In "Miriam " the Christian girl brings her Moslem master to practise what he believes, and deal mercifully. The other poems, such as "Nauhaught the Deacon," "The Prayer Seeker," and "In School Days," are almost perfect in their way, and teach noble lessons. THE AMERICAN UNION SPEAKER, and THE PRIMARY UNION SPEAKER. By John D. Philbrick. Boston: Thompson, Bigelow, and Brown. The first of these works is an octavo volume of about six hundred pages, and in the character and variety of its selections it never has been surpassed. To the standard selections from the oratorical efforts of the best British and American speakers of former years, such as no book of the kind is complete without, it adds those grand utterances which have been produced by the stirring events of the past few years. Poet, preacher, statesman, pleader and reformer here contribute their best to teach a true eloquence and form a correct taste Five years of service have tested the value of the work.

The second is a small work for younger children, and well opens the way for the larger one. Teachers cannot begin too early to cultivate the memories of their scholars, and train their scholars to a clear and forcible recitation of good prose, and especially of good poetry

A PRIMER OF ALGEBRA. By George H. Howison, M. A., Master in the English High School, Boston. Designed to supplement the Treatise of Mr. Sherwin.

We trust that the title of this small book will not mislead in regard to its character. It is not a weak attempt to extract something from algebra for little children, but is a strictly scientific unfolding of algebraic principles, and an explanation of algebraic terms and methods. It will be of great service to teachers.

MY SUMMER IN A GARDEN. By Charles Dudley Warner. Boston: Fields, Osgood & Co.

Very pleasant winter reading. The book is not an essay on horticulture, but a series of charming papers detailing in an easy, playful manner garden expe

riences, and therewith giving us much of real value. Some of its hints are as good as sermons. It is a capital thing to make a man swallow a little wisdom when he opens his mouth to laugh, and Mr. Warner knows well how to do this. Henry Ward Beecher writes a very agreeable introduction to these essays.

WONDERS OF BODILY STRENGTH AND SKILL, in all ages and countries. Translated and enlarged from the French of Guillaume Depping. By Charles Russell.

THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA. By L. Sonrel. Translated and edited by Elihu Rich.

These two volumes continue the series of The Illustrated Library of Wonders. By Charles Scribner & Co., New York. The former is concerned with all manner of athletic exercises, pugilistic encounters, foot races, feats of strength and agility. We find much of real value in the book, though we cannot get up much interest in the "fistic encounters." The latter describes what is known of the bottom of the ocean, methods of sounding, the various phenomena of the sea, and the wonders of submarine life, and cannot fail to be read with great satisfaction.

MY APINGI KINGDOM: with Life in the Great Sahara, and Sketches of the Chase of the Ostrich, Hyena, etc. By Paul Du Chaillu. New York: Harper & Brothers.

This comes to us from A. Williams & Co., 135 Washington St. The Apingi land is near the Equator and South of it. Paul Du Chaillu gives the young people a very entertaining account of his experiences with the wild tribes of this region, his hunts and wanderings, his journey across the desert, his adventures in western Africa. The book is published in the same style as his former volumes and is fully illustrated. It is an interesting and handsome volume. FROM THISTLES

Eiloart.

GRAPES? is a good story from the Harpers' press, by Mrs.

EVER NEW AND NEVER OLD, or Twice Told Stories, by the best authors. Boston: J. H. Allen.

Our friend Allen, who shares with us our publishing office, has been looking over the old volumes of The Schoolmate and selecting some of the best stories for a volume, which he has published under the above title. They are excellent stories, just as good as they ever were; and are just as fresh, and exciting, and ennobling to the young humanity of to-day, as they were to the young humanity of yesterday. A share of the praise given those who furnish good reading for the young is due Mr. Allen.

LOST IN THE FOG. By James de Mille. Boston: Lee and Shepard.

The third volume of the B. O. W. C. series comes to us under the above title. The same characters appear in new scenes, and the same interest is sustained. These books are very popular with the boys.

PLANE AND PLANK is another volume of Oliver Optic's series from the same publishers. We cannot understand how our friend "Oliver can write so many books and have them all so good. But somehow he has got all the children