FOURTH REVISED EDITION-ENLARGED AND IMPROVED- BOSTON: JENKS, PALMER & CO. 1850. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1848, by CHARLES J. HENDEE, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. SCHOOL BOOKS PUBLISHED BY JENKS, PALMER & CO., BOSTON, AND FOR SALE BY THE BOOKSELLERS GENERALLY. Emerson's Spelling Books. THE NATIONAL SPELLING BOOK, and Pronouncing Tutor, on an improved Plan; with progressive Reading Lessons. By B. D. EMERSON. One hundred and sixtieth edition, revised. AN INTRODUCTION TO THE NATIONAL SPELLING BOOK, on the plan of the above Work, for the use of the Youngest Classes, and for Primary Schools; by the same Author. Worcester's Reading Books. FIRST BOOK, or PRIMER. SECOND BOOK, for Reading and Spelling. THIRD BOOK, for Reading and Spelling; with Rules and Instructions for avoiding Common Errors. The above form a complete series of Reading Books for youth, which are not surpassed by any other works for this purpose now before the public. The Rules and Instructions for avoiding Common Errors, and the Questions upon each lesson, form their peculiar characteristics, and add much to their value and interest, both to Teachers and Pupils. What adds to the value of this series is "the elevated moral tone which pervades the lessons, fitting them not only to exercise the mind and communicate the art of reading, but to do much for that better and usually neglected part of education, the formation of the moral character, and the education of the moral affections."-Geo. B. Emerson. Parley's School Books. THE FIRST BOOK OF HISTORY, OR HISTORY ON THE BASIS OF GEOGRAPHY, (comprehending the Countries of the Western Hemisphere,) with 68 Engravings, and sixteen Maps of the dif ferent sections of the United States and the various countries of the Western Hemisphere. THE SECOND BOOK OF HISTORY, (comprehending the Countries of the Eastern Hemisphere,) with many Engravings, and sixteen Maps of the different Countries. THE THIRD BOOK OF HISTORY; by the same author, and on the same plan; (comprehending Ancient History in connection with Ancient Geography;) with Maps and Engravings. The above series of Histories are extensively introduced into Schools and Academies,in various sections of the United States, and may be considered as standard books for the instruction of youth in History. PARLEY'S BOOK OF THE UNITED STATES, Geographical, Political, and Historical; with Comparative Views of other Countries. Illustrated by forty Engravings and eight Maps. PARLEY'S ARITHMETIC FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, with numerous Engravings. Emerson's Arithmetic, in Three Parts. Part I., Mental, for Young Classes, illustrated with cuts. Part II., Mental and Written united, fo Common Schools. Part III., for Advanced Scholars, containing the higher operations. KEY to Parts II. and III. QUESTIONS to Part III. of do. These Arithmetics are adopted by the Boston School Board, and are used throughout the U. S., in those schools which have introduced the modern improvements. Bailey's Algebra. FIRST LESSONS IN ALGEBRA; an elementary work, for the use of Academies and Common Schools By a vote of the Boston School Committee, this Algebra is used in the public schools of the city. An ELEMENTARY DICTIONARY, for Common Schools and Academies. By J. E. WORCESTER. Containing nearly 9000 more words than any other school dictionary. A COMPREHENSIVE PRONOUNCING AND EXPLANATORY DICTIONARY of the English Language, for the same, and for general reference. By the same. Revised and enlarged. "Combining advantages, as a Pronouncing Dictionary, superior to all others." Goodrich's United States. A HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. By CHARLES A. GOODRICH. New Edition revised and enlarged from the one hundredth edition. GOODRICH'S QUESTIONS to the above, revised and enlarged. EMERSON'S QUESTIONS and SUPPLEMENT to Goodrich's History of United States. A New Edition, revised and adapted to the enlarged edition of the History. The above are in extensive use in the various Schools throughout the United States, and meet with much approbation. Russell's Elocutionary Series. LESSONS IN ENUNCIATION.-EXERCISES IN ELOCUTION.-RUDIMENTS OF GESTURE. Music Books for Schools. THE LITTLE SONGSTER-THE COMMON SCHOOL SONGSTER.-THE YOUNG LADY'S VOCAL CLASS BOOK. The two last works are published under the sanction of the Boston Academy of Music, and the three form a progressive series for the use of families and schools. By G. J. WEBB. AMONG the multitude of books for instructing the young, there are not a few of an historical nature; but it is remarkable that History is not a universal, nor even a general study in our common schools. This cannot arise from any want of adaptation in the subject itself to the purposes of instruction; on the contrary, it is manifest, that it is peculiarly adapted to these purposes. We do not mean to say this of history as it has been generally treated; for most school-books of this kind are but little more than extended chronological tables, and offer nothing to the reader but a tedious mass of dates and general observations. Such works may be useful to people of mature age, but they neither amuse nor instruct the class of readers for whom they are designed. But of all reading, there is none that so readily attracts the attention, and lays hold of the sympathy of children and youth, as lively narratives of the enterprises, adventures, dangers, trials, successes, and failures of mankind; and these it is the business of history to display. Books which treat of the works of nature and art, which exhibit geographical details, observations upon natural history, and natural philosophy — any or all of these will be immediately thrown aside by a child left to his choice, for a book of stories, delineating events in connection with the development of human passions. soon. If, then, history, when properly treated, is one of the most attractive of all studies, why is it not regularly taught in all our schools? It is not because it is deemed less useful than other studies; "the proper study of mankind is man," and it cannot be entered upon too After possessing a knowledge of religion, and the duties we owe to God and our neighbor, history is the most important of all studies. It relates to us what has been done by mankind, and thus teaches us what they may do. It acquaints us with the true character of our race, and enables us to know ourselves better. It apprizes us of the existence of evil, and the way to shun it; it acquaints us with the existence of good, and shows us how to attain it. It cannot be, therefore, that the limited use of history, in our schools, is owing to an idea that it is useless. The fact must arise from the want of historical books, written in a style which shall render them both interesting and profitable. Such at least is the conviction of the author of this volume; and believing that a First Book of History for general use in our schools is much to be desired, he has undertaken, and now offers to the public, the present volume. In preparing it, two things have been had in view. In the first place, it should be useful; and in the second place, to make it useful, it must be entertaining. To accomplish these ends, the book is provided with maps, and before the pupil enters upon the history of any state or country, he is to learn from them its shape, boundaries, rivers, shores, &c. He is then briefly made acquainted with its present state, its towns and cities, and the occupations of its inhabitants. These geographical details are conveyed to the pupil, by narrating supposed travels through various countries, in which he takes a part. The pupil, being thus acquainted with the present condition of a country, is then told its history. The author has been careful to introduce precise dates; for without them, it would be impossible to give any distinct view of any portion of history. But he has sought more assiduously to select from the great mass of events, those topics which would be most calculated to please and to improve the young reader. He has introduced many tales, anecdotes, adventures, and curious particulars, for the double purpose of enlivening the book, and throwing light upon the periods and events with which they are connected. A large number of engravings have been inserted, as well for illustration, as for fixing certain ideas permanently in the memory of the pupil. A familiar style has been adopted, and the materials throughout are arranged on a new |