WITH THE PUBLISHERS COMPLIMENTS WILLIAM COLLINS, SONS, & COMPANY, BRIDEWELL PLACE, NEW BRIDGE STREET. In addition to extracts in prose and poetry, to be used as reading lessons, a few speeches have been introduced into this concluding book of the series, as exercises in Elocution. The latter portion is intended as an introduction to the study of Physical Geography, Mechanics, Natural Science, Animal Physiology, &c., so much only being attempted as will lay a foundation of general principles in a simple form, without perplexing the reader with technical terms, or entrenching on the ground more properly covered by special treatises on scientific subjects. Some of the illustrations accompanying these lessons may appear to be in advance of the text; but much is purposely left to be filled in by the oral instruction of the teacher (after the outline in the lesson has been impressed upon the learner's mind), in which instruction the diagrams will assist him; and it should be clearly kept in view, that this book aims only at imparting such a general knowledge of natural laws, as may be of practical use to the scholar in the various occupations of life in which he is likely to be engaged. THE HOME EXERCISES at the end of the Reader are intended to stimulate the Pupil to careful preparation of the lessons at home, by furnishing questions and suggestive information on points of Geography, History, Biography, Science, Etymology, etc., alluded to in each lesson. They will also be valuable in affording hints to Parents, Guardians, and Teachers in examining the Pupil on the subject matter of the lesson. The position of these Exercises at the end of the book is believed to be a better arrangement, for teaching purposes, than giving them in immediate connection with the lessons themselves. The thanks of the Editor are due to the publishers of the Cornhill Magazine, Boys' Book of Industrial Information, and others, for their kind courtesy in allowing him to make extracts from their respective publications. TRAINING COLLEGE, JAMES RIDGWAY. |