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large, and often explain it wrong; but, like the concise remarks in some of the selections for the use of Eton school, they should briefly explain the sense of a difficult passage, and point out to the student the various allusions to mythology, to history, or to science. They should only assist, not prevent, the labour of reflection and research: they should not so much inform the reader of whatever he wants to know, as where it may be found.

The explanatory notes at the end of the following extracts are said to have been written by Dr. Willymotte, formerly an eminent teacher of a grammar school in England.

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The following remarks of a teacher of great experience and celebrity deserve the serious attention of all persons who are engaged in the arduous and important business of academical education.

"I have often wondered, and indeed often lamented, that what have been called Editiones Expurgate of all the classical authors usually read in our schools, have not long since been published, and universally adopted. What I wish to see are editions, from which not only obscenity and immorality should be excluded, but where the less important or less attractive parts of the author's works should also be wholly omitted; and where only a a few concise notes, adapted to the use of schoolboys, should be inserted; so that the book should be at once very moderate in its size and price, and free from every thing likely to corrupt the morals of the student.

"Our sons can seldom read the whole of a classical author at school; and the selection from his writings might, for several reasons, be made with more advantage by a judicious editor in the first instance, than by the taste or the caprice of each particular master. The Eton

Selection from the Metamorphoses of Ovid approaches the nearest to my ideas on the subject: and were all such Odes, Satires, and epistles of Horace excluded, as are either unimportant in themselves or polluted by obscenity, a school book would still be left of sufficient length, and much more eligible than any copy of his works now exhibits. The same experiment might be made with nearly the same advantage on Juvenal, Lucian, Aristophanes, and every other author, of whose works it is desirable that our sons should read a certain portion at school; but which are either too voluminous and expensive, or occasionally too licentious, for perusal during their education.

"Were such editions brought forward by any man of talents connected with one of our public schools, that circumstance, added to the obvious utility of the plan itself, would be a sufficient introduction of them to our numerous academies. I am aware that no great literary celebrity could be expected from the humble labours which I have recommended. But I hope the consciousness and the reputation of having done so essential a service to the rising generation, would constitute a recompense every way as desirable as any fame which the promotion of science can deserve or obtain." Essay on Education by the Rev. W. Barrow, LL. D. and F. a. s. Late Master of the Academy, Soho-square, London.

This desirable object the publisher of this book has been endeavouring to accomplish during the last ten years, and has, by the assistance of competent editors, made considerable progress in the preparation of new editions of a number of the Roman classics which are usually read in schools and colleges.

Philadelphia, January, 1811

RECOMMENDATION.

WE whose names are subscribed have examined the following extracts from Ovid's Metamorphoses, and think them judiciously selected, and well adapted to promote the progress of the classical student. The English editor appears to have been careful to exclude any indelicate expressions or sentiments, which might have a tendency to injure the morals of youth. This small volume contains as much of Ovid's Metamorphoses as is usually read at school; and we beg leave to recommend it to all teachers of Latin throughout the United States.

We approve the plan of short explanatory notes in English. Long notes in Latin are not useful to boys, because they are not easily understood, and therefore are seldom read.

BURGISS ALLISON, D. D.

Late Principal of the Academy at Bordenton,
New-Jersey.

JAMES G. THOMSON, A. M. Professor of Languages in the University of Pennsylvania.

JAMES GRAY, D. D.

SAMUEL B. WYLIE, A. M.

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