we would have censured the compiler for not giving more variety. Accordingly, had our opinion of "The Recognition" been asked at any time during the last six months, most cheerfully would we have admitted that it is a piece of considerable merit, and well adapted for representation in colleges and academies for the amusement and instruction of the students.

Other ladies and gentlemen, whom we regard as highly competent to form an intelligent and honest opinion on the subject, have written to assure us, that we were mistaken in a remark or two we made, incidentally, in the same critique, in reference to the standard of education at Notre Dame University. We are sincerely glad to receive this assurance from so reliable a source, for, as our readers may remember, that years ago we entertained a high opinion of that institution. Indeed, our only reason for having changed our mind in this respect, was our utter lack of confidence in Father Corbin as President of the University. As for the Very Rev. . Superior General who founded the institution, we have never lost confidence in him; even in the critique which caused so much complaint we spoke of the good and learned father only as a gentleman whose connection with any institution would give it a favorable prestige." We were led to form this opinion of the Very Rev. Dr. Sorin several years ago, on learning that no educator acts in more strict accordance with the precept of Duclos--"Qu' on forme d'abord les hommes à la pratique des vertus, on en aura d'autut plus de facilité à leur demon trer les principes, s'il en est besoin." *

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Now, when our readers learn that Father Corbin is no longer President; that he has been removed altogether from the University to take charge of a small place in Wisconsin; that Rev. A. Lemonnier, author of "The Recognition "-the gentleman whom, without knowing anything about him further than we learned from that drama, we compared to the learned and gifted Father Prout-has been appointed President in his stead; and that the learned and good Father-General is now more closely connected with the college than he had been for years we think they will admit that we did not blunder very much after all when we made those slight criticisms in our March number. Be this as it may, we certainly anticipate a brilliant career for the University under its new management.

"Considerations sur les Moeurs." Par Duclos. Chap. 11.

The Comprehensive Speaker. Designed for the Use of Schools, Academies, Lyceums, etc. Carefully selected from the Best Authors, with Notes. By HENRY T. COATES. 12mo, pp. 672. Philadelphia: Porter & Coates.

THERE is quite a mania, just now, for manufacturing "Speakers," 'Readers," etc. We shall seem to indulge in exaggeration when we say that a full dozen of that class of performances have reached our table since we issued our last number; but we can easily convince the skeptical on that point. That now before us is the largest of all; and, we may add, that it is the most pretentious.

The preface of a book like this affords a very good test of the qualifications of the compiler as an intellectual caterer. One who cannot put together a half dozen sentences without rendering himself ridicu lous can hardly be expected to be a competent judge as to what is best calculated to cultivate the taste, or form the style of the students of "schools, academies, and lyceums." Unhappily, we have before us a case in point. We say "unhappily," because, although there are very few who are criticised but are ready to prove "it is all spite," we really take no pleasure in fault-finding, beyond that of doing good. If we thought we could do an equal amount of good by bestowing praise, we certainly would not hesitate for a moment to choose the latter.

But we will let Mr. Coates speak both for himself and us. He starts with the following piece of information: "The compiler of this volume is aware of the existence already of a number of good selections for speaking: but his position as a publisher has made him sure of the want of a more comprehensive and recent collection, one which," etc., etc. The whole sentence is a little too "comprehensive" for our space; but we have given sufficient of it to show how full of modest confidence Mr. Coates is, in his "position." Why do not all the Philadelphia publishers compile "Speakers" for the same reason? We shall not delay our readers by attempting to answer this question, but allow our compiler to proceed. "In the present collection," he continues, "adapted to supply the wants of advanced scholars, a very critical taste has been exercised," etc. It will be seen, in due time, how "advanced" the "scholars" are for the supplying of whose wants the work is "adapted," and how "very critical" is the "taste" of Mr. Coates. But let us hear our Aristarchus: "Shortly after commencing the work, the extreme inaccuracy of quotation and punctuation in all the other Speakers was made manifest," etc. That is, all other compilers

had "just enough of learning to misquote!" Mr. Coates is the only one equal to the effort of quoting correctly, and, of course, it follows that his "Comprehensive Speaker" is the only good Speaker! Referring to the student, to the teacher, or to J. E. Carpenter of London-we cannot tell which-our compiler gives the following advice, and something else:

་

"Let him remember that what is worth doing, is worth doing well;' and in no instance is this proverb more true and applicable than in the art of oratory, or seizing hold of men's minds, or feelings. For much valuable assistance in its compilation we are indebted to Mr. Frederick W. Beasley, M. A., of the Protestant Episcopal Academy of Philadelphia."

"The art of oratory," according to Mr. Coates, is worth doing well; accordingly, he has done it remarkably well! We doubt, however, whether there is any danger of his "seizing hold" of the "minds or feelings" of our readers. But who will tell us what "its compilation" refers to? Is it in the compilation of the proverb, or in the compilation of the art of oratory that Mr. Beasley has given so much valuable assistance?" To be charitable, we may suppose that Mr. Coates means the compilation of the "Comprehensive Speaker," but unrivalled as that work is, it is not mentioned either in the sentence in which the "valuable assistance" is acknowledged, or in the preceding sentence; and it requires no very extensive knowledge of the grammar of our language to know that "its" cannot be properly referred to a distant antecedent while other antecedents intervene. But taking the charitable view of the case, we must say that if the assistance of Mr. Beasley has been so valuable, it would have been a good deal more so, had he corrected both the grammar and the common sense of the compiler. Now let us turn for a moment to the 'Introduction," which it is admitted is chiefly borrowed. Under the head of "Useful Hints," we find the following:

"The careless or ignorant speaker will often trip in the following words, which are vulgarisms to be specially avoided; viz., feller for fellow-winder for window -lor for law-sor for saw-voilet for violet-voilent for violent-moi for myas well as using an aspirate in an improper place, as hair for air-hoil for oil, etc."

It seems that "advanced scholars" require to be told that they should not pronounce fellow, feller; my, moi; saw, sor, etc. Then "Notes" as Mr. Coates furnishes to "schools, academies and lyceums!"

such "

Of the selections given by our compiler, it is needless to speak.

VOL. XXV.-NO. L.

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Taking up, as he has done, a number of other "Speakers" to paste some of their contents on his own blank pages, sadly defective as he tells us all those Speakers are, it would have been impossible for him to fill so thick a volume without giving some excellent pieces. Accordingly there are such; but in those instances in which Mr. Coates has only consulted his own "very critical taste there is very little more than vulgar puffery of a certain class of authors and orators who are so fortunate or unfortunate as to be numbered among his favorites; and the chief object of the "Notes" seems to be to show how well deserved this puffery is! As we have occupied so much of our readers' time and our own with the "Comprehensive Speaker," we shall not take our leave without suggesting the following motto for the new editionwhich, for obvious reasons, can hardly fail to be issued-as in our opinion very appropriate :

Non sus Minervam, ut ajunt.

Riverview Military Academy; a Classical, Commercial and Military Boarding School. Riverview, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. OTIS BISBEE, A. M., Principal and Proprietor. 24mo., pp. 29.

In this tiny brochure we have a record of much good work, faithfully performed; although no boasting-no extravagant promises. Its contents are, indeed, such as we should expect from a man of culture who thoroughly understands one of the noblest of vocations. We have known Prof. Bisbee as an educator for many years, and we have never heard himself or his school spoken of otherwise than in the highest terms. His system of education-combining, as it does, the study of the classic and modern languages with that of the sciences, music, and the military art-has often reminded us of those ancient schools which produced such pupils as Pericles, Sophocles, Xenophon, Julius Cæsar, and Scipio Africanus. We make this remark as a matter of simple justice, and for the purpose of removing an absurd prejudice; because there are many well-meaning people who, while capable of reasoning intelligently and correctly on other subjects, think that the study of the military art is detrimental to other studies. There is not one of the illustrious men just mentioned who was not subjected to the discipline of a soldier in his boyhood, and obliged to

study the art of war as it was known in his time; but was Pericles, Xenophon, or Julius Cæsar the less highly cultivated in intellect, or did he possess the less intellectual ability on this account? Nor was there one of the same soldier-thinkers who was not also distinguished for refinement and elegance of manners; so that it is to such men and such results Ovid is said to have alluded when he wrote, that “to be imbued with the liberal arts refines the manners and makes men mild and gentle in their conduct."

Adde, quod ingenuas didicisse fideliter artes,
Emollit mores nec sinit esse feros.*

Indeed, the history of our own West Point would abundantly prove this; for if, unhappily, there are men who, like General Grant, are vulgar and coarse in their manners, in spite of the refining influences of that institution, it is because they were students only in name—at best, students only of the military art per se.

But we must do ourselves the pleasure of extracting a passage or two from the neat brochure before us. The following paragraphs will interest many who travel on the Hudson, and along its banks, for we have often been asked ourselves, "What fine institution is that?"

"The building is a large brick structure, occupying an elevation (on the east bank of the Hudson river, and very distinctly seen from the passing cars and boats. It embraces many conveniences adapted to the wants of a first-class boarding-school, such as are not found in most other similar institutions. It is most thoroughly ventilated, and heated by steam throughout; water is accessible on every floor, and the room of each pupil is as pleasant as it could be at home. The views are delightful in every direction, and the place is pre-eminently healthy.

"The river, with its numerous attractions, lies below, stretching many miles in sight. The Highlands rise into prominence on the south, while to the north, forty miles away, is distinctly seen the Catskill Mountain House. Eastward, the city of Poughkeepsie lies mostly in view, and in the immediate vicinity is the most cultivated portion, adorned with park and fountain. Opportunities for bathing, rowing and skating are ample. The extent of the play-grounds allows, also, the recreation of the ordinary games and sports of school-boys."

Referring to the discipline maintained at Riverview, Mr. Bisbee proceeds:

'Boys, it may be conceded without disparagement, are not usually settled in their habits, and such as are not bad may be led into improper associations and

Ep. ex Pont. ii., 9, 47.