Report of the Committee of the Philadelphia Academy of Teachers: adopted Nov. 6, 1824.

The Committee, to whom was referred Mr. Jesse Torrey's "Pleasing Companion for Little Girls and Boys," beg leave to report,

That they have perused the " Pleasing Companion," and have much pleasure in pronouncing as their opinion, that it is a compilation much better calculated for the exercise and improvement of small children in the art of reading, and especially in the more rare art of understanding what they read, than the books in general use.

THE MORAL INSTRUCTOR AND GUIDE TO VIRTUE, by Jesse Torrey, Jr.

Among the numerous recommendations to this valuable School Book, are the following:

Extract of a note from the Hon. Thomas Jefferson, late President of the United States.

"I thank you, sir, for the copy of your Moral Instructor.' I have read the first edition with great satisfaction, and encouraged its reading in my family,"

Extracts of a Letter from the Hon. James Madison, late President of the United States.

"Sir-I have received your letter of the 15th, with a copy of the Moral Instructor.

"I have looked enough into your little volume to be satisfied, that both the original and selected parts contain information and instruction which may be useful, not only to juvenile but most other readers.

DR. TORREY.

"With friendly respects,

JAMES MADISON.

From Roberts Vaux, President of the Controllers of the Public Schools in

Philadelphia.

"The Moral Instructor" is a valuable compilation. It appears to be well

adapted for elementary schools, and it will give me pleasure to learn that the lessons which it contains are furnished for the improvement of our youth generally. Respectfully,

Philadelphia, 5th month, 8 1823.

ROBERTS VAUX,

HISTORY OF ENGLAND, from the First Invasion by Julius Cæsar, to the Accession of George the Fourth, in eighteen hundred and twenty: comprising every Political Event worthy of remembrance; a Progressive View of Religion, Language, and Manners; of Men eminent for their Virtue or their Learning; their Patriotism, Eloquence, or Philosophical Research; of the Introduction of Manufactures, and of Colonial Establishments. With an interrogative Index, for the use of Schools. By William Grimshaw, author of a History of the United States, &c.

HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, from their first settlement as Colonies, to the cession of Florida, in 1821: comprising every Important Political Event; with a Progressive View of the Aborigines; Population, Religion, Agricul ture, and Commerce; of the Arts, Sciences, and Literature; occasional Biographies of the most remarkable Colonists, Writers, and Philosophers, Warriors, and Statesmen; and a Copious Alphabetical Index. By William Grimshaw, author of a History of England, &c.

Also, QUESTIONS adapted to the above History, and a KEY, adapted to the Questions, for the use of Teachers.

"DEAR SIR,

"University of Georgia, Athens, June 4, 1825.

"With grateful pleasure, I have read the two small volumes of Mr. Grimshaw, (a History of England, and a History of the United States) which you some time since placed in my hands. On a careful perusal of them, I feel no difficulty in giving my opinion, that they are both, as to style and sentiment, works of uncommon merit in their kind; and admirably adapted to excite, in youthful minds, the love of historical research.

"With sincere wishes for the success of his literary labours,

"E. JACKSON, Ese."

"I am very respectfully, your friend,

"M. WADDEL, President.

"D. JAUDON presents his respectful compliments to Mr. Grimshaw, and is

much obliged by his polite attention, and the handsome compliment of his History of the United States with the Questions and Key.

"Mr. J. has been in the use of this book for some time; but anticipates still more pleasure to himself, and profit to his pupils, in future, from the help and facility which the questions and key will afford in the study of these interesting pages.

"October 10th, 1822."

"DEAR SIR,

Golgotha, P. Edwd. Va. Sep. 26, 1820.

"MR. GRIMSHAW's History of the United States,' &c. was some time ago put into my hands by Mr. B who requested me to give you my opinion as to the merits of the work. The history of the late war is well managed by your author: it has more of detail and interest than the former part; and I consider it much superior to any of the many compilations on that subject, with which the public has been favoured. It may be said of the entire performance, that it is decidedly the best chronological series, and the chastest historical narrative, suited to the capacity of the juvenile mind, that has yet appeared. Its arrangement is judicious; its style neat, always perspicuous, and often elegant; and its principles sound.

"American writings on men and things connected with America, have been long needed for the young; and I am happy to find, that Mr. Grimshaw has not only undertaken to supply this want, but also to Americanise foreign history for the use of our schools. In a word, sir, I am so fond of American fabrics, and so anxious to show myself humbly instrumental in giving our youth American feeling and character whilst at school; that I shall without hesitation recommend Mr. Grimshaw's works to my young pupils, as introductory to more extensive historical reading. In fine, the work is so unobjectionable, and puts so great a mass of necessary information within the reach of schoolboys, at so cheap a rate, that I feel the highest pleasure in recommending it to the public, and wish you extensive sales.

"MR. BENJAMIN WARNER,

Yours respectfully,

"WILLIAM BRANCH, JR.

"History of the United States, from their first settlement as Colonies, to the Peace of Ghent, &c. By William Grimshaw, pp. 312, 12mo.

"THIS is the third time, within the space of two years, that we have had occasion to review a volume from the hand of Mr. Grimshaw. He writes with great rapidity; and improves as he advances. This is the most correctly written of all his productions. We could wish that a person so well formed for close, and persevering study, as he must be, might find encouragement to devote himself to the interests of literature."

"Mr. G. has our thanks for the best concise and comprehensive history of the United States which we have seen."

Theological Review, October, 1819.

vii

"History of England, from the first Invasion by Julius Caesar, to the Peace of" Ghent, &c. For the use of Schools. By William Grimshaw. Philadelphia, 1819. Benjamin Warner. 12mo. pp. 300.

"WE have copied so much of the title of this work, barely to express our decided approbation of the book, and to recommend its general introduction into schools. It is one of the best books of the kind to be found, and is instructive even to an adult reader. We should be pleased that teachers would rank it among their class-books; for it is well calculated to give correct impressions, to its readers, of the gradual progress of science, religion, government, and many other institutions, a knowledge of which is beneficial in the present age. Among the many striking merits of this book, are, the perspicuity of the narrative, and chasteness of the style. It is with no little pleasure we have learned, that the author has prepared a similar history of the United States; a work long wanted, to fill up a deplorable chasm in the education of American youth."

Analectic Magazine, October, 1819.

"Philadelphia, 23 June, 1819.

"SIR-I have read with pleasure and profit your History of England, I think it is written with perspicuity, chasteness, and impartiality. Well written history is the best political instructor, and under a government in which it is the blessing of the country that the people govern, its pages should be constantly in the hands of our youth, and lie open to the humblest citizen in our wide-spread territories. Your book is eminently calculated thus to diffuse this important knowledge, and therefore entitled to extensive circulation; which I most cordially wish. With much respect,

"Your obedient servant,
"LANGDON CHEVES.

"WILLIAM GRIMSHAW, Esa."

GRIMSHAW'S IMPROVED EDITION OF GOLDSMITH'S GREECE.-Among the numerous recommendations to this valuable School Book, are the following:

Although there are many worthless School Books, there are but few which are equally impure and inaccurate with the original editions of Goldsmith's Histories, for the use of Schools. I congratulate both teachers and pupils, upon the appearance of Mr. Grimshaw's edition of the "History of Greece," which has been so completely expurgated, and otherwise corrected, as to give it the character of a new work, admirably adapted to the purpose for which it is intended.

THOS. P. JONES,

Professor of Mechanics in the Franklin Institute of the State of
Pennsylvania, and late Principal of the North Carolina
Female Academy.

Philadelphia, Sept. 5, 1826.

MR. JOHN GRIGG.

DEAR SIR-Agreeably to your request I have examined, with attention, "Goldsmith's Greece, revised and corrected, and a vocabulary of proper names appended, with prosodial marks, to assist in their pronunciation, by William Grimshaw;" and I feel a perfect freedom to say, that the correction of numerous grammatical and other errors, by Mr. Grimshaw, together with the rejection of many obscene and indelicate passages improper for the perusal of youth, gives this edition, in my opinion, a decided preference over the editions of that work heretofore in use.

་

The Questions and Key, likewise supplied by Mr. Grimshaw to accompany this edition, afford a facility for communicating instruction, which will be duly appreciated by every judicious teacher.

I am, Sir,

Philadelphia, Sept. 8, 1826.

Yours truly,

THOS. T. SMILEY.

The Editor of the United States Gazette, in speaking of this work, says-"Goldsmith's Greece, without a revision, is not calculated for schools; it abounds in errors, in indelicate description, improper phrases, and is, indeed, a proof how very badly a good author can write, if indeed there is not much room to doubt Goldsmith ever composed the histories to which his name is attached. Mr. Grimshaw has adopted the easy descriptive style of that writer, retained his facts, connected his dates, and entirely and handsomely adapted his work to the school desk. The book of questions and the accompanying key, are valuable additions to the work, and will be found most serviceable to teacher and pupil.

"From a knowledge of the book, and some acquaintance with the wants of those for whom it was especially prepared, we unhesitatingly recommend Grimshaw's Greece as one of the best (in our opinion, the very best of) works of the kind that has been offered to the public."

THE UNITED STATES SPEAKER, compiled by T. T. Smiley-preferred generally to the Columbian Orator and Scott's Lessons, and works of that kind, by teachers who have examined it.

GOLDSMITH'S HISTORY OF GREECE, improved by Grimshaw, with a Vocabulary of the Proper Names contained in the work, and the Prosodial Accents, in conformity with the Pronunciation of Lempriere-with Questions and a Key, as above.

GRIMSHAW'S ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY AND EXPOSITOR OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.