The Magic of Kindness; or the Wondrous Story of the God Huan. By the Brothers Mayhew. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1 vol. 16mo.
The authors of this little volume are the same who wrote the popular and charming book entitled, “The Good Genius that Turned Everything into Gold;” and their present contribution to a cause equally good, has the peculiar interest of a fairy tale in the treatment of facts historically accurate. The subject of benevolence, and the miracles it works, have rarely been presented in a manner more likely to win converts among readers of all dispositions and capacities. The illustrations by Kenny Meadows and George Cruikshank, are excellent; and the same may be said of the typography of the volume.
The Elements of Reading and Oratory. By Henry Mandeville, D. D., Professor of Moral Science and Belles Lettres in Hamilton College. A New Revised Edition. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1 vol. 12mo.
Here is a work on Elocution deserving the title of scientific, excelling, as it does, in the generalization and statement of laws any book of the kind published on either side of the Atlantic. It would be impossible in our limited space to give an account of the author’s method, but it certainly is most thorough in pronunciation, punctuation, modulation, the classification of sentences, and emphasis. It is not only an admirable book for schools, but it contains much to interest every person who would write and speak the English language accurately, and there are few English scholars so accomplished as not to be able to obtain new and valuable information from its perusal.
History of Julius Cæsar. By Jacob Abbott. With Engravings. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1 vol. 18mo.
The series of Mr. Abbott’s histories appear in such rapid succession that we presume they have attained great popularity. Certainly few books are better calculated to improve and instruct young minds. The present volume is devoted to Cæsar, one of the world’s three military wonders, and his eventful life is portrayed with much vigor and clearness of narration.