largely from the excellent work of Mr. Trench, on the Study of Words. He shows that there is an interesting history attached to many of our commonest words; and should the reader find a reference to the index attached to such familiar words as mankind, odd, husband, wife, amuse, education, field, forest, neighbor, palace, parasite, parlor, and scores of other words, more or less common, he will learn, from a glance at them in the index, that there is a history in their derivation which ought to be known. The importance of this knowledge is well set forth by Mr. Trench in the extracts from his work beginning on page 119. By acquainting himself with the origin of many words explained in the index, the reader will store his memory with a number of prefixes and postfixes, a knowledge of which will open to him the meaning of large classes of words to which they are the keys. The habit also, which he may thus acquire, of tracing verbal genealogies back to their primary stock, may be to him of incalculable service, in inspiring a taste that must open new sources of intellectual satisfaction and improvement; in leading to greater precision in the use of language; in simplifying and making luminous many a word that before seemed arbitrary, indefinite, and opaque; and, finally, in quickening his powers of penetration into the significance, or absence of significance, of all that he reads. In conclusion, I may remark, that both in the introductory part and in the index I have freely availed myself of the labors of the best and most recent authorities. In most instances, credit has been given; should it have been occasionally with held, this general acknowledgment will suffice. The names of authors and subjects, alphabetically arranged, will be found mbraced in the Explanatory Index at the end of the volume. For an explanation of the marks of reference in Part II., see p. 55. CONTENTS. Class Opinions The Sword and Pen - Humming-Bird and But- . 18 Life-Influence of Actions-Now- Fidelity in Little Things Imperceptible Formation of Habits- Kindness its own Reward, 84 29. Gladiatorial Combat with a Tiger, 30. Government of the Thoughts, 38. The Spider and Bee: an Apologue, 39. Climate of the Catskill Mountains, 41. John Pounds, the Cobbler,. 44. On the Study of Words (Part I.), 66 - . 58. Imprisonment of Bonnivard, Alexander Severus- Gibbon. Queen Elizabeth Ib. Air and Exercise Quarterly Review. 83. Columbus and his Discovery, 86. Unity and Progress of Mankind, 87. On Kindness to Brute Animals, 90. A Storm in the Indian Ocean,. - - Hume. How- ard Burke. Milton- Quarterly Review. Washington-Webster, 144 64. Astronomy and Immortality (Part I.), Education in the United True Estimate of the 103. The Discontented Miller, . - Habits of Great Men- Anon. The Morning Hour-Webster. Demosthenes - Creasy. Cicero and Demosthenes Compared-Fen- elon. Alfred the Great-Dickens. Mary, Queen of Scots- Rob- Last Moments of Addison - Macaulay. Lord Chatham in Parliament - Hazlitt. As Secretary of State- -Grattan. Ed- Degeneracy of Athens-Demosthenes. Value of Literature-Cicero. On Taxing the American Colonies- Chatham. Justice -Sher- idan. Impeachment of Hastings- Burke. The Impracticable Undesirable - Ib. American Progress-1b. The Schoolmaster Abroad - - Brougham. Reply to De Brézé Mirabeau. Men and Measures Canning. Resistance to the British- . 277 - 147. Shakspeare's Power of Expression, Know before you Speak-True Generosity-Moral and Physical Courage-Religion the Cement of Society-Habits of Observa- Basis of our System- Washington. A Republic Strongest - Jef- ferson. True Bond of Union- Jackson. Religious and Mental Culture-Wayland. Our Political Experiment - Wirt. Force of Example-Mc Lean. Fabric of our Government-Webster, 287 136. The Harbor of San Francisco, 137. Execution of Madame Roland, 138. What a Common Man may say, 142. THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. Traits of Character- - Flint. Indian Mounds-1b. Disappear- Indebtedness to Religion essential to Morality - Washington. 151. The Mind its own Educator, 152. Fulton's First Steamboat, 160. Progress of Civilization, 163. Vanity, &c., of Literature, Indebtedness to Society-Mountford. Love of Home-Webster. Resistance to Ridicule Sydney Smith. Of Veracity -Way- land. Perseverance under Failure Niebuhr. Abuse of the Imagination- -Jane Taylor. Idleness Chambers. A Habit of Jesting-Ib. Local Associations-Johnson, . 176. Photography, or Light-drawing, 177. The Declaration of Independence, 178. The Indians among Themselves, 180. The Colosseum by Moonlight, Obligations to Literature- - Hood. The Worth of Books - Chan- ning. Moral Influence of a Literary Taste- Hillard. Desira- bleness of a Taste for Reading - Herschel. The Habit 188. THE ELOQUENCE OF SCIENCE. Extent of the Universe. The Atmosphere - Qu. Review. The The Steam-engine-Jeffrey. Ignorance of Great Physical Truths - Life Light-Liebig. Wonders of the Created Universe — Herschell On the Vastness of the Universe- Whewell, KEBLE, WORDSWORTH, |
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