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From the New-York Baptist Register, Nov. 22, 1844.

This is one of the most valuable school books we have had put into our hands in many a day. It is from the press of the Harpers, from which many important works are issued, but rarely have they published one of equal advantage to the rising generation.

The object of the author is to train the young mind to think. Every chapler shows this, and requires thorough study to be advantageously mastered, out when acquired, it will be seen that the pupil has made substantial progress. We believe, with the author, that there is a great mistake in devoting so much attention to reading and speaking, and so small portion of time in teaching the art of correctly writing the language.

From the Roman Citizen, Dec. 3, 1844.

This valuable treatise has been compiled under the pressure of an evil which has hitherto greatly impaired the completeness of the usual course of instruction in our common schools and academies. Hitherto there has been no elementary work in use, of the right stamp, on the science and history of the English language and literature; and the youth of our elementary schools have been left, in quite too many cases, to grow up without any true and available knowledge of the correct use of their mother tongue."

Mr. Boyd, who has for many years had charge of one of the best academies in this state, perceived the sad effects of this deficiency, and has had the skill to work out a remedy. Commencing with the rudiments of language, his plan is, to lead the pupil on from one step to a higher, and to furnish him with familiar illustrations of every principle inculcated, until he has so mastered the rules of the most elevated composition.

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We hope to see Mr. Boyd's treatise generally used in our common schools and academies.

From the Oswego Daily Advertiser, May 2, 1845. -
Mr. EDITOR:

During the session of the Teacher's Association in Oswego, I took occa sion to speak before them in behalf of Rev. Mr. Boyd's work on Rhetoric and Literary Criticism. They unanimously passed a resolution expressive of the opinion that the science and art of communicating thoughts on paper should be taught in our common schools. Indeed, if it be not, many pass through life without the ability even of writing a letter correctly, much less elegantly; and that, too, for the plain reason, that comparatively few have an opportunity to attend the higher institutions of learning.

Mr. Boyd's motto in preparing his book must have been multum in parvo, for it comprises much valuable matter in a small space; in other words, it concentrates the lights of many highly gifted minds upon the subject of which it treats. I have never seen a book which, in my judgment, is so well adapted to the great purposes of teaching composition and rhetoric in schools of every grade, as this new and most excellent publication. I have no possible pecuniary interest in the sale of the work, but my decided conviction of its merits prompts me to recommend it to the examination of teachers, parents, and all who feel an interest in promoting the noble and blessed career of popular education. SAMUEL N. SWEET, Author of "Sweet's Elocution."

From the Jeffersonian, Nov. 26, 1844.

We have devoted no inconsiderable space to a critical notice of "Boyd's Rhetoric," and we wish that we could convince our readers that the sub

ject is deserving of the space and the attention bestowed upon it. It should be in the hands of every student and every man who writes for the press or for public speaking. It is, indeed, a guide to the pens of all who wander in doubt, hesitating, seeking the right way, but uncertain as to the landmarks. It will make easy and smooth what at first view appears dry and forbidding.

The following is an extract from the critical notice above referred to: One reason, and probably the chief one, why the study of rhetoric has received so little attention in our common schools is, that there has been no suitable text-book. Blair, Newman, Jameson, and others have long been in use in our higher academies and colleges, but they are intended for advanced scholars, and hence are not adapted to our common schools. Frost's and Parker's Exercises have been used to a certain extent, but we have seen no work which so completely meets the want as the one noticed at the head of this article. In this, both the style and matter are calculated to interest, instruct, and inform the young, as well as the advanced scholar and general reader.

The arrangement is admirable, commencing with the simplest principles, and leading the scholar along gradually to the higher and most ⚫ important.

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We commend the book most cordially to teachers of common schools and academies, to all interested in the progress of the cause of education, and to contributors to the newspaper press.

From the Albany Daily Advertiser, Nov. 8, 1844.

BOYD'S RHETORIC.-This work is fitted to take the science of Rhetoric out of its place among the drier branches of education, and to invest it with no small degree of attraction. It begins with the very alphabet of the science, and is so perfectly simple that quite a young child may be put to the study of it with advantage. At the same time, it is a very complete view of the subject, and contains much that is not found in any similar treatise.

The work has already received the warm approbation of some of our best judges, and we can not doubt that it is destined to take a high place among kindred works, and to bring to its author the grateful acknowledgments, not only of teachers, but of all who are interested in the great and good cause of education.

From the Albany Religious Spectator, Nov. 9, 1844.

This work meets an important desideratum in the economy of education. Its plan is, so far as we know, entirely new, the arrangement perfectly systematic, and the execution characterized throughout by good taste and good judgment.

It is published under the most favorable auspices, bearing, as it does, the high recommendation of many who are best qualified to judge, and whose opinions on such subjects are regarded as authority. Mr. Boyd has not only done himself great credit, but has conferred a favor upon his generation, and, we doubt not, upon posterity also, by sending forth his judicious and excellent work.

Extract from a Review of the work in the Biblical Repertory and Princeton Review, Oct., 1845.

This little work has two great merits: one is, its tendency to promote and facilitate the early practice of English composition: the other is a great variety of information as to books and authors, and the language itself, which it brings within the reach of ordinary teachers and their pupils. Its

faults arise almost entirely from its being, as the title-page avows, a compilation.

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As usual, our statement of particular defects fills much more space than our general commendation, which we think it proper, therefore, to repeat, by stating it as our opinion, that the adoption of this little manual in schools, and even in the lower classes of our colleges, would, under the direction of judicious teachers, tend to great improvement in the art of composition, and to the diffusion of much useful information as to English literature. Mr. Boyd has evidently taken special pains to make the literary merits of the Bible, and the literature of our own country, duly prominent in his compilation, although chiefly drawn from British sources.

Similar notices and recommendations have appeared in the Albany Argus, Albany Evening Journal, Black River Journal, and other periodicals.

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AUTHOR OF "ECLECTIC MORAL PHILOSOPHY."
".

EIGHTH EDITION.

NEW YORK:

HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS,

329 & 331 PEARL STREET,

FRANKLIN SQUARE.

1860.

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