DES ÉCRIVAINS FRANÇAIS, Anciens et Modernes. PROSE ET POÉSIE. OUVRAGE CLASSIQUE, AUGMENTÉE DE NOTES HISTORIQUES, GEOGRAPHIQUES, PHILOSOPHIQUES, Paris: ALFRED ET SIDNEY BONESPOIR. M DCCC XLVIII. "This is a work which was much wanted, and which will not fail of proving highly acceptable to the youthful student. The exertions of M. De Fivas to furnish a selection, suited to youth of both sexes, have been crowned with success, and we most warmly recommend it to all who are studying the French language, and to those to whom the education of youth is more particularly entrusted."-La Belle Assemblée. "Exceedingly good samples of the French style, and of elegance and purity of language. We recommend the work as both amusing and instructive."-Literary Gazette. "A very neat, judiciously selected, well-arranged, desirable volume, containing a large quantity of excellent matter."-Court Journal. "An elegant volume, containing a selection of pieces both in prose and verse, which, while it furnishes a convenient reading book for the student of the French language, at the same time affords a pleasing and interesting view of French literature."-Observer. "A most interesting and instructive work, calculated equally for the school and library. The biographical sketches are spiritedly executed, and the whole design is filled up in such a manner as to give us entire satisfaction."-Chronicle. "This work is replete with that enticing variety so desirable in publications of this kind. French teachers, and those who wish to attain a knowledge of that polite language, will find it a valuable acquisition. It is edited with care; the accents and grammatical construction are such as are warranted by that celebrated literary parliament-the French Academy.”...... Free Press. ENTERED IN STATIONERS' HALL. PREFACE. In the composition of this Volume, the Editor has aimed at more than an ordinary compilation: His ambition has been to produce a French Reader of a high order, adapted to Educational Establishments of either sex. In giving a private lesson to an adult pupil, a master may read any book-any of the fashionable novels of the day, if the pupil should so incline; but, in teaching a class of young persons, the case is different, a work of this nature then becomes indispensable-youth must be guided. In effect, as the wise and learned ROLLIN remarks, by presenting to the curiosity of young people only what is unexceptionable in authors, we enable them to guard afterwards against the faults and errors inseparable from the works of men. It may here be observed, that, in France, compendiums, and extracts from the best writings are extensively used in education. In preparing this publication, the utmost circumspection has been exercised in the choice of the pieces, |