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A few torturing questions elicited that neither the labour nor the resolution aforesaid had produced any sensible increase, or more than a vague but anxious expectation, of available information or mental improvement. A painful suspicion arose that there was some truth in the annoying remark of a certain idle companion, that she was stupefying her brains for no good."

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The exposure of an innocent delusion is mere cruelty, unless you replace the shadow by the substance; so a list of books and plan of operations was promised by the next post. Adam Smith attempted in a pamphlet what resulted in his "Wealth of Nations" after the labour of thirty years. My letter grew into a volume, now offered for the guidance of youth in each and every department of literature.

Three large editions have been circulated, and a demand for a fourth enables me to notice many recent publications, and to profit by the sugges tions of "gentle readers" and severer critics. In reply to repeated inquiries how the Author could have forgotten such and such works of undoubted authority, I would suggest that no student would thank him for transcribing the Catalogue of the Bodleian, however much it might add to his reputation for extensive learning. Without aspiring to direct the future studies of a Lord Macaulay in

History, a Dr. Buckland in Geology, or a Duke of Wellington in Military Tactics, I am enabled to say, that very learned men have expressed their regret that in their early studies they had not the benefit of such simple guidance as this volume affords.

This Fourth Edition has been carefully corrected, and the lists of authors entitled to a preference have been revised, with due consideration of the claims of more recent publications. In this revision I thankfully acknowledge the valuable assistance of my friend H. Wilmot Buxton, Esq., of Lincoln's Inn.

Bathwick Hill, Bath :
Feb. 21, 1861.

J. P.

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SUMMARY OF COURSE OF ENGLISH READING.

How to study
HISTORY generally, 91.

of BRITAIN generally, 93. An outline of the whole,
and particular instructions for making our fort, or
strong point, one of six memorable eras; viz.

1. Till the Conquest.

2. Middle ages-feudal system chivalry — crusades.

3. Commencement of Modern History, as marked by printing,- gunpowder, the compass,discovery of America,-Colonial System,-Reformation.

4. The Civil Wars.

5. The Revolution of 1688.

6. From George III. (1. From

to the present

1760 to the

French Revolution,

time, with spe- 2. To the end of the Recial instructions

volutionary war,

for studying, 3. To the present time.

of MODERN EUROPE generally, 117. Particular instructions for making our fort, or strong point, one of seven eras; viz.

1. The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

2. The Revival of Learning.

3. The Religious Wars in the Low Countries.
4. The Thirty Years' War.

5. The French Revolution.

6. History of America and the West. 7. British India and other Colonies. of ROME, advice addressed to youths

school, 134; or

while yet at

to candidates for scholarship, 138. to candidates for University honours and Fellowships, 140.

to ladies and general readers, 142. light and entertaining study of, 145.

How to study

HISTORY of GREECE, advice addressed to youths reading for

scholarships, 148.

to candidates for University honours and Fellowships, 152.

to ladies and general readers, 160.

light and entertaining study of, 160.
of MAN, 170.

The Wonders of Creation and Natural
Phenomena, 172.

The Arts, Sciences, Literature, and com-
parative superiority of different Nations,
173.

Notice of most interesting and exciting
Narratives of Land and Sea, 175.
The Manners and Customs, and the ge-
neral state of different Nations, 176.
The Politics, Institutions, and Economy,
of Nations, 177.

The Ruins of Ancient Cities and Anti-
quities, 178.

Works, entertaining and illustrative, of
Classical and Sacred Literature, 179.
Preparatory to a Tour in Britain, or on
the Continent, 179.

Most pleasantly and profitably, by illus-
trated books, 180.

PHILOSOPHY, MORAL, POLITICAL, MENTAL,- Metaphysics, Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric, Phrenology, Phy

siology, 181.

THE FINE ARTS, by a method very easy and entertaining,

194.

PAINTING,- Elements of Criticism, History of
Art, &c., 195.
SCULPTURE, 205.
ARCHITECTURE, 207.

THE SCRIPTURES, in five Divisions, viz.

1. The Text, the Word (comparing passages,-interesting illustration,-repeating, writing proofs,Scriptural common-place book), 209.

2. Commentaries and Notes, 216.

3. Biblical Antiquities, Jewish History,- Translations, 218.

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4. Doctrines, Articles, - the Prayer Book,- Books for Controversialists,-Defence of the Church, 219.

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