make known that they are either young or old, married or bachelors, and the rest. This gentleman says in his preface that among the "books adopted by most of schools" in this country, he has not found one fit for the purpose. Of this nice compliment we must of course take our share, since there are comparatively few of the most respectable schools even in New York, in which our books have not been "adopted;" but as the accusation is equally directed against all the teachers or heads of schools, meaning that they do not know how to select their books, we shall not undertake to refute the charge. In regard to the gentleman's asserting in his same preface, that no book was ever published in this country, which contains more literary information than his, we suspect there is either some mistake or want of sincerity, in this as in other points; for he could not be ignorant of the fact, the first edition of our work being in his possession, and also it being used in several schools in which he was teaching French. He says also that a refined and polite language is a "dangerous model" for this community. Then if pure, elegant and correct French is objected to, he must have the preference, and we shall remain perfectly satisfied with public decision, from which there is no appeal. The gentleman spoken of entitles himself "membre de l'université de Paris." () () There is perhaps some typographical mistake, for the book contains many errors of that kind. The press being waiting for this, we are obliged to cut short. Indeed we have said more than we expected, and yet we have scarcely commenced; but we shall resume at another time if necessary. After speaking of so many authors we could not avoid noticing one who, although young, has undertaken to criticise some living writers in a rather impolite and improper manner; and besides the title, if not the merit of his book, places it precisely within the province of our present work. We regret that we cannot bestow much praise on that book, but our duty towards the public forbids that we should be partial. It is believed that every one who will take the trouble to investigate the subject, will find our remarks to be extremely mild. He who lives in a glass house should not throw stones. If our young cotemporary should think proper in his turn to point out our own mistakes, we permit him to use our name freely; and we conclude in saying that: il a mal débuté; il n'a montré ni bon goût, ni jugement, ni talent, ni esprit, ni bon sens. Mais du moins, a-t-il montré de la bonne foi envers le public? . TABLE DES MATIÈRES, PAR ORDRE ALPHABÉTIQUE des auteurs. (Les Notices ne sont pas comprises dans cette table.) La Fable, BARTHÉLEMY (A. M.).-Laocoon, Le Mirage, BAUSSET-Portrait de Bossuet, BÉRANGER.-La Sainte-Alliance des peuples, BERCHOUX.-Le Dessert, Le Café, 353 228 149 246 248 249 168 - 168 339 340 192 293 239 240 BERNIS.-Extrait du Poème des quatre Saisons, BERTIN.-Souvenirs de l'ancienne Rome, DIDEROT.-Pensées détachées, D'ORLEANS.-Discours d'Elizabeth, Ducis.-A mon petit Logis, A mes Pénates, DUCLOS.-Différence de la Probité et de la Vertu, DUGUET.-Extrait de l'ouvrage des Six Jours, ESMÉNARD.-La Pêche de la Baleine, Prière du Soir à bord d'un vaisseau, FLÉCHIER.-Exorde de l'Oraison funèbre de Turenne, FLORIAN.-Les Singes et le Léopard, Le Voyage, FONTANES.-Origine de l'Astronomie, 125 164 165 158 159 270 272 27 212 213 219 LA FONTAINE-Les Animaux malades, LA BRUYÉRE.-Ménippe, ou les plumes du Paon, LAFITAU, (P. F.).-Le Flatteur, Philémon et Baucis, LE BAILLY.-L'Occasion manquée, 226 227 LEBRUN, (D.).-Dieu et son essence, LEBRUN, (P.).-Melvil à la reine Elizabeth, LE FRANC DE POMPIGNAN.-La Bienfaisance, LEGOUVÉ.-Le Cimetière de campagne, LEMIERRE.-Le Clair de lune, L'Anatomie, LONGEPIERRE.-Morceau d'une scène de Médée, MAINTENON, (Mme.).-Lettre à son frère, Lettre à Mme. de St. Géran, MALFILATRE.-Les deux Serpents, MALHERBE.-Consolation à Du Perrier, MAROT.-A lui-même, 1 Epigramme contre deux buveurs, 305 NEUFCHATEAU-Manière de lire les vers, MIRABEAU.-Subside extraordinaire, MOLIERE.-Extrait du Misanthrope, MOLLEVAULT.-La Fille de Jephté, NECKER.-Les Invalides au pied des autels, NICOLE.-L'Amour-propre, PALISSOT.-Le faux Philosophe, PARNY.-La rose, Le Réveil d'une mère, NAPOLEON.-Proclamation à ses soldats, 260 261 154 198 21 153 206 206 |