History Primers. Edited by John Richard Green. Geography. By George
Grove, F.R.G.S. (Macmillan and Co.)—There is no better test of the advance of learning and sound knowledge in the present day, than the increasing superiority of the elementary works pre- pared for school teaching over those in use bat a few years ago. Education, to which so much attention has been directed within the last twenty years as an object of great national im- portance, is rapidly improving, in consequence, both in thoroughness and practical aims. Not only the quantity, but the quality of the know- ledge imparted in a given time is carefully looked to, by those on whom the responsibility of teaching devolves. Every year produces new works or new editions on the several subjects, each brought up to the level of the highest mark made by the ever-progressive march of science and knowledge. The little volume now before us—one of a series of primers of the most elementary kind, which are being edited by Mr. Green—is an excellent specimen of what may be done by clearness of statement and simplicity of style, in dealing with the first rudiments of geographical knowledge. The praetical pen of the editor of Macmillan could hardly have been better employed than in thus turning literary talent and experience to account for the benefit of the young. Leaving the history of geography, and what the ancients knew of it, to be gathered from the "Primer of Ancient Geography," and the processes by which the earth became what it is, how the mountains were lifted up and the valleys scooped oat, to another "Primer of Physical Geography," the author gives a general outline of what the world is, and what its different parts are like, as preparatory to a fuller account elsewhere. In the performance of this task we are shown, first, what maps are, and why they are wanted, and how they are made, with admirable completeness ; secondly, what are the general structure and arrangement of the earth and ocean ; and thirdly, some particulars are given of the features of land and water. Under these several headings the whole range of geographical knowledge is brought under the pupil's notice in the most lucid way. The distribution of the earth, with its great divisions, into mountain ranges and plains and valleys is fully given. Then trade- winds, monsoons, currents, tides, the Gulf Stream, and icebergs are treated in a way to make them intelligible to scholars in the first ferm, with the aid of excellent diagrams and pictorial illustrations. It would be difficult for such a body of facts, forming an instructive review of all the leading features of geography, to be compressed into smaller space, or presented in a more acceptable form.
Previous page
