Boimu's French Self-Instructor has already appeared before the public, but
at a more expensive price; having been combined with other and foreign matter. The views of the author on learn- ing languages are sound; his advice judicious; and his plan cer- tain to be useful, if patiently followed out. His method is to take a short, easy, and familiar piece of poetry or prose, as a lesson. He then translates it literally ; and makes every word the subject of comments, both grammatical and idiomatic, inter- spersing them with general remarks. Some objection might per- haps be offered to the length of these comments; but we think without grounds : the book is not intended for young children, to whom the act of reading is an effort; and therefore the full and colloquial style of the observations is rather a relief than an obstacle.
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