VISIBLE HISTORY.
THE object of this juvenile History of England is to present to the eyes of children the most striking subjects mentioned in the narrative that admit of pictorial representation. Thus, in the first chapter relating to the ancient Britons, there are plates repre- senting a Druidical Sacrifice, the Landing of the Romans, the Manufacture of Baskets, Aboriginal Arms and Armour, &c. The idea of the work is capital, but the execution does not equal the design. The size of the engravings is so small, and the. form of the objects sodevoid of distinctive character, that although the curiosity of a child asking What sort of a thing is it? may, in a measure, be gratified by the sight of the "pictures," no real image will be impressed upon his mind, nor would lie be able, as it were, to identify the objects. It is true that considerable antiqua- rian knowledge as well as imitative skill would have been neces- sary in the artist to have approachtd the excellence we are requir- ing, but we think so well of Mr. WILLIAMS'S plan that we should be glad to see a greater effort made to perfect it. Except an occasional omission of some essential parts of a con- tinuous action, which produces the appearance of abruptness, the literacy merit of Visible History is considerable. Without being childish, the manner is adapted to the comprehension of children;
and the author has judiciously intermixed his historical nar- ration with accounts of the manners end amusements of the times, and of the rise and progress of those commoner arts twhich must fall under the observation even of childhood.
Previous page
