" 13.--A GLANCE AT THE SCIENCES, ASTRONOMY, NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, &c.
" 14.--WONDERS OF GEOLOGY.
" 15.--ANECDOTES OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.
" 16.--A GLANCE AT PHILOSOPHY, MENTAL, MORAL, AND SOCIAL.
" 17.--BOOK OF LITERATURE, ANCIENT AND MODERN, WITH SPECIMENS.
" 18.--ENTERPRISE, INDUSTRY, AND ART OF MAN.
" 19.--MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS.
" 20.--THE WORLD AND ITS INHABITANTS.
--> These works are designed to exhibit, in a popular form, SELECT
BIOGRAPHIES, ANCIENT AND MODERN; the Wonders and Curiosities of
HISTORY, NATURE, ART, SCIENCE, AND PHILOSOPHY, with the Practical
Duties of Life.
It cannot be deemed invidious to say, that no similar work has met with
equal favor at the hands of the public, as the following testimonials,
among many others, will show:--
_The Hon. H. G. Otis, of Boston, says_,
I view it as the best compendium of useful learning and
information, respecting its proposed contents, _for the use of
young persons and schools_, that has fallen within my knowledge. It
abounds in illustrations of the history of the world, and the
customs and manners of nations, that _may be read by general
scholars of any age_, with pleasure.
_The Rev. Dr. Sprague says, Albany_,
I regard the Cabinet Library as a most important accession to the
means of intellectual and moral culture, especially in respect to
the rising generation. But while it is peculiarly adapted to the
young, it may be read by persons of any age with both pleasure
and profit. To men of business, who have not leisure to read
extensively, and indeed to all who would keep up with the times,
the work is invaluable. It is also suited to the various members of
the family circle, --> and is _among the very best of the libraries
for public schools_. I learn that it is introduced into the public
schools of this city, (Albany,) and various other places, and I
cannot doubt that it will ultimately be adopted in our seminaries
of learning generally.
_Charles Sprague, Esq., of Boston, says_,
I have read, with both pleasure and profit, all the numbers of your
very instructive Cabinet Library. My friend and namesake, the Rev.
Dr. Sprague, has so exactly expressed my opinion of the work, that
I need only adopt his language, in recommending it, as I cheerfully
do, to the favorable attention of both teachers and learners.
_From the Quincy Patriot_,
We recommend it (Parley's Cabinet Library) as peculiarly valuable
to families. We often see one young man taking precedence of others
in the race of life. If we could read his history minutely, we
should see the explanation of the case to be, that he had a better
head or a better heart than others. Now we know of no works so well
calculated to mould the head and heart aright as those of "Peter
Parley."
Those parents who wish to have their children "go ahead" in life,
should place Parley's Cabinet Library within their reach. We have
never seen a work better suited to bestow instruction, or that
inculcates truth in a more pleasant fashion.
_From the Boston Courier_,
They are exceedingly agreeable books, and such as young and old may
peruse with pleasure and profit. The moral and religious account to
which the author turns every subject must render the work
peculiarly suitable to the family and the school library. We
cheerfully commend the work to the public as one of sterling value.
_From the Boston Atlas_,
It is a compact family and school library of substantial reading,
which is delightful in point of style, and wholesome in its moral,
social, and religious tendency.
_From the Boston Post_,
We hardly know when we have been better pleased with a publication
than this.
_From Hunt's Merchant's Magazine_,
This work, now complete, is the most elaborate of the works of the
author for the young; and we think it quite the best. It is a
_library of facts_, and seems intended to cultivate a taste for
this kind of reading. It is said that "truth is stranger than
fiction," and no one who has perused these pages can feel any
necessity for seeking excitement in the high-wrought pages of
romance. Every subject touched by the author seems invested with a
lively interest; and even dry statistics are made, like steel
beneath the strokes of the flint, to yield sparks calculated to
kindle the mind. In treating of the iron manufacture,--a rather
hard subject, it would seem,--we are told that, every "working day,
fifty millions of nails are made, bought, sold, and used in the
United States;" and, in speaking of the manufacture of cotton, we
are informed that the Merrimack mills of Lowell alone "spin a
thread of sufficient length to belt the world, at the equator, in
two hours."
The work was doubtless intended for the young; and we think it
quite equal, for this object, to any thing that has been produced;
yet it is also suited to the perusal of all classes, especially to
men of business, who find little leisure for reading, and who yet
are unwilling to be left behind in the great march of knowledge and
improvement. _As there is now a strong desire, especially among the
enlightened friends of education in this state, to have the common
schools supplied with suitable books for libraries, we heartily
commend this series to the notice of all who are desirous of
obtaining books for this object. They are unquestionably among the
best that have been prepared for school libraries, being every way
attractive and instructive._
No one can fail to be pleased with the simplicity and elegance of
the style, and with the vein of cheerfulness, humanity, and
morality, which runs through the pages of the volumes. The moral
influence of the work, especially upon the young, cannot fail to be
in the highest degree effective and salutary.
_From the Troy Whig_,
They are written in an easy and graceful style, and are compiled
from the most authentic sources. They will be found highly
attractive to young people of both sexes, and worthy to be read by
persons of mature age.
_From the Albany Advertiser_,
It would be difficult to find any where, in such convenient
compass, so much healthy and palatable food for the youthful mind
as is furnished by Parley's Cabinet Library.
_From the Albany Argus_,
We know of no series of volumes on kindred subjects so good as
these for parents to put into the hands of their children. It is
due not only to the author, who has rendered great service to the
cause of American literature, but to the work itself, and to the
best interests of the youth of our nation, that these volumes
should be scattered all over the land.
_From the New England Puritan_,
We cordially recommend the work to the perusal of all.
_From the Boston Post_,
_The very best work of its class_ is Parley's Cabinet Library. It
combines a vast deal of useful information, conveyed in an
exceedingly interesting style. The beauty of the typographical
execution, the cheapness of the volumes, and the great intrinsic
merit of their contents, must render the work one of general
popularity.
_From the Boston Courier_,
As we have quoted so largely from Mr. Goodrich's work, we ought to
say--what it richly merits--that it is a pleasing and useful
series, and that it is calculated not only to instruct and amuse,
but to cultivate virtuous and patriotic sentiments. With those who
read for mere amusement, it is worthy of attention, for the author
has ingeniously contrived to give truth all the charms of fiction.
_From the Albany Advertiser_,
It ought to be, and no doubt will be, extensively introduced into
schools.
_From the Bay State Democrat_,
The volumes are illustrated with spirited wood engravings, and
printed in Dickinson's neatest style. Altogether, they present
decidedly the most attractive appearance as to matter and form, of
any works we have seen for a long time.
_From the Quincy Aurora_,
Parley's Cabinet Library is a publication of rare excellence. No
writer of the present day invests the themes of which he treats
with livelier interest than the well-known Peter Parley. His pen
imparts to history and biography the charm of romance; while, at
the same time, it unfolds rich and enduring treasures of practical
and useful knowledge.
The animal, the mineral, and vegetable kingdoms of nature present,
beneath his pencil, the attractions of a grand museum. The
publication of his Cabinet Library will accomplish much, in our
opinion, to eradicate the eagerness for fiction which engrosses so
extensively the public mind. The perusal of these volumes will
convince the reader that reality has charms as potent, and far more
satisfying than those of the ideal world. We know of no work,
comprehended within equal limits, capable of affording richer
intellectual banqueting.
_From the Boston Traveller_,
We deem it but a discharge of our duty to our readers, to urge this
valuable series upon their attention. The whole series will cost
but a trifle, yet they may and doubtless will be the deciding means
of insuring success in life to many a youth who shall enjoy the
means of reading them.
_From the Boston Recorder_,
They are written in a pleasing style, and are enlivened by numerous
characteristic anecdotes. The series will form a very valuable
library.
_From the Boston Post_,
It is an admirable publication for the family and school library.
Its topics are interesting and important, and presented in a simple
but effective style.
_From the Boston Atlas_,
Parley's Cabinet Library is worthy of all encouragement. It is
cheap not only in promise, but in fact. It is also calculated to
exercise a wholesome influence. Like every thing from the same
author, it strongly inculcates virtue and religion, and at the same
time it arrays truth in a guise so comely and attractive, that it
is likely to win many votaries of fiction to companionship with it.
There is great need of such works at this time.
BOARD OF EDUCATION, }
_City of Rochester, Sept. 2._ }
Whereas, the Board of Education have examined a series of books
called "Parley's Cabinet Library," now in course of publication by
Samuel G. Goodrich, Esq., (the celebrated Peter Parley,) embracing,
in the course of twenty volumes, the various subjects of history,
biography, geography, the manners and customs of different nations,
the condition of the arts, sciences, &c.; and whereas, this Board
are satisfied that the same are highly useful to the young:
therefore,
Resolved, that we recommend that the same be procured by trustees
for the several school libraries, at the earliest practicable
period. A true copy of the minutes,