RECOMMENDATIONS.

From the Hon. Nathan Weston, LL. D., late Chief Justice of Maine.

I HAVE read with attention and interest the first fifteen chapters of the "Manual of Morals," being the portion out of press when presented to my inspection. The style is remarkably lucid and perspicuous. The principles of moral obligation, as derived from the law of nature, and illustrated by the light "which is from above," are made easy to the apprehension of youth, and cannot fail to contribute greatly to their improvement in a branch of education which has been too much neglected.

Augusta, Me., Sept. 8, 1848.

From the Rev. Benjamin Tappan, D. D., Augusta, Me.

THE design of this book is one of high importance. Instruc tion in morals should occupy a very prominent place in the education of the young, and it is well to put into their hands, in a simple and attractive form, "a Manual" for this purpose. Such a manual the author of this work has, with a good degree of success, attempted to provide. So far as I can judge of its merits from that portion of it which I have had the opportunity of examining, I am prepared to recommend it, as a valu able addition to American school books. To a judicious, faithful instructor, it will prove a useful assistant, in teaching that fear of God and keeping of his commandments, with which, above all other things, it concerns the young to be acquainted.

Sept. 21, 1848.

From Rev. Emerson Davis, D. D., Member of the Massachusetts Board of Education.

I HAVE read with no small degree of interest the sheets of the Manual of Morals, and cheerfully recommend it to school committees and teachers. It inculcates a system of sound morality, based on the Bible, and contains nothing sectarian. If the teachers of our common schools will make themselves familiar with the principles taught in this manual, and endeavor to infuse them into the minds of their pupils, they

will do a good work. It is just the kind of teaching which I suppose the statute requires the teacher to give, and as much as we ought to require in schools composed of children whose parents belong to different religious sects.

Instruction purely religious may be better left to parents, clergymen, and Sabbath-school teachers. Such a book is a great desideratum, and I hope it may be introduced into all our schools.

Westfield, Sept. 18, 1848.

BRITISH

From the Rev. Mr. Judd Augusta, Me.

THE undersigned cordially recommends this manual to the attention of the public. The want of such a text-book is most sensibly felt, and the work before us seems admirably calculated to meet that want. Without embarrassing the scholar with refined speculation, it treats of what is immediately practicable; and while none will question the soundness of its principles, many will wonder that what is so plain has been so long overlooked. If simplicity in arithmetic be desirable, how much more is it needed in moral science. The author who shall introduce to the common school, and the heart of the community, just ideas of what is true and right, what is humane and courteous, what is becoming and beautiful, we regard as a public benefactor.

September, 1848.

SYLVESTER JUDD, JR.

From the Rev. Jonas Burnham, Principal of the Cony Female Academy, Augusta, Me.

THIS is an excellent work, and it appears at the right time. We have good books on most subjects essential to education, but have felt great inconvenience from want of one on Morals, well adapted to interest and instruct the majority of the pupils in our academies and public schools. This work is prepared with that design, and is admirably fitted to its object. Its style is lucid, intelligible, and attractive. The great principles of the science are happily illustrated, and impressively enforced. I shall immediately adopt it; and I doubt not, that parents and teachers, on examination, will welcome it as an auxiliary in the accomplishment of their great work.

Sept. 23, 1848.

"The Child is Father of the Man."

"Tis a fond. yet a fearful thing to rule
O'er the opening mind in the village school;
Like wax ye can mould it in the form ye will,
What ye write on the tablet remains there still,
And an angel's work is not more high,
Than aiding to form one's destiny."

STEREOTYPE EDITION, REVISED.

BOSTON:

PUBLISHED BY JOHN P. JEWETT.
ANDOVER: WM. H. WARDWELL.

1849.

Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1848, by

WILLIAM H. WARDWELL,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

MUS

STEREOTYPED BY

HOBART & ROBBINS;

NEW ENGLAND TYPE AND STEREOTYPE FOUNDERY.

PREFACE.

"Some

WHILE most sciences have stooped to children, and condescended to become instructors of the little ones, that of Morals -one of the most important—has kept a distant reserve, and wrapped itself in cloudy abstractions. work on Morals for Common Schools," says the Hon. Horace Mann, "which shall excite the sympathies as well as inform the intellect; which shall make children love virtue as well as understand what it is, is the greatest desideratum of our schools." The following pages are an attempt to fulfil this want. This work is designed to be placed in the hands of every scholar of our public schools, as soon as they are able to understand it, and to be studied like any other text-book. The execution is not, indeed, in all respects, equal to the author's desire; but it is hoped that even the feeblest contribution to this most neglected part of juvenile instruction will not be unacceptable.

We cannot overrate the importance of having the children of our country thoroughly indoctrinated in the principles, and duly imbued with the spirit, of morality.

The author has endeavored to present the elements of the subject, in a manner sufficiently plain to be apprehended by children who have reached an age capable of understanding any truth. The aim has been to illustrate the general principles by familiar examples, and to bring to the test of immutable rectitude many of the common habits and smaller acts of daily life. It is desirable that teachers should explain and apply these principles still further, by a reference to those little