Vlll PBEFA.CE 



and coloured, would amuse the pupil, by showing him how he 

 feels and breathes ; how the grain of corn germinates ; how 

 the trunk of the oak-tree is developed ; or by showing him iron 

 and copper ores, and telling him how brass and steel are made, 

 &c., &c., all subjects the application of which will be met with 

 at every step in the ordinary course of life. 



The first instruction for the child cannot be designed to teach 

 many things, but ought to succeed in instilling into his mind 

 the love of study, and to lead him to reflect. It is therefore 

 necessary that while teaching him, we should also amuse and 

 interest him, show him the value of knowledge, and improve 

 his mind by awakening his intelligence. 



The results of such a study are easy to foresee. The mind 

 of the child is accustomed to compare objects with each other, 

 and he becomes more exact in his appreciation of different 

 things, his reason is developed, and is especially raised by 

 the instinctive admiration which he feels for all the wonders 

 of Creation, as he learns to know all their perfection and 

 admirable order. 



To make our work as practically useful as possible, we have 

 made use of the observations of young children scarcely able 

 to read, who have thus aided us, as it were, in the preparation 

 of the book. When a word was too technical for them to 

 understand easily, we have been obliged to change it for a 

 common word, or to give a clear explanation ; but we have 

 also availed ourselves of the assistance of learned professors, 

 who have kindly undertaken to revise all the diagrams in 

 detail, and to whom the scrupulous fidelity of the representa- 

 tions is due. 



We are then confident of having produced a work which will 

 be understood by the ignorant, for whom it is intended ; and 

 the encouragement of professors of the highest standing gives 

 us the assurance that it will be appreciated by the learned. 



The execution of the work is based upon the following 

 principles, which we believe to be incontrovertible : 



