Griffiii's Series of Southern School Books. 7 



Sir— I have examined your late publication, the "Southern First Class 

 Book," and find it a judicious and well arranged compilation, admirably ad- 

 apted to Southern schools. It is a work that has been nnich needed at the 

 South, and I have no doubt that its circulation will be rapid and extensive 



J. O'KIEFFE, 

 Principal of the Plumb Street Seminary, Macon. 



From the Augusta ConHilutionalift, Dec. 21, 1839. 

 •' Ti: ^' lern First Class Hook," is the title of a new work we linve just 

 receiv. . the publisher, M M. .Mason, A. M., Principal of tlie Vincville 



A' li is well spoken of and highly recommended, by a numbtr of 



on; ,;istinguished citizens, and from the little we have seen and read of 



it, we are led to the belief that it is just such a compilation as is needed in 

 our different Schools. The work is handsomely got up, and printed on good 

 paper. 



From the Savannah Georgian, Dec. 31, 18-iO. 



But the other day the frequent inquiry was made, " Who reads an Amer- 

 ican book?" It will soon be asked, who does not? Our Irving has estab- 

 lished the literary fame of his country in every land, for mere than one spe- 

 cies of compa'-ition, while the pulpit, the bar, and the Halls of the National 

 and State Legislature evince in bold relief the fact, that the School master 

 has been abroad in our happy land. Tiie Notts, the Wirts, the Jeffersons, 

 the Madisons, the Wildes, the Grimkes, and other bright names in their pe- 

 cuUar walks, are inscribed, not on the annals of one State alone, but shme 

 on the tablets of their country's history. The Statesman, and his pulpit 

 eulogist, the scholar, and the barrister, the philanthropist and the pcef, all 

 contribute in their respective spheres, to elevate the moral tone o{ a nation's 

 principles : and it is pleasant to behold their eloquent miiuls pressed as in- 

 sirunienis in the trreat work of training the aspirations of jouth in that path, 

 which, when i i without deviation, leads to the lofty temple of science. 



The volum< us is the firs*, of a series of Souihern School Books, 



by Mr. Benjamin F. Griffin, of .Macon, in this State, and has 

 ^c<~.. --'■ re the public about two vears. In that period it has passed tliroiigh 

 three editions, and now enlarged, it has assumed a permanent form. The 

 compiler of this interesting volume (Rev M. .M. .Ma-Jon,) has performed well 

 his task, and by his judicious selectior, has rendered a service to teachers and 

 their pupils, which will be duly appreciated. 



We rejoice to find that his labors are already being rewarded in the estima- 

 tion placed upon his Southern First Class B*iok, which, wherever it is known, 

 is winning its way to public favor. We believe that it will not be confined to 

 Southern School?, but will soon be found in those of he North, for the 

 lucid minds of their orators and poets, essentially contribute to enrich its 

 pages. 



Although designed more esnecially for the atmosphere of the South, a Na- 

 tional tone pervades so generally the selections, as to make it acceptable to all 

 sections — for what American youth is there who does not desire an acquain- 

 tance with the gified minds of those American Patriot*, who, though removed 

 by distance, still breathe in the language o( Washington, the scniimcnts his 

 cnatacicr inculcated. 



In these pages this fellowship is broucht about and encournged, to be ex- 

 tended as the 'eisure of an ambitious mind will allow, and the communion 

 thus effected ' : the young and those who have preceded them, cannot 



fail to exert a ,al influence upon the actions of the former, when they 



amve at that epoch when they shall be called upon to assume the mantles oi 

 their predecessors. 



That this work will meet increasing patronage at the South, we cannot for 

 a moment doubt, and it is a source of pride to the Southern reader, that 

 although rich in its selections, there are not a few minds, even in our own 

 Stale, whose * s have not been extracted from their caskctp, to gild the 



pavf><t of the i ,'ublication. The fact shows the fertile field whence the 



p ' ' had to cull his flowers for the advancement in science of the rising 

 g... . . a. 



C 



