vi 



PREFACE. 



vegetable, and mineral kingdoms have undergone careful classification ; 

 numerous inventions have opened fresh subjects of interest for inquiring 

 minds — s^eam-engines, locomotives, steam-ships, railways, telegraphs, photo- 

 graphy, the stereoscope, the electric light, submarine cables, and a hundred 

 other ncble achievements of science, have to be explained to the rising 

 generation, and even to those of riper years. Wood engraving is now an 

 established art; printing has been both improved and cheapened; instead 

 of learning the dead languages, people now look for living truths, or care 

 for Latin chiefly as a key to classical nomenclatures. The work now offered 

 to the public is designed to be, in its advanced day, what the "Visible 

 World" of Comenius was to the people of two centuries ago. That it will 

 be successful in a degree proportionate to the increase of knowledge, the 

 growth of population, and the universal desire for instruction, the Author 

 entertains not the slightest doubt. The first pages give a rapid view of 

 the earth and its principal phenomena, with the motive of attracting the 

 attention of the learner to matters that will follow. Let the Parent or 

 Teacher carefully peruse the following pages, and judge of the effect likely to 

 be produced upon an inquiring mind by the method of teaching adopted. 

 The work will be found equally adapted for the school-room and the fireside, 

 for the mechanic's evening, the servant's spare hour, and the assistant's day 

 of " early closing." These lessons will place the reader in possession of 

 thousands of interesting facts, giving a general acquaintance ivith the great 

 heauties and wonders of Nature, and the various theories which make up the 

 sum of human knowledge. 



The accompanying Testimonials from eminent Divines of various deno- 

 minations, Professors of the Sciences, Professional Teachers, and Friends 

 of Education, will be a sufficient assurance to Parents and Teachers that 

 the work is worthy of their fullest confidence, as an Elementary Work 

 tor those who are the ebjects of their tender care. 



