Messrs OLIVER AND BOYD are desirous of bringing under the notice of those interested in Education the Series of Elementary Works adapted to the requirements of the New Code, which they are in course of publishing. These are not hasty productions, but the result of much thought and care, and they have been prepared by Practical Men of eminence in their respective departments.

I. READING.

The preparation of this Series has been undertaken by Mr JAMES COLVILLE, M.A., English Master, Glasgow Academy; formerly English Master in George Watson's College-Schools, Lauriston, Edinburgh, one of the Educational Institutions of the Merchant Company.

In the PRIMER the vowel sounds are presented in an easy and natural manner, being in every case exemplified by real words rather than by arbitrary syllables, and arranged in Rhyming Groups. The lessons are composed of sentences woven into Narratives, and Hieroglyphic Lessons have been introduced for the purpose of making the work of revisal more varied and interesting.

In the FIRST BOOK the narrative form has been preserved throughout, and the lessons, while incidentally supplying considerable information, are mainly intended to enable the child to overcome the mechanical difficulties of reading. They have therefore been made as light and attractive as possible; many, Elliptical, and, as a new feature, several Alliterative and Hieroglyphic, lessons have been constructed. Easy lessons are also given in Script for the reading and writing of Manuscript.

In the SECOND BOOK a variety of interesting matter has been simplified by the syllabification of difficult words and the grouping together of common affixes. A novel feature is the introduction of lessons on the Tenses of Verbs. Useful information is imparted on common objects and animals, with lessons inculcating duty and honour. In Dictation a large proportion of the matter is shown in Script; while the Exercises appended to these, direct increased attention to the subjects presented, and furnish plenty of school-work.

In the THIRD BOOK, as the child will now have acquired considerable fluency in easy reading, a varied selection has been

Oliver and Boyd's New Code Class-Books.

made from authors that have long been favourites with the young. In the Dictation all the difficulties in spelling monosyllables and easy dissyllables have been anticipated, and the Exercises, which are partly in Script, have been constructed so as to foster the habit of observing words and their distinctions.

The FOURTH BOOK contains poetry of a descriptive and emotional character, as well as prose extracts of considerable length. Several attractive Selections for Recitation have been introduced to encourage Tasteful Reading, and supply material for Dictation and Home Exercises. With a view to develop the habit of observing differences in the Form and Meaning of Words, such as are suggestive have been selected, and placed, along with their meaning or contrasts, at the head of the lessons in which they occur. At the end of the book will be found lists of difficult Monosyllables and Dissyllables, most of which are re-introduced in Dictation Exercises, containing useful information about words and things. These lists have been prepared in order to teach pronunciation as well as spelling.

The FIFTH BOOK of the Series contains, in addition to attractive and instructive Extracts for general reading, a set of Lessons designed to awaken an interest in Natural History. All the Lessons are headed by Lists of Words with their Meanings, and, in addition, by Equivocal Words, with their different significations, both being intended to afford practice in Sentencemaking, as well as to explain the text. As an aid in Home Preparation, much information has been given in the form of Notes, explanatory of facts or allusions occurring in the Lessons. An extensive series of Exercises, printed in italic, throughout the book, combine an Examination on the subject-matter of the Lessons with practice in Dictation and Composition. The special Poetical Readings, begun in the Fourth Book, are resumed in the Fifth, and the graduated series of Word-contrasts and Irregularities in Spelling are completed.

The Lessons in the SIXTH BOOK, completing the Series, have been arranged in well-defined Groups, illustrative of the most interesting forms of Literature. Though they have been divided into two parts, it is intended that the teacher should alternate the Prose with the Poetical Lessons at his discretion. In Part II. will be found several Long Poems, both descriptive and narrative, which are of the highest excellence, and well adapted for close and continuous study. The Dramatic Extracts which conclude this part, embrace some of the finest passages in Shakespeare's plays. The Notes to the Lessons, it is hoped, not only explain every difficulty presented, but also supply a [Continued at end of Book.