Report of the Commissioner of Education Made to the Secretary of the Interior for the Year ... with Accompanying Papers

EXTRACTS.

THE UNITED STATES,

"This was once the most prosperous country in the world. In the meantime both English and American ships went to Africa and brought away many of those poor heathen negroes and sold them for slaves. Some people said it was wrong and asked the King of England to stop it. He replied that he knew it was wrong; but that slave trade brought much money into his treasury, and it should continue.' But both countries afterwards did pass laws to stop this trade. In a few years, the Northern States finding their climate too cold for the negro to be profitable, sold them to the people living farther south. Then the Northern States passed laws to forbid any person owning slaves in their borders.

"Then the Northern people began to preach, to lecture, and to write about the sin of slavery. The money for which they had sold their slaves was now partly spent in trying to persuade the Southern States to send their slaves back to Africa. And when the Territories were settled they were not willing for any of them to become slaveholding. * * *

"In the year 1860 the Abolitionists became strong enough to elect one of their men for Pre-ident. * * * So the Southern States seceded.

"This country possesses many ships, las fine cities and towns, many railroads, steamboats, canals, manufactures, etc. The people are ingenious and enterprising, and are noted for their tact in 'driving a bargain.' They are refined and intelligent on all subjects but that of negro slavery; on this they are mad" (pp. 13, 14).

SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY.

"This is a great country! The Yankees thought to starve us out when they sent their ships to guard our seaport towns. But we have learned to make many things; to do without others. * * * The Southern people are noted for being high-minded and courteous" (p. 14).

The trust of the Southern people in the Almighty is brought out in the following questions and answers, which were to serve as a review of the reading selections of the book: "Q. What kind of men should we elect to govern our country?

"A. Good and wise men.

**Q. Why?

"A. 'When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when the wicked beareth rule the people mourn.'

"Q. Where do you learn this?

"A. From the Bible.

"Q. Will God curse a nation because of wicked rulers?

"A. He says he will."

The first edition, 1863, stopped with review lesson No. 10 (pp. 38-39). In the 1864 edition 18 additional lessons were added, making 28 in all. That the tone of the first edition had not been warlike enough to give general satisfaction is shown by the following extract from the second:

"Q. Has the Confederate States any commerce?

"A. A fine inland commerce, and bids fair, sometime, to have a grand commerce on the high seas.

"Q. What is the present drawback to our trade?

"A. An unlawful Blockade by the miserable and hellish Yankee Nation" (p. 47).

It is believed that the two editions of this work represent the only geographies prepared, printed, and published in the Confederate States.

The history of the maps has been told me by Rev. Dr. L. Branson, the surviving publisher, as follows:

He says that he succeeded in finding, in one of the printing offices of the city, an old plate of a map of the United States. This plate was cut into sections and those illustrating the Southern States were used. In the first edition (1863) these maps appear in black only. In the 1984 edition the State boundaries are colored. This was done by hand after the maps had been printed.

Collation: Bastard title, 11.; folding map; text, 1 1.; preface, v-vi; contents, vii-viii; text, 1–223. Size, 74x41. Maps and many illustrations.

Copies seen: Education.

This book is announced as the "forerunner" of a series. It seems to have been prepared in the Confederate States. Two sections are devoted to these States, pp. 40-53 and 180-197, the first being more historical and descriptive, the latter more economic in character. The intimate knowledge displayed in these sections would indicate the work of a native. It is evident, however, that the printing was done abroad. The maps have the name of George Philip & Son, London and Liverpool.

[A book of geographical questions.]

W. G. Clark & Co., Mobile, Ala., announce on Dec. 1, 1864, on the cover to Chaudron's second reader that a work of this character "adapted to any Atlas, and taking the place of the primary and intermediate geographies" was "in preparation."

VII. DICTIONARIES.

1864.

The palmetto dictionary; in which | the meaning of every word is clearly explained and the sound of every syllable distinctly shown; | exhibiting the principles of a pure and correct pronunciation. | [Cut of palmetto tree.] | A new edition, carefully revised, corrected and enlarged. | Richmond, Va.: J. W. Randolph | 1864.

Collation: Title, 11.; preface, 1 1., with errata on verso; advertisement, dated Aug. 25, 1831, and advertisement to present edition, dated Jan. 1817, 11., pp. iii-iv; introduction, v-xx; text, 1-730 +11.; port. of John Walker as frontispiece. Size: 61x41.

Copies seen: Education.

Although this book bears a Richmond imprint, it is evident from its size, from the paper and type employed, that it was not printed there. If such had been the case, it would not have been necessary to call attention to the difference between English and Southern pronunciation; no rules would have been given to the Irish and Scotch "in order to obtain a just pronunciation of English," and the reference to Walker, the author, would have been different.

The work is unmistakably English. The copy used shows that the English title-page was cut out, and a new one, together with the preface inserted in its place. It is probable that this title-page and preface, as well as the binding, was all done in England.

The preface is as follows:

"This Dictionary is presented to the people of the Southern States as the basis of a future one, which may embody the words, pronunciation, and meanings that are adopted and used by our best speakers and writers. And whereas no one person is competent to determine these things for the whole nation, the attention of teachers, professors, and all who desire to promote elegance and accuracy in the use of language among the rising generation, is respectfully invited to this book, and they are requested to mark down its errors, omissions, and redundancies, and send their notes and emendations to the Publisher, who will not only gladly avail himself of them, but cheerfully remunerate any whose labors. may be productive of considerable advantage to the work.

"If this request is generally heeded, materials may be collected for a National Dictionary."

VIII. BOOKS ON FOREIGN LANGUAGES.

1862.

Collation: Title 11.; dedication to Jefferson Davis, inserted, 1 1., with names of persons helping in the series, etc., on verso; preface, iii-vi (with errata on p. vi); contents, vii-viii; text 1-246. Size: 71x44 in.

Copies seen: Education.

This book was not originally a Confederate work. Its connection with the Confederacy was brought about by the dedication which was inserted after the publication and intended to increase its circulation in the Southern States:

"To his Excellency Jefferson Davis, President of C. S. A. This series of school books, selected from the best and most approved texts and authorities of modern usage, and prepared and adapted to the wants and institutions of the Southern States, is respectfully dedicated by yours, etc., K. J. Stewart, London, June 15th, 1863."

The verso of this dedication has:

"To the Hon. John Perkins, M. C., La. G. W. Randolph, late Sec. of War, Dr. John Prosser Tabb, Va. Prof. W. Gilham, Va. Mil. Institute, Rev. D. Lee Powel, and others, who have aided in originating and prosecuting this work, this series of school books is respectfully dedicated.

"WILMINGTON, N. C. Trübner & Co., 60, Paternoster Row, London. J. W. Randolph, Richmond, Va."

Deutches A. B. C., und Erstes Lesebuch, Richmond, 1863.

16°. Wall paper cover.

Henkel's Auction Catalogue, No. 825, April 19, 1899.

[Lefebvre's French Grammar.]

The Whig, Dec. 5, 1862, announced that Mr. Lefebvre, who had long had a female school in Richmond, was to undertake a "series" of schoolbooks. The first was to be a French Grammar. The other works, "such as Mr. L.'s experience as a teacher may suggest to him to be needed in our primary schools."

Collation: Title, 1 1., with advertisement on verso; text, 3–143.

Size: 5 by 31 in.

Copies seen: Education; Congress; Weeks.

First Latin book.

Greensboro: Sterling, Campbell & Albright. 186[3].

Announced on cover to Smythe's elementary grammar, published in 1863.

"Containing grammatical introduction, with exercises for translation and composition."

Collation: Errata, 1 l.; title, 1 1.; preface, iii-iv; text, 5–304.

Size: 61 by 4 in.

Copies seen: Weeks.

Copyrighted in 1862, but preface dated May 10, 1863.

The preface says that the object of the work was to supply "a practical first book in Latin, suited to the capacity of beginners, and yet full enough for a book of reference throughout a course of preparation for college. * * * The almost insuperable difficulties in the way of publication render it impossible to present the work in the most desirable style of binding and typography; but the author is assured that such defects as result from the terrible struggle through which our nation is passing will be readily overlooked. *

"The work, imperfect as the author is conscious that it is, is co.mended to the teachers of the Confederate States as an auxiliary, however feeble, in establishing Southern literary and intellectual independence."

By Wm.

Cæsar's commentaries on the Gallie war, with a vocabulary and notes. Bingham, A. M., of the Bingham School. Greensboro, N. C.: Sterling, Campbell & Albright. 1864.

Reviewed in Land We Love, III, p. 178 (June, 1867). No copy seen.

Announced on cover to stereotype edition of Our Own Third Reader. Prof. C. L. Raper, in his The Church and Private Schools in North Carolina, says this was actually published in December, 1863, "with explanatory notes and a complete vocabulary.”

First Latin book. By C. W. Smythe. [Raleigh?: 1864?. ]

In a letter to Dr. Wiley, dated July 27, 1864, Mr. Smythe says that the printing of this work was then being carried on by "Hufham," of the Biblical Recorder, in Raleigh.

IX. SUNDAY SCHOOL AND OTHER RELIGIOUS BOOKS.

1861.

[Pocket edition of the New Testament. Nashville: Graves, Marks & Co. 1861.]

Mentioned in De Bow, December, 1861, p. 559.

The Whig, March 4, 1862, says that the Bible had been printed in the South, presumably during the war period.

A Confederate edition of the New Testament was printed in Atlanta, Ga., by J. J. Toon; the stitching, binding, etc., done in Raleigh, N. C., under the superintendence of Rev. W. J. W. Crowder. Whig, September 9, 1862.

Copies of these editions bear the dates of 1862 and 1863.

1862.

Calvary catechism. Macon, Ga.: John W. Burke, agent. 1862.

Announced on verso of title-page to Child's Scripture Question Book as "just published."

Sunday-school bell. Macon, Ga.: J. W. Burke, agent. 1862.

Announced as "just published" on the verso of title-page of Child's Scripture QuestionBook, 1862.

Child's Scripture question book. | Southern edition. | Macon, Ga.: | John W. Burke, agent. | 1862.

Collation: Title, 1 1., with announcement on verso; text, 3-194.

Size: 5 by 3 in.

Copies seen: Weeks.

Size: 44 by 34 in.

Copies seen: Congress.

Catechism of the Wesleyan Methodists. Compiled and published by order of the British conference. Greensboro, N. C.: 1863.