society of Richmond, as a whole, now is, or is likely to become, is a question which we shall never have the time or the heart to investigate. The emancipation of its slaves, and the frightful influx of Northern coarseness, will, no doubt, do the work of social deterioration and debasement in Richmond, as well as in all other parts of the South, as surely as night follows the day.

In conclusion, we cordially recommend the little work entitled, 'Richmond During the War', as a readable and interesting production.

5.-DAVIES' ARITHMETICAL SERIES. New York: A. S. Barnes & Burr.

Davies' Primary Arithmetic.

Practical Arithmetic.

University Arithmetic.

RAY'S ARITHMETICAL SERIES. Cincinnati: Sargent, Wilson & Hinkle.

Practical Arithmetic.

Test Examples in Arithmetic.
Higher Arithmetic.

Elements of Written Arithmetic.
Intellectual Arithmetic.

Primary Arithmetic.

Rudiments of Arithmetic.

Intellectual Arithmetic.

First Lessons in Numbers.

FELTER'S ARITHMETICAL SERIES.

Baltimore: Kelly & Piet. 1868.

VENABLE'S ARITHMETICAL SERIES. New York: Richardson & Co. 1868.

Pure and Commercial Arithmetic.

Mental Arithmetic.

WE came home, the other day, with a basket full of arithmetics. Arithmetics in a basket? Yes, a market basket filled with arithmetics evidently made for the market - why not? It is certainly a good thing to have a good market supplied with good articles; and what harm if, on occasion, they be carried in a market basket?

But all these books-almost too much of a good thing!were sent to us for notice in the SOUTHERN REVIEW. What reviewer, however, can do a hundred and one things, and, at the same time, read and examine a hundred and one books? Now, to be honest with our readers, we have not read one of them. As we could not read all, so we resolved to read none; being determined to preserve a strict impartiality as to these candidates for public favor. Still, we intend to make this battalion of books, considered from a military point of view, the subject of a few reflections.

The first reflection which occurs to us is, that we live in 'a progressive age'; and hence the almost innumerable 'progressive series' of school books in different departments of science and letters. Progressive readers; progressive copy-books; progressive arithmetics; progressive all things! Every thing, indeed, seems to be progressive now-a-days, except students. The spirit of progress has, we fear, got out of the minds of our children, and taken up its residence in their school books.

Why, when we were boys-say some forty-five years ago only one arithmetic was put into our hands. If, in the wide world, there was any other arithmetic but one, we were permitted to live and grow in blessed ignorance of the fact. Pike constituted the whole of our progressive series'; which was a series of propositions or principles, and not of books. And this we here solemnly record the fact was all that we ever needed for our own progress; and this progress has been through algebra, geometry, trigonometry, analytical geometry, the differential and integral calculus, the Principia of Newton, &c., &c. That is to say, we have progressed from the first to the last round of the ladder of mathematics, without aid from any elementary arithmetic besides our old precious Pike. Why, then, are we, in this progressive age, afflicted with so many progressive series of arithmetics?

This is a very serious question. It seems to admit of several solutions, more or less probable, if not altogether satisfactory and complete. One is, perhaps, that in this progressive age, there must be progress in every thing. Hence, as there is no great room for progress on the first round of the ladder, so this must be split into three, or four, or five, or six, or seven pieces; and so arranged that the student may progress from one part to another of the same round. Or, in other words, one round is split up, and made into a nice little ladder, along which the feet of the delighted little climber may gradually ascend, from his Primary to his Elements of Arithmetic; from his Elements to his Intellectual Arithmetic; from his Intellectual to his Practical Arithmetic; and from his Practical to his University Arithmetic. Nor is this all; for we sometimes find in the same series a Speller and a Grammar of Arithmetic. Thus does it require four, and sometimes as many as eight, different volumes, in order to complete one of our modern 'progressive series' of arithmetics. Cui bono?

We may well say, Cui bono? For this is a practical, as well as a progressive, age; and we may be sure, that all this division of subjects and multiplication of books, is due to something besides a pure love of science, or abstract delight in the ground rules of arithmetic. Why, then, all this division and multiplication? It has occurred to us, as a possible solution of this question, that this new theory of division and multiplication has been introduced with a view to the practical advantages of addition and subtraction; the great practical advantage, namely, of subtracting from the contents of one pocket, and of adding to the contents of another. We may be greatly deceived; the thought may be very uncharitable; nay, infinitely derogatory to this wonderfully progressive age, in which the old love of money has so entirely given way to the pure love of science; still we can not otherwise begin to comprehend this excessive multiplication and extension of progressive series' of arithmetics, and of other school books. It is certain, that as the delighted student takes each new step in the 'progressive series', or rises from one book to another, some hand is thrust afresh into his pocket. All this may be, in some mysterious way or other, for the benefit of pure science alone; but if it is, the modus operandi is not perfectly clear to our minds. We really fear, on the contrary, that the love of money still occupies some little corner in the hearts of our book makers, as well as of our booksellers, and shows itself, occasionally, in the expansion and multiplication of their 'progressive series.' It is certain, that of all the laws of the Bible, none is so completely observed or fulfilled by these books, as the injunction to 'increase and multipiy.' They may intend to replenish the earth; they certainly do replenish some one's pockets.

We like the series of Professor Venable, not because we have read it, but because it consists of only three books. There may be good reason for a course of two or three volumes. For, as the great majority of pupils will not go beyond the Primary Arithmetic, it is well that they should be able to procure all they need, and no more, in a single cheap volume. We can, then, cheerfully tolerate a series of two or three arithmetics; but a series of six, or seven, or eight volumes, is quite beyond the compass of our charity.

We have, indeed, selected for our own use, Felter's Practical Arithmetic; partly because it is a good book, and partly because it is published in Baltimore. In the last edition of this work,

several errors of the previous edition have been corrected, but not all. These errors, or even greater faults, would occasion but little inconvenience, and might even be productive of good, in the hands of a master of the principles, and of the processes, of arithmetic. But books do not always fall into such hands. The living teacher, who is the master of his work, can make one arithmetic answer the purpose of education nearly as well as another. But as, in some cases, the book does more than the living teacher, for the education of the young; so it is highly desirable that it should be as perfect as possible.

6.- CASH AND CREDIT. By F. M. Fitzhugh. Baltimore: Printed by Sherwood & Co. 1868. Pp. 14.

THIS is a small book on a great subject. But we do not judge of a book, any more than of a man, by its size. John Philpot Curran, when asked, on one occasion, how he felt in a company of men each six feet high, replied, 'like a silver sixpence among a parcel of coppers.' Our author's little book is worth a dozen of its larger contemporaries.

We can not, it is true, subscribe to all of its positions, at least without material qualifications; and some of them, it must be admitted, are sufficiently commonplace. It could hardly have been otherwise. In discussing the great subject of finance, the commonplaces of political economy must, of course, enter into the performance, however small. Yet, after all deductions are made, there is enough of original matter in the book before us, to entitle it to the serious and respectful consideration of every thoughtful mind. Its suggestions are, indeed, food for reflection; and on no subject is reflection more needed, at this present moment, than on the great subject of finance. Some rich man might, it is believed, render his country an essential service, by offering a prize of five hundred dollars for the best essay on the means of improving its present financial condition. We should be happy to publish such a prize essay in the pages of the SOUTHERN REVIEW.

The function of cash is utterly insignificant, as compared with that of credit, in a country of such intense commercial activity as ours. Hence, as credit in some form or other is absolutely indispensable, the only question to be considered is, not whether it be expedient or wise to use credit, but what is the best form it can be made to assume. It is in the discussion of this great question, that the little book before us presents its chief claims to our attention.

"

The author is, it seems to us, more successful in exposing the evils incident to present and past forms of credit, than in suggesting a better one for the future. He discards all bank-notes; because they are bills of credit, which the banks promise to pay on demand; a promise they are unable to perform. This, says he, 'looks less like an absurdity than a case of attempting to obtain money under false pretences'. (p. 7.) Yet, as he himself admits, no one is deceived by such false pretences', as he calls them; for 'every body knows', just as well as the bank itself, that 'this currency, in the last resort, is not convertible'. (p. 7.) Hence no one is deceived; for every one knows that the banks do not pretend to keep on hand a sufficient amount of coin to redeem all their notes, if presented for payment. Banks may, and do, no doubt, frequently abuse the confidence of the community, by swelling and inflating the currency beyond all bounds of reason and moderation; having an eye to their own gains, rather than to the good of society. Hence the terrible crises in the financial condition of the country, (of which our author so bitterly complains,) or the periodical return of seasons of feverish excitement and wild speculations, and corresponding ones of deep depression and gloom. Hence the depreciation of the currency, and the demoralization of the country. Hence, in fine, the fear, the panic, the rush, the suspension, and the tremendous crash. The land is covered with instances of appalling bankruptcies, misery, ruin, and with universal distrust. Then the cry is, Down with the banks! but the question is, what will you put in their place? Our system of banking is, like our system of government, beautiful in theory'; but it does not always work well in practice.

What, then, shall we put in the place of banks, or bank-notes? Government greenbacks? By no means, says our little book; for they, too, are promises to pay on demand, which Uncle Sam, like a hollow bank, has not the least possible intention of performing. Our present currency' of green backs is, says he, 'to speak plainly, a circulation of national lies.' (p. 13.) Great is the pity, indeed, that our money should be 'lies'. If, on the other hand, lies were only money, would we not have a rich Government?

If our author, then, will have neither bank-notes nor greenbacks, what will he have? What sort of currency, or 'form of credit', will he recommend? We shall answer this question in