THIS book, like those which have preceded it, is meant to be both a real Reading Book and a guide and help in teaching Geography. It is in great measure an adaptation of Part III. in the original series; and, in this, as in the former book, my chief aim has been to give a clear general view of the physical structure of England and Wales. A great many details are passed over, as being better suited to short text-books than to a Reading Book. Yet, the field for this Standard being narrowed by the New Code to England and Wales, a good many pages have been set free, which were occupied with Scotland and Ireland. I have thus been enabled to go much more fully into the political divisions, counties, county towns, &c., and venture to hope that the additional matter will be regarded by teachers as an improvement. In another respect, also, I have made considerable changes. The water-partings and the county divisions are taken in one view, so as to avoid the frequent recurrence to the same places. Longer experience convinces me that, for the purpose of teaching Geography, the more orderly arrangement is, on the whole, to be preferred. The removal of Scotland and Ireland robs this book of a good many of its 'sweet morsels' of illustrative extracts. But I hope those which remain will be enough to relieve the dryness of geographical details. |