SCHOOL BOOKS PUBLISHED BY JENKS, PALMER & CO.

PARLEY'S HISTORIES FOR COMMON SCHOOLS. THE FIRST BOOK OF HISTORY, OR HISTORY ON THE BASIS OF GEOGRAPHY; comprehending the Western Hemisphere, with sixty Engravings, and sixteen Maps of the different sections of the United States and countries of the Western Hemisphere, from steel plates; revised edition, brought down to present time. THE SECOND BOOK OF HISTORY; comprehending the Modern History of Europe, Asia, Africa, &c,, illustrated with fifty Engravings and sixteen Maps, from steel plates, of the different countries; revised edition, brought down to present time. THE THIRD BOOK OF HISTORY; by the same author, and on the same plan; comprehending Ancient History, in connection with Ancient Geography; with Maps and Engravings.

In preparing this series of Histories, two prominent things have been kept constantly in view, in the first place, to make it useful and in the second, to make it entertaining. A familiar style has been adopted, and great care taken to introduce precise dates. Engravings have been inserted for illustration, and for fixing certain ideas in the pupil's memory. Each book is furnished with questions on both the History and Geography of the countries described, and a chronological table is added, recapitulating the principal events noticed in the work.

The first edition of this (First Book) work was published several years ago, since which time it has run through nearly two hundred editions, and acquired a very extensive circulation. The maps have been redrawn and newly engraved, and this edition may be considered as adapted to the existing condition of the political Geography of North and South America, the general views having been enlarged so as to embrace the leading events of interest, not before noticed.

The Second Book has recently been carefully revised, by a judicious practical teacher, bringing the work down to the present time, and it is believed to be the only School History of the Eastern Hemisphere brought down to so late a date.

The revised edition of these books, it is hoped, will be found still more worthy of the unexampled encouragement heretofore extended to the series.

with

EMERSON'S ARITHMETIC, IN THREE PARTS. PART I. is a small book, designed for children from five to eight years of age, lessons illustrated by cuts and unit marks. It is extensively and successfully used. PART II. contains a complete system of Mental and Written Arithmetic, sufficiently extensive for all the common purposes of business, and is a standard book for Common Schools, and most satisfactory in practically preparing pupils.

PART III. is designed for advanced scholars. It comprises a synthetic view of the science of numbers, a copious development of the higher operations, and an extensive range of commercial information. Scholars who are to be educated for the business of the counting-room, or the duties of any public office, as well as those who are to pursue a full course of liberal education, will find this book suited to their purpose. QUESTIONS On this work, and a KEY, for teachers, are published separately.

BAILEY'S ALGEBRA.

FIRST LESSONS IN ALGEBRA, designed for the use of Academies and Common Schools. By E. Bailey, Late Principal of the Young Ladies' High School, Boston. A KEY TO THE FIRST LESSONS IN ALGEBRA, containing the Answers to the Questions, and Solutions of all the difficult Problems.

This is an elementary treatise on the inductive plan. It is especially intended for the use of Common Schools, and Teachers not acquainted with the science.

EMERSON'S SPELLING BOOKS.

THE NATIONAL SPELLING BOOK, and Pronouncing Tutor, on an improved Plan; with Progressive Reading Lessons. By B. D. EMERSON. Revised Edition. THE INTRODUCTION TO THE NATIONAL SPELLING BOOK, on the plan of the above Work, for the use of the Youngest Classes, and for Primary Schools; by the same author.

These works are highly recommended by several distinguished Clergymen, by Presidents and Professors of some of our Colleges, and by various Teachers.

EMERSON'S "WATTS ON THE MIND."

THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE MIND, by. ISAAC WATTS, D. D. With Corrections, Questions, and Supplement. by Joseph Emerson. Improved Edition. MUSIC BOOKS FOR COMMON SCHOOLS.

THE LITTLE SONGSTER: An Elementary Singing Book. By G. J. WEBB. THE COMMON SCHOOL SONGSTER: a Sequel to the above. By the same. Published under the sanction of the Boston Academy of Music.

THE VOCAL CLASS BOOK, for Young Ladies' Schools and Music Classes. By Published under the same sanction.

the same.

SCHOOL COMMITTEES, MERCHANTS, and COUNTRY TRADERS generally, can be supplied with the various SCHOOL and other Books, and STATIONERY, on satis

factory terms, by JENKS, PALMER & CO., BOSTON.

SSS NUMBER FIFTY-EIGHT.

THE
(OLD)

FARMER'S ALMANACK,

CALCULATED ON A NEW AND IMPROVED PLAN, FOR THE YEAR OF OUR LORD

1850;

9

Being 2d after Bissextile or Leap Year, and (until July 4) 74th of Am. Independence. Fitted for the City of Boston, but will answer for all the New England States. Containing, besides the large number of Astronomical Calculations, and the Farmer's Calendar for every month in the year, as great a variety as any other Almanack of

NEW, USEFUL, AND ENTERTAINING MATTER.

Oh, there is no time-or of the year,
Or of man's calendar of life and death,
Of birth or burial- but the Farmer's heart
May go to Nature's garland for a book,
And write his Almanack in living buds.

BOSTON:

Churton.

PUBLISHED AND SOLD BY JENKS, PALMER & CO.

Sold, also, by most Booksellers and Traders throughout New England. [Entered, according to act of Congress, in the year 1849, by J. H. Jenks and G. W. Palmer, in the

Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.]

THE LAST HALF CENTURY IN THE UNITED STATES.

TO PATRONS AND CORRESPONDENTS.

We have again the pleasure of making our annual appearance before our kind friends, and of presenting the Old Farmer's Almanac, for 1850. As the hand of time marks this year as a half century, upon his dial plate, we have thought, "with heart poor in thanks, but rich in thankfulness," rather than fill our page with rendering formal acknowledgments to those friends who have kindly assisted us to keep up the interest of our work so long, and whose favors we gratefully feel, and hope to deserve and receive in future years, we would present a glance at events in the United States since the year 1800. Let us see in what our progress and advantages consist.

In this half century the Individual has been better fed. Our varied latitudes and Agriculture now give us the native and naturalized produce of a world, rich, abundant and cheap. Our Commerce brings us all growing things of every clime, profuse and at little price, to our very doors. The luxuries preceding this century are now necessaries of life, and there is no privileged class in eatables in our favored land.

The individual has become better clad. Our Manufactures surpass the fabrics of fifty years since, at one eighth the cost, and give cloth to the daily laborer that formerly the richest could hardly have compassed. There is no such thing as native rags in the United States, but as the punishment of a man's own wrong.

All are better lodged. In the broad circle of our land there is hardly an uncomfortable house inhabited by a sober, native-born American. The furniture of the humble now more than equals, in convenience and quantity, that of the majority of the rich in 1799. Within a few years, taste is making Domestic Architecture beautiful and appropriate; more in our villages and country towns even than in our cities, where buildings are less frequently changed. The gardens and front yards of our whole spreading population have made the desert bloom as the rose.

The individual has been better taught. Three months' schooling, in winter, at realing, writing, and arithmetic-truancy, freezing, mending pens and ruling writing-books deducted was the most ever stickled for by the patriotism of the last age. Now, ten months in a year of good schools, good text-books, school-houses and appliances, teachers taught for the work, apparatus, cabinets and school libraries, -all these are fast spreading over our land. A Public School System is a part of the government; and a free school is becoming an American birthright. There is a Sahbath-school for every Sunday; professional schools; schools for teachers; the army, the navy-though, unfortunately as yet, none for Agriculture, which represents eighty per cent. of our whole population; none for commerce, for the arts, for manufactures. These we begin to talk about, and their claims may soon obtain state and private funds to establish them.

Now, too, is not only the individual's positive good cared for, but his misery is lightened and removed. Insurance against Fire, and Wreck, and of Life, is now ample in our country. Public Asylums for the Blind and the Deaf, and for the Insane, and Hospitals for the disabled and the ailing, where chloroform literally smiles at the extremity of pain.

And Society, too, has gone on in the last fifty years. Associations, Societies, Clubs, assist their fellows in sickness and sorrow-in their necessities and comforts, amusements, and luxuries. Go back over the increase of facilities for Business in our United States, in only Currency, and Intercourse, and Transportation — all the growth of the last fifty years and you will be astonished.

We would have you to look at a list of some of the points of improvement. You will find instances of everything that can possibly make up individual, social, national, or human progress. With Steamboats, Railroads, Telegraphs, Ether, Improved Implements of Machinery, and of Agriculture, of almost every kind. Temperance movements, &c. &c., our country, this century, has far surpassed whole previous Centuries. All the other ages of the world together cannot show such a list. It will afford subjects for many an hour of thought, conversation, inquiry and reading. And now, how does the aggregate of all that has been done here, in the last half century, tell in our Nation? To this nation it has been indeed gain. In 1800, there were thirteen states; in 1850, there are thirty states. In 1800, we had 1,000,000 square miles of territory; in 1850, we have 3,000,000. In 1800, we had 5,309,758 people; in 1850, we have 24,000.000.

We will, then, say no more, Friends and Patrons, old and new, than to bid you God speed for the next fifty years, and quote the words of the Editor used heretofore, in that time should we or our readers see the last of earth, may we receive the reward of the pure in heart, may our sins be forgiven us, and may our virtues be held in fond remembrance.

Atore @. Thomas...