Читать книгу The Battles of the World or, cyclopedia of battles, sieges, and important military events онлайн

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It has been said that Canada was neither a military nor a literary colony. The events of the last few weeks fully proves to the contrary, regarding her military ardor. Her sons nobly responded to the government call; and had necessity required, as fair and fully equipped an army would have trod the battle-field as ever stood arrayed before an enemy;—and these sons of hers were scions of all stocks—from the son of the learnèd divine or lawyer, to the peasant’s only boy. As regards her literary fame she has produced works which will compare favorably with sister colonies, and may rank side by side with the Mother Country. To refute the assertion, too, may be here remarked, what an agent for some of the largest publishers both of England and the United States said not long ago; “In the last three months he had sold twenty complete copies of one of the largest and best Encyclopædias, and nearly double that number in parts,” added to the hundreds of other publications which are being scattered broadcast over the country, prove that the Canadians are cultivating their minds as well as their “broad acres.” For my own individual part, I can bear ample testimony to the generous patronage given to my publications. The first, published some years ago was rapidly sold. The second issued, was accepted by the unanimous voice and vote of the Council of Public Instruction as the standard School Reader for Lower Canada, and received the approval of the Government. The whole edition of the third, issued last Christmas, was sold in two weeks. The present work bids fair to receive as large if not a larger circulation.