FRENCH CORRESPONDENCE

Vol. I.— COillLERCIAL CORRESPONDENCE. By A. Ragoiï, Frencli Master at the City of London Collège. Price 3s.

During Fouk successive Years the pupils of Mons. Ragon, from the City of London Collège, hâve obtained the First Frexch Prizes (of Xô) from the Society of Arts ; and latcly his pupils had, ont of the 125 Certifioates given by the Society for French, 56 awarded to them, with the first and second prizes, and also the first piize to Ladies, and none but his pupils had the 7 first-class Commercial Certiflcates that were granted. In thèse Examinations the Membera of upwards of ISO Institutions ia ail parts of the Kingdom compete.

/« A^ril, 1878.

Vol. IL— GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE. By H. J. V. de Candolb, Ph.D., M. A., French Master at Clifton Collège. 1 vol., small 8vo., cloth. Price 28.

" This class book, which is by M. Henri J. V. De Candole, French master at CUfton Collège, is intended to supply what has been sorely needed by the French student — accurate and complète information in the modem methods of gênerai French correspondence. In the majority of class books the spaoe devoted to this branch of the languago iB necessarily small, and many important features are omitted ; while in those books in which more particular attention is given to 'correspondence' the antiquated style, referred to by M. Candole in his préface, is so far used that the student is not sure of his ground and runs a risk, in the ordinary correspondence of modem life, of treating his friends to an example of the semi-classic style of the seventeenth century. In FrenclB oorrespondence it is of the highest importance that the instruction of the class book should keep pace with the time, and in this respect M. Candole's work is as unique as it is valuable. It is what the author describes as a requirement of the time, ' a work on French letter writing worthy of being consulted by an Enghsh student seeMng information on points of étiquette or conceming the usual forms of everyday correspondence.' Before entering upon the subject proper of French correspondence M. Candole gives Bome hints on letter writing, gênerai étiquette, the hire of cabs, apartmenta, servants, &c. Thèse hints, though inserted as a kind of introduction, are by no means the least important part of the work, and will be found extremely useful, more especiaUy to those who réside in France for any length of time, and require an insight into the rulss of society touching births, marriages, and deaths, the leaving of cards, visita, house portera' and servants' New Year's gifts, and other matters. The correspondence is divided into two parts, each containing three sub-divisions. By means of this plan French letter writing of the nineteenth century is treated in an exhaustive and intelligible way. Lettres d'invitation, de Nouvel An, de faire part ; lettres d'envoi, d'excuses, de remerctments, d'offres, de refus, an recommandation et de réponse s ; lettres de famille, de politesse, de conseils, de reproches ; lettrée de voyage ; lettres littéraires ; demandes, annonces, ventes, &c. , are taken in order and illustrated by about 150 spécimens. Of Its kind the work is excellent, and, as a class book, will no doubt acqnire a yery extenslTe popularity." — Western Daily Press.