152 EvKNTs oF HIs IIFE. it from one and the same book. Again, authors of text-books on certain subjects such as Grammar, instead of exercising their own judgment in fixing the scope and limits of their books, are sometimes found vying with once another in encumbering them with minute rules to enable students to meet the unreasonable demands of examiners. And thus students have their memories often overburdened with matters of detail of rare application in practice, to the neglect of broad general principles of much greater practical value. 4. Authors have sometimes becn heard to say in justification of their imperfect performances, that when books no botter than theirs have already found a place in the authorized list of text-books, there is no reason why they should not have the same indulgence shewn to them. But it should be borne in mind that because twenty or thirty years ago, owing to the paucity of text-books on any subject, an indifferent book was approved, that is no reason why the same course should be followed now. If from necessity or inadvertence a wrong thing has been done, it is to be set right, not by repeating the wrong but by remedying it; and steps are being taken in that direction by the revision of the existing list of authorized text-books. 5. I quite appreciate the feelings of disappointed authors, who may naturally complain if there is any inequality in the distribution of official patronage. But, at the same time, in the interests of education and
