ost as much fault
was found with the story-books. It apparently mattered little that the
tables were now turned and British publishers were pirating American
tales as freely and successfully as Thomas and Philadelphia printers had
in former years made use of Newbery's, and Darton and Harvey's, juvenile
novelties in book ware.

In the "Quarterly Review" of 1843, in an article entitled "Books for
Children," the writer found much cause for complaint in regard to
stories then all too conspicuous in bookshops in England. "The same
egregious mistakes," said the critic, "as to the nature of a child's
understanding--the same explanations, which are all but indelicate, and
always profane--seem to pervade all these American mentors; and of a
number by Peter Parley, Abbott, Todd, &c., it matters little which we
take up." "Under the name of Peter Parley," continued the disgruntled
gentleman, after finding only malicious evil in poor Mr. Todd's efforts
to explain religious doctrines, "such a number of juvenile school-books
are current--some greatly altered from the originals and many more by
_adopters_ of _Mr. Goodrich's_ pseudonym--that it becomes difficult to
measure the merits or demerits of the said _magnus parens_, Goodrich."
Liberal quotations followed from "Peter Parley's Farewell," which was
censured as palling to the mind of those familiar with the English
sources from which the facts had been irreverently culled.

The reviewer then passed on to another section of "American
abominations" which "seem to have some claim to popularity since they
are easily sold." "These," continued the anonymous critic, "are works
not of amusement--those we shall touch upon later--but of that
half-and-half description where instruction blows with a side wind....
Accordingly after impatient investigation of an immense number of little
tomes, we are come to the conclusion that they may be briefly
classified--firstly, as containing such information as any child in
average life who can speak plainly is likely to be possessed of; and
secondly, such as when acquired is not worth having."

To this second class of book the Reverend Mr. Abbott's "Rollo Books"
were unhesitatingly consigned. They were regarded as curiosities for
"mere occupation of the eye, and utter stagnation of the thoughts, full
of empty minutiae with all the rules of common sense set aside."

Next the writer considered the style of those Americans who persuaded
shillings from En