DIFFERENT CLASSES OF LEARN WITH AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING RULES AND OBSERVATIONS FOR ASSISTING THE MORE ADVANCED STUDE TO WRITE WITH PERSPICUITY AND ACCURACY. : "They who are learning to compose and arrange their sentences wi idered, little can be expected from a new compilation, a careful selection of the most useful matter, and some of improvement in the mode of adapting it to the unding, and the gradual progress of learners. In these resomething, perhaps, may yet be done, for the ease and age of young persons. Doks designed for the instruction of youth, there is a mebe observed, between treating the subject in so extend minute a manner, as to embarrass and confuse their by offering too much at once for their comprehension; n the other hand, conducting it by such short and gene-* ecepts and observations, as convey to them no clear and e information. A distribution of the parts, which is eiefective or irregular, has also a tendency to perplex the understanding, and to retard its knowledge of the prinof literature. A distinct general view, or outline, of all ssential parts of the study in which they are engaged; a al and judicious supply of this outline; and a due arrangeof the divisions, according to their natural order and conn, appear to be among the best means of enlightening the of youth, and of facilitating their acquisition of knowledge. author of this work, at the same time that he has endeaed to avoid a plan, which may be too concise or too extendefective in its parts or irregular in their disposition, has ed to render his subject sufficiently easy, intelligible, and rehensive. He does not presume to have completely atd these objects. How far he has succeeded in the attempt, wherein he has failed, must be referred to the determination te judicious and candid reader. HE method which he has adopted, of exhibiting the per janee in characters of different signs will he truste he con_ t that extend or diversify the general ideá, or that serv planations, are contained in the smaller letter: these chief of them, will be perused by the student to the g advantage, if postponed till the general system be com The use of notes and observations, in the common and de manner, at the bottom of the page, would not, it is im be so likely to attract the perusal of youth, or admit of ple and regular an illustration, as a continued and uniforr of the several subjects. In adopting this mode, care ha taken to adjust it so that the whole may be perused in nected progress, or the part contained in the larger cha read in order by itself. Many of the notes and observati intended, not only to explain the subjects, and to ille them, by comparative views of the grammar of other lang and of the various sentiments of English grammarians; b to invite the ingenious student to inquiry and reflection, prompt to a more enlarged, critical, and philosophical res WITH respect to the definitions and rules, it may not proper more particularly to observe, that in selectin forming them, it has been the author's aim to render th exact and comprehensive, and, at the same time, as i gible to young minds, as the nature of the subject, and th ficulties attending it, would admit. He presumes that the also calculated to be readily committed to memory, and retained. For this purpose, he has been solicitous to s terms that are smooth and voluble; to proportion the bers of the sentences to one another; to avoid protracte riods; and to give the whole definition or rule, as much har of expression as he could devise. FROM the sentiment generally admitted, that a proper s tion of faulty composition is more instructive to the y grammarian, than any rules and examples of propriety rials selected from the writings of others, it is scarcely -y to apologize for the use which the Compiler has made predecessors' labours; or for omitting to insert their From the alterations which have been frequently made entiments and the language, to suit the connexion, and to hem to the particular purposes for which they are introand, in many instances, from the uncertainty to whom ssages originally belonged, the insertion of names could be made with propriety. But if this could have been Ily done, a work of this nature would derive no advantage , equal to the inconvenience of crowding the pages with tition of names and references. It is, however, proper _nowledge, in general terms, that the authors to whom ammatical part of this compilation is principally indebted materials, are Harris, Johnson, Lowth, Priestley, Beatheridan, Walker, and Coote. E Rules and Observations respecting Perspicuity, &c. con1 in the Appendix, and which are, chiefly, extracted from 'ritings of Blair and Campbell, will, it is presumed, form a er addition to the Grammar. The subjects are very nearly ed; and the study of perspicuity and accuracy in writing, ars naturally to follow that of Grammar. A competent aintance with the principles of both, will prepare and ify the students, for prosecuting those additional improve ts in language, to which they may be properly directed. N the utility and importance of the study of Grammar, and principles of Composition, much might be advanced, for the Duragement of persons in early life to apply themselves his branch of learning; but as the limits of this Introducwill not allow of many observations on the subiect. a |