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INTRODUCTION.

THE

HE Compiler of " English Grammar, adapted to the different Classes of Learners," having been frequently solicited to publish an Abridgment of that work, for the use of children commencing their grammatical studies, he hopes that the epitome which he now offers to the public, will be found useful and satisfactory.

His chief view in presenting the book in this form, is, to preserve the larger work from being torn and defaced by the younger scholars, in their first study of the general outline which it prescribes; and, consequently, to render their application to each part both new and inviting. If a small volume is better adapted to the taste of children than a large one; and more readily engages their attention, from the apparent shortness of the road they have to travel, the Abridgment will thence derive additional recommendations.

A SLIGHT inspection of the manner in which the work is executed, will show that it is not intended to supply the place or supersede the use, of the original Grammar. If, however, the teachers of such children as can devote but a small part of their time to this study, should think proper to make use of it, they will not, it is imagined, find it more defective than abridgments commonly are. It exhibits a general scheme of the subjects of Grammar; and contains

definitions and rules, which the Compiler has endeav oured to render as exact, concise, and intelligible, as the nature of the subject would admit.

THE tutors who may adopt this abridgment, merely as an introduction to the larger Grammar, will perceive in it a material advantage, which other short works do not possess; namely, that the progress of their pupils will be accelerated, and the pleasure of study increased, when they find themselves advanced to a grammar, which exactly pursues the plan of the book they have studied; and which does not perplex them with new definitions, and discordant views of the subject. The scholars also, who, in other seminaries may be confined to this epitome, will be more readily invited afterwards to pursue the study of Grammar, when they perceive, from the intimate connection of the books, the facility with which they may improve themselves in the art.

Ir may justly be doubted, whether there is any ground for objection to the following compilation, on account of the additional cost it will occasion. The preservation of the larger Grammar, by using the Abridgment, may, in most instances, make amends. for the charge of the latter. But were this not the case, it is hoped the period has passed away, in which the important business of education was, too often, regulated or influenced by a parsimonious economy.

THE Compiler presumes that no objection can properly be made to the phraseology, from an idea that, in books of this kind, the language should be brought down to the level of what is familiar to children. It is indeed indispensable, that our words and phrases should, without requiring much attention and explanation, be intelligible to young persons; but it will scarcely be controverted, that it is better to lead them forward, and improve their language, by proper

examples, than to exhibit such as will confirm them in a feeble and puerile mode of expression. Children have language, as well as other things, to learn and cultivate; and if good models are set before them, instruction and diligence will soon make them understood, and habit will render them familiar and pleasing. Perhaps there is no method by which this advantage may, in general, be more readily and effectually produced, than by accustoming children to commit to memory, sentences in which the words are properly chosen, and the construction and arrangeThis was one object which the Compiler had in view, when he composed the Grammar of which this is an epitome; and he hopes that he has not altogether failed in his endeavours to attain it. -But on this point, or on any other part of the work, it belongs not to him to determine; the whole must be referred to the decision of the impartial and judicious reader.

ment correct.

Holdgate, near York, 1797.

A 2

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE Ninth edition of this work has had an accession of eighteen pages of new matter; comprising exercises in parsing, in orthography, and in punctua tion. The exercises in parsing have not only been very considerably augmented; they have also been moulded into a new form and arrangement; which the author hopes will facilitate to young persons the acquisition of this fundamental part of grammatical knowledge.*

An Abridgment must necessarily be concise, and it will, in some points, be obscure. Those teachers, therefore, who do not make use of the author's larger grammar, in their schools, will find an advantage by consulting it themselves. Many of the rules and positions are, in that work, supported and illustrated by particular disquisitions: and the connexion of the whole system is clearly exhibited. The Sixteenth edition of the Grammar has, in these respects, receixed considerable improvements.

Holdgate, 1803.

*The Eleventh Edition has been improved, by inserting the irregular verbs; a list of nouns arranged according to their gender; and by many other articles correspondent to the latest improvements in the larger grammer.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

ENG

NGLISH GRAMMAR is the art of speaking and writing the English language with propriety.

It is divided into four parts, viz. ORTHOGRAPHY, ETYMOLOGY, SYNTAX, and PROSODY.

ORTHOGRAPHY.

LETTERS.

An articulate sound, is the sound of the human voice, formed by the organs of speech.

Orthography teaches the nature and powers of letters, and the just method of spelling words.

A letter is the first principie, or least part, of a word.

The letters of the English language, called the English Alphabet, are twenty-six in number,