QF MURRAY'S NGLISH GRAMMAR, WITH AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING ERCISES IN ORTHOGRAPHY, IN PARSING, INTRODUCTION. THE Compiler of "English Grammar, adap ted 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. To give these arguments the greatest weight, the book is neatly bound, and printed with a fair letter, and on good paper. A SLIGHT inspection of the manner in which the work is executed, will show that it is not intended to supply the place, or supercede the use of the original Grammar. If, however, the seachers 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 endeavoured 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 connexion 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 com pilation, 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 arrangement correct. This was one object which the Compiler had in view, when he A 2 |