In fuch conftructions, every thing is accommodated to the understanding and the voice; and the common difficulties in learning to read well, are obviated. When the learner has acquired a habit of reading fuch fentences, with jufinefs and facility, he will readily apply that habit, and the improvements he has made, to fentences more complicated and irregular, and of a conftruction entirely different.

THE language of the pieces chofen for this collection, has been carefully regarded. Purity, propriety, perfpicuity, and, in many inttances, elegance of diction, diftinguish them. They are extracted from the "works of the most correct and elegant writers. From the fources whence the fentiments are drawn, the reader may expect to find them connected and regular, fufficiently important and imprefsive, and divested of every thing that is either trite or eccentric, The frequent perufal of fuch oppofition, naturally tends to infufe a tafte for this fpecies.of excellence; and to produce a habit of thinking, and of compofing, with judgment and accuracy

TIBKYBA,

THAT this collection may also ferve the purpose of promoting piety and virtue, the Compiler has intro

*The Grammatical Student, in his progrefs through this work, will meet with numerous inftances of compofition, in Arict conformity to the rules for promoting perfpicuous aud elegant writing, contained in the Appendix to the Author's English Grammar. By occafionally examining this conformity, he will be confirmed in the utility of thofe rules; and be enabled to apply them with eafe and dexterity.

duced many extracts, which place religion in the moft amiable light; and which recommend a great variety of moral duties, by the excellence of their nature, and the happy effects which they produce. These fubjects are exhibited in a style and manner, which are calculated to arrest the attention of youth; and to make ftrong and durable imprefsions on their minds *.

THE Compiler has been careful to avoid every exprefsion and fentiment, that might gratify a corrupt mind, or, in the leaft degree, offend the eye or ear of innocence. This he conceives to be peculiarly incum bent on every perfon who writes for the benefit of youth. It would, indeed, be a great and happy improvement in education, if no writings were allowed to come under their notice, but fuch as are perfectly innocent; and if, on all proper occafions, they were encouraged to perufe those which tend to infpire a due reverence for virtue, and an abhorrence of vice, as well as to animate them with fentiments of piety and goodness. Such imprefsions deeply engraven on their minds, and connected with all their attainments, could fcarcely fail of attending them through life; and of producing a folidity of principle and character, that would be able to refift the danger arifing from future intercourle with the world.

THE Author has endeavoured to relieve the grave and ferious parts of his collection, by the occafional

* In fome of the pieces, the Compiler has made a few alterations, chiefly verbal, to adapt them the better to the defign of his work.

admifsion of pieces which amufe as well as inftruct. If, however, any of his readers fhould think it contains too great a proportion of the former, it may be fome apology, to obferve that, in the exifting publications defigned for the perufal of young perfons, the preponderance is greatly on the fide of gay and amufing productions. Too much attention may be paid to this medium of improvement. When the imagination, of youth especially, is much entertained, the fober dictates of the understanding are regarded with indifference; and the influence of the good affections, is either feeble, or tranfient. A temperate ufe of fuch entertainment seems therefore requifite, to afford proper scope for the operations of the understanding and the heart.

THE reader will perceive, that the Compiler has been folicitous to recommend to young perfons, the perufal of the facred Scriptures, by interfperfing through his work, fome of the most beautiful and interesting pafsages of thofe invaluable writings. To excite an early taste and veneration for this great rule of life, is a point of fo high importance, as to warrant the attempt to promote it on every proper occafion.

To improve the young mind, and to afford fome affiftance to tutors, in the arduous and important work of education, were the motives which led to this production. If the Author fhould be fo fuccefsful as to accomplish these ends, even in a fmall degree, he will think his time and pains well employed, and himself amply rewarded.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE PRINCIPLES OF GOOD

READING.

To read with propriety is a pleafing and important attainment; productive of improvement both to the underftanding and the heart. It is essential to a complete reader, that he minutely perceive the ideas, and enter into the feelings, of the author whofe fentiments he professes to repeat: for how is it pofsible to reprefent clearly to others, what we have but faint or inaccurate conceptions of ourselves? If there were no other benefits refulting from the art of reading well, than the necefsity it lays us under, of precisely ascertaining the meaning of what we read; and the habit thence acquired, of doing this with facility, both when reading filently and aloud, they would conftitute a fufficient compenfation for all the labour we can heftow upon the fubject. But the pleasure derived to ourselves and others, from a clear communication of ideas and feelings; and the strong and durable impressions made thereby on the minds of the reader and the audience, are confiderations, which give additional importance to the ftudy of this necessary and useful art. The perfect attain

NOTE.

For many of the observations contained in this preliminary tract, the Author is indebted to the writings of Dr. Blair, and to the Encyclopædia Britannica.

ment of it doubtless requires great attention and practice, joined to extraordinary natural powers: but as there are many degrees of excellence in the art, the ftudent whose aims fall short of perfection, will find himself amply reward. ed for every exertion he may think proper to make.

To give rules for the management of the voice in reading, by which the necessary pauses, emphasis, and tones, may be difcovered and put in practice, is not pofsible. After all the directions that can be offered on these points, much will remain to be taught by the living inftructer: much will be attainable by no other means, than the force of example influencing the imitative powers of the learner. Some rules and principles on these heads will, however, be found useful, to prevent erroneous and vicious modes of utterance; to give the young reader fome taste of the fubject; and to afsift him in acquiring a juft and accurate mode of delivery. The obfervations which we have to make, for thefe purposes, may be comprised under the following heads:

PROPER LOUDNESS OF VOICE; DISTINCTNESS; SLOWNESS; PROPRIETY QF PRONUNCIATION; EMPHASIS; TONES; PAUSES; and MODE OF READING VERSE.

SECTION I.

Proper Loudness of Voice.

THE first attention of every person who reads to others, doubtless, must be, to make himself be heard by all those to whom he reads. He muft endeavour to fill with his voice the space occupied by the company. This power of voice, it may be thought, is wholly a natural talent. It is, in a good measure, the gift of nature; but it may receive confiderable assistance from art. Much depends, for this pur