Page images
PDF
EPUB

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW-YORK, TO WIT :

KE it remembered, That on the fifth day of July, in the forty-seventh year of the Independence of the United States of America, A. D. 1822. E. & E. HOSFORD, of the said district, have deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof they claim as proprietors, in the words following, to wit: "Murray's English Reader; or pieces in prose and poetry, selected from the best writers, designed to as sist young persons to read with propriety and effect; to improva their language and sentiments and to inculcate some of the most important principles of piety and virtue, with a few preliminary observations on the principles of good reading, improv ed by the addition or a concordant and synonymising vocabulary; consisting of about fifteen hundred of the most important words, contained in this work The words are arranged in columns, and are placed over the sections, respectively, from which they are selected; and are divided, defined and pronounced, according to the principles of John Walker. The words in the vocabulary, and their correspondent words in the sections, are numbered with figures of reference. Walker's Pronouncing Key which governs the vocabulary, is prefixed to this work. Words can have no definite idea attached to them when by themselves; it is the situation and tract in the sentence which determine their precise meaning;-Dr. Johnson. By JEREMIAH GOODRICH."

In conformity to the act of Congress of the United States, entitled "An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authours and proprietors of such copies, during the tithes therein entioned;" and also, to the act, entitled "An act supplementary to an Act, titled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authours and proprietors of such copies during the time therein mentioned,' and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of Designing, Engraving and Etching historical and other prints."

BICHARD R. LANSING, Clerk of

the Northern District of N. York.

By misprision of the Clerk, the names of E. & E. Hosford, were inserted in the record and certificate, instead of Jeremiah Goodrich

TABLE OF THE SIMPLE AND DIPTHONGAL VOWELS
REFERRED TO BY THE FIGURES OVER THE LETTERS
IN THE VOCABULARY PLACED BEFORE EACH SECTION
OF THIS WORK.

1. à. The long slender English a, as in fate, på por, &c.

2. &. The long Italian a, as in får, få ther, pa på, nam nå.

3. &. The broad German a, as in fail, wall, wa ter.

4. 4. The short sound of the Italian a, as in fåt, måt, mår ry.

1. e. The long e, as in mè, hère, mè tre, mè dium.

2. The short e, as in inêt, lêt, get.

1. 1. The long dipthongal i, as in pino, ti tle.

2. 1. The short simple i, as in pin, tit tle.

1. d. The long open o, as in no, note, nò tice.

2. 8. The long close o, as in move, prove.

3. 8. The long broad o, as in no:, för, dr; like the broad a. 4. 8. The short broad o, as in not, hot, gôt.

1. d. The long dipthongal u, as in tone, Ch pid

9. 6. The short simple u, as in tab, cap, sop.

3. d. The middle or obtuse u, as in hill, full, påll.

1. The long broad &, and the short 1, as in 8.

[ocr errors]

4. The long broad d, and the middle obtuse ů, as in thỏô, pôdag.

1

IMPROVED EDITION OF THE ENGLISII READER.

An attempt to improve a work stamped with the name of the immortal Murray and clothed with universal patronage, may be deemed the height of presumption. But the Author has not handled the reader irreverently; for he has left it in precisely the same shape in which he found it: except that a few pages are added to its size by placing a vocabulary over each section, giving the definition and true pronunciation of the most important words, agreeably to the principles of the celebrated John Walker. Walker's orthography is also given to the work for the purpose of uniformity. Mr. Murray says, that the English Reader is " designed to assist young persons to read with propriety and effect: and to improve their language and sentiments." To every one, who can read Murray's title page, it is evident, that young persons can not read the following work with propriety and effect, without a perfect knowledge of the words of which it is composed. Neither can their language and sentiments be mach improved, by prating over a work, without regard either to pronunciation or definition. As there can be no diversity of opinion on this point, the only question is, what is the most convenient and expeditious method of acquiring a necesɛary knowledge of words? All will agree, that the best method of becoming acquainted with words, is to consult them, as they occur in the writings of the best authors, But the drudgery of looking out words in a full dictionary, (which must be repeated as often as the learner may forget them,) added to the loss of time and the expense of having dictionaries tumbled to pieces in the hands of children, calls loudly for improvement. The publick are now invited to deterinine, whether a pronouncing vocabulary placed at the head of each section, is not a more de sirable mode of acquisition, than to ramble over Walker's full work, for every unknown word that may occur.

Sikes

By the aid of this vocabulary, teachers can furnish their pupils with lessons in spelling, pronunciation, and definition, to be committed to memory, previously to reading the sectons, from which the words are selected. The letters of reference will guide the pupil in the application of the definitions. Thus a

key is hung over each section, inviting the young reader to unlock the door, and view the treasure, which Mr Murray has pre pared for nin.

3-7-55 miss.

Should any material errour be discovered in the vocabulary, by any one, who will communicate the proper corrections to the authour, the favour will be received with gratitude,

[ocr errors]

4005

..115.

(RECAP

PREFACE

MANY selections of excellent matter have been made for the benefit ef young persons. Performances of this kind are of so great utility, that fresh productions of them, and new attempts to improve the young mind, will searcoly be deemed superfluous, if the writer makes his compilation instructive and interesting, end sufficiently distinct from others.

The present work, as the title expresses, aims at the attainment of three objects: To improve youth in the art of reading; to meliorate their language and sentiments; and to inculcate some of the most important principles of piety and virtue.

The pieces selected, not only give exercise to a great variety of emotions, and the correspondent tones and variations of voice, but contain sentences and members of sentences, which are diversified, proportioned, and pointed with accuracy. Exercises of this nature are, it is presumed, well calculated to teach youth to read with propriety and effect. A selection of sentences, in which va riety and proportion, with exact punctuation, have been carefully observed, in all their parts, as well as with respect to one another, wih probably have a much greater ef, in properly teaching the art of reading, than is commonly imag ued. In such constructions, 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 such sentences, with justice and facility, he will readily apply that habit, and the improvements he has made, to sentences more complicated and irregular, and of a construction entirely dif ferent.

The language of the pieces chosen for this collection, has been carefully regarded. Purity, propriety, perspicuity, and, in many instances, elegance of dietion, distinguish them. They are extracted from the works of the most correct » and elegant writers. From the sources whence the sentiments are drawn, the reader may expect to find them connected and regular, sufficiently insportant and impressive, and divested of every thing that is either trite or eccentrickThe frequent perusal of such composition, naturally tends to infuse a taste for this species of excellence; and to produce a habit of thinking and of composing, with judgment and accuracy.*

That this collection may also serve the purpose of promoting piety and vir tue, the Compiler has introduced many extracts, which place religion in the most amiable light; and which recommend a great variety of moral duties, by the excellence of their nature, and the happy effects they produce. These sub

*The learner, in his progress through this voluve and the Sequel to it, will meet with numerous instances of composition in strict conformity to the rule for promoting perspicuous and elegant writing, contained in the Appendix to the Authour's English Grammar. By occasionally examining this conformity, be will be confirmed in the utility of those rules; and be enabled to apply them with ease and dexterity.

It is proper further to observe, that the Reader and the Sequel, besides teach Ing to read accurately, and inculcating many important sentiments, may ba considered as auxiliaries to the Authon's English Grammar; as practical illus trations of the principles and rules contained in that work.

[ocr errors]

jects are exhibited in a style and manner, which are calculated to arrest t attention of youth; and to make strong and durable impressions on their minds, The Compiler has been careful 13 avoid every expression and sentiment tha might gratify a corrupt mind, or in the least degree, offend the eye or ear of in. nocence. Th's he conceives to be peculiarly incumbent on every person, 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 such as are perfectly innocent; and if, on all proper occasions, they were encouraged to peruse those which tend to inspire a due reverence for virtue, and an abhorrence of vice, as well as to animate them with sentiments of piety and goodness. Such impressions deeply engraven on their minds, and connected with all their attainments, could scarcely fail of attending them through life; and of producing a solidity of principle and character, that would be able to resist the danger arising from future intercourse with the world.

The Authour has endeavoured to relieve the grave and serious parts of his collection, by the occasional admission of pieces, which amuse as well as instruct. If, however, any of his readers should think it contains too great a proportion of the former, it may be some apology to observe, that in the exist ing publications designed for the perusal of young persons, the preponderance is greatly on the side of gay and amusing productions. Too much attention may be paid to this medium of improvement. When the imagination, of youth especially, is much entertained, the sober dictates of the understanding are regarded with indifference; and the influence of good affections is either feeble or transient. A temperate use of such entertainment seems therefore requisite, to afford proper scope for the operations of the understanding and the heart.

The reader will perceive, that the Compiler has been solicitous to recommend to young persons, the perusal of the sacred Scriptures, by interspersing through bis work, some of the most beautiful and interesting passages of those invalu able writings. To excite an early taste and veneration for this great rule of life, is a point of so high importance, as to warrant the attempt to promote it in every proper occasion.

To improve the young mind and to afford some assistance to tutors, in the arduous and important work of education, were the motives which led to this production. If the Authour should be so successful as to accomplish these ends, even in a small degree, he will think that his time and pains have been well employed; and will deem himself amply rewarded.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

shan, the act of imparting
Au-de-ence, dw'-je-ense, the act of
hearing, persons collected to hear
r Doubt-less, doût'-lês, unquestions-
by

s Ex-tra-or-di-na-ry, ĉks-trōr'-dè-når-è̟.
eminent, unusual
Ex-cei-lence, ék ́-së1-lênse, state of
excelling, eminence

i Re-sult, re-zult', to follow as a consey

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors]

Art, art, science, skii

Am-ply. Am'-plè, largely, liberally
Re-ward, re-ward' a recompense, to

recompense, to repay

Ex-er-tion, égz-ér ́-skin, the act of exerting, effort

Nec-es-sur-y, nés'-ses-sêr-rè, needful,
requisite

Pause, påwz, a stop, suspense
Em-pha-sis, êm'-fa-sis, a remarkable
stress laid upon a word,
At-tain-a-ble, At-tane'-a-bl, that may
be obtained

Im-i-ta-tive, Im'-è-tà-tiv, inclined to

copy

Ut-ter-ance, it'-tår-Anse, pronuncia

tion

e Ac-cu-rate, åk'-ku-råte, exact, with ont defect

f Com-prise, kom-prize', to contain include

OBSERVATIONS ON THE PRINCIPLES OF GOOD READING.

TO read with propriety" is a pleasing and important attainment productived of improvement both to the understanding, and the heart. It is essential to a complete reader, that he minutely perceive the ideas, and enter into the feelings of the author, whose sentiments he professes to repeat: for how is it possible to represent clearly to others, what we have but faint or inaccurates conceptions of ourselves? If there were no other ben, fits resultingi from the art of reading well, than the necessity it lays us under, of precisely ascertaining the meaning of what we read; and the

NOTE-For many of the observations contained in this preliminary tract, the author is indebted to the writings of Dr. Blair, and to the Encyclopedia

Britannica.

« EelmineJätka »