obviate objections; and to render the study of grammar both easy and interesting. This edition contains also a new and enlarged system of parsing; copious lists of nouns arranged according to their gender and number; and many notes and observations, which serve to extend, or to explain, particular rules and positions *.

The writer is sensible that, after all his endeavours to elucidate the principles of the work, there are few of the divisions, arrangements, definitions, or rules, against which critical ingenuity cannot devise plausible objections. The subject is attended with so much intricacy, and admits of views so various, that it was not possible to render every part of it unexceptionable; or to accommodate the work, in all respects, to the opinions and prepossessions of every grammarian and teacher. If the author has adopted that system which, on the whole, is best suited to the nature of the subject, and conformable to the sentiments of the most judicious grammarians; if his reasonings and illustrations, respecting particular points, are founded on just principles, and the peculiarities of the English language; he has, perhaps, done all that could reasonably be expected in a work of this nature; and he may warrantably indulge a hope, that the book will be still more extensively approved and circulated.

The author conceives that the occasional strictures, dispersed through the book, and intended to illustrate and support a number of important grammatical points, will not, to young persons of ingenuity, appear to be dry and useless discussions. He is persuaded that, by such persons, they will be read with attention. And he presumes that these strictures will gratify their curiosity, stimulate application, and give solidity and permanence to their grammatical knowledge.

Holdgate, near York, 1804.

The Twenty-third edition of the present work contains references, under the particular rules, to the correspondent parts of The Exercises and The Key. By this means, the student may readily consult these volumes, for a more extensive illustration of the rules and principles of the grammar. See the Advertisement to the Twelfth edition of the Key to the Exercises, at page 220 of that volume.

The reader is referred to the OCTAVO GRAMMAR, for a still more extended view and elucidation of many parts of the subject.

CHAP. 2.

СНАР. 3.

Of the nature of the letters, and of

: : :

a perfect alphabet. :

2. General observations on the sounds

of the letters. ::: :: :

3. The nature of articulation explained.

Of syllables, and the rules for

arranging them. : : : :

Of words in general, and the

rules for spelling them. : :

PART II.

-ETYMOLOGY.

A general view of the parts of

Page.

CHAP. 1.

CHAP. 5.

1. Of the nature of adjectives, and the

degrees of comparison.

: : :

56

2. Remarks on the subject of com-

parison. : : : : : : : : : 59

Of pronouns.

:

::: ::

:

95

:

99

: :

108

111

and force.

8. The conjugation of regular verbs.

9. Observations on passive verbs.

10. Of irregular verbs. : : : : : :

11. Of defective verbs; and of the dif

ferent ways in which verbs are

Of conjunctions. :

Of interjections. : :

SECT. 1. Of the various ways in which words

are derived from one another.

: 130

2. A sketch of the steps, by which the

English language has risen to its

present state of refinement,

: : 134

PART III.

-SYNTAX.

:

Of the syntax of the article.

Of the syntax of the noun.

Of several nouns joined by copulatives.

Of nouns connected by disjunctives.

: 166

Page.

147

Of nouns of multitude. : : : : : : : : :

Of one noun governing another in the possessive

case. : : : :: : : : : : : : : : 169

Of the syntax of the pronoun.

:

148

153

Of pronouns agreeing with their antecedents.
Of the relative being nominative to the verb. :
Of the relative preceded by nominatives of dif-
: : : : : : 155

ferent persons.

: : : :

Of the syntax of the adjective. :
Of the syntax of the verb.

: : : : 156

175

Of the verb's agreement with the nominative case. 139

Of verbs active requiring the objective case. : :

Of one verb governing another in the infinitive

Of the syntax of interjections. : : : : : 152

Of comparisons by the conjunction than or as. 206

Directions respecting the ellipsis.

General rule of syntax. :

Directions for parsing. :

:

: : :

:

-PROSODY.

: : : 207

: : 212

:

:

: 215

PART IV.-

CHAP. 1.

Of pronunciation. : :

: 224

RULES AND OBSERVATIONS FOR PROMOTING PERSPICUITY

AND ACCURACY IN WRITING.

PART I.

Of perspicuity and accuracy of expression, with respect to

Of perspicuity and accuracy of expression, with respect to

the construction of sentences.

Of the clearness of a sentence. 287

Of the unity of a sentence. : 293

Of the strength of a sentence.

СНАР. 1.

CHAP. 2.

CHAP. 3.

: 297