Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-09-15
To Parents, ua;dianso & Teachers.
JUST PUBLISHED,
aE CO7T0M IND S7,ET.A RI,
ALEXANDRIA,,
M A v O RS

: UNIVERSAL SPELLING -BOOK.
Accompanied by progressive series of Easy
and Familiar Lessons.
Intended as an Introduction to the first Ele.
nents ofthe English Language
THE AUTHORS PREFACE.
k70TWIf HST AEDING the vaf number Of initia
tory books orehildren in the Nursry, which have
teen wr,ten within thee few years by per(ons Of d
tinguifed abilities and fanioned with their names,
still be allowed thar there has appeared
introduction Reading, for the general ue of ehoos,
that RITES above the level CT the vulgar, though popular
compilations sof Dyehe Dilwurts and Fennine The
(HperRruelure has been attended to with cdulcus
aud writers Of the fit en,nencs have contributed to
rearthe Fabric OF learning, while the foundation has al
mott invariably been fuered to be aid by the mott taa
efs aud ignorant wnrknen. The conf gucnee has fire..
quen.y been as might be expected front iuch proee
dare the rae has been cd at the very commence
n,ent and has often proved more difficult to
error, thanit would have colt pairs 20 plan, originally
the plsncipIes of rruta.
For the neglect VIC have alluded to- j. would BE sa.
possible produce any consistent reaon. Perhaps the
pnde Of acknowledged literature could not ssocp an
occupation rcpntcd mean that OF compiling Spci
hing Book Yet to lay the first stone uf noble ediee
has ever been task delegated TO the HONORABLE
hands and COW The first seeds of uelu learning in
the naceat mind is employment that cannot be dis
graceful TO tae most ustrious talents, Bishop Lowth
wrote an excellent Fnglh grammar, and feveral men
OF rank IN literature have hepetted the public by similar
predictions, yet il is in vain chat grammars written.
If has learned read s vau that the subii
csc di'covercs made in any or eience. ii the
generality of the world prccluded from prting by
them, for want of presous instrueti in the first pn
oiples with WHICH they areconnected.
The Editor of the following shees is fully convinced
of the fodity Of his ferences and the justice o! his
marks in whatever Light his prefer, undertaking may
he rr}td to
the y no, perhaps, have no higher preensions than
hmfef he cannot think that labor dihonorabe, which
is 70 rnanesey beneficial the riing generation nor
has he auy reaon fear, but that the candid and judi
eiou will appreciate his motives and his production as
they dsicrye, Our fcntimsnts and conduct are more
iuHaeneed by carly Impressions than many seem wilag
to allow. The stream, win always fow tinctared with
the nature of lis feurce. A Just maxim, humane prm
ciplc, germ, Of knowledge carly mbihcd will be per-
mfncns to the last. he first books we read can Me-
be forgotten, the principles they insucate, era
aicated Hence, is thc proiecuon Of this WORKS care
has been taken make every lesson essay, as tar
the nature and intentn ohe plan would allow tend to
eeneufsful pnrpofe osnernaon instruction Even IA
the easy progressive lessons where tense was a'r
ed to tngle sylabe is hoped lonething will be found
TO peae and GO improve will this be Thought dlf
cult tread the Steps Of Barbaule, Iaufres an
Edgeworth, Trimmer, a Berquin and co aeeommo.
date their abors the benevolent design in hand only
acquired little taste and Judgment which any pefson
long conyerspt with ctneation and books ought to POI
: feis. s4l9
Ia ore the Editor feeineined to believe, that this
manual for early youth will be found paeh better adapt
ed for the purpofe than any ha has preceded it, and in
conecueaee he anticipates kind patronage OF Teach
in general Is probably will tend to Facilitate thes
ahsur by furnifng iuhjeas agreeable to the pa
pill than the dy insi.y of mott books of the kind; and
il cannot failto rebound their credit o, BY giving
youth an opportunity Of gaining asueh general know
ledge as could be crowded vthn the limits preferibed.
/ Indeed il was. rerark Of the puhGfher, Ito whom
Brth youth are under angular obligations for furnia-
ing them with many valuable opportunities of improve
ment) when he earncfly preatd this work the Ed
tors attention That Spelling Book frequently eona
~ putsa bible into his hands eoie qpently ought
contain as great variety of ufeul Il prize
viii permit. The compilation has been formed Rrfaly
on this principle.
| WVodstoek, 0es. 2eth, 1902.