Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-06-20
TIE AUTHORS PREFAcE.

AIOTWITHSTANDINC the VAT number ef ;n;,
IN tory books for children in the Nutiery which bv.
written within thefe few years by pcr!oas CT di:
tinguihed abilities End fauctiored WIZ. thei, n,,c. -
nusr still be allowed, tht there has tot Appeared on.
introduction to Reading for the general ue Of iehoo
that RITES above the level Of the vulgar III ugh popular
compilations Of Dyehe, DlWcrth and Ieti,ies. ~
fuperrnesure has been attertcd to with fe, Us
and writer's of the 6rt emilencc have costributsd -
rear the fabric OF learning, While thu ioundstisn has Il.
icit invariably been iuered to be laid by tho mo-. t,e
!s and !gnarant worka.en. The confqurnce has ire
quenty bcsn, as might be expected from u.h nr,ce
dare the cate mas beenv tiated the very Commence.
nlent and it has often proved mere difficult to ren.
errer, than it would haze eot pains to pa,t orieaa
the principles o. truth.
For the neglect we have alluded to, it wo.!d he ny.
possible produce any consistent reaion Perhaps ID,
pside Of acknowledged eraeurs could net stotp to an
occupation reputed SO mean, that of compiling Spet
ling Book Yet to lay the first st9ae If note eds,e
has ever been task delegated to the most honorable
hands, and to tow the first seeds Of uelu learning in
ahe naeent miRd, is employment that caunot be c
graceful to the most lusttious taccts. Bishop Low,h
Wrote an excellent EDgh grammar, and .leye:al zen
Of rank in literature have benefit ed the public by similar
productions; yet it is in vain that craHaars are written
no one has laarned to read. VAN has The subim
fsr cieoyeries are made iii any teence il 5he
generality OF the world preeued iron pr fling by
oiples with which they are connected,
Ire Editor CT the following Alters is fully convinced
OF tie olidty OF hisnferences and hc justice Of
marks. III whatever lgh. his pjelent undertaking may
sbc regarded tIunlbe or degrading may appearto
thois who, perhaps, nave higher professions then
himieif, he cannot think that labor dihcnoraSe, With
is 70 manfesy beneficial 10 the rlng generation nor
has ne any realon to fear but that ths candid asd Judi
cious will appreciate his motives ard his production
they deferyc, Our lentmenss and eonouct
iuhdcaced by early impressions han many wiicg
TO allow. The stream will always flow tinctured vim
the nature of its iource Just maxia humane prn
eiple, germ C knowledge early imnihed, will be per.
mrnent to. the LAST. The FIRST books we read -.
yer be forgotten, nor the principles they ;ucucate,
dicated Hence, in che preecasion OF this work, care
tas been taken make every lesson essay far as
The nature sfd intention of the Ian would allow, tend TO
coneofeiu purpoLe authorization or instruction. Even IL
the more easy progressive lessons, where iesc was m
to Jingle sylble,it hped iomehng will be found
to peaie and to improve nor will this be thought din
cult. Io tread in the sseps OF Barbauk aa'e,, an
Edyeworth, a Trimmer, Bcrquin, and to aceonmo.
date their abors the benevolent design in hard only
acquired little taste and Judgment which any pet0a
long convsrlant with education ana books oash tops.
ieIs,
In io,t, the Editor feels inclined TO believe thss this
manual for early yonhwi!l be found rueh beet adapt
ed for he purpcte than any that has preceded end in
cnequence he anticipates the kind patronage OF icaeh
ers in general It probably will terd 70 facilitate tha
abour by furnhng iGbjetts mere agreeable to the Pu
Pill than the d-y inanity of noa books OF the kind and
it cannot fail to redosnd TO their credit ALTO, by giving
youth an opportunity of gaining much general kasw-
ledge as c,ud be crowded within the limits w1ierscd
indeed it was remark Of the rublilaer, Go whon
Britii youth under angular obligations tor ufn'is
ing them with many valuable opportunities OF in'provs.
naent) when he earnealy prefcd this work Oh the E9'
II .H.~oty E. ryr{ff
tutes the whole library of poor child uneis whe" har;
~ putsa bible into his hands it onsqueay ought TO
contain as grear variety Of feul matter as the P.ie
vii permit. The compilation has been formed 4'sY
on this principle.
Woodstock, Oct. aotA, 1909.