Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-07-14
THE AUTHORS PREF.A(H.

MOTIVE Tbs LANDING the vai NUMBER of isit;,
I'm tory books Tor ehildrcn nthe Nurfery, which b,v
cen wrttcm within thefc few years by pufions Of dc
tinguiahed abilities aud ianaioned with their names !,
musr srill be Allowed that there has appeared ere
introduction To Reading, for the general ui IF fhse
that rites above the level OF the vulgar, though popa
compilations Of Dyehe, Dilw0rtf and Fcnninc. ~.
iupxr ucurs has been attended Ui,h iedulaus Gaze
and vsisrs of the FRI emieece have contributed Il
rear the f,bte OF learning, white The foundation has d.
u,oi invariably been filtered TO be laid, by the mott ts.
iefs and ignorant workmsn,s The corfsgpcree hastr
aucntis been. as might be expe6cd from tueh pro-.
dsre the rate has been tstcd At Tic very conmsnc
mgnt add it has often PRAYED moro difficult to rsncs.
error, than il would have coli pains 30 pant ogin.r
the principles Of truth.
For the negset we have alluded 20, wo.id he in.
possible to produce any consistent rca:cn Fsiksm t
pride Of acknowledged literature could not ocp to u
occupation reputed so mean that of compiling sspe
ling Book Yet 60 Iay the first sune Of noble eise
has ever been task deeg-sed 20 the nst holorsbe
hands; and 70 fow TIE first secs q isfj 3tAiag IN
The nafeent ind is an employment thar be DIS
graceful TO the most illustrous taiests. Bishop Lo#h
wrote al excellent Epghh grammar, and fevcral ata
Of rank in literature hare be,sed the public by :inr
p oouctions yet is in vain TIM gsamnars wrata
If no one has learned to rcad il sin vsia that 'ic ir
es ci.eoveries made in Any art or feencr i the
generality Of thd world are prceludcd from pr husiy
thc for wAnt of previous instruction IN tn Grt pl;a
opies with which they arc connected.
The Editor Of the following sheets is fully eonyieca
of the olidity o his inererees and he justice Of hre
marks, in whatever light his p'efat undertaking nay
be regarded. tiun,hc degrading as It may appear
siloie who, perhaps, have higher pfesss.ons ihaa
himelf, he cannot think that labor daAenoable, Which
is 20 .aaifrs,ly beeefcisl tie ring ge,eratioo
has he any Tca,n iear bet that the candid and Judi
cious viii appreciate lis motives and his production
they dervs Our islsnients and ctr conduct more
influenced by early impressions han riany seem willie,
to ALLOW. III: ssreaE, will always aow tinctured wHs
the natSre Of ia fourcs Jus, niaXn, humane prp,
c;plc germ OF know ledge early asbihed VII be per.
nirnent to the last. The irse books read &c.
yer be forgotten, tac principles they ceate, eF
dicated Hence III the rrcfxutis os chs werk, care
has been taken to make every lessen eszy, far
the nature and n.crt;on o the plan would allow tend
connecticut pnrpoe olnornation inssrnetior. Even
the MORE easy progressive lessoss where fsgsc .
ed to Jingle syllabet hoped loneth;ng wiz be found
TO pleaie and to improve will this be thonght diff.
CUT To tread in the steps o! Barbaut, Iautet, an
Edgeworth, Trimmer, Berq,in, and to acconms.
date their lahors he benevolent design III hand, oy
acquired LITTLE tastc and Judgment, wheh airy Fsisn
long eonveYsane with cueatica and books ought POI
(s.s.
Ia hort the Editor foss inclined te hciieye. tha. s'
manual for early youth will be found D'ueh better ada
ed fer the purpo than any that has preceded aud ii
consequence he anticipates the k. patronage of Teses
ers in general IL probably will tend facilitate Their
lahour, by futGng fubs&s agreeable to ths Pr.
Pill than the dy inanty Of mott books of the kind ara
it cannot fatc rebound to their credit alio, By gvHs
youth opportunity of gaining much general knsw'
ledge could be crowded vithin the limits p.elsrisc9
lndcsd it was remark of the puhihsr, Eco WHOM
Brith youth are under Gnsular obligations for iatn
inc them with many valuable opportunities OF naprovs
naent) when be earnsay presd this work en- the ht
:oss attention That Spelsg Book frequently eGa'
~ puts bible into his hands, * j, eonfequensly ought %
eontaa great variety of rfe,i matter as the ps
vii permit" The compilation has been fasrlsd iria5
on thk,prinerie.
Woodssoct. OCT. 2o.h. 1909.