Sentence:  Hugh Jones, a Fellow of William and Mary College, writes of his countrymen that, for the most part, they are only desirous of learning what is absolutely necessary, in the shortest way. To meet this peculiarity Mr. Jones states that he has designed a royal road to learning, consisting of a series of text-books embracing an <WSD>"Accidence</WSD> to Christianity", an <WSD>"Accidence</WSD> to the Mathematicks", and an <WSD>"Accidence</WSD> to the English Tongue". 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A book containing the first principles of grammar; "by extension", a book containing the rudiments of any subject or art.