PREFACE. THE Author's aim in publishing the present work, is to excite in youth a passion for grammatical knowledge, to facilitate its acquisition, to multiply the number of those who study the English language critically and with pleasure, to raise learners from the degradation of being mere senseless parrots, to the dignity of rational youth, by substituting the exercise of reason for the slavish abuses of the memory. How the work will answer the design teachers will decide. The author knows their independence and impartiality, and confidently submits his humble efforts to their unbiased decision. He owns no man's grammatical infallibility, and is convinced that the present work must have its imperfections. The author of a school book, who familiarizes learners with the misapplication of words, who sterilizes their minds by unmeaning assertions, poisons genius, renders ignorance impregnable, knowledge inaccessible, and prepares victims for imposition in later years. As the interests of learners will be best promoted by the earliest exposure of the errors in all books for their instruction, the author invites the strictest investigation into the truth of what he has written. Much of the argumentative matter, and many of the quotations from other grammars, which the establishment of his system renders indispensable in this edition, will, after a short time, be unnecessary. He can then supply schools with a small, cheap, and useful book. He flatters himself the present work will prove, that its title is appropriate, and that he is not unworthy of the very kind encouragement which he has received from the Noblemen, Ladies, and Gentlemen, who have honoured him by adding their names to his list of subscribers. The reader, whose veneration for the old classification of words, renders any change disagreeable, may use the old names; yet, in this work, he has the advantage of rational definitions and rules which he perfectly understands, while the pupil has considerably less than half the work, which other grammars require. THE AUTHOR. 25, Rue d'Angoulême, Faubourg St-Honoré. Paris, May 1st, 1847. SUBSCRIBERS. Copics. Lord Cowley, late British Ambassador at the Court of France... The late Right Reverend Bishop Luscomb Madame la Comtesse das Alcaçovas Mr. Aaronson Le Prince Charles de Broglie The Marquise du Blaisil Mr. Behan, 16, Euston Square, University College School, London.... Mr. Bowring, 127, Drummond Street 3 1 Mr. Mr. Budd. Miss Bowring Browning Mr. Brown, Professor Mr. Butfield Mr. W. L. Carter. 1 2 1 1 1 1 Sir Robert Chermside Mr. Clifton, 38, rue Monthabor Miss Collier, 17 bis, rue d'Angoulême Mrs. Colombin... Mr. Carter, 5, Fleur-de-lis Street. Madame la Comtesse Alfred de Chabannes Madame Longueville Clarke 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 Monsieur de Courty, boulevart des Capucines Mrs. F. Delmé, 97, rue du Faubourg St-Honoré.. Mrs. Thomas Farrel, 3, Merrion Square, East, Dublin 3 1 Madame la Vicomtesse de Flavigny, 9, rue des Saussayes...... Copies. 1 121T Mr. Fleming, Professor at the Ecole Polytechnique.. 2 Madame la Duchesse de Cadrousse Gramont. Madame la Baronne de Gravier, 30, rue Saint Dominique Madame la Comtesse de Gouy d'Arsy Monsieur l'Abbé de Genoude Monsieur Glashin 17, rue des Batailles 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 I 1 Mr. Halpin, 1 Mrs. Hart. Mr. E. Hart. Mr. Hole... Mrs. James |