CAUTION, BY THE AMERICAN PUBLISHERS.

AS the correfpondents of LINDLEY MURRAY, and publishers of his various works, COLLINS & PERKINS think it neceffary to apprife the public, that feveral editions of the Grammar have been printed in different parts of the United States, with alterations of the original text, for which copy rights have been claimed by the parties concerned, to fecure to themfelves an emolument arifing from an exclufive fale. One edition of the Abridged Grammar, has been published by a teacher, at Bofton, fortened, because it was conceived by bim to have been before too long. Another has been published by a teacher at Philadelphia, fomewhat enlarged, because be confidered it before too short. A third has been published at Worcester, by a teacher, who, thinking it to be neither too fhort nor too long, has introduced a " New Syftem of Punctuation" only. A fourth has been published at Hartford, alfo enlarged, but with totally different motives from the edition of Philadelphia. It alfo diffents from that printed at Worcester, even fpecifying in its title page, that it contains" Murray's Treatife on Punctuation at large." Although altered with fuch contradictory views, each claims a preference, each claims a copy right, and each claims a profit. The publisher of one of the altered editions (that at Philadelphia) announces, that "the manifeft fuperiority of his, over every other American edition of Murray's Abridgment, must ensure to it a decided preference wherever it can be obtained."!!

It will amufe many to be made acquainted with the ingenious expedients ufed by fome of the authors of thefe mutilated editions to give them importance. The editor of the Philadelphia edition, though perhaps the least valuable of the whole, in recommendation of his performance, addresses the public thus :

"The very rapid fale of the former edition of this book, and its extenfive circulation throughout the continent, now induce me to publifh a fecond."

This" former edition," it is neceffary to remark, confifted of one thousand copies, which aided by a series of newspaper advertisements, were pufhed off in eighteen months, that period having elapfed between the appearance of the firft and the second edition. Of the REAL Murray's Abridgment, or that made by LINDLEY MURRAY himself, there have been fold, during the fame period, in the cities of New-York and Philadelphia alone, not less than twenty thoufand. The prefent advertisers have themselves published eight thoufand, and it is not pretended that their editions have been circulated "THROUGHOUT THE CONTINENT." Not a copy has probably ever reached Cape Horne, Baffin's Bay, nor Nootka Sound, "throughout" all which places, it fhould feem that the production of the fingular Grammarian of Philadelphia has had an * extensive circulation" !!

The fame editor, with fingular acuteness, urges his fuperiority over LINDLEY MURRAY becaufe, forfooth! he (the editor) is an "experienced teacher." Murray, he avers, "cannot be fo well acquainted" &c. &c. It does not appear to have occurred to him that three equally, or perhaps more "experienced teachers," as we have had occafion to fee, totally differ from him, have altered the work for reafons directly oppofite, have all had perhaps quite as much of the fupport and "recommendations" of particular friends, and have all, no doubt, thought themselves entitled to receive as large a pecuniary compenfation for their " improvements."!!!

Ille finiftrorfum, bic dextrorfum, unus utrique
ERROR, fed variis illudit partibus omnes. HOR.

In confequence of the merits of the Grammar, as it came, in purity, from the pen of the author, about fifty thousand copies of the Abridgment, and thirty-five thousand of the Large Grammar, are fold annually. The former, in the fhort period of eleven years, has passed through twenty-one editions in England, and perhaps twice that number in America. The latter, fixteen editions in England, and twenty-eight in America. Murray's Grammar is adopted in nearly all the Colleges and other Seminaries of education, in both countries, as the STANDARD. Every English Critic and Reviewer, who has mentioned it, has reprefented it as the best extant. The celebrated Dr. BLAIR, and WALKER, the Lexicographer, (a very" experienced teacher") are among those who have the most warmly recommended it.Is it a light matter for American teachers to alter fuch a work?

Indeed the fact should not, in this place, be withheld from the public that the whole of the above mutilated editions have been seen and examined by LINDLEY MURRAY himself, and that they have met with his decided difapprobation. Every rational mind will agree with him, that "the rights of living authors, and the interefts of Science and Literature demand the abolition of this ungenerous practice;" for furely it is not a small evil that an elementary work which has met with univerfal approbation, paffed through twentyeight editions, been adopted as the standard in our Colleges, which has coft the author years of reflection to bring into fyftem and order, and to make correct and harmonious in all its parts, fhould be deranged, mutilated and distorted by the crude and hafty variations and additions of an interested editor.

As fome of the editors above alluded to, have endeavoured to justify themselves by afferting that even LINDLEY MURRAY approved of their different alterations, and have heaped on the advertisers much abuse for expofing their contradictions, &c. there fhall be adduced at this time an extract of a letter from Lindley Murray, which will perhaps enduce them to be more cautious in charging C. & P. with "vindictive calumny" in future.

I am much indebted to Collins Perkins for the neat and correct manner in which they reprint my publications; and for their care and exertions to exhibit the books AS THEY WERE PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, and especially with HIS latest improvements. I fhall make it a point to communicate to them, from time to time, and as early as poffible, copies of all the new and improved editions of the

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books. It affords me a peculiar gratification to perceive, that my publications are fo extenfively diffufed over my native country."

COLLINS & PERKINS think it due to the author of this very valuable Grammar, as well as to the caufe of literature in general, to make known that, although they are at all times enabled to fupply the latest American editions of the real Murray's Grammar, yet they are indifpofed to monopolize the profits arifing from the fale of a book, whose author would himself never receive any; and that they will therefore, with readiness, as they have done heretofore, furnish the latest London editions, which they regularly receive from the author, to any refpectable printers refiding in other parts of the United States, who will only engage to print them handsomely and correctly.

The following is a list of COLLINS & PERKINS's editions of Murray's works, with their prices at retail, and by the dozen.

1. First Book for Children, from 4th Eng. edit.

2. An English Spelling-Book,

5th do.

25 12 50

11. Lecteur François,

12. The Power of Religion on the Mind, 13th do. I 00 ΙΟ

The Proprietors of Lindley Murray's works, think it is no fmall recommendation of them, that the whole of thefe valuable publications, from "The First Book for Children,” to the "Power of Religion on the Mind," may be properly confidered, as forming a little code of important elementary inftruction. They are ftrictly fubfervient to one another, and most intimately connected. Their peculiar and acknowledged excellence is, that in every part of them, the pureft principles of piety and virtue, are happily blended with the elements of literature. They may, therefore, with the greatest confidence, be put into the hands of young perfons, as books which (to use the language of a Reviewer refpecting them)" will eminently conduce to pure religion and morality, and to the acquisition of a correct and elegant style.”

The following are a few of the numerous recommen dations of MURRAY's GRAMMAR, which have appeared in the works of different Authors. Extracts from the Reviews will be seen at the end of the book.

"Mr. Murray's Grammar, and Selection of leffons for reading, are the best in the English language."

Walker's Elements of Elocution. Second edition.

"Since the first edition of our work, we have feen with pleasure, an English Grammar-English Exercises-and a Key to the English Exercifes, by Mr. Lindley Murray."

Edgeworth's Practical Education. Second edition.

"Murray's English Grammar. This is the most complete gram mar of our language. Our opinion is confirmed by that of the public, as this work now appears in the Fourteenth edition.

Kett's Elements of General Knowledge. Sixth edition.

"Murray's Grammar, together with the English Exercises and Key, have nearly fuperfeded every thing else of the kind, by concentrating the remarks of the best authors on the subject. They are pieces of inestimable utility."

Evan's Effay an the Education of Youth.

"The best English Grammar now extant, is that written by Mr. Lindley Murray; who by this publication, and by feveral others connected with it, and defigned as auxiliaries to its principal purpose, has become entitled to the gratitude of every friend to English literature, and to true virtue."

Dr. Miller's Retrofpect of the Eighteenth Century.

"By Grammar you have been taught the nature, power, and conftruction of the English language; and that, not in a fuperficial manner, but by the most comprehenfive fyftem now extant, the larger Grammar of Mr. Lindley Murray; in which the delicacies, refinements, and peculiarities of our language, are inculcated and exemplified."-The unwearied exertions of this gentleman have done more towards elucidating the obfcurities, and embellishing the 'ftructure, of our language, than any other writter on the fubject. Such a work has long been wanted; and, from the fuccefs with which it is executed, cannot be too highly appreciated."

Dr. Abercrombie's Charges to the Senior Class of the Philadelphia Academy,-published 1804 and 1806. "I need not acquaint the public, with the merit and succefs of Lindley Murray's Grammar; which feems to have fuperfeded every other. Indeed, when we confider the plain fimple mode of inftruction he has adopted; the extent of obfervation he has difplayed; and the copious variety of illuftration he has added; we fhall not wonder, that this Grammar has been fo univerfally applauded."

Walker's Outlines of English Grammar.