Adapted to the different classes of learners, and highly advan-
tageous to Foreigners, who wish to acquire the knowledge

of the Language ;

TO WHICH IS PREFIXED

V ABSTRACT OP 'HE PRINCIPLES OF ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION WITH
AN APPENDIX CONTAINING SEVERAL USEFUL TABLES AND SOME

LESSONS IN READING,

BY JAMES M’DONALD,

Pour conduire les enfans a la colline de la
Science, par les chemins les plus faciles

GEORGETOWN, K:

Printed by Thomas Henderson.

1815

}

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
SIAL

TO WIT.
DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY

BE IT REMBERED, that on the 14th day of April, in the year of our Lord 1815, and in the 39th year of the Independence of the United States of America, JAMES M'DONALD of the said District, hath deposited in this office, the title of a book, the right whereof The claims as author, in the words and figures following,

TO TIT: “A new Pronouncing Spelling Book and concise Expo< sitor of the English Language, for the use of Academies and

Schools, adapted to the diferent classes of learners, and highly ad

vantageous to Foreigners, who wish to acquire the knowledge of the 31 English language; to which is prefixed an abstract of the princi*pies of English Pronunciation, with an appendix containing sevekral useful tables, and some lessons in reading."

IN conformity to the Act of Congress of the United States, entiuled "an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books to the Authors and Proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned, and also to "an act supplementary to an act, entitled an Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books to the Authors and Proprietors of such copies during the time therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving and etching historical and other Prints.

JOHN H. HANNAH, Clerk

of the District of Kentucky:

Library

AS the education of youth is one of the principal affair: of life, the means therefore, by which it may be acquired should be carefully attended to; und as books and teachers: are the only fountains, from which learning flows, a judicia ous selection of both cannot be too much regarded. It is the opinion of many learned and experienced persons, ,

that children of eight or nine years old can learn more out of this work in one year, thin children of twelve years old cap, out of such spelling books and dictionaries as are made use. of in our schools, in two years-if so, this work should be greatly valued, considering the expense of schooling, the use of the boy or girl at home or at other studies ; at an age when he or she is capable of making use of a dictionary, which has been the only means hitherto of acquiring a knowledge of the language. It may indeed be said, that all the materials, of which this work is composed, are contained. in our other spelling books and dictionaries, and such assertion would be very true ; but may it not with equil truth and reason be said, that, a man may be possessed of alt the materials necessary for building a very useful machine; yet all these unorganized and indigested parts are almost useless, to himn without the skill & workmanship of the mic chinist; thus all depends upon the symmetry and order of the parts. If we daily see surprising productions of arts and sciences, which we thought had been carried to their highest perfection; what improvement may we not expect to be made upon a language, which is still in its infancy, and by no means settled and matured, Though much here might be said of the necessity of this work, and in favor of its singular utility and advantages, in promoting and advan. cing the education of youth; yet oo reasoning or language I think, could so strongly enforce either, or so sufficiently convince the public, as tlie following recommendations front gentlemen, whose learning, veracity and honor cannot be questioned.

I will therefore content myself rith laying them before the public.

1917