that I have advised them fometimes to Spell Words of the fame Sound, and the Tame Derivation, two different ways, if they have a different Meaning, as Prac-tife, when it is a Verb, with an f; and when it is a Noun, with a c: For 'tis the Happiness of any Language to dif· tinguish the Writing, and (if it were poffible) the Sound also of every Word which has two diftinct Senfes, as we do in the Words Advife and Advice; that neither Speech nor Writing might have any thing ambiguous.

I hope they will forgive me too, if I have allowed the Unlearned to Spell many of the fame Words two ways, even when their Senfe is the fame; as Pretious may be written with a t, or a c. Perhaps they may tell me, that both these can never be right. But in feveral of thefe Inftances, the Criticks themselves are at great Variance, tho the Matter is of too trifling Importance to be the Subject of learned Quarrels: and Custom, which is, and will be, Sovereign over all the Forms of Writing and Speaking, gives me Licence to indulge my Unlearned

Readers

Readers in this eafy Practice. I'll never conteft the Bufinefs of Spelling with any Man; for after all the most laborious Searches into Antiquity, and the Combats of the Grammarians, there are a hundred Words that all the Learned will not spell the fame way.

I have by no means aim'd at Perfection, and shall not at all be disappointed when the World tells me I have not attained an Impoffible. The English Tongue being compofed out of many Languages, enjoys indeed a Variety of their Beauties; but by this means it becomes alfofo exceeding irregular, that no perfect Account of it can be given in certain Rules, without fuch long Catalogues of perpetual Exceptions as would much exceed the Rules themselves. And after all, too curious and exquifite a Nicety in thefe minute Affairs, is not worth the tedious Attendance of a reafonable Mind, nor the Labours of a Short Life. If what was compofed for Private Ufe, may be made a Publick Advantage, and may affif my CountryMen to a little more Decency and Propriety in Reading and Spelling, than heretofore they practifed, they will enjoy

the

the Benefit, and I shall rejoice to find that the Service is more extenfive than my first Defign.

Thofe who have a mind to inform themSelves more perfectly of the Genius and Campoption of our Language, either in the Original Derivation of it, or in the prefent Use and Practice, must confult Juch Treatifes as are written on purpose; amongft which, I know none equal to that Ellay towards a Practical English Grammar,compofed by Mr.James Greenwood; wherein he has shown the deep Knowledge, without the haughty Airs of a Critick and he is preparing a new Edition, with great Improvements, by the friendly Communications of the learnea World. When that ingenious Author has finifl'd the Work be defigns, if he would deny himself fo far, as to publish a fhort Abstract of the three firft Parts efit, in two or three Sheets, meerly for the laftruction of common English Readers, I am well ajured it would give them an easier and better acquaintance with the Nature of Grammar, and the Genius of their Native Tongue, than any Treatife that has ever jet come within my Notice. THE

(1)

THE

ART

OF

Reading and Writing English:

O R,

The Chief Principles, &c.

CHAP. I.

Of Letters and Syllables

1 Question.

HAT is Reading?

W Anf. To read, is to exprefs written (or

printed) Words by their proper Sound.

22. What

22 What are Words made of?

A. Words are made of Letters and Syllables, either one or more; as I, by, Fire, Water.

32 What is a Letter?

A. A Letter is the Mark of a fingle Sound; and it is the leaft part of a Word, as a, m, s.

42. What is a Syllable?

A. A Syllable is one diftinct Sound, made by one Letter alone, as a, c, i; or by more Letters join'd together, as ba, bi, dan, den, pint, Sport. 52 How many Letters are there? There are ufually counted Twenty-four Letters in English, a b c d e f g h i k l m n o p q r s t u w x y z

62 Are all these Letters of one

Sort?

A. Five of them are Vowels, as a, e, i, o, u; and all the reft are Confonants.

Note, I have here followed the old and ufual Cuftom of making Twenty-four Letters, and diftinguishing the u and, into Vowels and Confonants afterwards; tho it had been much more proper and natural, if our Fathers had made the

and