he principles of knowledge become most intelligible to young persons, when they are explained inculcated by practical illustration and direction. MURRAY TROY, N. Y. PUBLISHED AND SOLD BY Z. CLARK. SOLD ALSO BY H. STOCKWELL AND F. ADANCOURT. NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW-YORK, TO WIT: BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the twenty-fifth day of May, in the forty (L. S.) sixth year of the Independence of the United States of America, A. I 1822, Allen Fisk, of the said district, has deposited in this office the title a book the right whereof he claims as author, in the words following, to wit: Murray's English Grammar Simplified; designed to facilitate the study of the Englis language; comprehending the principles and rules of English grammar, illustrated h appropriate exercises; to which is added a series of questions for examination. Abrid ed for the use of schools. By Allen Fisk, author of Adam's Latin grammar, simplifie The principles of knowledge become most intelligible to young persons when they a explained and inculcated by practical illustration and direction. Murray. In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled “An act for th encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to th authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned ;" and also to the act entitled "An act supplementary to an act entitled 'An act for the encourage ment of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the antho and proprietors of such copies during the times therin mentioned,' and extending the b nefits thereof to the arts of Designing, Engraving and Etching historical and other print RICHARD R. LANSING, Clerk of the Northern District of New-York. INTRODUCTION. INDLEY MURRAY's English Grammar has been so long an inmate of our cademies and schools of almost every grade, that its merits are familiar to all. has stood the test of criticism, and been pronounced by the best judges, both this country and in Great Britain, the most complete English grammar exnt. Indeed it is generally allowed, that Mr. Murray has done more to eluci. te the principles of our language, and to fix our grammar on its only just undation, the established practice of our best speakers and writers, than any her grammarian whatever. His grammar is therefore justly considered a ndard work, whose authority may be appealed to with safety, on doubtful or sputed points: But it were wrong to infer that, because Murray's grammar is a work of eat and acknowledged excellence, it is therefore perfect and incapable of furer improvement. Such a principle would have precluded us from the benefit en of Mr. Murray's labours. He has made great improvement in the works his predecessors; and his successors will doubtless find room for some im. ovement in his work. In fact it seems to be generally conceded, at the pres t day, that, in point of arrangement at least, the work in question is not so ell adapted to the use of schools and the comprehension of juvenile minds, as. night be. The author's plan, when properly carried into effect, was no doubt jood one. In his "General Directions for using the Exercises," he says, it As ɔn as the learner has committed to memory the definitions of the article and stantive, as expressed in the grammar, he should be employed in parsing ose parts of speech, as they are arranged in the exercises. The learner ould proceed in this manner, through all the definitions contained in Etymoy, regularly parsing the exercises on one definition before he applies to aner." This plan, though excellent in its general design, is yet defective, in as ch as it subjects the student to the task of committing the definitions to mery before he understands them, and as it postpones entirely the study of Syotill that of Etymology has been completed. And besides, the grammar and rcises being in separate books, it has unfortunately happened that the her, especially the abridgment, has found its way into a great many ols, where the latter are never seen. In defect of these, the student's ence has often been exhausted in committing the grammar, perhaps repeat, to memory with no apparent design or advantage; and his courage dis ed by making his first essay in parsing, in promiscuous exercises ;--as if a in arithmetic should first commit to memory all the rules and definitions in |