RECOMENDATIONS.

The following notices of the minor abridgment of this work, are from the reverend clergy and other literary gentlemen in the city of Troy, (N Y.) where that abridgment was printed in the autumn of 1821, and where it has since been adopted in most of the schools.

From the Rev. Dr. Coe, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, in the city of Troy. Having perused Murray's English Grammar Simplified by Fisk, and believing it to be an improvement in the method of teaching and acquiring the English Language with facihty and despatch; it is hereby recommended to our schools and the public, as a valua ble acquisition to the elementary literature of our rising country.

Troy, November 13, 1821.

JONAS COE.

From the Rev. Mr. Sommers, Pastor of the Baptist Church in Troy. Having examined Mr. Fisk's modified abridgment of Lindley Murray's English Grammar, I feel pleasure in expressing my opinion, that in several respects it is an improvement of the original plan, and merits the patronage of all those who are desirous to promote the mental acquisitions of the rising generation. I consider Mr. Fisk peculiarly happy in his arrangement and philosophical explanation of the verbs, and he is entitled to our thanks for his brief and improved system of punctuation; by both of which be has simplified many of the obscurities of former grammars, and in part redeemed the art of communication from the perplexities in which it has long been involved. His plan may be defined, a praxis of reasoning, or generalized system of practical logic, by the aid of which hoth labour and time are saved in attaining a correct knowledge of our language, and its syntactical applications; and I doubt not, that the proposed mode of instruction will be viewed as auspicions to the advancement of science, by every person acquainted with the connexion which subsists between a perspicuous exemplification of the philosophy of language, and success in the business of teaching. Many men of extensive learning and profound judgment have published English Grammars; but it is a subject of deep regret, that we have had no fixed standard, by which to determine the fundamental principles of our language; as most of the authors alluded to, have differed from each other in many things; and some, even in relation to the parts of speech, the ten ses of the verb, and the cases of nouns. It is a duty which every man of independent mind Owes to himself and to posterity, to abandon the prejudices imposed by habit, and test hy actual experiment every rational effort to render those systems consistent with the nature of things, and to illustrate the necessity of founding grammar on the basis of the mind; by this means the principal difficulties of the instructor will be removed, and the learner treated as a rational being even in his first stages of scientific attainments. Troy, November 19, 1821. CHARLES G. SOMERS, A. M.

From the Rev. Mr. Griffin, Pastor of the Methodist Church in Troy.

Troy, November 19, 1821.

SIR-Having examined the work, published by you entitled "Murray's Grammar Simplified," I highly approve of the plan, and think it a very valuable publication, well calculated to assist young students in the acquisition of this important science; and I recommend it to all teachers and students accordingly.

ALLEN FISK, Esq.

B. GRIFFIN.

From the Rev. Mr. Butler, Pastor of the Episcopal Church in the same place. I have examined Mr. Fisk's Simplification of Murray's English Grammar, and think his arrangement ingenious and useful-peculiarly calculated to aid the teacher and to lead the learner on in an agreeable manner, to a correct understanding of grammar in general, and of the English in particular. I therefore recommend the adoption of it into schools. DAVID BUTLER.

Troy, November 24, 1821.

From Gen. Marcy, Recorder of Troy.

Troy, November 24, 1821.

SIR-I have examined the “English Grammar Simplified” and think the work bas a just claim to patronage, chiefly on account of the improvement it introduces in teaching the highly useful art on which it treats. Making a practical use of the first elementary principles of grammar as soon as they are learned, must in my opinion, greatly facilitate its acquisition and at the same time relieve the mind of the pupil from those arduous and painful exertions of the memory which excite disgust, and sometimes lead to fatal discouragement. I indulge a hope that your work, and the improved zaethod of teaching grammar exemplified in it, may be generally introduced into schools; for I confidently believe that if such should be the case, experience will demonstrate that a knowledge of this branch of learning will be sooner and more easily acquired than by pursuing the old method. I am with sentiments of respect, yours, &c.

ALLEN FISK, Esq.

From Judge Buel.

WILLIAM L. MARCY.

Troy, November 26, 1821.

SIR—I have examined your “Murray's English Grammar Simplified” with as much attention as my time allowed. I am pleased with the plan, and as far as I can judge, the arrangement is calculated to facilitate the acquisition of grammatical knowledge. The learner will be taught to apply the rules and definitions as he progresses; which I think a considerable improvement. You have done wisely in adopting Murray's grammar as the basis of yours. Improvement in grammars, rather than innovation, is to be desired; and I think you have made an important improvement in your arrangement. I am respectfully, yours &c.

ALLEN FISK, Esq.

From Stephen Ross, Esq.

DAVID BUEL, Junr.

MR. FISK, I have examined your " English Grammar Simplified,” and am fully satisfied, that it is an improvement of the standard work of Mr. Murray. Your arrange. ment and proposed method of instruction are eminently calculated to facilitate the study of English grammar by relieving the student from the painful task of committing to me mory what he does not understand, and by teaching him the use and application of the rules and definitions as he progresses. I therefore cheerfully concur in recommending your work to the patronage of the public and the use of schools. Yours &c. Troy, November 26, 1821.

STEPHEN ROSS.

From Judge Paine.

Troy, December 18, 1821.

SIR-I have examined, with all the attention, which my professional engagements would admit, the copy of Murray's English Grammar Simplified; and I have no doubt, that it will prove a valuable and useful book for the youth of our country, in obtaining a correct knowledge of the English language. Indeed, sir, I consider that this production of yours, will be as useful to people in acquiring a knowledge of English grammar, as the most successful labour-saving machine has proved, in the business of agriculture, or in manufacturing ; and I hope there may be such a call for it, as will compensate you for your time and expense in compiling the same. Yours, &c.

ALLEN FISK, Esq.

AMASA PAINE.

The following extract from the Statesman is from the pen of N. H. Carter, Esq. who was lately a professor of the learned languages in Dartmouth College, and who is eminently distinguished as a scholar and a critic.

From the New-York Statesman, November 20, 1821.

A new Treatise on Grammar, by ALLEN FISK, Esq. of Troy. This work is entitled "Murray's English Grammar Simplified-designed to facilite the study of the English language." We have perused this work with a high degree of satisfaction, both on account of its intrinsic merits, and as being the production of a gentleman, with whom we have had the pleasure of an acquaintance for many years. Mr. Fisk's object in publishing this treatise, is nearly the same with that of Mr. Ingersoll, whose work we took occasion to notice a few months since. It is remarkable, that on some points they exactly coin. cide, without any previous knowledge of each other's plan; and the remarks we made

on Mr. Ingersoll's work are in a great measure applicable to that of Mr. Fisk. Both are strictly philosophical treatises, founded upon a comprehensive view of the subject, and calculated in an eminent degree to facilitate the acquisition of an important branch of education, by removing the obstructions which retard the progress of the pupil. In his introduction Mr. F. declares himself to be "an enemy to speculative innovation ;" and in the body of the work, we have not been able to discover a departure from this principle. An admirer of Mr. Murray, he has merely laboured to improve the standard work of that author by removing some of the lumber with which it is encumbered, by adapting it to the comprehension of juvenile minds, and by relieving the student from the irksome and unprofitable task of committing to memory what he does not understand. The author intimates, that his treatise is a mere precursor of a larger work on the same subject, and that he intends hereafter to extend his system to the learned anguages.

The following notice is from Solomon Southwick, Esq. editor of the Ploughboy.

Albany, December 5, 1821.

I have examined" Murray's English Grammar simplified" by Allen Fisk, Esq. and have no hesitation in recommending it for the use of schools, in concurrence with the lit erary gentlemen who have already pronounced upon its merits.

S. SOUTHWICK, one of the Regents of the University of N Y.

Additional Recommendations.

The following notices from two of the most respectable public journals in the city of New-York, respect Adam's Latin Grammar Simplified; but as the plan of arrangement and the method of instruction are essentially the same in that work, as in this, the remarks of those editors, in so far as they relate to arrangement and design, apply equally to both. From the New York Spectator. Adam's Latin Grammar Simplified By Allen Fisk.-This work contains the substance of Dr. Adam's grammar, (omitting that part which refers to the English tongue) and au introduction of about sixty pages by Mr. Fisk, the object of which is to render Dr. Adam's grammar more simple and easy to beginners. This introduction is novel in its nature, and bears the marks of skill and judgment. The student commences parsing, and applies the rules before he begins the task of committing them to memory, so that when he begins to learn them by heart he understands them. The author has exhibited at one view the regular declensions of substantives, of adjectives, pronouns and the conjugation of verbs in separate maps: this, as is justly observed in the preface," is rendering the eye subservient to the memory." The plan of putting the rules in the margin, and directly along side the sentences for parsing, is excellent, and the repetition of the rules for several pages successively, is well ca!culated to make a lasting impression on the memory. have no doubt that this work will be of gira service to beginners, and that it deserves liberal patronage.

We

From the New-York Statesman.

Latin Grammar.—Mr. Starr of this city has lately published a new work, entitled Adam's Latin Grammar Simplified-by ALLEN FISK, Esq. We have examined it with some attention, and entertain a very favorable opinion both of the plan and execution. The only innovation which the author has attempted, is merely a different arrangement of the materials, contained in the excellent treatise of Mr. Adam, which has been approved and adopted by most of the schools and colleges in this country. His object was to relieve the pupil from the ungrateful and irksome task of learning to repeat by rote a string of words and sentences, which he did not comprehend, and to render both the understanding and the eye subservient to the memory--or in other words, to apply the same principles to the study of language, which are applied in the study of geography. With this view he has presented on the same page, which is a large octavo, examples of the variations of the parts of speech, the appropriate rules in syntax, and exercises in parsing, which he not improperly calls a map of the language. It is justly remarked in the preface, that, exclusive of the improvements above mentioned, and considered merely as a book of reference, this work is indisputably superior to any preceding edition of Adam's Latin Grammar, on account of its typographical neatness and accuracy: and that the Exercise, and Latin Extracts, contained in the Introduction, will supersede the necessity of purchasing and putting into the hands of boys, larger and more expensive books. We believe parents, instructers, and students will find this publication well worthy of their attention.

The following certificate is from J. V. N. Yates, Esq. Secretary of State, and ex officio Superintendent of Common Schools.

I have examined Murray's English Grammar Simplified, by Mr. Allen Fisk, and I consider it a valuable work and certainly an improvement of Murray in several particu lars. As it is however in the contemplation of a few literary gentlemen to issue from the press in a short time a work to be entitled "The New-York Common School Instructor," comprising Grammar, Geography, Ari hmetic, Surveying, History, &c. &c. in one volume, I cannot now determine whether the last mentioned work as well on account of Economy in the purchase of school books, as on account of its intrinsic merit, will tend to supersede the use of all others or not. In the event of that work not meeting the character proposed, I have no hesitation in pronouncing Mr. Fisk's work the best in use, for our schools. Albany, June 13, 1822,

J. V. N. YATES,

The following votice, from the pen of Mr. Bennett, a teacher of the first respectability in the city of Troy, of more than twenty years' experience, and who has used the minor abridgement of this work, for several months, in his school, deserves particular attention, as being founded upon actual experiment.

Troy, June 20th, 1822.

SIR-I have examined with some attention, and with much satisfaction, your " Mur ray's Grammar Simplified." With a very few unimportant exceptions, it demands and receives my entire approbation. There is, perhaps, no other book extant, on the subject of Grammar, which contains, in so small a compass, so much valuable instruction. I am aware that this is saying much, but not more, I think, than is fairly warranted. Your arrangement of the preparatory lessons in the "general view of Etymology and Syntax," is admirably calculated to facilitate the acquisition of a general, and by no means superfi cial knowledge of the leading principles of Grammar. This assertion is not made unad visedly, nor is it designed as a mere "puff." Its accuracy rests on the infallible test of EXPERIENCE. Having used, in my school, your epitomised edition of "Murray's Grammar Simplified," for about three or four months, I have found the progress of the scholars, especially in the lower classes, to be incomparably more rapid and satisfactory, than I have ever witnessed by pursuing any former method of instruction. What used to be considered an irksome task, is now pursued with alacrity and pleasure. The scholar feels his own strength, and appears to be willing, and even anxious to improve it.

In considering the advantages of this edition of Murray's Grammar, I ought not to overlook that of having the Grammar and “exercises” both in one book. The printing of the examples of erroneous orthography and false syntax immediately after the respect ive rules, is the best of all possible arrangements. As you well remark, in your preface, this arrangement, besides reducing the price of the work, brings its kindred parts togeth er, and renders it more convenient for the learner." Considering, as I do, this edition of Murray's Grammar as by far the best now extant, I sincerely wish it may be generally introduced into our schools, and other seminaries of learning; and, if my opinion respect ing its merits, is correct, such will, undoubtedly be the result. Public sentiment, though often tardy in its progress, is seldom erroneous, in cases where it has the means of being I am yours respectfully,

correct.

ALLEN FISK, Esq.

n

R. O. K. BENNETT.

The following is from Mr. Van Vranken, a very respectable teacher in Schenectady. Schenectady, June 29, 1822. SIR-From the examination I have been enabled to give your "Murray's English Grammar Simplified," I have no Pesual a in geving it as my opinion, that the altera tions you have made in the arrangement are improvements calculated to lessen the labour of the teacher in communicating, and the difficulty of the student in acquiring, a practical knowledge of the principles of Grammar. The advantages of placing the Rules of Syntax on the same page with the exemplification of them, must be evident to every one accus tomed to teach. I hope, sir, that you may soon have the pleasure of seeing your Book in general use in the schools of our country. Yours, &c.

ALLEN FISK, Esq.

N. VAN VRANKEN.

The following is from President Nott & Professor Yates of Union College, Schenectady. The plan of A. Fisk, Esq. in his Murray's Grammar Simplified, is happily conceived and well executed. The work is calculated to relieve and strengthen the memory of the learner by securing the aid of the understanding. In its general principles it resembles Greenleaf's Grammar, which is already in use in some parts of the United States. We know of no other work that can be put in competition with it. Its introduction into schools will diminish the labor of instruction as well as the expense at present incurred in the purchase of books.

Union College, 4th July 1822.

ELIPH'T. NOTT.

AND'W, YATES.