AN

earneft defire of improving this Selection as much as poffible, has engaged the Compiler to make confiderable alterations upon it in every fucceeding impreffion. For thefe liberties he hopes to be forgiven; especially as they have been the means of giving it, at laft, a degree of excellence, which, he flatters himself, will render it highly acceptable to every perfon of taste. To prevent, however, the inconveniences which might attend the varying of it fo much in future editions, it is determined to allow it, henceforward, to remain the fame, or nearly the fame, as it is now prefented to the Public. -Of the general plan and manner of ufing it, the following is a fhort account.

PART I. is calculated to form the accurate and polished Reader. It is divided into eight fections; five in Profe, and three in Verfe. For feveral reafons, it was thought proper to preserve the poetical pieces entirely diftinct from the profaic; but, in teaching, it will, generally, be preferable to take the fections in the orderOne, Two, Three, Six, Four, Seven, Five, Eight: by which method, the learner will be well exercised in the reading of Profe before entering upon that of Verfe; and will, afterwards, read a fection of the latter kind and one of the former alternately, till this Part be finished.

PART II. may be read with no less advantage tham the preceding, by pupils of every denomination; but is particularly adapted for fuch as may have occafion to fpeak in public. This Part is divided into five fections; the first three, exhibiting fpecimens of eloquence fuited, respectively, to the Pulpit, the Senate, and the Bar; the fourth, Speeches delivered on various occafions; the fifth, Dramatic pieces. Thefe may be gone regularly

A. 3

gularly through by every student; though, where a
particular fpecies of delivery is in view, one fection
will deferve to be longer dwelt upon than another, as is
manifeft from their titles.-It need hardly be obferved,
that frequent reading in a standing posture, and recita-
tion without book, are effentially neceffary in form-
ing the Public Speaker, and extremely proper for
youth in general.

may

In the Appendix is given a course of Leffons on an
original plan, by which the Compiler has long taught
with uncommon fuccefs. In particular cafes, these
be read wholly through, as an introduction to
pieces of greater length and of a more mixed nature;
but, in general, it will answer better to make a few of
them a part of each day's reading, repeating them in
the fame manner as often as may be thought neceffary.
The Effay on English Grammar, which concludes the
whole, will it is hoped, be confidered as an useful com-
`pendium.

By cafting the eye along the table of Contents, the
variety and merit of the pieces contained in this volume.
will appear in a ftriking light. Almost every emotion
of the foul, and every mode of expreffion, will here be
called forth into exercife; while, at the fame time, the
pupil will be made acquainted with the best authors,
and, by the frequent perufal of so many of their princi-
pal beauties, acquire a tafte for correct and elegant wri-
ting. As a further recommendation of the work, no-
thing will be found in it which can in the smallest de-
gree be offensive to delicacy or hurtful to morals: on
the contrary, every leffon will be found to be either in-
nocently entertaining or agreeably instructive.

Edinburgh, Jan. 6. 1789.

CON.