from it. 4. State what would be the consequence if the sun were extinguished; and what our feelings ought to be toward the Supreme Being for such an object. Write themes upon the moon, the stars, fire, air, and water; and in all follow the same plan. Theme 3d.-Day and night.-1. Tell what you mean by day and night. 2. State whether they are always alike long; and what is the advantage arising from their lengths being different at different seasons. 3. Mention the different purposes for which they are adapted. 4. Say of what the continued succession of day and night is fitted to remind us, and how this should lead us to act. Write themes upon the different seasons, and upon mountains, rivers, and the tides of the sea; and follow a similar plan in the whole. Theme 4th-On Composition.-1. Explain what you mean by this term. 2. Point out the necessity of studying this art, by showing how much it contributes to add to the value of one's knowledge. 3. Mentic what is necessary to fit one for conposing well. 4. State the means by which skill in this art is to be obtained. Theme 5th.-On Company.-1. Explain what you mean by company. 2. Show how natural it is for man to seek society. 3. State the danger of keeping either too much company, or of keeping bad company. 4. Point out the advantages of good company. Write themes upon Conversation, Study, Improvement of Time, Choice of Books, Memory, the different Organs of Sense, &c.; and in all follow the same method as you did in writing on Company. Theme 6th.-Narratives.-Describe the place or scene of the actions related the persons concerned in-the time-posture of affairsstate of mind, motives, ends &c. of the actors-results. Write themes upon The discovery of America. The French War. The Revolutionary War. The Battle of Bunker's Hill. The French Revolution. Theme 7th.-Dissertations on remarkable events in sacred or profane history, The place the origin-the circumstances-results-moral influence, &c. Following this or a similar arrangement of parts, write a composition on The Creation-Death of Abel-The Deluge-The_World_after the Flood-The Tower of Babel-The Israelites in Egypt-Their deliverance from it-The giving of the law from Sinai-The Advent of the Messiah-his death-resurrection-Destruction of Jerusalem, &c-The Seige of Troy-Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire-The Crusades-The burning of Moscow-The battle of Waterloo-The leath of Bonaparte, &c. Theme 8th.-Give an account of some of the most distinguished characters in different ages of the World-Warriors, Statesmen, Artists, Philosophers, Poets, Orators, Divines, Philanthropists;-me tioning what is known respecting their country, parentage, education character, principles, exploits, influence on society, for good or evil death. The following list of themes is selected from Parker's Exercises in 3. "Ardor of mind, 4. "Art, 5. "Attachment, local, Anger, 6. 66 7. "Air, 66 8. "Benevolence, 9. Beauty, 10. "Biography, 11. "Bad Scholar, 12. "Charity, 13. "Clemency, 14. "Compassion, 15. "Conscience, 16. "Constancy, 17. "Carelessness, 18. Curiosity, 19. "Cheerfulness, 20. "Contentment, 21. "Diligence, 22. "Duplicity, 23. "Early Rising, 24. "Envy, 25. "Friendship, 26. On Fortune, 27. " Fear, "Grammar, 31. "Greatness, true, 38. "History, 41. " Industry, 43. "Justice, 48. "Novelty, 49. "Night, 76. Knowledge is Power, 79. Government of the Tongue, 83. The Power of Association, 88. Life is Short, 89. Miseries of Idleness, 90. Never too old to learn, 63. Religion, 65." Sincerity, 70. “ 71. "Time, 74." Virtue, 91. Public Opinion, 92. Diligence ensures Success, 93. Idleness destroys Character, 94. Contrivance proves Design, 95. Avoid Extremes, 96. Visit to an Almshouse, 101. Virtue, the way to Happiness, 106. "An honest man's the noblest work of God." 110. How blessings brighten, as they take their flight. 111. Advantages derived from the invention of the mariner's compass -of the telescope-the steam engine-the art of printing-of gunpowder. 112. History of a needle-a cent-a Bible-a beaver hat. 113. Description of a voyage to England-coast of Africa-Constantinople-South America-East Indies-China. APPENDIX. I. GRAMMAR. THE object of Grammar, in a general sense, is to investigate the principles of language, and from a careful analysis of these, to lay down a system of rules and principles, by observing which, we may be enabled to express our thoughts in a particular language in a correct and proper manner. Such a collection of rules and principles applicable to the English language, with directions for their use in the most simple, brief, and convenient manner, has been attempted in the preceding pages. When we speak of Grammar as a system of rules, it is not to be understood that the rules are first established, and the language afterwards modelled in conformity to these. The very reverse is the fact; language is antecedent to grammar. "No grammarian can of his own authority alter the phraseology of any expression, or assign to a word a signification different from that which has been allotted to it by established usage. He must take the lánguage as it is, not as he would wish it to be. He may, indeed, recommend this or that mode of expression, as more agreeable to analogy, but it must remain with the public whether or not his advice be adopted. From the decision of general, reputable, and established usage, there lies no appeal. His business is to observe the agreement or disagreement of words, the similarity or dissimilarity between different forms of expression; to reduce those that are similar, under the same class, and by a careful induction of particulars, establish general propositions. Nor is it absolutely necessary that he should know by what means this or that phraseology came into use, or why this or that word forms an exception to a general rule; it is sufficient for his purpose if he does know that it is an exception, and knowing it, points it out to others." "By arranging the various rules and principles of a language into a systematic form, permanency is given to what would otherwise be subject to fluctuation or involved in obscurity; the relative connexion and importance of the rules, become clearly ascertained, and the whole is rendered more easy of being acquired and retained, and applied with facility and correctness." "Prior to the publication of Lowth's excellent little grammar, the grammatical study of our own language, formed no part of the ordinary method of instruction, and consequently the writings of the best authors were frequently inaccurate. Subsequent to that period, however, attention has been paid to this important sub ject, and the change that has taken place both in our written and oral language, has evidenced the decided advantages resulting from such a plan. "The Grammar which has attained the greatest celebrity for general use, is that by Mr. Murray. In this work, he has embodied the principles and rules which were deduced by the most celebrated grammarians that preceded him, and by arranging the whole in a better order, has rendered it decidedly superior to every work of the kind which existed before its appearance."-Hiley's Preface. Since that time, many works have been published of various degrees of merit, most of which have had for their object, not so much to investigate more thoroughly the principles of language, as to simplify and elucidate principles already investigated. The Etymology and Syntax of Dr. Crombie, lately published, though not intended for the use of schools, is a most valuable addition to the stock of original works on this subject. "The industry of research, and acuteness of discrimination, which he has evinced in the collection and comparison of different forms of speech, have thrown great light upon many difficulties, and his conclusions must in general serve as land marks to the future traveller." Some works of an eccentric character have also at times appeared, whose authors, smitten with a passion for novelty or singularity, have manifested much more capacity for pulling down, than building up,--for finding fault with that which is good already, than for producing something better in its place. Still the labors of even these, are not without their use. Like the violence of the tempest which shakes the sturdy oak, and causes it to strike its roots deeper and firmer in the parent soil, they only more firmly establish that which cannot be overthrown. The principles of language, which grammar as a science investigates, are general and permanent. They belong to all languages, and remain the same however they may be classed, or in whatever terms they may be expressed. Hence it is, that the grammars of all languages are substantially the same, and differ only in minor details, as idiom and usage require. This is as it should be. No good reason can be given for making a grammar of the English language, for example, toto cœlo, different from the grammars of other languages, ancient or modern. And yet it has been, and still is, the practice of some to declaim against the existing systems of English Grammar, because, as they say, they are conformed to the grammars of the dead languages, or to those of foreign nations. Though such efforts may prevail for a season and with a few, more mature reflection usually dissipates the delusion. It is well known that novices in every science, are constantly making discoveries, and these appear to them for a time so important and wonderful, that they sometimes think they cannot fail to astonish the world, revolutionize the science, and immortalize themselves. It happens too, that such discoveries are usually in proportion to the want of discrimination and intelligence of those who make them. A more extended acquaintance with facts and principles, will often prove, even to themselves, that their great discoveries are only the crude and exploded fancies of other men and other days, long since abandoned as untenable and worthless. Discoveries of such a character are sometimes made in grammar also, and such, too, is often their origin and their end. The system of English grammar as we now have it in the best works, or in what some are pleased to call the "Old grammars," rests on a more solid foundation. Men of sound, discriminating, and philosophical minds-men prepared for the work by long study, patient investigation, and extensive acquirements, have labored for ages to improve and perfect it, and nothing is hazarded in asserting, that should it be unwisely abandoned, it will be long before another equal in beauty, stability and usefulness, be produced in its stead, II. CLASSIFICATION OF WORDS. LANGUAGE, written or spoken, consists of words. In combining these into propositions and sentences, so as to express our ideas in a correct and intelligent manner, an accurate knowledge of their forms, changes and functions, is necessary,—and this again can be attained only by a proper classification of them according to their distinguishing characteristics and uses in the communication of thought. The importance of this has always been felt by grammarians, and various classifications have been made, differing from each other according to the principles assumed as their basis. The essentials of speech were anciently supposed to be sufficiently designated by the Noun and the verb, to which was subsequently added, the Conjunction. In modern times, the parts of speech have been denominated Substantives, Attributives, Definitives, and Connectives. Such a classification, however, is too general to be of much use in grammar. To group together under one head, words specifically different in their character and use, can tend only to confusion; and to multiply divisions which can serve no practical purpose, is an extreme equally unprofitable. By a careful analysis of language, we find that some words are employed to express the names of things, others to indicate their qualities; some express action or state under various modifications, others are used in connection with these to point out circumstances of time, place, manner, order, degree, &c.; some are employed to denote certain relations of things to each other, and others again, chiefly to connect the different parts of a sentence together. This diversity in the use of words, is as real, and as distinctly marked as the functions of the bones, muscles, arteries, and nerves of the human system, and forms a basis of classification equally proper in all languages. On this principle of classification, the later Greek grammarians divided words into eight classes or parts of speech, viz: the Arti |