ELEMENTS ΟΙ ENGLISH COMPOSITION, GRAMMATICAL, RHETORICAL, LOGICAL PREPARED FOR ACADEMIES AND SCHOOLS BY PROF. JAMES R. BOYD, D.D., AUTHOR OF ANNOTATED EDITIONS OF ENGLISH POETS, OF ELEMENTS OF FLEMENTS," ETO. NEW YORK .:. CINCINNATI .:. CHICAGO AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY THE following work is for the most part a compilation, the materials being drawn chiefly from the recent English treatises of Williams, Smart, Neil, and Harrison; a portion of them also from the standard works of Blair, Campbell, and Jamieson, and an anonymous London work on the Art of Reasoning. In preparing the grammatical department of the volume, the author has carefully consulted the Grammars of Clark, Murray, Fowler, Bullions, Goold Brown, Spencer, Greene, Butler, Tower, Bailey, Covell, and Mulligan; he has also derived more or less aid from Welch's "Analysis of the English Sentence," Tower's "Grammar of Composition," Quackenboss' "First Lessons and Advanced Course," and Parker's "Aids." Though aware of the great excellencies which belong to several works on Composition and Rhetoric now in extensive use, the author believes that the present one comprehends more matter that will be found practically useful and available in academies and schools, than any other single treatise. He would not have devoted so much space to the illustration and application of grammatical principles, had not experience as an Instructor convinced him of the serious disadvantage under which not a few labor, in beginning to write composition, from an imperfect acquaintance with the English grammar. The present work is adapted to beginners, and in its progress to advanced classes being designed to furnish all the aid that is needful, or that can be desired, in the various departments and styles of composition, both in Prose and Verse. The subject of Synonyms has received a larger share of attention than is usual in works of this kind; but not larger than its importance demands. Much space also is allotted to Figurative Language, to Sources of Argument and Illustration in the treatment of various subjects, and to exercises that prepare the way for Poetic Composition. The proper use of this work will stimulate the mental powers, suggest trains of thought, secure a command of appropriate language, and, in short, facilitate the acquirement of the most useful and elegant of Arts-that of correct, easy, forcible, and tasteful Composition. APRIL, 1860. Examples for the use of capital letters, points, marks of quota- 11 2. Additional examples for the use of capital letters, &c. 12 12 Adjectives.-Degrees of quality expressed... 13. The Article.-Proper and improper use of it. |