ENGLISH READER:

OR,

PIECES IN PROSE AND POETRY,

SELECTED FROM THE BEST WRITERS.

Designed to assist young persons to read with propriety and
effect; to improve their language and sentiments; and
to inculcate some of the most important prin-

ciples of piety and virtue.

WITH A FEW PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON THE PRINCI

PLES OF GOOD READING.

IMPROVED BY THE ADDITION OF A

CONCORDANT AND SYNONYMISING VOCABULARY,

Consisting of about fifteen hundred of the most important words
contained in this work.

The words are arranged in columns and placed over the
sections respectively, from which they are selected;

AND ARE

DIVIDED, DEFINED, AND PRONOUNCED ACCORD-

ING TO THE PRINCIPLES OF

JOHN WALKER.

The words in the Vocabulary and their correspondent words in
the sections, are numbered with figures of reference.
WALKER'S PRONOUNCING KEY, WHICH GOVERNS THE VO
• CABULARY, IS PREFIXED TO THIS WORK.

Words can have no definitive idea attached to them when by themselves
it is the situation and tract in a sentence which determines their precise mean.
ing.-Dr. Johnson.

BY JEREMIAH GOODRICH.

SARATOGA SPRINGS: N. Y.
PUBLISHED AND SOLD BY SAMUEL NEWTON

STEREOTYPED BY A. W. KINSLEY

:

{

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW-YORK, TU WIT:
BE it remembered, That on the fifth day of July, in the forty-seventneyca
the Independence of the United States of America, A. D. 1822. E. & E
OSFORD, of the said district, have deposited in this office the title

ε
book, the right whereof they claim as proprietors, in the words
following, to wit: "Murray's English Reader; or pieces in
prose and poetry, selected from the best writers, designed to as
sist young persons to read with propriety and effect; to improve
their language and sentiments; and to inculcate some of the
most important principles of piety and virtue, with a few pre
liminary observations on the principles of good reading, improv
by the addition of a concordant and synonymising vocabulary; consisting o
jout fifteen hundred of the most important words, contained in this work
he words are arranged in columns, and are placed over the sections, resper
vely, from which they are selected; and are divided, defined and pronounced,
cording to the principles of John Walker. The words in the vocabulary,
id their correspondent words in the sections, are numbered with figures of
ference. Walker's Pronouncing Key which governs the vocabulary, is pre-
ted to this work. Words can have no definite idea attached to them when by
memselves; it is the situation and tract in the sentence which determine thein
"recise meaning;-Dr. Johnson. By JEREMIAH GOODRICH."

In conformity to the act of Congress of the United States, entitled "An Acr r the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and *ooks, to the authours and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein entioned;" and also, to the act, entitled "An act supplementary to an act, titled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of aps, Charts, and Books, to the authours and proprietors of such copies during e time therein mentioned,' and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of De gning, Engraving and Baching historical and other prints."

RICHARD R. LANSING, Clerk of the Northern District of N. York.

By misprision of the Clerk, the names of E. & E. Hosford, were inserted the record and certificate, instead of Jeremiah Goodrich

PREFACE

TO THE

IMPROVED EDITION OF THE ENGLISH READER

An attempt to improve a work stamped with the name of the Immortal Murray and clothed with universal patronage, may be deemed the height of presumption. But the Author has not handled the reader irreverently; for he has left it in precisely the same shape in which he found it: except that a few pages are added to its size by placing a vocabulary over each section, giving the definition and true pronunciation of the most important words, agreeably to the principles of the celebrated John Walker. Walker's orthography is also given to the work for the purpose of uniformity. Mr. Murray says, that the English Reader is " "designed to assist young persons to read with propriety and effect: and to improve their language and sentiments." To every one, who can read Murray's title page, it is evident, that young persons can not read the following work with propriety and effect, without a perfect knowledge of the words of which it is composed. Neither can their language and sentiments be much improved, by prating over a work, without regard either to pronunciation or definition. As there can be no diversity of opinion on this point, the only question is, what is the most convenient and expeditious method of acquiring a necessary knowledge of words? All will agree, that the best method of becoming acquainted with words, is to consult them, as they occur in the writings of the best authors. But the drudgery of looking out words in a full dictionary, (which must be repeated as often as the learner may forget them,) added to the loss of time and the expense of having dictionaries tumbled to pieces in the hands of children, calls loudly for improvement. The publick are now invited to determine, whether a pronouncing vocabulary placed at the head of each section, is not a more desirable mode of acquisition, than to ramble over Walker's full work, for every unknown word that may occur.

By the aid of this vocabulary, teachers can furnish their pupils with lessons in spelling, pronunciation, and definition, to be committed to memory, previously to reading the sections, from which the words are selected. The letters of reference will guide the pupil in the application of the definitions. Thus a key is hung over each section, inviting the young reader to unlock the door, and view the treasure, which Mr. Murray has prepared for him.

Should any material errour be discovered in the vocabulary, by any one, who will communicate the proper corrections to the authour, the favour will be received with gratitude.

WQR 19 FEB 3