rected by daily reading sentences so contrived as frequently to repeat the sounds that are incorrectly uttered." In accordance with these views, the author has given his chief attention, in the present volume, to what he considers the essential elements of good reading and speaking, distinct articulate utterance, and correct pronunciation: it will be readily admitted, he thinks, that where these are wanting, the higher graces of expression are without value. In drawing up the following lessons, the observations of Mr. Walker, so far as they have been found applicable to modern pronunciation, have been adhered to, but wherever his precepts are at variance with the present reputable usage, they have been abandoned without hesitation. Those which have been found available have been made more practical by connecting them with a series of short exercises adapted to illustrate their principles; and several lessons and exercises have been added on the correction of faults that do not appear to have been noticed either by the above-mentioned author, or by later writers on the subject. In one or two of the prose extracts, a few words have been substituted for the original, in order to increase the number of examples; an object, that could have been attained otherwise, only by extending each piece to an inconvenient length. This was not thought desirable; particularly as the work is intended in no way to supersede approved Class Reading books, but to be used as a supplementary course of instruction, which, although absolutely necessary, none of them contain. The chapter on the pronunciation of the consonants is founded on Dr. Crombie's observations on that subject, in his excellent treatise on etymology and syntax. These exercises have no pretension to eradicate impediments of speech arising from peculiar nervous temperament: defects of this kind are the province of the physician. But all instances of imperfect articulation caused by anomalous conformation of the organs, such as narrowness of the palate, irregular arrangement of the teeth, confined action of the tongue, &c., may be benefited by the following course practised with perseverance. The work is intended chiefly for youth; but it is hoped that it will be found useful to foreigners, and to many of our own countrymen whose duties require them to read or speak in public. When used as a school book, one or two lessons should be read carefully by the class each day. Particular exercises may be also selected at the discretion of the teacher, applicable to the faults of individual pupils. The longer poetical extracts, which have been collected from the most approved authors, may, after having been read frequently to the satisfaction of the teacher, be committed to memory and recited, with the restrictions commented on in the introductory treatise. Hammersmith: Page tious, &c. . VIII. On the sound of the aspirated h IX. On sounding t preceded and followed by s X. On the sound of wh at the beginning of words XVII. On the participial termination ing XVIII. On the improper use of the letter r XX. On the sound of ew, eu, ue, and long u |