another syllable beginning with a vowel: as wit, witty; thin, thinnish; to abet, an abettor; to begin, a beginner.

But if a dipthong precedes, or the accent is on the preceding syllable, the consonant remains single; as, to toil, toiling; to offer, an offering; maid, maiden, Grammar, p. 35. Key, p. 3.

&c.

When we bring the lawmaker into contempt, we have in effect annuled his laws.

By defering our repentance, we accumulate our sor

rows.

Whe pupils of a certain ancient philosopher, were not, during their first years of study, permited to ask any questions.

We all have many faillings and lapses to lament and

recover.

There is no affliction with which we are visitted, that may not be improved to our advantage.

The Christian Lawgiver has prohibitted many things, which the heathen philosophers allowed.

RULE VI.

Words ending with any double letter but 1, and taking ness, less, ly, or ful, after them, preserve the letter double: as, harmlessness, carelessness, carelessly, stiffly, successful, distressful, &c. But those words which end with double, and take ness, less, ly, or ful, after them, generally omit one 1, as fulness, skillness, fully, skilful, &c.

Grammar, p. 36. Key, p. 3.

Restlesness of mind disqualifies us, both for the enjoyment of peace, and the performance of our duty. The arrows of calumny fall harmlesly at the feet of virtue.

The road to the blisful regions, is as open to the peasant as to the king.

A chillness or shivering of the body generally precedes a fever.

To recommend virtue to others, our lights must shine brightly, not dullly.

The silent stranger stood amaz❜d to see
Contempt of wealth, and willful poverty.

RULE VII.

Ness, less, ly, and ful, added to words ending with silent e, do not cut it off: as, paleness, guileless, closely, peaceful, except in a few words: as, duly, truly, awful.

The warmth of disputation, distroys that sedateness of mind which is necessary to discover truth.

All these with ceasless praise his works behold,
Both day and night.

In all our reasonings, our minds should be sincerely employed in the pursuit of truth.

Rude behaviour, and indecent language, are peculiarly disgracful to youth of education.

The true worship of God is an important and aweful service.

Wisdom alone is truely fair: folly only appears so.

RULE VIII.

Ment, added to words ending with silent e, generally preserve the e from elision: as, abatement, chastisement, incitement, &c. The words judgement, abridgement, acknowledgment, are deviations from the rule.

Like other terminations it changes y into i, when preceded by a consonant: as, accompany, accompaniment; merry, mer

riment.

Grammar, p. 36. Key, p. 4.

The study of the English language is making daily advancment.

A judicious arrangment of studies facilitates improvement.

To shun allurements is not hard,

To minds resolv'd, forewarn'd, and well prepar'd.

RULE IX.

43

Able and ible, when incorporated into words ending with silent e, almost always cut it off; as, blame, blamable; cure, curable; sense, sensible, &c.; but if c. or g soft comes before e in the original word, the e is then preserved in words compounded with able: as, change, changeable; peace, peaceable, &c.

Grammar, p. 36. Key, p. 4.

Every person and thing connected with self, is apt to appear good and desirable in our eyes.

Errors and misconduct are more excuseable in ignorant, than in well-instructed persons.

The divine laws are not reverseible by those of men. Gratitude is a forcible and active principle in good and generous minds.

Our natural and involuntary defects of body, are not chargable upon us.

We are made to be servicable to others, as well as to ourselves.

RULE X.

When ing or ish is added to words ending with silent e, the e is almost universally omitted: as, place, placing; lodge, lodging; slave, slavish; prude, prudish.

An obliging and humble disposition, is totally unconnected with a servile and cringeing humour.

By solaceing the sorrows of others, the heart is improved, at the same time that our duty is performed. Labour and expense are lost upon a droneish spirit. The inadvertences of youth may be excused, but knavish tricks should meet with severe reproof.

RULE XI.

Words taken into composition, often drop those letters which were superfluous in their simple: as, handful, dunghil, withal, also, chilblain, fortel.

Grammar, p. 36. Key, p. 5.

Love worketh no ill to our neighbour, and is the fullfilling of the law.

That which is sometimes expedient, is not allways so. We may be hurtfull to others, by our example, as well as by personal injuries.

Where diligence opens the door of the understanding, and impartiality keeps it, truth finds an entrance and a wellcome too.

CHAP. II.

Containing instances of false ORTHOGRAPHY, promiscuously disposed.

See the Key, p. 5.

As the learners must be supposed to be tolerably versed in the spelling of words in very familiar use, the Compiler has generally selected, for the following exercises, such words as are less obviously erroneous, and in the use of which young persons are more likely to commit mistakes. Though the instances which he gives of these deviations are not very numerous, yet, it is presumed, they are exhibited with sufficient variety, to show the necessity of care and attention in combining letters and syllables; and to excite the ingenious student to investigate the principles and rules of our Orthography, as well as to distinguish the exceptions and variations which every where attend them.

In rectifying these exercises, the compiler has been governed by Doctor Johnson's Dictionary, as the stan dard of propriety. This work is, indisputably, the best authority for the Orthography of the English language; though the author, in some instances, has made decisions, which are not generally approved, and for which it is not easy to account.

SECT. I.

Key, p. 5.

Neglect no oppurtunity of doing good,

No man can stedily build

upon accidents.

How shall we keep, what sleeping or awake,

A weaker may surprize, a stronger take?

Neither time nor misfortunes should eraze the remembrance of a friend.

Moderation should preside, both in the kitchin and the parlor.

Shall we receive good at the Divine hand, and shall we not receive evil?

In many designs, we may succede and be miserable. We should have sence and virtue enough to recede from our demands, when they appear to be unreasona

ble.

All our comforts proceed from the Father of Good

ness.

The ruin of a state is generally preceded by a universal dsgeneracy of manners, and a contempt of religion.

His father omited nothing in his education, that might render him virtuous and useful.

The daw in the fable was dressed in pilferred ornaments.

A favor confered with delicacy, doubles the obligation.

They tempted their Creator, and limited the Holy One of Izrael.

The precepts of a good education have often recured in the time of need.

We are frequently benefitted by what we have dreaded.

It is no great virtue to live loveingly with good natured and meek persons.

The Christian religion gives a more lovly character of God, than any religion ever did.

Without sinsterous views, they are dextrous managers of their own interest.

Any thing commited to the trust and care of another, is a deposit.

Here finish'd he, and all that he had made
Vieu'd and beheld! All was intirely good.