OF

ENGLISH COMPOSITION;

DESIGNED AS

A PRACTICAL INTRODUCTION

то

CORRECTNESS AND PERSPICUITY IN WRITING,
AND TO THE STUDY OF CRITICISM.

WITH COPIOUS EXERCISES

For the Use of Schools.

BY ALEXANDER REID, A. M.,

Rector of the Circus-Place School, Edinburgh; Author of "Rudiments of
English Grammar," &c.

EDINBURGH:

PUBLISHED BY

OLIVER & BOYD, TWEEDDALE COURT;

AND

SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & CO., LONDON.

1839.

263.

[ENTERED IN STATIONERS' HALL.]

Printed by Oliver & Boyd,

Tweeddale Court, High Street, Edinburgh.

PREFACE.

IN the following Work, the Author has attempted to supply a want, which he has himself long felt in the course of his professional labours, namely, a Practical Introduction to the Composition of the English Language. It is designed as a sequel to the ordinary textbooks on Grammar; while it is, at the same time, so arranged, that it may be studied with advantage, even by those who have been but imperfectly instructed in that department of education. Part I. is meant to guide to correctness in Spelling, Punctuation, the Use of Words, and the Structure and Arrangement of Sentences; Part II., to correctness and perspicuity in Style, and to a tasteful use of ornament in writing; and Part III., to the practice of the preceding Rules and Exercises in various kinds of Original Composition. If the Author has at all succeeded in realizing his own intentions, the book will be found useful in teaching such as are their own instructors, or have time for only a school education, to express their ideas with sufficient perspicuity and taste for their purposes in life; while to those who are to have the advantage of making higher attainments in learning, it will serve as a practical initiation into the critical study of the English Language and Litera

ture.