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early in favour of a method grounded in self-evident principles, that so complete a triumph is to be ascribed.

We refer the curious, and learners who may have availed themselves of this work, in order to speedily learn the Spanish language, to read with due attention the Preliminary Discourse of the second edition, and the Introduction to the third edition of Mr. Dufief's "Nature Displayed;" they will see by what simple means, nature produces great effects, and become sensible to what degree the powerful influence of methods, which are the pinions of the mind, may be carried.

Without further preamble, we therefore proceed to the analysis of the work, and to explain the manner of using it, which we submit to our readers, especially to such as are willing to abide by the standard of experience, or, in other words, to give it a fair trial before they condemn it.

The work is comprised in two volumes: the first, which is practical, is by far the more important to the learner, since it enables him to acquire a competent knowledge of the phraseology of the Spanish language.

It contains three vocabularies, collections of conversation and idiomatical phrases, a selection of the most popular Spanish proverbs, which we have endeavoured to render into English by corresponding ones, a Gramática Inglesa, compiled from the best authorities, and an English Reader.

mass of instructors to adopt a method, which instead of being hostile to their interests was friendly to them. The only men who remained servilely attached to the old routine were such as had written paltry grammars, made out of the shreds of other grammars, as is customary, and of course felt a paternal love for their bantling, or such as gave way to that indolence of mind, which prevents the investigation of things, even with people who are interested in them, owing to the labour of attention it requires; a cirumstance which completely disqualifies them from availing themselves of any improvements even on the very science they profess to teach.

* We have followed this edition owing to its numerous advantages over the two first, and only introduced such changes as the difference of genius between the Spanish and English languages imposed upon us, without the least deviation, however, from the original method: a circumstance that proves that it is unquestionably applicable to all languages.

The first vocabulary is that of the names of objects which most frequently occur in conversation: the gender has been carefully affixed to each of them. To every word is adapted a familiar phrase, such as is often used with the word. This familiar phrase renders the fundamental words in each vocabulary more striking: in the same manner as an elegant frame renders the picture it contains more conspicuous. Some verbs, with appropriate phrases, following particular nouns, are designed to describe the actions which those very nouns might naturally bring to the mind on being pronounced, and, on that account, they become a valuable addition to the vocabulary.

In the distribution of this vocabulary, the terms have not been classed in an arbitrary manner; but, on the contrary, the order pointed out by that of our wants in society has been followed as near as possible. The adjectives have been so disposed as to enable the scholar easily and promptly to acquire as perfect a knowledge of the gender of the Spanish adjectives as a Spaniard himself can possess.

The second vocabulary comprises the various kinds of numbers, the principal adjectives, and a sufficient collection of abstract nouns. The numbers are placed at the head of this vocabulary; because, as the ideas relative to numeration so frequently occur to the human understanding, their signs should be known as early as possible.

The third vocabulary is a series of very important words, which are the words forming the link or completion of sense between the other parts of speech, and are known in grammar by the denomination of Articles, Pronouns, Prepositions, Adverbs, Conjunctions, and Interjections. These terms are so essential to the conveyance of our ideas, that we can scarcely utter a single sentence without introducing some of them.

To be more fully convinced of their frequent occurrence, extract them, with the auxiliary verbs to have and to be, from any printed or written page, and little more than two fifths of it will remain behind.

This circumstance will more clearly demonstrate the expedience of furnishing the memory with a supply of those essential words, than all the arguments that can be made.use of to point it out.

The collections of Conversation, Idiomatical Phrases, and of the most popular Spanish Proverbs follow next. In order to obtain this interesting part, numerous and appropriate books were laid under contribution. Many of the phrases wanting to complete the collection were supplied from memory.

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We are now come to the "Gramática Inglesa," which will enable the English student to acquire a thorough knowledge of the syntax of the English language. This work was compiled from the best works for the use of Spaniards wishing to learn English, while Siret, Cobbett, and other eminent grammarians supplied us with valuable remarks, to which we added such as our experience in teaching, and knowledge of the English language suggested.

This volume concludes with the English Reader, a collection of pieces particularly calculated to give the last polish to the acquirement of the English language. In speaking of the manner of using this work, we will show that these two parts, which seem exclusively destined to the English student, will be eminently serviceable to the Spanish student.

It remains to speak of the second volume of this work, which is divided into four parts.

The first part contains an analysis of the various kinds of words of which language is composed. The subject is introduced in the familiar form of conversation, which renders it more lively and intelligible, and relieves the scholar from an incessant series of long and prolix reasoning. In this part the pupil is informed on many points, essential and peculiar to the Spanish language, and gets thus prepared for the Spanish syntax.

The conjugation of verbs will, we trust, be found sufficiently exemplified. We shall not here attempt to expatiate on the system of the celebrated Beauzée and Sicard, concerning the tenses of verbs: we have adopted the same; and have, we hope, in treating on the verb, fully demonstrated its truth and simplicity; but, what will recommend it more than all the arguments that can be advanced in its favour is, the facility of retaining it, and its easy application, not only to the mother tongue, but to every other language which the learner may wish to acquire. However, in order to comply with the wishes of many respectable teachers, we have given the terms of the old nomenclature, along with those of the new.

The second part is altogether grammatical and critical, and contains the most extensive system of Spanish syntax, ever offered to the public.

The third part will give the student a thorough knowledge of mercantile correspondence, of the most approved form of bills of exchange,

promissory notes, bills of lading, invoices, &c., in the Spanish and English languages, for the benefit of the Spanish, American, and British merchant.

This system of mercantile correspondence is entirely new, and has the peculiar advantage of embracing every circumstance of interest or moment, which may occur in mercantile affairs.

The fourth and last part, which concludes this volume, consists of Elegant Extracts in prose and verse, from the most eminent Spanish authors and translators: it may be said to form a garland of the most beautiful and flagrant flowers.

Having now given, we trust, a sufficient account of the objects em braced by this work, the method of using it comes next to be considered.

Of those who wish to be acquainted with it, we have now to request that they will peruse page 1, volume 1, of our book, and then observe the following exemplification.

The Spanish master, or any person who pronounces Spanish well, should read slowly to the learner the first phrase, syllable by syllable. Cómpreme vmd. un pan de tres libras.

The learner must syllabically repeat after his instructor, until his pronunciation is correct.

The same method is followed in other phrases of the same page. The master ought to proceed to pages 138, 213, 269, where a few phrases are to be successively pronounced in the same manner as those in page 1.

In the analysis of the parts of speech, the leamer is to be taught to pronounce one or two tenses of the verb haber.

The master should then proceed to pages 2 and 4, of the same work, and instruct his pupil in the pronunciation of the vowels and

consonants.

The various phrases read to the scholar, with the tenses of the verb haber, he must commit to memory*, as well as all the letters which enter into the composition of every word, never losing sight of this fundamental principle, that the practice of a language, or the

*It is, perhaps, unnecessary to inform the instructor, that the lessons ought to be short at first, that trial may be made of the strength of the learner's memory.

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faculty of speaking it, is solely founded on that retentive faculty of the soul, which grammar can never impart. It will, I believe, be conceded to us, that language and grammar are two different objects, and consequently no way analogous; the former being physical, the latter, metaphysical".

We shall now proceed to recitation, which is here exemplified for the sake of perspicuity.

Master (reads slowly but aloud, vol. i, p. 1). Compreme vmd. un han de tres libras.

Scholar (reciting the English and Spanish phrases successively),

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are to be successively

The other lessons, pages 138, 213, 269, ar

recited in the same manner.

As to the verb haber, vol. ii, the scholar is thus to recite it, without the master's help.

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Grammarians have continually confounded grammar with language, and vice versa. This strange perversion of ideas has been the cause of their ill success all over the world. Instead of boasting of teaching language by grammar (which was, in fact, placing the cart before the horse), they should have said, they taught grammar by language.

† Some may, perhaps, think it unaccountable, that the marginal words are to be recited after the phrases; but if they reflect that it is Nature's process (for a demonstration of this see the Introduction to the third edition of Nature Displayed applied to the French, page xx), and undoubtedly the best, since it teaches the learner to abstract from the phrases such words as he may want to use in combinations of his own, they will ultimately approve the scheme.

By this mode of using this work, it is evident, as the Spanish master has no occasion either for pronouncing or speaking English, that he may carry on

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