we apply ourselves to it afterward. And yet the want of it will not be effectually Supplied by any other advantages whatso

Dever,

Much practice in the polite world, and a general acquaintance with the best authors, are good helps, but alone will bardly be fufficient: we have writers, who have enjoyed these advantages in their full extent, and yet cannot be recommended as models of an accurate flyle. Much lefs then will what is commonly called Learning serve the purpose; that is, a critical knowledge of ancient languages, and much reading of ancient authors: the greatest Critic and most able Grammarian of the laft age, when he came to apply his Learning and bis Criticism to an English Author, was frequently at a loss in matters of ordinary ufe and common conftruction in bis own Vernacular Idiom.

But perhaps the Notes fubjoined to the following pages will furnish a more convincing argument, than any thing that can be faid here, both of the truth of the charge of inaccuracy brought against our Language as it fubfifts in practice, and of the neceffity of investigating the Principles of it, and studying it Grammatically, if we would attain to a due degree of skill in it. It is with reafon expected of every perfon of a liberal education, and it is indifpenfably required of every one who undertakes to inform or entertain the public, that he should be able to express himfelf with propriety and accuracy. It will evidently appear from thefe Notes, that our best Authors have committed gross mistakes, for want of a due knowledge of English Grammar, or at least a proper attention to the rules of it. The examples there given are fuch as occurred in read

ing, without any very curious or methodical examination: and they might eafily have been much increafed in number by any one, who had leifure or phlegm enough to bave gone through a regular course of reading with this particular view. However, I believe, they may be fufficient to answer the purpose intended; to evince the neceffity of the Study of Grammar in our own Language, and to admonish thofe, who fet up for Authors among us, that they would do well to confider this part of Learning as an object not altogether beneath their regard.

The principal defign of a Grammar of any Language is to teach us to exprefs ourselves with propriety in that Language, and to enable us to judge of every phrafe and form of construction, whether it be right or not. The plain way of doing this, is to lay down rules, and to illuftrate them

by

by examples. But befides fhewing what is right, the matter may be further explained by pointing out what is wrong. I will not take upon me to say, whether we have any Grammar, that sufficiently inftructs us by rule and example; but I am fure we have none, that teaches us what is right by fhewing what is wrong; though this perhaps may prove the more ufeful and effectual method of inftruction.

Befides this principal defign of Grammar in our own Language, there is a fecondary ufe to which it may be applied, and which, I think, is not attended to as it deferves: the facilitating of the acquifition of other languages, whether antient or modern. A good foundation in the General Principles of Grammar is in the first place necessary for all those who are initiated in a learned education; and for all others likewife, who fhall have occafion to furnish themselves with the knowledge of

modern

modern languages. Univerfal Grammar can not be taught abftrattedly: it must be done with reference to fome language already known, in which the terms are to be explained, and the rules exemplified. The learner is fuppofed to be unacquainted with "all but his native tongue; and in what other, confiftently with reafon and common fenfe, can you go about to explain it to him? When he has a competent knowledge of the main principles of Grammar in general exemplified in his own, he then will apply bim felf with great advantage to the study of any other language. To enter at once upon the Science of Grammar, and the Study of a foreign Language, is to encounter two difficulties together, each of which would be much leffened by being taken feparately and in its proper order. For thefe plain reafons a

.

competent Grammatical knowledge of our own Language