and many other orthographical variations, are to be met with in the best modern publications. Some authority for deciding differences of this nature appears to be necessary; and where can we find one of equal pretensions with Dr. Johnson's Dictionary? though a few of his decisions do not appear to be warranted by the principles of etymology and analogy, the stable foundations of his improvements." As the weight of truth and reason, (says Nares in his Elements of Orthoepy,') is irresistible, Dr. Johnson's Dictionary has nearly fixed the external form of our language. Indeed, so convenient is it to have one acknowledged standard to recur to; so much preferable, in matters of this nature, is a trifling degree of irregularity, to a continual change, and fruitless pursuit of unattainable perfection; that it is earnestly to be hoped, that no author will henceforth, on light grounds, be tempted to innovate."

With a view to remedy, in some measure, the inconvenience arising from the uncertainty and perplexity, with which the orthography of the English language is attended, the learner is here presented with such general maxims in spelling primitive and derivative words, as have been almost universally received, with appropriate exercises under each rule.

RULE I.

Monosyllables ending with ƒ, l, or s, preceded by a single vowel, double the final consonant; as, staff, mill, pass. &c. The only exceptions are of, if, as, is, has, was, yes, his, this, us and thus.

Exercises in False Orthography. — It is no great merit to spel properly; but a great defect to do it incorrectly. Jacob worshipped his Creator, leaning on the top of his staf. We may place too little, as wel as too much stres upon dreams. Our manners should be neither gros, nor excessively refined. Can you tel uss any news? - The vicious man is hiss own greatest enemy. Snakes his. A tal man should walk with a long staf.

· RULE II.

Monosyllables ending with any consonant but f, l, or s, and preceded by a single vowel, never double the final consonant: excepting add, ebb, butt, egg, odd, err, inn, bunn, purr and buzz.

Exercises in False Orthography.

A carr signifies a chariot of war, or a small carriage of burden. In the names of druggs and plants, the mistake in a word may endanger life.

Nor undelightful is the ceaseless humm,

To him who muses through the woods at noon.

The finn of a fish is the limb by which he balances his body, and moves in the water. Many a trapp is laid to ensnare the feet of youth. Many thousand families are supported by the simple business of making matts.

RULE III.

Words ending with y preceded by a consonant, form the plurals of nouns, the persons of verbs, verbal nouns, past participles, comparatives, and superlatives, by changing y into i; as, spy, spies: I carry, thou carriest: he carrieth or carries: carrier, carried: happy, happier, happiest. The present participle in ing, retains the y, that i may not be doubled: as carry, carrying: bury, burying. But y, preceded by a vowel, in such instances as the above, is not changed: as, boy, boys, I cloy, he cloyed, &c except in lay, pay, and say, from which are formed, laid, paid, and said, and their compounds, unlaid, unpaid, unsaid, &c.

Exercises in False Orthography. We should subject our fancys to the government of reason. If thou art seeking for the living among the dead, thou wearyest thyself in vain. If we have denyed ourselves sinful pleasures, we shall be great gainers in the end. We shall not be the happyer for possessing talents and affluence, unless we make a right use of them The truly good man is not dismaied by poverty, afflictions or death. The debt still remains unpayed. They layed him in the grave. The monies, thence arising, were appropriated to charitable uses. Delaies are dangerous. The partys appeared by their attornies. The chimnies want sweeping. These vallies are deep. They make long journies.

RULE IV.

Words ending with y, preceded by a consonant, upon assuming an additional syllable beginning with a consonant, commonly change y into i; as happy, happily, happiness. But when y is preceded by a vowel, it is very rarely changed in the additional syllable; as, coy, coyly; boy, boyish, boyhood: annoy, annoyer, annoyance, joy, joyless, joyful.

--

Exercises in False Orthography. It is a great blessing to have a sound mind, uninfluenced by fancyful humors. Common calamities and common blessings fall heavyly upon the envious.. The comelyness of youth are modesty and frankness; of age, condescension and dignity. When we act against conscience, we become the destroiers of our peace. We may be plaiful, and yet innocent; grave and yet corrupt. It is only from general conduct that our true character can be portraied. Many fold blessings attend us on every side.

RULE V.

Monosyllables, and words accented on the last syllable, ending with a single consonant preceded by a single vowel, double that consonant, when they take another syllable beginning with a vowel, as, wit witty thin, thinnish: to abet, an abettor : to begin, a beginner. But if a diphthong precedes, or the accent is on the preceding syllable, the consonant remains single; as, to toil, toiling: to offer, an offering: maid, maiden, &c. Exercises in False Orthography. When we bring the lawmaker into contempt, we have in effect annuled his laws. By defering our repentance we accumulate our sorrows.- The 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 7, 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 7, and take ness, less, ly, or ful after them, generally omit one 1: as fulness, skilless, fully, skilful, &c.

Exercises in False Orthography. — Restlesness of mind disqualifies us, both for the enjoyment of peace, and the performance of our duty. The arrows of caluinny 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 and not dullly. The silent stranger stood amazed to see Contempt of wealth and willful poverty.

RULE VII.

Ness, less, ly, and full, 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.

Exercises in False Orthography. The warmth of disputation destroys that sedatness of mind, which is necessary to discover truth.

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

In all our reasoning, our mind should be sincerly employed in the pursuit of truth. Rude behaviour and indecent language are peculiarly disgracful to youth of educa tion. 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 preserves the e from elision; as abatement, chastisement, incitement, &c. The words judgment, abridgment, acknowledgment, are deviations from the rule. Like other terminations, ment changes y into i, when preceded by a consonant; as, accompany, accompaniment: merry, merriment.

Exercises in False Orthography. The study of the English Language is making daily advancment. A judicious arrangment of studies facilitates improvment. The judge

ments of heaven will surely overtake the wicked. There are many abridgements of Murray's grammer.

To shun allurments is not hard

To minds resolv'd forwarn'd and well prepared.

RULE IX.

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 orignal word, the e is then preserved in words compounded with able: as change, changeable: peace, peaceable, &c.

Exercises in fulse Orthography. Every person and thing connected with self, is apt to appear good and desireable in our eyes. Eriors 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 forceible 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,

Exercises in false Orthography. An obligeing and humble disposition is totally unconnected with a servile and cringeing humor. By solaceing the sorrows of others, the heart is improved, at the same time, that our duty is performed. The inadvertences of youth may be excused, but knaveish tricks should meet with severe reproof.

RULE XI.

Compounded words are generally spelled in the same manner as the simple words of which they are formed: as glasshouse, thereby, hereby. Many words ending with double 7, are exceptions to this rule: as, already, welfare, wilful, fulfil and also the words, wherever, christmas, lammas, &c.

Exercises in False Orthography. The pasover was a eelebrated feast among the Jews. A virtuous woman looketh well to the ways of her houshold These people salute one another by touching the tops of their forheads. That which is sometimes expedient is not allways so. We may be hurtfull to others, by our example as well as by personal injuries. In candid minds, truth finds an entrance, and a wellcome too. Our passtimes should be innocent and they should not occur too frequently.

SECTION 4.- PROMISCUOUS EXERCISES IN FALSE ORTHOGRAPHY. 1. Instances of False Orthography promiscuously disposed, to be rectified by the preceding rules.

His father omited nothing in his education, that might render him virtuous and useful. The daw in the fable was dresed in pilfered ornaments. A favor confered with delicacy, doubles the obligation. They tempted their Creator and limitted the Holy One of Israel. The precepts of a good education have often recured in the time of need. We are frequently benefited 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. Any thing commited to the trust and care of another, is a deposit. It deserves our best skil to inquire into those rules, by which we may guide our judgment. Food, clotheing, and habitations are the rewards of industry.

Receive his council, and securly move;

Entrust thy fortune to the Power above.

The acknowledgement of our transgressions must precede the forgiveness of them. Judicious abridgements often aid the studys of youth. Calico is a thinn cloth made of cotton sometimes stained with lively colours. They have made ungratefull returns. A ram will but with his head, though he be brought up tame, and never saw the action. The king of Great Britain is a limitted monarch. The hive is in the best condition when there is the least buz in it. Batterring rams were anciently used to beat down the walls of a city. The harmlesness of many animals should plead for them against cruel usage. We may be very busy to no usefull purpose. We cannot plead in abatment of our guilt, that we are ignorant of our duty. If we sow spareingly we shall reap accordingly.

A fit of sickness is often a kind chastisment. It is a happyness to young persons, when they are preserved from the snares of the world, as in a garden enclosed. Health and peace, the most valueable possessions, are obtained at sinall expense. True happymess is an enemy to pomp and noise. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,

Examine how thy humor is inclined,

And which the ruleing passion of thy mind.

The harvest truely is plenteous but the labourers are few. The greater our incitments to evil, the greater will be our victory and reward. Virtue is placed between two extremes, both of which are equally blamable. To be faithfull, among the faithless argues great strength of principle. Proper seasons should be allotted for retirement. Many have been visitted with afflictions, who have not profited by them. We may be successfull, and yet disappointed. To maintain opinions stifly is no evidence of their truth, or of our moderation. The wicked are often ensnared in the trapp which they lay for others. It is hard to say what diseases are cureable; they are all under the management of Heaven. Instructors should not only be skillfull in those sciences which they teach; but have skill in the method of teaching, and patience in the practice.

How has kind Heaven adorn'd the happy land,
And scattered blessings with a wastful hand!

A steady mind may receive counsel; but there is no hold on a changable humour. Excessive merry ment is the parent of grief. We should study to live peacably with all men. The voice is sometimes obstructed by a hoarsness or viscous phlegm. If we are so conceited as obstinatly to reject all advice, we must expect a direliction of friends. Chronology is the science of computeing and adjusting the periods of time. Let us show diligence in every laudable undertakeing.

A soul that can securly death defy,

And count it nature's privilege to die.

2. Instances of False Orthography promiscuously disposed, to be rectified by Johnson's Dictionary.

Neglect no oportunity of doing good. No man can stedily build upon accident. Neither time nor misfortune should eraze the remembrance of a friend. Moderation should preside, both in the kitchin and parlor. Shall we rece e good at the Divine hand, and shall we not recieve evil? In many designs, we may succede and be miserable. We should have sence and virtue enough to receed from our demands when they appear to be unreasonable. All our comforts procede from the Father of Goodness. The ruin of a state is generally preceeded by a universal degeneracy of manners, and a contempt of religion. Without sinisterious views they are dexterous managers of their own interest. If we lie no restraint upon our lusts, no control upon our apetites and passions, they will hurry us into guilt and misery. An independant is one who, in religious affairs, holds that every congregation is a compleat church.

Following life in cretures we disect,
We lose it in the moment we detect

He faulters at the question;

His fears, his words, his looks declare him guilty.

The glaizer's business was unknown to the antients. The antecedent, in grammer, is the noun or pronoun to which the relative refers. Be not affraid of the wicked; they are under the controul of Providence. Consciousness of guilt may justly afright us. Convey to others no inteligence which you would be ashamed to avow. Many are weighed in the ballance and found wanting. How many disapointments have in their consequences saved a man from ruin! A well-poized mind nakes a chearful countenance. Cinamon is a fragrant bark of a low tree in the iland of Ceylon. We percieve a piece of silver in a bason, when water is poured on it, though we could not discover it before. Virtue imbalms the memory of the good. The phisician may dispence the medicin but providence alone can bless it. In many persuits we imbark. with pleasure, and land sorrowfully. Rocks, mountains, and caverus, are of indispensible use, both to the earth and to man. The roughnesses found on our enterance into the paths of virtue and learning, grow smoother as we advance. That which was once the most beautifull spot of Italy, coverred with pallaces, embellished by princes, and celebrated by poets, has now nothing to show but ruins. Jocky signi fies a man who rides horses in a race; or who deals in horses. However disagreable, we must resolutely perform our duty. Incence signifies perfumes exhailed by fire, and made use of in religious ceremonies. There is an inseperable connection between piety and virtue.

Many actions have a fair complection, which have not sprung from virtue. Which way soever we turn ourselves we are incountered with sensible demonstrations of a

Deity. If we forsake the ways of virtue, we cannot alledge any color of ignorance, or want of instruction. There are more cultivaters of the earth, than of their own hearts. Man is incompassed with dangers innumerable. We should not incourage persons to do what they beleive to be wrong. We should continually have the gaol in our view, which would direct us in the race. The goals were forced open and the prisoners set free. It cannot be said that we are charitible doners, when our gifts proceed from selfish motives. Straight is the gate and narrow the way that lead to life eternal. Integrity leads us strait forward, disdaining all doubleings, and crooked paths. Licenciousness and crimes pave the way to ruin. Words are the countres of wise men, but the money of fools. Recompence to no man evil for evil. He was an excellent person; a mirrour of antient faith in early youth. Meekness controuls our angry passions; candor our severe judgements. He is not only a pious descendent from pious ancesters, but an inheriter too of their virtues. A dispensatory is a place where medicines are dispensed; a dispensary is a book in which the composition of them is described. Faithfulness and judginent are peculiarly requisit in testimentory executors. Mountains appear to be like so many wens or unnatural protuberancies on the face of the earth. In some places the sea incroaches upon the land; in others, the land upon the sea. Philosophers agreed in dispizing riches as the incumbrances of life. Fishes encrease more than beasts or birds, as appears from their numerous spaun. The piramids of Egypt have stood more than three thousand years. Precepts have small influence when not inforced by example. A friend exaggerates a man's virtues, an enemy enflames his crimes. It is laudable to enquire before we determin. The experience of want inhances the value of plenty. Horehound has been famous for its medecinal qualities, but it is now little used. Science strengthens and inlarges the minds of men.

We may enure ourselves by custom, to bear the extremeties of wether without inju ry. Air is sensable to the touch by its motion and by its resistance to bodies moved in it. A polite address is sometimes the cloke of malice. To practice virtue is the sure way to love it. Many things are plausable in theory, which fail in practise. Whatever promotes the interest of the soul, is also conduciv to our present felicity. Let not the sterness of virtue affright us; she will soon become amiable.

The spatious firmament on high,
With all the blue etheriel sky,

And spangled heav'ns a shineing frame,
Their great Originel proclame.

The reu

Passion is the drunkeness of the mind; it supercedes the workings of reason. If we are sincere, we may be assured of an advocate to intersede for us. We ought not to consider the encrease of another's reputation, as diminution of our own. matisin is a painful distemper, supposed to proceed from actid humors. The beautiful and accomplished are too apt to study behaviour rather than virtu. The peazant's cabbin contains as much content as the soverein's pallace. True valor protects the feeble, and humbles the oppresor. David, the son of Jesse, was a wise and valient man. Prophecies and miracles proclamed Jesus Christ to be the Saviour of the world. Esau sold his birthright for a savary mess of pottage. A regular and virteous education, is an inesteemable blessing.

Honor and shame from no condition rise;

Act well your part; their all the honor lies.

The rigor of monkish disiplin often conceals depravity of heart. We should recolect, that however favorable we may be to ourselves, we are rigorously examined by others. Virtu can render youth, as well as old age, honorable. Rumor often tells fals tales. Weak minds are rufled by trifling things. The cabage-free is very com mon in the Caribee islands, where it grows to a prodigious heighth. Visit the sick, feed the hungry, cloath the naked. His smiles and tears are to artifitial to be relied on. The most essensial virtues of a Christian, are love to God and benevolence to man. We should be chearful without levity. A calender signifies a register of the year; and a calendar, a press in which clothier's smooth their cloth. Integrity and hope are the sure paliatives of sorrow. Camomile is an od: riferous plant, and possesses considerable medicinal virtues. The gaiety of youth should be tempered by the precepts of age. Certainty, even on distresful occasions, is sometimes more elligible than suspense.