The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

The following PIECE is taken from the Preface to the BRITISH GRAMMAR.

LET, as hear what the judicious Author of an anonymous Letter in Turnbull's Observations on a liberal Education says, concerning the Study of the English Language. Speaking of the Education of Greece, whose Youth were taught to write their own Language more accurately than we are Latin & Greek, asks, "But where is English taught at present? Who thinks it of use to study correctly that Language which he is to use every day in his Life, be his Station ever so high, or ever so insignificant. It is in this the Nobility and Gentry defend their Country, and serve their Prince in Parliament: in this the Lawyers plead, the Divines instruct, and all Ranks of People write their Letters, and transact all their Affairs; and yet who thinks it worth his Learning to write this even accurately, not to say politely? Every one is suffered to form his Style by Chance; to imitate the first wretched Model that falls in his Way, before he knows what is Faulty, or can relish the Beauties of a just Simplicity. Few think their Children qualified for a Trade, till they have been whipped at a Latin School for five or six Years to learn a little of that which they are obliged to forget, when in those Years right Education would have improved their Minds & taught them to acquire Habits of writing their own Language easily under right Direction; and this would have been useful to them as long as they lived."

The same Writer, after making Observations on some other essential Parts of Education, resumes the Subject of an English one, as an Affair of the utmost Consequence. "Particularly, says he, I should think teaching them to write and speak correctly and fluently in their own Language, is the most important Instruction."

How zealous soever a few private Persons may be to recommend the Learning the English Language by Grammar, in our Colleges and Schools; it is so much for the Advantage of those, who have the Government of them, to make the writing English correctly a difficult Business; that nothing less powerful than what forced the Lawyers to bring their Writs in a Language the Juries could understand, will prove effectual.