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AN

ENGLISH GRAMMAR :

COMPREHENDING

THE PRINCIPLES AND RULES

OF THE

LANGUAGE,

ILLUSTRATED BY

APPROPRIATE EXERCISES,

AND

A KEY TO THE EXERCISES.

BY LINDLEY MURRAY.

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They who are learning to compose and range their sentences with accuracy
and order, are learning, at the same time, to think with accuracy and order."

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOLUME I.

BLAIR.

THE FOURTH AMERICAN, FROM THE LAST ENGLISH EDITION.
CORRECTED AND MUCH ENLARGED.

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LIBRARY

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PREFACE.

THE author of these volumes made a number of improvements in the last Duodecimo edition of his Grammar; and inserted many critical and explanamany ons of the Ex tory notes, in subsequent editions of the Exercises and the Key; and added, at the end of the Key, a copious Alphabetical Index to all the three books. In consequence of these additions and variations, the proprietors of the works conceived that an improved edition of the whole, in two volumes Octavo, in a large letter, and on superfine paper, with an appropriate title, would not be unacceptable to the public. The author has therefore embraced this opportunity, to revise the Grammar, to enlarge it very considerably, and to adapt the whole to the purposes in view.*

In its present form, the work is designed for the use of persons, who may think it merits a place in their Libraries. To this privilege it may, perhaps, be allowed to aspire, as a work containing an ample exhibition of the principles of English Grammar, and a copious illustration of those principles; with the addition of some positions and discussions, which the author persuades himself are not destitute of originality. It may therefore serve as a book of reference, to refresh the memory, and, in some degree, to employ the curiosity, of persons who are skilled in grammar, as well as to extend the knowledge of those who wish to improve themselves in the art.

In preparing for the Octavo edition, the author examined the most respectable publications on the subject of grammar, that had recently appeared;

* The additions occupy more than Ninety pages of the first volume; and are interspersed throughout the book.

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