1844 printing of 1844 copyrighted text. The author has a Master of Arts degree and is principal of Black River L. and R. Institute. As indicated by the title, Boyd's compilation is a comprehensive examination of English composition as well as rhetoric, criticism, linguistic history and English literature. Each of the aforementioned sections is covered in great detail; for example, there are sections on spelling, composition style, kinds of composition, the origins of the English language and excerpts from American and British literature. Boyd's introduction indicates that his vast teaching experience has proven to him that there is not a comparable text that is so varied and comprehensive available to the typical English teacher and that such a text was necessary to avoid compiling numerous books for a single class. Some of works included in the compilation: Reid's Rudiments of English Composition, Connel's Catechism of Composition, Beattie's rhetoric, Blair's rhetoric, Montgomery's lectures on poetry and literature, Lacon, Dr. Spring's lectures, Dr. Cheever's lectures. Exercises are included throughout. The Schultz Archive includes the text in its entirety with only pages 242-43 missing. Otherwise, the text is in very good condition.