1853 printing of 1853 copyright text that has been revised and adapted for the use of schools in the United States. The is credited as Reverend Dr. Brewer of Trinity Hall, Cambridge University, and as the author of books on scientific knowledge and Roman history. A guide to English composition based on a vast number of themes referencing history and literature. It's first part contains themes missing either the moral inference or the conclusion. The second part contains themes missing the introduction and historical illustrations. The third part contains themes in which "every division is omitted except the six or eight reasons and the quotations." (The main claims and quotations are provided, and the student is expected to write them together.) The fourth part contains additional subjects for exercise in English, French, Italian, and Latin. There are 200 themes in all. The book is similar to Walker's The Tutor's Assistant. The book suggests methods of use for "the very young," those between eleven and thirteen, and older, advanced students. The Schultz Archive includes the complete text, and it is in fairly good shape. There are a few highlighter marks that obscure text throughout.
No printing information is given. The copyright year is 1856. The author has many years in the business of teaching, according to the preface. Language relates to human nature and grammar is the science of language, according to the author. Bradbury's grammar handbook works through lessons on English grammar from a very basic starting point. The chapters visible on the table of contents are the noun, the pronoun, the adjective, the verb, the adverb, and the preposition. For each grammar point the text makes it originates with a rule, principle or definition, which is to be committed to memory. These rules are followed by questions and examples to assist the student in application of the point. Finally, there are periodic reviews to refresh the students' memories about the various points that have been covered. The Schultz Archive only includes a very brief excerpt of the title page, contents, preface, section on nouns/pronouns and a single page on syntax. The scans are all readable, but the pages are cut maybe a third (maybe less) of the way from the bottom.
1871 printing of 1860 copyrighted text. The author has Master of Arts and is credited as the author of other books. Boyd explains that his composition textbook is a culling together of numerous preceding texts on the topic, specifically, recent English treatises by Williams, Smart, Neil, and Harrison, and the standard works of Blair, Campbell, and Jamieson. He has also consulted the grammars of Clark, Murray, Fowler, Bullions, Goold Brown, Spencer, Greene, Butler, Tower, Bailey, Covell, and Mulligan. He also credits Welche's Analysis of the English Sentence, Tower's Grammar of Composition, Quakenbos's First Lessons And Advanced Course, and Parker's Aids. He claims that his wealth of experience as a teacher on the subject has given him a deeper understanding of what is necessary in a composition textbook. This book works its way through the most minute aspects of composition (capitalization, parts of speech, punctuation, etc.) through to larger concerns (style, hyperbole, subject matter, etc.). For each section, there are detailed lessons and examples. The Schultz Archive includes the entire text; however, there are numerous pages that are repeated or missing. Also, highlighter obscures the readability of some text.
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.