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BODL LIBR 27 MAY 1916 OXFORD

PREFACE.

HOUGH it must be confeffed that the

TPublic are in a great

Public are in poffeffion of a great variety of useful Collections, calculated to furnish young perfons with exercises in reading and Speaking; yet there seems to be wanting a further felection for the particular use of Young Ladies. To effect this defirable object, and to enable them, under proper inftructions, to acquire the valuable and pleasing accomplishment of reading with propriety and elegance, by having the choice of a fuitable variety for the purpofe, Mr. CRESWICK, the compiler of this Collection, has felected a series of Ef

fays,

fays, Narratives, Dialogues, Letters, and other compofitions which approach the nearest to the language of eafy and elegant conversation; and upon fuch topics as may be most materially interesting to the Fair Sex; carefully excluding every thought or expreffion which may, in the smallest degree, be injurious to the purity of their morals; together with an elegant and confiderable variety of Poetical Compofitions. The whole with a view to affist them in varying their mode of reading and speaking; and to furnish their minds with a fund of innocent, pleafing, and ufeful ideas.

The relative duties of daughter, wife, mother, friend, and valuable member of society, are forcibly inculcated in this Selection, and fubmitted to the careful perufal and attention of the Female Reader, the encouragement of parents and governeffes, and the approbation of the public.

With regard to the Poetry in this Selection, it has been obferved by perfons of taste and judgment, that thofe who are accustomed to

read

read only one fpecies of poetry, frequently contract a monotonous and difagreeable tone, or a dislike to all other kinds of poetry. It is owing to this, that many poetical compofitions are either overlooked, or read with such diffidence and impropriety, that the hearer is difgufted, the reader difregarded, and the fense destroyed. To remedy this defect, a collection of various kinds of poetry appears the most probable plan; and is accordingly adopted by the Editor of this Work, carefully omitting the insertion of pieces which are to be met with in other Collections of this kind; except in a very few inftances.

Novelty generally gains attention, and attention disposes to diligence.

The many excellent theoretical inftructions already extant, precludes the neceffity of expatiating on that fubject in this Work, efpecially as it is generally acknowledged, that practice, under the direction of an experienced Tutor, capable of enforcing precept by just example, is of much greater efficacy than a multiplicity

multiplicity of rules without the affiftance of fuch a Tutor, in whom greater abilities are requifite than is generally imagined.

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As this Selection has the allurement of much variety, it is hoped that the Female part of the community will receive both advantage and pleasure from it, every part of it recommending fome virtue to their imitation, or giving a pleafing appearance to fome amiable difpofition of the heart.

THE EDITOR..

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