ΑΝ ESSA Towards a PRACTICAL English Gramm DESCRIBING THE GENIUS and NATUI A Rational and Plain Acco By JAMES GREENW Extera quid quærat, fua qui Vernacula The FIFTH EDITI LONDON: Printed for J. NOURSE, at the Lamb, oppofit SIR, Y OUR giving me leave to put First Edition of this Efay un your Protection, encourages me y the Fourth there alfo: And indeed ould be great Ingratitude as well nprudence in me, to offer to remove rom that Shade, under which it has ceived both Strength and Security. fides, I could not deny my self the Pl fure of taking Notice, that as your g Senfe, quick Apprehenfion, your re and folid Judgment have diftinguis A 2 you in all the useful Parts of polite Learning: So your paffionate Love towards it, has made you one of its principal Patrons. To thefe Qualifications having joined the Knowledge of Men and Things, you foon found Means of becoming ferviceable to Mankind, in that which is of the greatest Use and Value, the Prefervation and Reftoration of Health, and have attained to that Skill and Knowledge in your Profeffion, which, as the wife Man has observ'd, fhall lift up the Head of the Phyfician, and make him to be had in Admiration in the Sight of Great Men. I am, SIR, Your most Obliged Humble Servant, JAMES GREENWOOD. THE PREFACE. I NEED not, I hope, make any Apology for publishing a Grammar of our Mother Tongue, fince it is too plain and evident, bow neceffary a Performance of this Nature is, and especially for thofe Persons who talk for the moft Part just as they have heard their Parents, Nurfes, or Teachers, (who likewife may happen to be none of the best Speakers) talk; without ever taking the Matter into any farther Confideration: It is indeed poffible that a Young Gentleman or Lady may be enabled to Speak pretty well upon fome Subjects, and entertain a Vifiter with Difcourfe that may be agreeable enough: Yet I do not well fee how they should write any Thing with a tolerable Correctness, unless they bave fome Taste of Grammar, or express themfelves clearly, and deliver their Thoughts by Letter or otherwife, fo as not to lay themselves open to the Cenfure of their Friends, for their blameable Spelling or falfe Syntax. For which Reafon after feveral others, I have endeavoured to explain the Principles of GramA 3 mar |