BY THE REV. DAVID BLAIR THE TWELFTH EDITION, IMPROVED. LONDON:: Printed by J. Ao Gątav, Great Windmill Street, 1820. Price be. bound STON LEVON AND THE Author of this work has been many years anxious to achieve his present under taking His experience, reason, and feelings, prove to him, that, in the progress of education, Young Persons ought to be enabled to acquire, on all subjects, correct as well as general views, which may serve as food for the mind in after life, and become the basis of further studies in such branches of knowledge, as, at a future period, may gratify their tastes, or accord with their in terests. Early education cannot make adepts in any branch of science. Without sacrificing every other subject to one, it ought, there fore, to embrace the elements of general knowledge, as the tria means of enlarging and exercising the understanding, and qualifying it to engage with advantage in any particular pursuit.. To fill the storehouse of the memory, is the rational business of education; and, at a season of life, too, when the powers of reason have not acquired a useful degree of action. Nor will such general instruction interfere with particular studies, if the tutor be provided with a Text-Book, embracing the foundations of human learning: such, it is presumed, will this volume be found. When the Author compiled his CLASSBook, he was actuated by similar principles; and he believes it is generally felt, that great advantages have accrued to young persons, from the perusal of that work. Every tutor must be sensible, however, that the Class-Book, as a mean of enlarging the sphere of useful knowledge, is rather to be considered as a commentary, than as a key to the temple of Science itself. The CLASSBook has its superior uses; but, through its medium, the building an only be viewed at a distance; the object, then, in the present work, is to lead the young student up the steps of the portico, to open the doors to him, and usher him into that temple where man is raised above his fellows, and placed placed in contact with the good and the illustrious of his species! Without interfering with particular branches of education, all the parts of this work may be rendered familiar within two years: one paragraph may be committed to memory every day; and The Book of Questions may be answered twice over within that period. When this task has been finished, what an accession of varied know ledge will have fallen to the lot of the pupii! -How stored will be his mind, with interesting ideas for contemplation and conversation and how comparatively blank must be the minds of others, who have not enjoyed the same advantages!-Yet, particuJar studies, at the same time, need not be neglected! This book may, indeed, be collateral in labour; although it will prove primary in effect. But the author may be said to be sanguine; he, therefore, forbears to say all to which his hopes prompt him; and leaves his book to speak for itself, and prove its worth, by its actual effects on the rising generation. For the convenience of Tutors, A KEY to the Questions, in the six hundred Questions appended to this work, has recently been published, including Answers to the Questions in Goldsmith's Grammar of Geography, in Barrow's Scripture Questions, Adair's English Questions, and ten other works. Such an auxiliary cannot fail to render the Universal Preceptor, and the other books. on the same plan, particularly acceptable to all Tutors; as it will relieve them from much unnecessary trouble and anxiety. D. B |