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BY THE REV. DAVID BLAIR;
Author of the Class-Book, English Grammar, Models of
Juvenile Letters, Reading Exercises, and Grammar
of Natural and Experimental Philosophy.

FROM THE THIRTEENTH ENGLISH EDITION,
REVISED AND IMPROVED.

GREENFIELD, MASS.
Printed and Published by A. PHELPS.

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L. S.

District Clerk's Office.

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the first day of August, A.D. 1823, in the forty-eighth year of the Independence of the United States of America ANSEL PHELPS, of the said District, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit:

"The Universal Preceptor: being a General Grammar of Arts, Sciences, and Useful Knowledge. By the Rev. David Blair: Author of the Class-Book, English Grammar, Models of Juvenile Letters, Reading Exercises, and Grammar of Natural and Experimental Philosophy. From the Thirteenth English edition, Revised and Improved."

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned ;" and also to an act intitled, "An act supplementary to an act, intitled, An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned; and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of Designing, Engraving and Etching Historical, and other Prints. JNO. W. DAVIS,

Clerk of the District of Massachusetts.

PREFACE.

THE Author of this work has been many years anxious to achieve his present undertaking. 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 interests.

Early education cannot make adepts in any branch of science. Without sacrificing every other subject to one, it ought, therefore, to embrace the elements of general knowledge, as the true means of enlarging and exercising the understanding, and qualifying it to engage with advantage in any particular pursuit.

To fill the store house 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 CLASS-BOOK, 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 Class-book has its superior uses; but, through its medium, the building can 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 in contact with the good and the illustrious of his species!

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