OR,

useful and entertaining

PASSAGES in PROSE,

Selected for the Improvement

of Young ersons

being similar in Design to
ELEGANT EXTRACTS in POETRY,

LONDON':

Printed for B.Law, I. Johnson, (Dilly, G.G.& J.Robinson, T. Cadell, W. Richardson,
Sewell, ExC.Rivington, R.Baldwin, JEdwards, R.Faulder, Ogilvy & Son, J.Cuthell.
Clarke & Son, W.Lowndes, B.&White, G&T. Wilkie, J.Walker EWingrave. P. Wynne,
TNLongman, T.Cadell, Jun", &W.Davies, J.Scatcherd, W. Bent IKay Verner &
Hood, D Walker, J.Anderson, Lackington & Allen, G.Kearsley TBoorey W. Miller;
-1707-
Lee & Hurst, Murray &Highley, S.Bagster, JHamilton & Clawthorne..

ADVERTISEMENT

TO THE SEVENTH AND LAST EDITION.

THERE cannot be a doubt but that a Book, like this, purpofely adapted to the ufe of young perfons of both fexes, copious beyond former examples, fingularly various in its contents, felected from writers whofe characters are established without controverfy, abounding with entertainment and useful information, inculcating the pureft principles of morality and religion, and difplaying excellent models of style and language, muft effectually contribute to the improvement of the RISING GENERATION in knowledge, tafte, and virtue. The Public have, indeed, already felt and acknowledged by the leaft fallible proof, their general reception of it, its great utility. It has been adopted in all the moft refpectable places of education, and has foron the feeds of excellence, which may one day arrive at maturity, and add to the happiness both of the community and of human nature.

What ENGLISH book fimilar to this volume, calculated entirely for the use of young students at schools, and under private tuition, was to be found in the days of our fathers? None certainly. The confequence was, that the ENGLISH PART of education (to many the most important part) was defective even in places most celebrated for claffic difcipline; and boys were often enabled to read Latin perfectly, and write it tolerably, who, from the difufe, or the want of models for practice, were wretchedly qualified to do either in their native language. From this unhappy circumstance, claffical education was brought into fome degree of difgrace; and prepofterous it certainly was, to ftudy during many of the best years of life, foreign and dead languages, with the moft fcrupulous accuracy, and at the fame time entirely to neglect that mother tongue, which is in daily and hourly requifition; to be well read in TULLY, and a total stranger to ADDISON; to have HOMER and HORACE by heart, and to know little more than the names of MILTON and POPE.

·