The English reader: or, Pieces in prose and poetry, selected from the best writers, designed to assist young persons to read with propriety and effect; to improve their language and sentiments; and to inculcate some of the most important principles of piety and virtue. : With preliminary observations on the principles of good reading. / By Lindley Murray, author of "English grammar, exercises," &c.

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Author:	Murray, Lindley, 1745-1826.
Title:	The English reader: or, Pieces in prose and poetry, selected from the best writers, designed to assist young persons to read with propriety and effect; to improve their language and sentiments; and to inculcate some of the most important principles of piety and virtue. : With preliminary observations on the principles of good reading. / By Lindley Murray, author of "English grammar, exercises," &c.
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Print source:	The English reader: or, Pieces in prose and poetry, selected from the best writers, designed to assist young persons to read with propriety and effect; to improve their language and sentiments; and to inculcate some of the most important principles of piety and virtue. : With preliminary observations on the principles of good reading. / By Lindley Murray, author of "English grammar, exercises," &c. Murray, Lindley, 1745-1826. Philadelphia:: Printed for J. Ormrod, no. 41, Chesnut-St. B. & J. Johnson, no. 147, High-St. and Joseph & James Crukshank, no. 87, High-St., 1800.
Subject terms:	Readers. Juvenile literature -- Poetry -- 1800. Juvenile literature -- 1800.
URL:	https://name.umdl.umich.edu/N28536.0001.001
How to cite:	For suggestions on citing this text, please see Citing the TCP on the Text Creation Partnership website.

Table of Contents

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title page

PREFACE.

INTRODUCTION.

SECTION I. Proper Loudness of Voice.

SECTION II. Distinctness.

SECTION III. Due Degree of Slowness.

SECTION IV. Propriety of Pronunciation.

SECTION V. Emphasis.

SECTION VI. Tones.

SECTION VII. Pauses.

SECTION VIII. Manner of reading Verse.

CONTENTS.

PART I. PIECES IN PROSE.

chapter

PART II. PIECES IN POETRY.

chapter

THE ENGLISH READER.

PART I. PIECES IN PROSE.

CHAPTER I. SELECT SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS.

SECTION I.

SECTION II.

SECTION III.

SECTION IV.

SECTION V.

SECTION VI.

SECTION VII.

SECTION VIII.

SECTION IX.

SECTION X.

CHAPTER II. NARRATIVE PIECES.

SECTION I. No Rank or Possessions can make the guilty Mind happy.

SECTION II. Change of external Condition often adverse to Virtue.

SECTION III. HAMAN; or, the Misery of Pride.

SECTION IV. ORTOGRUL; or, the Vanity of Riches,

SECTION V. LADY JANE GREY.

SECTION VI. The Hill of Science.

SECTION VII. The Journey of a day; a Picture of Human Life.

CHAPTER III. DIDACTIC PIECES.

SECTION I. The Importance of a good Education.

SECTION II. On Gratitude.

SECTION III. On Forgiveness

SECTION IV. Motives to the practice of Gentleness.

SECTION V. A suspicious Temper the Source of Misery to its Possessor.

SECTION VI. Comforts of Religion:

SECTION VII. Diffidence of our Abilities, a Mark of Wisdom.

SECTION VIII. On the importance of Order in the Distribution of our Time.

SECTION IX. The Dignity of Virtue amidst corrupt Examples.

SECTION X. The Mortifications of Vice greater than those of Virtue.

SECTION XI. On Contentment.

SECTION XII. Rank and Riches afford no Ground for Envy.

SECTION XIII. Patience under Provocations our Interest as well as Duty.

SECTION XIV. Moderation in our Wiss recommended.

SECTION XV. Omniscience and Omnipresence of the DEITY, the Source of Consolation to good Men.

CHAPTER IV. ARGUMENTATIVE PIECES.

SECTION I. Happiness is founded in Rectitude of Conduct.

SECTION II. Virtue Man's highest Interest.

SECTION III. The Injustice of an uncharitable Spirit.

SECTION IV. The Misfortunes of Men mostly chargeable on themselves.

SECTION V. On Disinterested Friendship.

SECTION VI. On the Immortality of the Soul.

CHAPTER V. DESCRIPTIVE PIECES.

SECTION I. The Seasons.

SECTION II. The Cataract of Niagara, in Canada, North America.

SECTION III. The Grotto of Antiparos.

SECTION IV. The Grotto of Artiparos continued.

SECTION V. Earthquake at Catanea.

SECTION VI. Creation.

SECTION VII. On Charity.

SECTION VIII. Prosperity is redoubled to a good Man.

SECTION IX. On the beauties of the Psalms.

SECTION X. Character of ALFRED, King of England.

SECTION XI. Character of QUEEN ELIZABETH.

SECTION XII. On the Slavery of Vice.

SECTION XIII. The Man of Integrity.

SECTION XIV. On Gentleness.

CHAPTER VI. PATHETIC PIECES.

SECTION I. Trial and Execution of the EARL of STRAFFORD, who fell a Sacrifice to the Violence of the Times, in the Reign of CHARLES the First.

SECTION II. An eminent Instance of true Fortitude of Mind.

SECTION III. The good Man's comfort in Affliction.

SECTION IV. The Close of Life.

SECTION V. Exalted Society, and the Renewal of virtuous Connexions, two Sources of future Felicity.

SECTION VI. The Clemency and amiable Character of the Patriarch JOSEPH.

SECTION VII. ALTAMONT. The following account of an affecting exit is related by Dr. Young, who was present at the melancholy scene.

CHAPTER VII. DIALOGUES.

SECTION I. DEMOCRITUS AND HERACLITUS. The Vices and Follies of Men should excite Compassion rather than Ridicule.

SECTION II. DYONYSIUS, PYTHIAS, AND DAMON. Genuine Virtue commands respect, even from the Bad.

SECTION III. LOCK AND BAYLE. Christianity defended against the Cavils of Scepticism.

CHAPTER VIII. PUBLIC SPEECHES.

SECTION I. CICERO against VERRES.

SECTION II. Speech of ADHERBAL to the Roman Senate, imploring their protection against JUGURTHA.

SECTION III. The APOSTLE PAUL's noble defence before FESTUS and AGRIPPA.

SECTION IV. LORD MANSFIELD's Speech in the House of Peers, 1770, on the Bill of preventing the Delays of Justice, by claiming the Privilege of Parliament.

SECTION V. An Address to young Persons.

CHAPTER IX. PROMISCUOUS AND MIXED PIECES.

SECTION I. Earthquake at Calabria, in the year 1638.

SECTION II. Letter from PLINY to GEMINUS.

SECTION III. Letter from PLINY to MARCELLINUS, on the death of an amiable young woman.

SECTION IV. On Discretion.

SECTION V. On the government of our Thoughts.

SECTION VI. On the Evils which flow from unrestrained Passions.

SECTION VII. On the proper State of our Temper, with respect to one another.

SECTION VIII. Excellence of the Christian Religion.

SECTION IX. Reflections occasioned by a Review of the Blessings, pro|nounced by Christ on his Disciples, in his Sermon on the Mount.

SECTION X. Schemes of Life often illusory.

SECTION XI. The Pleasures of virtuous Sensibility.

SECTION XII. On the true Honour of Man.

SECTION XIII. The Influence of Devotion on the Happiness of Life.

SECTION XIV. The planetary and terrestrial Worlds comparatively considered.

SECTION XV. On the Power of Custom, and the Uses to which it may be applied.

SECTION XVI. The Pleasures resulting from a proper Use of our Faculties.

SECTION XVII. Description of Candour.

SECTION XVIII. On the Imperfection of that Happiness which rests solely on worldly Pleasures.

SECTION XIX. What are the real and solid enjoyments of Human Life

SECTION XX. Scale of Beings.

SECTION XXI. Trust in the care of Providence recommended.

SECTION XXII. Piety and Gratitude enliven Prosperity.

SECTION XXIII. Virtue, when deeply rooted, is not subject to the Influence of Fortune.

SECTION XXIV. The Speech of Fabricius, a Roman Ambassador, to King Pyrrhus, who attempted to bribe him to his Interests, by the offer of a great Sum of Money.

SECTION XXV. Character of James I, King of England.

SECTION XXVI. Charles V. Emperor of Germany, resigns his Dominions, and retires from the World.

SECTION XXVII. Continuation of the Emperor CHARLES V.

PART II. PIECES IN POETRY.

CHAPTER I. SELECT SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS.

SECTION I. Short and easy sentences.

SECTION II. Verses in which the lines are of different length.

SECTION III. Verses containing Exclamations, Interrogations, and Paren|theses.

SECTION IV. Verses in various forms.

SECTION V. Verses in which sound corresponds to signification.

SECTION VI. Paragraphs of greater length.

CHAPTER II. NARRATIVE PIECES.

SECTION I. The Bears and the Bees.

SECTION II. The Nightingale and the Glow-worm.

SECTION III. The Trials of Virtue.

SECTION IV. The Youth and the Philosopher.

SECTION V. Discourse between ADAM and EVE, retiring to rest.

SECTION VI. Religion and Death.

CHAPTER III. DIDACTIC PIECES.

SECTION I. The Vanity of Wealth.

SECTION II. Nothing formed in Vain.

SECTION III. On Pride.

SECTION IV. Cruelty to Brutes censured.

SECTION V. A Paraphrase on the latter Part of the 6th Chapter of Matthew.

SECTION VI. The death of a good Man a strong incentive to Virtue.

SECTION VII. Reflections on a Future State, from a Review of Winter.

SECTION VIII. ADAM's Advice to Eve, to avoid Temptation.

SECTION IX. On Procrastination.

SECTION X. That Philosophy, which stops at secondary Causes, reproved.

SECTION XI. Indignant Sentiments on National Prejudices and Hatred; and on Slavery.

CHAPTER IV. DESCRIPTIVE PIECES.

SECTION I. The Morning in Summer.

SECTION II. Rural Sounds, as well as Rural Sights, delightful.

SECTION III. The Rose.

SECTION IV. Care of Birds for their Young.

SECTION V. Liberty and Slavery contrasted. Part of a Letter written from Italy by ADDISON.

SECTION VI. Charity. A Paraphrase on the 13th Chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians.

SECTION VII. Picture of a good Man.

SECTION VIII. The Pleasures of Retirement.

SECTION IX. The Pleasure and Benefit of an improved and well-directed Imagination.

CHAPTER V. PATHETIC PIECES.

SECTION I. The Hermit.

SECTION II. The Beggar's Petition.

SECTION III. Unhappy Close of Life.

SECTION IV. Elegy to Pity.

SECTION V. Verses, supposed to be written by ALEXANDER SELKIRK, dur|ing his solitary Abode in the Island of Juan Fernandez.

SECTION VI. Gratitude.

SECTION VII. A Man perishing in the Snow; from whence Reflections are raised on the Miseries of Life.

SECTION VIII. A Morning Hymn.

CHAPTER VI. PROMISCUOUS AND MIXED PIECES.

SECTION I. Ode to Content.

SECTION II. The Shepherd and the Philosopher.

SECTION III. The road to Happiness open to all Men

SECTION IV. The Goodness of Providence.

SECTION V. The CREATOR's Works attest his Greatness.

SECTION VI. An Address to the DEITY.

SECTION VII. The pursuit of Happiness often ill-directed.

SECTION VIII. The Fire-Side.

SECTION IX. Providence vindicated in the present State of Man.

SECTION X. Selfishness reproved.

SECTION XI. Human Frailty.

SECTION XII. Ode to Peace.

SECTION XIII. Ode to Adversity.

SECTION XIV. The Creation required to praise its Author.

SECTION XV. The Universal Prayer.

SECTION XVI. Conscience.

SECTION XVII. On an Infant.

SECTION XVIII. The Cuckoo.

SECTION XIX. Day. A Pastoral in three parts.

SECTION XX. The Order of Nature.

SECTION XXI. Hymn composed during Sickness.

SECTION XXII. Hymn, on a Review of the Seasons.

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