The same considerations have rendered some alterations, or rather additions necessary in the Exercises, in which some English sentences of a more conversational and idiomatical nature have been thrown. The French Academy has lately fixed the disputed orthography with regard to the ais, instead of ois, in those words in which the latter combination is to be sounded ès, especially in verbs; and with regard also to the plural of words ending in ant, ent, to which they add an s without dropping the t; this has appeared sufficient authority to deviate from the orthography adopted by M. de Levizac in those cases. Besides that it seemed reasonable to abide by the decision of the learned Academy, there was another motive equally important, namely, to facilitate pronunciation by adopting that spelling, which represents the two distinct and different sounds ois, ais, in Anglais, Danois, paraître, croître, and others formerly spelled alike. This also appeared an excellent opportunity to render references easier. For this purpose, the rules have been numbered, one series running from the beginning to the end of the book. Occasional references to various parts of the book, by means of these numbers, will enable the learner to find those rules which are connected with that which is under consideration. With the same view, the Table of Contents has been altered and enlarged. The number of the rules as well as of the page, wherein they are to be found, have both been given. A learner cannot be too well acquainted with the ele mentary book placed in his hands; it is of great moment that he should not only know what the book contains, but where it is to be found. The new table of contents, may, therefore, be considered as a Résumé détaillé of the whole matter. Eton, May 6th, 1836. |