1l2 ART OF READING AND IFRIT ING. 1. That in words of two syllables, where both are short, or both long, the accent is laid generally on the first, as mantle, private. 2. If the first syllable only be long, the accent is very seldom laid on the last. 3. That where the accent lies on the last syllable, the word is almost always a kind of a compound, and the first syllable is a preposition, as complète, dissólve, pre aènt, retúrn. 4. That in words of three, four, or five syllables, the accent is seldom laid on the two last syllables, but, often on oneof the first, as cèremony, abominable, gnèstionable, visiona- ry. 5. Inwords of six syllables there-are frequently two accents, one on the first, and the other on the fourth, asjústficátion, úrrpltilosóphical, fámiliárity. But after all the rules than can be given, I know not any thing that will lead a child so easily to put the right accent upon words, as tables or catalogues of words disposed according to their accents on the first, second, or third syllables, &c. It must be acknowledged that our language is compounded and mingled with so many languages, that renders thesounds of letters and syllables so very irregular, that it is hardly to be .learned by any rules, withoutlong and particular catalogues of words, or by constant observation and practice. Thusfar have I followed the common method, and written those chapters in the wayof 2uestion and Answer: It is easy for any master to teach children the following chapters in thesame meaner: But it would have taken úp too much room to have written the whole book ill this method. CHAP. XIII. Of the Notes or Points used in Writing. or Printing. AFTER such an account ofletters and syllables as I thought necessary, in order to pronounce single words aright, we come now to consider how they are to be pronounced when they are joined together to make up sentences; and thisis what we call reading in the most proper sense. But before I lay down particular directions how to read, we must takenotice of several sorts of points and marks, that are used in writing or printing, to distinguish the several parts of a sentence, and the several kinds of sentences and ways of writ- ' ing which are used, that the learner may know how to manage his voice, according to the sense. The points or marks, used in writing or printing, may be distinguished into three sorts, and called stops of the voice, notes of affection, and narks in reading. The stops of the voice shew us where to make a pause, or rest, and take breath : and are these four: L Comma , 2. Semicolon ; 3. Colon : 4. Period .
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