The Young Gentleman and Ladys Monitor, and English Teachers Assistant | Page 2

our
thoughts with proper expressions, and conveying our ideas, either in
writing or speaking, agreeably, cannot fail of making an impression
upon the hearer or reader. For a man's knowledge is of little use to the
world, when he is not able to convey it properly to others; which is the
case of many who are endowed with excellent parts, but are either
afraid or ashamed of writing, or speaking in public, being conscious of
their own deficiency of expressing themselves in proper terms._
_In order to remedy these defects, and to ease the teacher, I would
advise, that several young gentlemen read in a class, each a sentence in
this book, (it being divided into small portions for that purpose,) as
often as convenient: and let him who reads best, be advanced to the
head, or have some pecuniary reward; and every inferior one according
to his merit; this will create emulation among them, and facilitate their
improvement much more than threats or corrections, which stupifies
and intimidates them, and often ends in contempt of their teachers, and
learning in general. This will draw forth those latent abilities, which
otherwise might lie dormant forever._
_It may not be improper for the teacher, or some good reader, to read a
sentence or two first, that the learners may gain the proper emphasis,
and read without that monotony so painful to a good ear: for they will
improve more by imitating a good reader, than any rules that can be
laid down to them. When they come to read gracefully, let them stand
up in the school and read aloud, in order to take off that bashfulness
generally attending those who are called upon either to read or speak in
public._
_The next thing I would recommend, is the English Grammar (the best
I know of is the Buchanan's syntax) the knowledge of which is
absolutely necessary, as it is the solid foundation upon which all other
science rests. After they have run over the rules of syntax, the teacher
may dictate to them one or more sentences in false English, which they
may correct by their grammar rules, and also find out the various
significations of each word in the dictionary; by which means they will
soon acquire a copious vocabulary, and become acquainted not with
words only, but with things themselves. Let them get those sentences
by heart to speak extempore; which will in some measure, be delivering
their own compositions, and may be repeated as often as convenient.

This will soon give the young gentlemen an idea of the force, elegance,
and beauty of the English language._
_The next thing I would gladly recommend, is that of letter-writing, a
branch of education, which seems to me of the utmost utility, and in
which most of our youth are deficient at their leaving school; being
suffered to form their own style by chance: or imitate the first wretched
model that falls in their way, before they know what is faulty, or can
relish the beauties of a just simplicity._
_For their improvement in this particular, the teacher may cause every
young gentleman to have a slate or paper before him, on Saturdays, and
then dictate a letter to them, either of his own composition, or taken out
of some book, and turn it into false English, to exercise them in the
grammar rules if he thinks proper, which they shall all write down, and
then correct and transcribe it fairly in their books._
_After the young gentlemen have been accustomed to this some time, a
supposed correspondence may be fixt between every two of them, and
write to one another under the inspection of the teacher who may
correct and shew their faults when he sees occasion; by such a method
he will soon find them improve in epistolary writing. The same may be
observed with regard to young ladies, who are very often deficient, not
only in orthography, but every other part of grammar._
_If something similar to this method be pursued, it will soon reflect
honor on the teacher, give the highest satisfaction to judicious parents,
and entail upon the scholar a pleasing and lasting advantage._
THE EDITOR.

CONTENTS.
Pursuit of Knowledge recommended to Youth, Directions how to spend
our Time, Mispent Time how punished, Modesty, Affectation, The
same continued, Good humour and Nature, Friendship, Detraction and
Falshood, The Importance of Punctuality, Exercise and Temperance the
best Preservative of Health, The Duty of Secrecy, Of Cheerfulness, On
the Advantages of a Cheerful Temper, Discretion, Pride, Drunkenness,
Gaming, Whisperers and Giglers complained of, Beauty produced by
Sentiments, Honour, Human Nature, The Advantages of representing
Human Nature in its proper Dignity, Custom a second Nature, On

Cleanliness, The Advantages of a good Education, The Disadvantages
of a bad Education, Learning