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THE EXAMPLES ARE SELECTED FROM THE PUREST WRITERS OF FRANCE, AND THE
RULES FOUNDED ON THE RECENT DECISIONS OF THE FRENCH ACADEMY
AND THE BEST GRAMMARIANS OF THE PRESENT DAY.

By C.-J. DELILLE,

(Membre de l'Athénée des Arts, de la Société Grammaticale, et de l'Institut Historique de Paris.)
Professor of the French Language in Christ's Hospital, the City of London School,
the City of London Literary and Scientific Institution,

the Western Proprietary Grammar School, and

FRENCH EXAMINER IN THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.

FOURTH EDITION.

LONDON:

WHITTAKER AND CO., AVE-MARIA-LANE.

1845.

[Price 5s. 6d.]

PREFACE.

In the study of languages, the pupil's progress depends on a variety of individual characteristics and circumstances, "l'âge de l'élève, ses goûts, ses habitudes, ses connaissances actuelles, son genre particulier d'occupation" Classes, it is well known, supply the valuable stimulus of emulation, and possess this 'great advantage, that they are benefited, not only by what is addressed to them collectively, but also by the various and reiterated observations made to each of the members. Rollin justly observes, that a master who has a numerous class is much more animated than when en tête-à-tête with a single pupil†, and he is therefore more likely to impress upon the minds of his pupils the instruction which he wishes to convey. The efficient direction of learners in classes, with the view to shorten as much as possible the time necessary to be devoted to the study of a language, is a subject of paramount

* Lemare.

This observation is not intended to discourage those who, from a natural timidity, shrink from the publicity of a class. A certain amount of acquirement is of course the fruit of industry, however applied; but, in the study of a living language, practice in conversation is an invaluable help towards the object in view, and therefore every private pupil should avail himself of the advantages which a class affords of communion with others, as soon as he feels sufficient confidence.