As to what is best in itself, or best adapted to the subject in hand, every writer must endeavour to become his own judge.

He who, in any sort of composition, would write with a master's hand, must first apply himself to books with a scholar's diligence.

He must think it worth his while to inform himself, that he may be critical.

Desiring to give the student all the advantage, entertainment, and satisfaction, that can be expected from a work of this kind, I shall subjoin a few brief specimens in illustration of what has been said in the foregoing chapter.

The order of time will be followed _inversely_; and, as Saxon characters are not very easily obtained, or very apt to be read, the Roman letters will be employed for the few examples to which the others would be more appropriate.