The American Preceptor 1811 by Various - 1811

1811. leather. Poor. 4"" X 6.5"". Original Edition Publisher-Printing Location: unknown Date: From 1794 to 1811 Size and Page Count: 4"" X 6.5"" Tall octodecimo, 228 pages Condition: -Poor to Fair- Binding is Good, full Calf Leather with imbossed letters 'DR' on front and rear boards, insect holes on front board (see photo) corners worn. The end papers, title pages are missing and it is MISSING PAGES of 1 through 60 and at the end, pages 223 through 228. ! Information: The American Preceptor was a reader aimed at teaching elocution (speech). First published in 1794 it was widely used in New England schools for the next quarter century. The selections were designed to promote morality and democracy. The preface of The American preceptor states: ""Convinced of the impropriety of instilling false notions into the minds of children, he has not given place to romantic fiction. Although moral essays have not been neglected; yet pleasing and interesting stories, exemplifying moral virtues, were judged best calculated to engage the attention and improve the heart. Tales of love have not gained admission€¦neither a word€¦would 'raise a blush on the cheek of modesty"". Selections (often about two pages in length) draw attention to the evils of slavery, the importance of clemency toward the unfortunate (including one's captive enemies), personal virtue and industry, religious tolerance, and the education of girls.

Some stories recite the acts of a virtuous American Indian, African, Moor, Catholic, or other person--sometimes in contrast to a less virtuous white or Christian character.

Bingham also takes aim at characters who care more about fashion, entertainments, or lapdogs than about honest labor, solid education, and duties within the household. The success of Bingham's books can be attributed in part to the dramatic and narrative interest of many selections. The Strikethrough selections below are on the missing pages from this book. General directions, &c. / Blair -- Select sentences -- A hint to parents / Knox -- On the duty of school boys / Rollin -- The history of Joseph, abridged / Percival -- The short system of virtue and happiness / Knox -- The child trained up for the Gallows / Livingston -- Character of Fidelia / Addison -- History of Jerusalem (Encyclopedia) -- The faithful American dog / Hitchcock -- Filial duty and affection -- The bee -- On the starry heavens / Addison -- Of Queen Mary and the martyrs -- Story of Logan, a Mingo Chief / Jefferson -- The aged prisoner released from the Bastile / Mercier -- Account of Columbus -- Colombia of / Dwight -- Description of Babylon / Middleton -- The sailor and the monkeys -- The brave soldier's revenge -- Oration on female education -- Fernando Cortez and William Penn / Lyttleton -- The whistle / Franklin -- True patriotism, displayed at the Siege of Calais / Hume -- Sublimity of the Scriptures / Habakkuk, St. John -- Anecdote of Montesquieu -- <(Missing from this book) The benevolent pair -- The unfortunate philanthropist / Sparman -- St. Paul's speech before eking Agrippa -- Cruelty to animals / Jenyns -- Speech of Nicolaus -- Integrity -- The little girl's address to the visitants / Mrs. Morton -- Advice to a young tradesman / Franklin -- Parental affection: Story of a bear -- The victim: an Indian story / Bossu -- The art of pleasing / Knox -- Example of Justice and magnanimity -- The Duellists: scene between Edward and Henry -- Speech of Mr. Pitt on the slave trade -- The slaves, an elegy / Merry -- The humane Indian -- The mammoth / Jefferson -- Dialogue upon female education / Lavinia -- Singular adventure of Gen. Putnam / Humphreys -- Extract from Dr. Warren's oration -- Self-interest / Berquin -- On profane swearing -- The triumph of virtue -- Female industry -- The lap-dog -- Extract from Mr. Dawes' oration -- General Washington's resignation -- Speech of a Scythian Ambassador -- The revenge of a great soul -- Cudjoe, the faithful African -- The African Chief / Mr. Morton -- Mercury and a modern fine lady / Lyttleton -- Speech of Publius Scipio -- Speech of Hannibal -- Address of the Inhab. of New-Hampshire / Belknap -- Cicero and Lord Chesterfield / Knox -- Of the elephant / Buffon -- Speech of Mr. Walpole -- Speech of Mr. Pitt -- Story of a second Joseph / Savary -- Scene between Cato and Decius / Addison -- The beggar's petition -- The test of goodness -- Description of Mount Ætna -- Dialogue between two school-boys -- Extract from Mr. J.Q. Adams' oration -- On knowing the world at an early age / Knox -- History of Pocahontas / Chastellux -- Speech of Caius Marius to the Romans -- Fraternal affection -- The importance of studying the English language -- The Hottenot and the lion / Sparman -- Gustavus Vasa and Cristiern / Brooke -- Narrative of four sailors -- Speech of Canuleius -- Description of the Falls of Niagara / Ellicot -- Benevolent affections / Reid -- Messiah / Pope -- Narrative of Mrs. Howe's captivity / Gay -- Mr. Pitt's speech, 1775 -- The lion / Harris -- Story of the grateful Turk -- Brutus and Cassius -- Speech of Demosthenes -- A father's advice to his children / Hale -- On the pulpit and preachers / Cowper -- Brutus' speech on the death of Cesar -- Juba and Syphax / Addison -- General Wolfe's address to his army -- Foscari, the unfortunate Venetian / Moore -- Cicero's oration against Verres -- Dialogue between a tutor and pupil -- A short address to parents / Secker -- The preceptor's address to his scholars / Knox