The following pages will be found to differ very considerably from the Eton Grammar and those formed more or less on its model—for instance, King Edward VIth's and Dr Kennedy's. On this account the Syntax at least may perhaps require one or two careful readings, before the mode in which it deals with grammatical difficulties be fully apprehended. My object has been in the Accidence to state, as accurately as I could within the limits of a book for learners, the inflexional forms in use among the Romans of the best period; and in the Syntax to explain briefly and precisely the use of them. The examples are chiefly from Cæsar, Cicero, or Livy, or such as they might have written; and have been so chosen and so translated as to give frequent subsidiary hints on Latin construction or English translation. Peculiarities, especially those of earlier or later writers and of the poets generally, have been usually left to be explained by the teacher on their occurrence. If the principles given be correct, such peculiarities will not cause much difficulty.

The leading principles and arrangement of the book, especially the Syntax, are chiefly my own, at least so far as direct help goes; but for details throughout I have made the amplest use of Madvig's Grammar. The facts of the Accidence have been almost entirely either derived from it, or corrected by its aid.