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preface. v

regular study could not fail to attain to a real knowledge and ready colloquial use of a new language, and that without being years about it, unless they were altogether wrong in the method of study they adopted. In fact he cannot help declaring it as his opinion that when this subject is fairly grappled with by men, the great supposed obstacles to Intercourse of strange languages will be found, comparatively speaking, a mere bugbear; and that the acquisition of a new language for all the ordinary purposes of life will be found to be within the reach of almost all with a comparatively very small expenditure of time and labour.