In the preceding list, some of the verbs will be found to be conjugated regularly, as well as irregularly; and those which admit of the regular form are marked with an R. There is a

preference to be given to some of these, which custom and judgment must determine. Those preterits and participles which are first mentioned in the list seem to be the most eligible. The Compilers have not inserted such verbs as are irregular only in familiar writing or discourse, and which are improperly terminated by t, instead of ed: as, learnt, spelt, spilt, &c. These should be avoided in every sort of composition. It is, however, proper to observe, that some contractions of ed into t are unexceptionable: and others, the only established forms of expression, as crept, dwelt, gilt, &c.: and lost, felt, slept, &c. These allowable and necessary contractions must therefore be carefully distinguished by the learner, from those that are exceptionable.

CASTING. OFF COPY.

Take the number of words in a line of manuscript at 20, the lines in a page at 50; we multiply 50 by 20, which will produce 1,000 words in a page; we then multiply 1,000 by 422, which are supposed to be the number of folios in the manuscript, and we shall find it contain 422,000 words. The work being printed in pica 8vo. 20 m's measure, and each line containing 10 words, each page 40 lines the case will stand thus:

MANUSCRIPT.

50X20X422 422,000 |

PRINT.

40X10X1,055=422,000

Example of Casting up Matter, being a Sheet of 12mo, say on Brevier :

The following nouns, chiefly from the dead languages, retain generally their original plurals; those marked R have the English plural also:

SINGULAR.

Aphelion,

aphelia.

Lamina,

laminæ.

Appendix,

appendixes.

asyla. R.

Lyceum,

lycea. R.

Magus,

magi.

Mausoleum,

mausolea.

Automaton,

automata. R.

Menstruum,

menstrua.

Metamorphosis,

metamorphoses.

Miasma,

miasmata.

Monsieur,

messieurs.

DISTRIBUTING.

THE following rules are laid down for the guidance of the young compositor:

He should be cautioned not to take up too much matter at a time; for, let it be borne in mind that if the handful is broken the pie will be in proportion to its size; and that the larger the handful the more likely is it to be broken. Even to those who are not likely often to meet with this accident, the caution is not unnecessary, as too great a weight weakens the wrist, and it is a mistaken notion that it gains time; for if one handful fall into the case it will be more than equivalent to the time saved. When the accident does take place, the pie should be cleared away before any thing else is done.

In taking up a handful, the head of the page should be towards the distributer, which prevents the trouble as well as danger of turning it round, in order to have the nick uppermost. So much matter should only be taken up at a time, as can be conveniently held in the left hand, and not to be higher than the thumb, which guards the ends of the lines from falling.

He should be careful not to throw the letters into the case with their face downwards, as it batters them; neither should he distribute his case too full, for it invariably creates pie.

He should not be impatient to acquire a quick method at first; his principal study should be propriety, though his progress be slow; that attained, expedition will follow from practice, and he will find his advantage in composing from a clean case, though he may be longer in distributing it. A man loses double the time in correcting, that he imagines he saves from quick distribution.

With many compositors much time is unnecessarily lost in looking at the word before they distribute it. By proper attention in the learner he may avoid this, and become, without the appearance of hurry, an expeditious as well as clean distributer. To attain which, we would recommend him never to take more letter between his fingers, than he can conveniently hold, and, if possible, always to take an entire word; to keep his handful on an inclining position, so that the face of the letter may come more immediately under his eye. By proper attention and practice he will become so completely acquainted with the beard or beak of the type, as to know the

meaning of the word he takes from his handful, with the cursory view he may have of it, while in the act of lifting it.

It is to this method that so many in the business are indebted for their expedition and cleanness in distribution; though to an observer the movement of their hands appears but slow. It is not to velocity of movement that compositors are indebted for their expedition, either in composing or distributing-it is to system— without which their attempts may have the appearance of expedition, but produce only fatigue from anxiety and false motion. Therefore to system we would particularly call their attention, and as clean distribution produces clean composition-which not only saves time at the imposing table, but acquires them a respectablé name they cannot be too attentive to that part of their business.

Another material point before distributing is the well-laying up of the form. In this particular many compositors are shamefully remiss, and from this negligence arise inconveniences that lose them more time than if they had taken the first trouble, besides the unpleasantness of working with dirty letter.

The letter-board should always be kept clean, and the bottom as well as the face of the form well washed before it is laid on the board and unlocked; for if any of the dirt remain from the lie brush after it is unlocked, it will sink into the matter instead of running off. This precaution taken, the pages should be well opened, and the whole form washed till the water appears to run from it in a clean state. A form cannot be well laid up without plenty of water. If the form appears particularly dirty, it is best to lock it up again, which works out the filth; then rinse the bottom of it, and proceed as before. The letter once washed perfectly clean, by care, may be kept so afterwards with little trouble.

Many compositors keep a piece of alum in their cases, in order to contract the grain of the skin of their fingers when distributing slippery letter. This is a declaration of want of cleanliness; for had they washed their letter properly, it would not be slippery.

It is sometimes necessary to dry the letter at the fire after distributing. It is particularly recommended not to use the letter after it is in this way dried till it is perfectly cold, as very pernicious effects arise from the antimony, which the heat of the fire brings into action, when joined to the tender particles of the skin. It is always better, where it can be conveniently managed, to distribute at night, or before meals, so that the letter may dry gradually.