Amidst the laudable endeavours for the advancement of the Italian language, it is surprising that an easy and expeditious method of teaching it has been, in a great measure, neglected; and that beginners have hitherto been left without proper assistance. Under this impression, I have composed these Exercises upon the Syntax of Veneroni’s Italian Grammar; with what success I have executed the task, must be submitted to the decision of qualified and impartial judges.

These Exercises comprehend all the difficulties, and idiomatical expressions of the Italian language; the rules and exceptions of which are exemplified after such a method, that a learner cannot fail to become master of that language who has carefully gone through them once or twice.

The examples are of three sorts; the first, immediately following the rule, are short: as nothing farther is designed by them, than to illustrate that particular rule. The second sort are longer, and in them, not only the rule to which they refer, is exemplified, but also the foregoing ones are again brought into practice, the better to imprint them on the memory: since, were it not for this contrivance, learners would forget one rule, while they were learning another; the examples of the third kind, contain all the preceding, and some of the subsequent rules promiscuously; and for these reasons, are not to be attempted, until the student has gone twice at least, through the former part (for I think it advisable they should go through it more than once).

The radical Italian words are interlined, a thing very useful and requisite in a work of this nature, as well to save the trouble of consulting Dictionaries, as to prevent the use of improper terms, and wrong spelling, otherwise unavoidable; and those who wish to learn the Italian language, will thereby be enabled to make a much quicker progress than they could possibly do by the tedious task of searching a Dictionary for the words they require.

I have frequently omitted such words as had been often mentioned before, presuming there was no occasion for such repetition; and in order to excite attention in learners, that they might recollect what they had learned, and exert both their memory and judgment, or, on memory failing them, have recourse to a Dictionary, as a last resource. For these reasons, in the latter part of the Exercises, there are scarcely any Italian words but nouns and verbs, all the other parts of speech having already been gone through.

There is added, by way of Appendix, an Abridgment of the Roman History. As history is one of the most easy and entertaining parts of literature, and as that of the ancient Romans is absolutely necessary to a proper understanding of the Classics, I hope this addition will prove highly beneficial to young beginners.

N. B. Great pains have been taken to render this new Edition of Bottarelli’s Italian Exercises more perfect than any hitherto published. In order to facilitate the Italian pronunciation, the words have been accented according to the plan of Veneroni’s Grammar; the references to Veneroni have been compared, and carefully corrected, and many new ones added, together with several Notes and Remarks. All obsolete and improper phrases have been expunged; and the Chronology of the Roman History has been improved by the addition of Dates to each respective chapter: in short, on account of the many additions, alterations, and improvements, this edition may almost be considered as a new book, and a worthy companion of the celebrated Grammar of Veneroni.

? A new Edition of the Key to these Exercises is just published.