First edition, an instance of James Hamilton's remarkable "Hamiltonian system" for the teaching of a language - the full text of this collection of fables is given in Italian alone, and then in an interlinear translation with alternating lines of English and Italian. Hamilton (1769-1829) himself learnt German by listening to a French émigré read aloud a German text while translating every word. Inspired by the rapidity with which he learned German by this method, Hamilton developed this into his own system for teaching various languages. He published interlinear texts in English and another language, allowing the student to make direct comparisons between words and phrases; grammar is not taught in the publications and left for the student to approach later, rather than teaching it simultaneously with, and as integral to, vocabulary. Over 14 years Hamilton moved across Hamburg, America, and Britain, publishing his interlinear translations and founding schools and education classes to promote his system. He spent over £1,000 on marketing by 1826, and effectively linked his system to himself, despite the existence of interlinear texts as a tool for learning a language at least back to antiquity, albeit with Hamilton developing and promoting the system far beyond any of his predecessors. Hamilton's approach, deliberately setting itself against the way language was traditionally taught and dismissing teacher's traditional methods, led to many attacks by schoolmasters and linguists. So too did his texts come under attack, and his Italian was criticized by professors for its errors. Nonetheless, Hamilton's system appealed to students, especially the self-taught, for its accessibility, its ease of entrance, and the theoretical ability to dispense of the teacher and the test. Nor was it ineffective - John Stuart Mill recalls in his autobiography that he learnt German through the Hamiltonian system. Octavo (175 x 105 mm). Contemporary quarter sheep, spine lettered in gilt, blue marbled sides, yellow edges. Contemporary ownership signature of Margaret Henryson to front pastedown and title page. Spine rubbed, superficial splits to joints but holding, light toning and minor pencilled marginalia. A very good copy.
