nounce the printed text of books with the greater facility. Thus, juvenile scholars would not be induced to imagine that, in proportion as they advance in the ready articulation of syllables and words, the true excellence, or beauty of reading, consists wholly in the rapidity with which they are enabled to utter sounds, and to imitate the mechanism of language. Such defect may, however, be rectified, or avoided, by allotting certain hours for reading aloud, in a slow and distinct manner, and in the presence of a person, who is competent to point out errors, or to remind the reader, in case he should relapse into his former volubility.
There are numerous precepts that relate to this useful art; but we cannot specify and illustrate them, here, by proper examples. Those of our readers, who are studious of improvement, will meet with excellent instructions in Mr. Sheridan's Lectures on Elocution, (8vo. 7s.); and especially in Mr. Walker's Elements of Elocution, (2 vols. 8vo. 12s.); in which proper rules are given, in clear and perspicuous language, and enforced by extracts from the best English writers.
Re-animation: See Animation, Cold, &c.
REAPING, the operation of cutting corn, whether by the sickle, or by the scythe.
The most common practice of reaping is with sickles; though, where the scythe can be conveniently employed, it is certainly preferable, on account of its being less fatiguing, and far more expeditious. We are aware of the objections made by farmers against the latter instrument, namely, that it shakes the ear, and consequently numerous grains must be losf; and that considerable quantities are wasted, by the exposed state in which the corn is left, after being cut down. It is farther urged, that mowing is not only injurious to the health of the labourer, but also mixes noxious weeds among the grain; which, when sown the succeeding; year, often completely stifle the growth of the rising crop.
On the other hand, it may be maintained that, if a good scythe be judiciously managed by a skilful mower, the corn will both be cut more regularly, and fall to the ground with less concussion than if a sickle were employed. Thus, if the labourer work in the manner directed in the article Mowing, the objection arising from the unhealthiness of the practice will be completely obviated. On the whole, we are of opinion, that reaping is far more troublesome; and, as the reapers must be continually bending forward, more prejudicial to their health than mowing. To facilitate the latter operation, therefore, we propose to give in its proper place, an account of the best Scythes, that may be most advantageously substituted for sickles.
RECEIPT, in Commerce, is an acquittance or discharge in writing; the purport of which is, that the party has received a certain sum of money, either in full for the whole of a debt, in part, or on account.
As designing persons might attempt to evade the stamp-duty, the legislature has provided that no receipt shall be valid, unless it be written on stamped paper, according to the value or amount of the payment to be made. Besides, there are various penalties imposed by different acts of parliament, on
