_Note_ 6. He bought a new pair of shoes, and an elegant piece of
furniture.
My cousin gave his fine pair of horses for a poor tract of land.
_Note_ 7. The contradictions of impiety are still more
incomprehensible.
It is the most uncertain way that can be devised.
This is a more perfect model than I ever saw before.
_Note_ 8. Which of those two cords is the strongest?
I was at a loss to determine which was the wiser of the three.
RULE XIX.
Adjective pronouns belong to nouns, expressed or understood; as, "_Any_
man, _all_ men."
NOTE 1. The demonstrative adjective pronouns must agree in number
with their nouns; as, "_This_ book, _these_ books; _that_ sort,
_those_ sorts."
2. The pronominal adjectives, _each, every, either, neither,
another_, and _one_, agree with nouns in the singular number only;
as, "_Each_ man, _every_ person, _another_ lesson;" unless the
plural nouns convey a collective idea: as, "_Every_ six months."
3. _Either_ is often improperly employed instead of _each;_ as, "The
king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, sat _either_ of
them on his throne." _Each_ signifies _both_ taken separately;
_either_ implies only _the one_ or _the other_ taken
disjunctively: - "sat _each_ on _his_ throne."
FALSE SYNTAX.
_Note_ 1. Those sort of favors do real injury.
They have been playing this two hours.
These kind of indulgences soften and injure the mind. He saw one
or more persons enter the garden.
_Note_ 2. Let each esteem others better than themselves.
There are bodies, each of which are so small as to be invisible.
Every person, whatever their station may be, are bound by the laws
of morality and religion.
_Note_ 3. On either side of the river was the tree of life.
Nadab and Abihu took either of them his censer.
RULE XX.
Active-transitive verbs govern the objective case; as, "Cesar conquered
_Pompey_;" "Columbus discovered _America_;" "Truth ennobles _her_."
FALSE SYNTAX.
Ye who were dead, hath he quickened.
_Ye_, in the nominative case, is erroneous, because it is the object of
the action expressed by the transitive verb "hath quickened;" and
therefore it should be _you_, in the objective case. _You_ would then be
governed by "hath quickened," agreeably, to Rule 20. _Active-transitive
verbs govern the objective case_.
Who did they entertain so freely?
They who opulence has made proud, and who luxury has corrupted,
cannot relish the simple pleasures of nature.
He and they we know, but who are ye?
She that is negligent, reprove sharply.
He invited my brother and I to pay him a visit.
Who did they send on that mission?
They who he has most injured, he had the greatest reason to love.
RULE XXI.
The verb _to be_ may have the same case after it as before it; as, "_I_
am the _man_;" "I believe _it_ to have been _them;_" "_He_ is the
_thief_."
NOTE 1. When nouns or pronouns next preceding and following the verb
_to be_, signify the _same thing_, they are _in apposition_, and,
therefore, in the _same case_. Rule 21 is predicated on the
principle contained in Rule 7.
2. The verb _to be_ is often understood; as, "The Lord made _me
man_; He made _him what_ he was;" that is, "The Lord made me _to be_
man; He made him _to be that which_ he was." "They desired me to
call _them brethren_;" i.e. _by the name of_ brethren. "They named
_him John_;" i.e. _by the name of_ John; or, by the _name_ John;
putting these two nouns in _apposition_.
FALSE SYNTAX.
I know it to be they.
Improper, because _it_ is in the objective case before the verb "to be,"
and _they_ is in the nominative after; consequently, Rule 21 is
violated. _They_ is in apposition with _it_, therefore _they_ should be
_them_, in the objective after to be, according to Rule 21. (Repeat the
Rule.)
Be composed, it is me.
I would not act thus, if I were him.
Well may you be afraid; it is him, indeed.
Who do you fancy him to to be?
Whom do men say that I am? Whom say ye that I am?
If it was not him, who do you imagine it to have been?
He supposed it was me; but you knew that it was him.
RULE XXII.
Active-intransitive and passive verbs, the verb _to become_, and other
neuter verbs, have the same case after them as before them, when both
words refer to, and signify, the same thing; as, "_Tom_ struts a
_soldier_;" "_Will_ sneaks a _scrivener_;" "_He_ was called _Cesar_;"
"The _general_ was saluted _emperor_;" "_They_ have become _fools_."
NOTE 1. Active-intransitive verbs sometimes assume a transitive
form, and govern the objective case; as, "_To dream_ a _dream; To
run_ a _race; To walk_ the _horse; To dance_ the _child; To fly_ the
_kite_."
2. According to a usage too common in colloquial style, an agent not
literally the correct one, is employed as the nominative to a
passive verb, which causes the verb to be followed by an _objective_
case without the possibility of supplying before it a preposition:
thus, "_Pitticus_ was offered a large _sum_ by the king;" "_She_ was
promised _them_ (the _jewels_) by her mother;" "_I_ was asked a
_question_." It would be better sense, and more agreeable to the
idiom of our language, to say, "A large _sum_ was offered _to
Pitticus_;" "_They_ were promised _(to) her_;" "A _question_ was put
_to me_."
3. Some passive verbs are formed by using the participles of
compound active verbs. To _smile_, to _wonder_, to _dream_, are
intransitive verbs, for which reason they have no passive voice;
but, to _smile on_, to _wonder at_, to _dream of_, are compound
active-transitive verbs, and, therefore, admit of a passive voice;
as, "He _was smiled on_ by fortune; The accident is not _to be
wondered at_;"
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
"Than _are dreamed of_ in your philosophy."
RULE XXIII.
A verb in the infinitive mood may be governed by a verb, noun,
adjective, participle, or pronoun; as, "_Cease_ to do evil;" "We all
have our _talent_ to be improved;" "She is _eager_ to learn;" "They are
_preparing_ to go;" "Let _him_ do it."
ILLUSTRATION. The supposed principle of _government_ referred to in this
rule, may be thus illustrated. In the sentence, "Cease to do evil," the
peculiar manner in which _cease_ is introduced, _requires_ or _compels_
us to put the verb _do_ in the infinitive mood; and, according to the
genius of our language, we cannot express this act of doing, when thus
connected with _cease_, in any other mood, unless we change the
construction of the sentence. Hence we say, that _cease_ governs the
mood of the verb _do_. Similar remarks may be applied to the words
_talent_, _eager_, _preparing_, and _him_, in the respective examples
under the rule.
Many respectable grammarians refer the government of this mood
invariably to the preposition _to_ prefixed, which word they do not, of
course, consider a part of the verb. Others contend, and with some
plausibility, that this mood is not governed by any particular word. If
we reject the idea of government, as applied to the verb in this mood,
the following rule, if substituted for the foregoing, might, perhaps,
answer all practical purposes.
RULE.
A verb in the infinitive mood, refers to some noun or pronoun, as its
subject or actor.
ILLUSTRATION of the examples under Rule XXIII. "To do" refers to _thou_
understood for its agent; "to be improved" refers to _talent_; "to
learn," to _she_; "to go," to _they_; and "to do," refers to _him_.
NOTE 1. The infinitive mood absolute stands independent of the rest
of the sentence; as, "_To confess_ the truth, I was in fault."
2. The infinitive mood is sometimes governed by conjunctions or
adverbs; as, "An object so high _as to be_ invisible;" "He is wise
_enough to deceive_;" "The army is _about to march_."
RULE XXIV.
The infinitive mood, or part of a sentence, is frequently put as the
nominative case to a verb, or the object of an active-transitive verb;
as, "_To play_ is pleasant;" "Boys love _to play_;" "_That warm climates
shorten life_, is reasonable to suppose;" "He does not consider _how
near he approaches to his end_."
NOTE. _To_, the sign of the infinitive mood, is sometimes properly
omitted; as, "I heard him _say_ it;" instead of, "to _say_ it."
RULE XXV.
The verbs which follow _bid_, _dare_, _need_, _make_, _see_, _hear_,
_feel_, _help_, _let_, and their participles, are in the infinitive mood
without the sign _to_ prefixed; as, "He bids me _come_;" "I dare
_engage_;" "Let me _go_;" "Help me _do it_;" i.e. _to come_, _to go_,
_to do_ it, &c. "He is _hearing_ me _recite_."
FALSE SYNTAX.
Bid him to come.
He durst not to do it without permission.
Hear him to read his lesson.
It is the difference in their conduct, which makes us to approve the
one, and to reject the other.
It is better live on a little, than outlive a great deal.
I wish him not wrestle with his happiness.
RULE XXVI.
Participles have the same government as the verbs have from which they
are derived; as, "I saw the tutor _instructing_ his _pupils_."
NOTE. The present participle with the definite article _the_ before
it, becomes a noun, and must have the preposition _of_ after it.
_The_ and _of_ must both be used, or both be omitted; as, "By _the_
observing _of_ truth, you will command respect;" or, "By observing
truth," &c.
FALSE SYNTAX.
_Note_. We cannot be wise and good without the taking pains for it.
The changing times and seasons, the removing and setting up kings,
belong to Providence alone.
These are the rules of grammar, by observing of which you may avoid
mistakes.
RULE XXVII.
The present participle refers to some noun or pronoun denoting the
subject or actor; as, "I see a _boy running_."
RULE XXVIII.
The perfect participle belongs, like an adjective, to some noun or
pronoun, expressed or understood; as, "I saw the boy _abused_."
NOTE 1. Participles of neuter verbs have the same case after them as
before them; as, "_Pontius Pilate_ being _Governor_ of Judea, and
_Herod_ being _Tetrarch_," &c.
2. A participle with its adjuncts, may sometimes be considered as a
substantive or participial phrase, which phrase may be the subject
of a verb, or the object of a verb or preposition; as, "_Taking from
another without his knowledge or assent_, is called stealing; He
studied to avoid _expressing himself too severely_; I cannot fail of
_having money_, &c.; By _promising much and performing but little_,
we become despicable."
3. As the perfect participle and the imperfect tense of irregular
verbs, are sometimes different in their form, care must be taken
that they be not indiscriminately used. It is frequently said, 'He
begun,' for 'he began;' 'He run,' for 'he ran;' 'He come,' for 'he
came;' the participles being here used instead of the imperfect
tense; and much more frequently is the imperfect tense employed
instead of the participle; as, 'I had wrote,' for 'I had written;'
'I was chose,' for 'I was chosen;' 'I have eat,' for 'I have eaten.'
'He would have spoke;' - _spoken_. 'He overrun his
guide;' - _overran_. 'The sun had rose;' - _risen_.
FALSE SYNTAX.
I seen him. I have saw many a one.
_Seen_ is improper, the perfect participle being used instead of the
imperfect tense of the verb. It ought to be, "I _saw_ him," according to
Note 3, _Have saw_ is also erroneous, the imperfect tense being employed
instead of the perfect participle. The perfect tense of a verb is formed
by combining the auxiliary _have_ with its perfect participle: therefore
the sentence should be written thus, "I have _seen_ many a one:" Note 3.
_Note_ 3. He done me no harm, for I had wrote my letter before he
come home.
Had not that misfortune befel my cousin, he would have went to
Europe long ago.
The sun had already arose, when I began my journey.
Since the work is began, it must be prosecuted.
The French language is spoke in every state in Europe.
He writes as the best authors would have wrote, had they writ on the
same subject.
RULE XXIX.
Adverbs qualify verbs, participles, adjectives, and other adverbs; as,
"A _very good_ pen _writes extremely well_;" "By _living temperately_,"
&c.
NOTE 1. Adverbs are generally set before adjectives or adverbs,
after verbs, or between the auxiliary and the verb; as, "He made a
_very sensible_ discourse, and was _attentively_ heard."
2. When the qualifying word which follows a verb, expresses
_quality_, it must be an adjective, but when it expresses _manner_,
an adverb should be used; as, "She looks _cold;_ She looks _coldly_
on him; He feels _warm;_ He feels _warmly_ the insult offered to
him." If the verb _to be_ can be substituted for the one employed,
an adjective should follow, and not an adverb; as, "She looks _[is]
cold_; The hay smells _[is] sweet_; The fields look _[are] green_;
The apples taste _[are] sour_; The wind blows _[is] fresh_."
3. It is not strictly proper to apply the adverbs _here, there_, and
_where_, to verbs signifying motion, instead of the adverbs _hither,
thither, whither_; thus, "He came _here [hither]_ hastily;" "They
rode _there [thither]_ in two hours;" "_Where [whither]_ will he
go?" But in familiar style, these constructions are so far
sanctioned as sometimes to be admissible.
4. The use of _where_, instead of _in which_, in constructions like
the following, is hardly admissible: "The immortal sages of '76,
formed a charter, _where [in which]_ their rights are boldly
asserted."
5. As the adverbs _hence, thence_, and _whence_, literally supply
the place of a noun and preposition, there appears to be a solecism
in employing a preposition in conjunction with them: "_From whence_
it follows;" "He came _from thence_ since morning." Better,
"_whence_ it follows;" "He came _thence_." The following phrases are
also exceptionable: "The _then_ ministry;" "The _above_ argument;"
"Ask me _never_ so much dowry;" "Charm he _never_ so wisely."
Better, "The ministry _of that time_ or _period_;" "The _preceding_
argument;" "_Ever_ so much dowry;" "_Ever_ so wisely."
FALSE SYNTAX.
_Note_ 1. It cannot be impertinent or ridiculous therefore to
remonstrate.
He was pleasing not often, because he was vain.
These things should be never separated.
We may happily live, though our possessions are small.
RULE XXX.
Two negatives destroy one another, and are generally equivalent to an
affirmative; as, "Such things are _not un_common;" i.e. they are common.
NOTE. When one of the two negatives employed is joined to another
word, it forms a pleasing and delicate variety of expression; as,
"His language, though inelegant, is _not un_grammatical;" that is,
it is grammatical.
But, as two negatives, by destroying each other, are equivalent to
an affirmative, they should not be used when we wish to convey a
_negative_ meaning. The following sentence is therefore inaccurate:
"I can_not_ by _no_ means allow him what his argument must prove."
It should be, "I cannot by _any_ means," &c., or, "I _can_ by _no_
means."
FALSE SYNTAX.
_Note, 2d part_. I don't know nothing about it.
I did not see nobody there. Nothing never affects her.
Be honest, nor take no shape nor semblance of disguise.
There cannot be nothing more insignificant than vanity.
Precept nor discipline is not so forcible as example.
RULE XXXI.
Prepositions govern the objective case; as, "He went _from_ Utica _to_
Rome, and then passed _through_ Redfield."
FALSE SYNTAX.
Each is accountable for hisself.
They settled it among theirselves.
It is not I who he is displeased with.
Who did you go with?
Who did you receive instruction from?
RULE XXXII.
_Home_, and nouns signifying _distance_, time _when_, _how long_, &c.
are generally governed by a preposition _understood_; as, "The horse ran
a mile;" "He came _home_ last June;" "My friend lived four _years_ at
college;" that is, ran _through the space of_ a mile; or, ran _over a
space called_ a mile; _to_ his home _in_ last June; _during_ four years,
&c.
NOTE 1. The prepositions _to_ and _for_ are often understood,
chiefly before the pronouns; as, "Give [to] _me_ a book; Get [for]
_him_ some paper."
2. _To_ or _unto_, is, by some, supposed to be understood after
_like_ and _unlike_; as, "He is _like_ [unto] his brother; She is
_unlike_ [to] him." Others consider this mode of expression an idiom
of the language, and maintain that _like_ governs the objective
following it.
3. Nouns signifying extension, duration, quantity, quality, or
value, are used without a governing word; as, "The Ohio is one
thousand _miles_ long; She is ten _years_ old; My hat is worth ten
_dollars_." These are sometimes considered anomalies. See page 163.
RULE XXXIII.
Conjunctions connect nouns and pronouns in the same case; as, "The
master taught _her_ and _me_ to write;" "_He_ and _she_ are associates."
FALSE SYNTAX.
My brother and him are grammarians.
You and me enjoy great privileges.
Him and I went to the city in company; but John and him returned
without me.
Between you and I there is a great disparity of years.
RULE XXXIV.
Conjunctions generally connect verbs of like moods and tenses; as, "If
thou sincerely _desire, and_ earnestly _pursue_ virtue, she _will_
assuredly _be found_ by thee, _and prove_ a rich reward."
NOTE 1. When different moods and tenses are connected by
conjunctions, the nominative must be repeated; as, "He _may return_,
but _he will_ not _tarry_."
2. Conjunctions implying contingency or doubt, require the
subjunctive mood after them; as, "_If_ he _study_, he will improve."
See pages 135, 145, and 155.
3. The conjunctions _if_, _though_, _unless_, _except_, _whether_,
and _lest_, generally require the subjunctive mood after them.
4. Conjunctions of a positive and absolute nature, implying no
doubt, require the indicative mood; as, "_As_ virtue _advances, so_
vice _recedes_."
FALSE SYNTAX.
Did he not tell me his fault, and entreated me to forgive him?
Professing regard, and to act differently, discovers a base mind.
_Note_ 1. He has gone home, but may return.
The attorney executed the deed, but will write no more.
_Note_ 2. I shall walk to-day, unless it rains.
If he acquires riches, they will corrupt his mind.
RULE XXXV.
A noun or pronoun following the conjunction _than_, _as_, or _but_, is
nominative to a verb, or governed by a verb or preposition, expressed or
understood; as, "Thou art wiser _than_ I [_am_."] "I saw nobody _but_
[_I saw_] him."
NOTE 1. The conjunction _as_, when it is connected with _such_,
_many_, or _same_, is sometimes, though erroneously, called a
_relative pronoun_; as, "Let _such_ as presume to advise others,"
&c.; that is, Let _them who_, &c. See page 116.
2. An ellipsis, or omission of some words, is frequently admitted,
which must be supplied in the mind in order to parse grammatically;
as "Wo is me;" that is, _to_ me; "To sleep all night;" i.e.
_through_ all _the_ night; "He has gone a journey;" i.e. _on_ a
journey; "They walked a league;" i.e. _over a space called_ a
league.
3. When the omission of words would obscure the sense, or weaken its
force, they must be expressed.
4. In the use of prepositions, and words that relate to each other,
we should pay particular regard to the meaning of the words or
sentences which they connect: all the parts of a sentence should
correspond to each other, and a regular and clear construction
throughout should be carefully preserved.
FALSE SYNTAX.
They are much greater gainers than me.
They know how to write as well as him; but he is a better grammarian
than them.
They were all well but him.
None were rewarded but him and me.
Jesus sought none but they who had gone astray.
REMARKS ON THE TENSES.
1. In the use of verbs, and other words and phrases which, _in point of
time_, relate to each other, a due regard to that relation should be
observed.
Instead of saying, "The Lord _hath given_, and the Lord _hath taken_
away;" we should say, "The Lord _gave_, and the Lord _hath taken_ away."
Instead of, "I _remember_ the family more than twenty years;" it should
be, "I _have remembered_ the family more than twenty years."
2. The best rule that can be given for the management of the tenses, and
of words and phrases which, in point of time, relate to each other, is
this very general one; _Observe what the sense necessarily requires_.
To say, "I _have_ visited Washington last summer; I _have seen_ the work
more than a month ago," is not good _sense_. The constructions should
be, "I _visited_ Washington, &c.; I _saw_ the work, &c." "This mode of
expression _has been_ formerly much admired:" - "_was_ formerly much
admired." "If I _had have_ been there;" "If I _had have_ seen him;"
"_Had_ you _have_ known him," are solecisms too gross to need
correction. We can say, I _have_ been, I _had_ been; but what sort of a
tense is, _had have been_? To place _had_ before the _defective_ verb
ought, is an error equally gross and illiterate: - "_had_ ought, _hadn't_
ought." This is as low a vulgarism as the use of _theirn_, _hern_, and
_hizzen_, _tother_, _furder_, _baynt_, _this ere_, I _seed_ it, I
_tell'd_ him.
3. When we refer to a past action or event, and no part of that time in
which it took place; remains, the _imperfect_ tense should be used; but
if there is still remaining some portion of the time in which we declare
that the thing has been done, the _perfect_ tense should be employed.
Thus, we say, "Philosophers _made_ great discoveries in the last
century;" "He _was_ much afflicted last year;" but when we refer to the
present century, year, week, day, &c. we ought to use the _perfect_
tense; as, "Philosophers _have made_ great discoveries in the present
century;" "He _has been_ much afflicted this year;" "I _have read_ the
president's message this week;" "We _have heard_ important news this
morning;" because these events occurred in this century, this year, this
week, and to-day, and still there remains a part of this century, year,
week, and day, of which I speak.
In general, the perfect tense may be applied wherever the action is
connected with the present time, by the actual existence either of the
author of the work, though it may have been performed many centuries
ago; but if neither the author nor the work now remains, the perfect
tense ought not to be employed. Speaking of priests in general, we may
say, "They _have_, in all ages, _claimed_ great powers;" because the
general order of the priesthood still exists; but we cannot properly
say, "The Druid priests _have claimed_ great powers;" because that order
is now extinct. We ought, therefore, to say, "The Druid priests
_claimed_ great powers."
The following examples may serve still farther to illustrate the proper
use and application of the tenses. "My brother has recently been to
Philadelphia." It should be, "_was_ recently at Philadelphia;" because
the adverb _recently_ refers to a time completely past, without any
allusion to the present time. "Charles is grown considerably since I
have seen him the last time." Corrected, "Charles _has_ grown, since I
_saw_ him," &c. "Payment was at length made, but no reason assigned for
its being so long postponed." Corrected, "for its _having been_ so long
postponed." "They were arrived an hour before we reached the
city:" - "They _had_ arrived."
"The workmen will complete the building at the time I take possession of
it." It should be, "will _have completed_ the building," &c. "This
curious piece of workmanship was preserved, and shown to strangers for
more than fifty years past:" - "_has been_ preserved, and _been_ shown to
strangers," &c. "I had rather write than beg:" - "I _would_ rather write
than beg."
"On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty whereof Paul
was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands." It ought to be,
"because he _would know_; or, _being willing to know,_" &c. "The blind
man said, 'Lord, that I might receive my sight;'" "If by any means I
might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." In both these examples,
_may_ would be preferable to _might_. "I feared that I should have lost
the parcel, before I arrived:" - "that I should _lose_." "It would have
afforded me no satisfaction, if I could perform it." It ought to be, "if
I could _have performed_ it;" or, "It _would afford_ me no satisfaction,
if I _could perform_ it." "This dedication may serve for almost any book
that has, is, or shall be published:" - "that _has been_, or _will be
published_."
4. In order to employ the two tenses of the infinitive mood with
propriety, particular attention should be paid to the meaning of what we
express.
Verbs expressive of _hope_, _desire_, _intention_, or _command_, ought
to be followed by the PRESENT tense of the _Infinitive mood_.
"Last week I intended to _have written_," is improper. The intention of
writing was then _present_ with me; and, therefore, the construction
should be, "I intended _to write_." The following examples are also
inaccurate; "I found him better than I expected _to have found_ him;"
"My purpose was, after spending ten months more in commerce, _to have
withdrawn_ my wealth to another country." They should be, "expected _to
find_ him;" "_to withdraw_ my wealth."
"This is a book which proves itself to be written by the person whose
name it bears." It ought to be "which proves itself _to have been
written_," &c. "To see him would have afforded me pleasure all my life."
Corrected, "_To have seen_ him;" or, "_To see_ him _would afford_ me
pleasure," &c. "The arguments were sufficient to have satisfied all who
heard them:" - "were sufficient _to satisfy_." "History painters would
have found it difficult to have invented such a species of
beings:" - "_to invent_ such a species."
5. General and immutable truths ought to be expressed in the _present_
tense.
Instead of saying, "He did not know that eight and twenty _were_ equal
to twenty and eight;" "The preacher said very audibly, that whatever
_was_ useful, _was_ good;" "My opponent would not believe, that virtue
_was_ always advantageous.;" The constructions should be, "_are_ equal
to twenty;" "whatever _is_ useful, _is_ good;" "virtue _is_ always
advantageous."
EXAMPLES IN FALSE SYNTAX PROMISCUOUSLY ARRANGED.
We adore the Divine Being, he who is from eternity to eternity.
On these causes depend all the happiness or misery which exist among
men.
The enemies who we have most to fear, are those of our own hearts.
Is it me or him who you requested to go?
Though great has been his disobedience and his folly, yet if he
sincerely acknowledges his misconduct, he shall be forgiven.
There were, in the metropolis, much to amuse them.
By exercising of our memories, they are improved.
The property of my friend, I mean his books and furniture, were
wholly consumed.
Affluence might give us respect in the eyes of the vulgar, but will
not recommend us to the wise and good.
The cares of this world, they often choke the growth of virtue.
They that honor me, I will honor; and them that despise me, shall be
lightly esteemed.
I intended to have called last week, but could not.
The fields look freshly and gayly since the rain.
The book is printed very neat, and on fine wove paper.
I have recently been in Washington, where I have seen Gen. Andrew
Jackson, he who is now president.
Take the two first, and, if you please, the three last.
The Chinese wall is thirty foot high.
It is an union supported by an hypothesis, merely.
I have saw him who you wrote to; and he would have came back with
me, if he could.
Not one in fifty of those who call themselves deists, understand the
nature of the religion which they reject.
If thou studiest diligently, thou will become learned.
Education is not attended to properly in Spain.
He know'd it was his duty; and he ought, therefore, to do it.
He has little more of the great man besides the title.
Richard acted very independent on the occasion.
We have done no more than it was our duty to have done.
The time of my friend entering on business, soon arrived.
His speech is the most perfect specimen I ever saw.
Calumny and detraction are sparks which, if you do not blow, they
will go out of themselves.
Those two authors have each of them their merit.
Reasons whole pleasure, all the joys of sense,
Lies in three words, health, peace, and competence.
A great mass of rocks thrown together by the hand of nature with
wildness and confusion, strike the mind with more grandeur, than if
they were adjusted to one another with the accuratest symmetry.
A lampoon or a satire do not carry in them robbery or murder.
The side A, with the sides B and C, compose the triangle.
If some persons opportunities were never so favorable, they would be
too indolent to improve.
It is reported that the governor will come here to-morrow.
Beauty and innocence should be never separated.
Extravagance and folly may reduce you to a situation where you will
have much to fear and little to hope.
Not one in fifty of our modern infidels are thoroughly versed in
their knowledge of the Scriptures.
Virtue and mutual confidence is the soul of friendship. Where these
are wanting, disgust or hatred often follow little differences.
An army present a painful sight to a feeling mind.
To do good to them that hate us, and, on no occasion, to seek
revenge, is the duty of a Christian.
The polite, accomplished libertine, is but miserable amidst all his
pleasures: the rude inhabitant of Lapland is happier than him.
There are principles in man, which ever have, and ever will, incline
him to offend.
This is one of the duties which requires great circumspection.
They that honor me, them will I honor.
Every church and sect have opinions peculiar to themselves.
Pericles gained such an ascendant over the minds of the Athenians,
that he might be said to attain a monarchical power in Athens.
Thou, Lord, who hath permitted affliction to come upon us, shall
deliver us from it in due time.
That writer has given us an account of the manner in which
Christianity has formerly been propagated among the heathens.
Though the measure be mysterious, it is not unworthy of your
attention.
In his conduct was treachery, and in his words, faithless
professions. After I visited Europe, I returned to America.
I have not, nor shall not, consent to a proposal so unjust.
I had intended yesterday to have walked out, but I have been again
disappointed.
Five and eight makes thirteen; five from eight leaves three.
If he goes to Saratoga next week, it will make eight times that he
has visited that renowned watering place.
I could not convince him, that a forgiving disposition was nobler
than a revengeful one. I consider the first, one of the brightest
virtues that ever was or can be possessed by man.
The college consists of one great, and several smaller edifices.
He would not believe, that honesty was the best policy.
The edifice was erected sooner than I expected it to have been.
Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth
he not leave the ninety and nine, &c.?
He might have completed his task sooner, but he could not do it
better.
The most ignorant and the most savage tribes of men, when they have
looked round on the earth, and on the heavens, could not avoid
ascribing their origin to some invisible, designing cause, and felt
a propensity to adore their Creator.
* * * * *
CRITICAL NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS.
OBSERVATION 1. The following absurd phrases so common in the sacred desk
and elsewhere, should be carefully avoided by all who regard common
sense: - "Sing the _two first_ and _three last_ verses." Just as if there
could be more than _one_ first and _one_ last. There may be a _first
two_, a _second two_, &c.; a _first three_, a _second three_, a _last
three_. "Within the _two last_ centuries;" "The second syllable of the
_three first_ words;" "The _three first_ of these orthoepists have no
rule by which their pronunciation is regulated:" - "the _last two_
centuries;" "the _first three_ words;" "the _first three_ of these
orthoepists."
2. Adjectives should not be used to express the manner of action. "The
higher the river, the _swifter_ it flows;" "James learns _easier_ than
Juliet; he sees _deeper_ into the millstone than she:" - "the _more
swiftly_ it flows;" "learns _more easily_; _farther_ into the
millstone." "He conducted the _boldest_ of any:" - "the _most boldly_."
3. _More_ requires _than_ after it. The following sentences are
therefore improper: "He was more beloved, but not so much admired, _as_
Cinthio;" "Richard is more active, but not so studious, _as_ his
companion." The legitimate mode of supplying the ellipses in these
constructions, will show their gross impropriety: thus, "He was more
beloved _as_ Cinthio;" "Richard is more active _as_ his companion," &c.
4. Adverbs, as illustrated on page 85, are generally _substitutes_ for
two or more words belonging to other parts of speech. "Will you
accompany me to Europe next summer?" _"Yes."_ "Do you believe that the
voyage will restore your health?" _"No."_ In these examples, the adverbs
_yes_ and _no_, are substitutes for whole sentences, and, therefore, do
not qualify any words understood. _Yes_, in this instance, literally
means, _"I will accompany you to Europe next summer;"_ and _no_, _"I do
not believe that the voyage will restore my health."_ Many other adverbs
are often employed in a similar manner.
_"Firstly,"_ is often improperly used instead of the adverb _first;_ "a
_good deal_," instead of, _much_, or, a _great deal_.
5. A nice distinction should be observed in the use of _such_ and _so_.
The former may be employed in expressing _quality_; the latter, in
expressing a _degree_ of the quality; as, "_Such_ a temper is seldom
found;" "_So_ bad a temper is seldom found." In the following examples,
_so_ should be used instead of _such:_ "He is _such_ an extravagant
young man, that I cannot associate with him;" "I never before saw _such_
large trees."
The affected use of cardinal, instead of ordinal numbers, ought not to
be imitated. "On page _forty-five;"_ "Look at page
_nineteen_;" - _forty-fifth, nineteenth_.
6. In the choice and application of prepositions, particular regard
should be paid to their meaning as established by the idiom of our
language and the best usage. "In my proceedings, I have been actuated
from the conviction, that I was supporting a righteous cause;" "He
should have profited from those golden precepts;" "It is connected to
John with the conjunction _and_;" "Aware that there is, in the minds of
many, a strong predilection in favor of established usages;" "He was
made much on at Argos;" "They are resolved of going;" "The rain has been
falling of a long time;" "It is a work deserving of encouragement."
These examples may be corrected thus, "actuated _by_ the conviction;"
"_by_ those golden precepts;" "_by_ the conjunction and;" "predilection
_for_;" "much _of_ at Argos;" "_on_ going;" "falling a long time;"
"deserving encouragement."
7. The preposition _to_ is used before nouns of place, where they follow
verbs or participles of motion; as, "I went _to_ Washington." But _at_
is employed after the verb _to be_; as, "I have been _at_ Washington;"
"He has been _to_ New York, _to_ home," &c. are improper. The
preposition _in_ is set before countries, cities, and large towns; "He
lives _in_ France, _in_ London, _in_ Philadelphia, _in_ Rochester." But
before single houses, and cities and villages which are in distant
countries, _at_ is commonly used; as, "He lives _at_ Park-place;" "She
resides _at_ Vincennes." People in the northern states may say, "They
live _in_ New Orleans, or, _at_ New Orleans."
8. Passive agents to verbs in the infinitive mood, should not be
employed as active agents. The following are solecisms: "This house to
let;" "Horses and carriages to let;" "Congress has much business to
perform this session;" because the agents, _house_, _horses_ and
_carriages_, and _business_, which are really _passive_, are, according
to these constructions, rendered as active. The expressions should be,
"This house to _be_ let;" "Horses and carriages to _be_ let;" "much
business to _be performed_."
9. AMBIGUITY. - "Nothing is more to be desired than wisdom." Not
_literally_ correct, for _wisdom_ is certainly more to be desired than
_nothing_; but, as a figurative expression, it is well established and
unexceptionable.
"A crow is a large black bird:" - a large, _black - bird_.
"I saw a horse - fly through the window:" - I saw a _horsefly_.
"I saw a ship gliding under full sail through a spy glass." I saw,
through a spy glass, a ship gliding under full sail.
"One may see how the world goes with half an eye." One may see with half
an eye, how the world goes.
"A great stone, that I happened to find, after a long search, by the sea
shore, served me for an anchor." This arrangement of the members and
circumstances of this sentence, confines the speaker's _search to the
sea shore;_ whereas, he meant, "A _large stone, which,_ after a long
search, I happened _to find by the sea shore,_ served me for an anchor."
"I shall only notice those called personal pronouns." I shall notice
_only_ those called personal pronouns.
10. TAUTOLOGY. - Avoid words which add no thing to the sense; such as,
"_Now_ extant, _free_ gratis, _slow_ mope, _cold_ snow, a _hot_ sun, a
_flowing_ stream, a _dull_ blockhead, _wise_ sages." "I am just going to
go there;" I am _about_ to go.
11. ABSURDITIES AND IMPROPRIETIES. - "I can learn him many things."
It ought to be, "I can _teach_ him." To _learn_, is to _acquire_ or