APPENDIX.

"Know then this truth, (enough for man to know,)"Virtue alone is happiness below."

NOTE. The parenthesis generally denotes a moderate depression of the voice; and, as the parenthetical marks do not supply the place of a point, the clause should be accompanied with every stop which the sense would require, if the parenthetical characters were not used. It ought to terminate with the same kind of point which the member has that precedes it; as "He loves nobly, (I speak of friendship,) who is not jealous when, he has partners of love.""Or why so long (in life if long can be)"Lent Heav'n a parent to the poor and me?"Parentheses, however, containing interrogations or exclamations, form an exception to this rule; as, "If I grant his request, (and who could refuse it?) I shall secure his esteem and attachment."

NOTE. The parenthesis generally denotes a moderate depression of the voice; and, as the parenthetical marks do not supply the place of a point, the clause should be accompanied with every stop which the sense would require, if the parenthetical characters were not used. It ought to terminate with the same kind of point which the member has that precedes it; as "He loves nobly, (I speak of friendship,) who is not jealous when, he has partners of love."

Parentheses, however, containing interrogations or exclamations, form an exception to this rule; as, "If I grant his request, (and who could refuse it?) I shall secure his esteem and attachment."

The Apostrophe is used to abbreviate a word, and also to mark the possessive case of a noun; as, "'tis, forit is;tho,'forthough;o'er, forover;" "Aman'spoverty."

A Quotation marks a sentence taken in the author's own language; as, "The proper study of mankind is man."

When an author represents a person as speaking, the language of that person should be designated by a quotation; as, At my coming in, he said, "You and the physician are come too late." A quotation contained within another, should be distinguished by twosinglecommas; as, "Always remember this ancient maxim 'Know thyself.'"

It is proper to begin with a capital,

1. The first word of every sentence.

2. Proper names, the appellations of the Deity, &c.; as, "James, Cincinnati, the Andes, Huron;" "God, Jehovah, the Almighty the Supreme Being, Providence, the Holy Spirit."

3. Adjectives derived from proper names, the titles of books, nouns which are used as the subject of discourse, the pronounIand the interjectionO, and every line in poetry; as, "American, Grecian, English, French; Irving's Sketch Book, Percival's Poems; I write; Hear, O earth!"

POETRY is the language of passion, or of enlivened imagination.

VERSIFICATION, in English, is the harmonious arrangement of a particular number and variety of accented and unaccented syllables, according to particular laws.

RHYME is the correspondence of the sound of the last syllable in one line, to the sound of the last syllable in another; as,

"O'er the glad waters of the dark-bluesea,"Our thoughts as boundless and our souls asfree."

BLANK VERSE consists in poetical thoughts expressed in regular numbers, but without the correspondence of sound at the end of the lines which constitutes rhyme.

POETICAL FEET consist in a particular arrangement and connexion of a number of accented and unaccented syllables.

They are calledfeet, because it is by their aid that the voice, as it were,stepsalong through the verse in a measured pace.

All poetical feet consist either of two, or of three syllables; and are reducible to eight kinds; four of two syllables, and four of three, as follows:

All poetical feet consist either of two, or of three syllables; and are reducible to eight kinds; four of two syllables, and four of three, as follows:

A Trochee has the first syllable accented, and the last unaccented; as, Hātefŭl, péttish:

Rēstlĕss mōrtăls tōil fŏr nāught.

An Iambus has the first syllable unaccented, and the last accented; as, Bĕtrāy, consíst:

Thĕ sēas shăll wāste, thĕ skīes ĭn smōke dĕcāy.

A Dactyle has the first syllable accented, and the two latter unaccented; as, Lābŏrĕr, póssible:

Frōm thĕ lŏw plēasŭres ŏf thīs făllĕn nātŭre.

An Anapaest has the first two syllables unaccented, and the last accented; as, Cŏntrăvēne, acquiésce:

ăt thĕ clōse ŏf thĕ dāy whĕn thĕ hāmlĕt ĭs stīll.

A Spondee; as, The pāle mōōn: a Pyrrhic; as, ŏn thĕ tall tree: an Amphibrach; as, Dēlightfūl: a Tribrach; as, Numērăblĕ.

GRAMMAR instructs us how to express our thoughts correctly.

RHETORIC teaches us to express them with force and elegance.

The former is generally confined to the correct application of words in constructing single sentences. The latter treats of the proper choice of words, of the happiest method of constructing sentences, of their most advantageous arrangement in forming a discourse, and of the various kinds and qualities of composition. The principles of rhetoric are principally based on those unfolded and illustrated in the science of grammar. Hence, an acquaintance with the latter, and, indeed, with the liberal arts, is a prerequisite to the study of rhetoric and belles-lettres.

The former is generally confined to the correct application of words in constructing single sentences. The latter treats of the proper choice of words, of the happiest method of constructing sentences, of their most advantageous arrangement in forming a discourse, and of the various kinds and qualities of composition. The principles of rhetoric are principally based on those unfolded and illustrated in the science of grammar. Hence, an acquaintance with the latter, and, indeed, with the liberal arts, is a prerequisite to the study of rhetoric and belles-lettres.

It may be laid down as a maxim of eternal truth, thatgood senseis the foundation of all good writing. One who understands a subject well, will scarcely write ill upon it.

Rhetoric, or the art of persuasion, requires in a writer, the union of good sense, and a lively and chaste imagination. It is, then, her province to teach him to embellish his thoughts with elegant and appropriate language, vivid imagery, and an agreeable variety of expression. It ought to be his aim,"To mark the point where sense and dulness meet."

Rhetoric, or the art of persuasion, requires in a writer, the union of good sense, and a lively and chaste imagination. It is, then, her province to teach him to embellish his thoughts with elegant and appropriate language, vivid imagery, and an agreeable variety of expression. It ought to be his aim,

STYLE is the peculiar manner in which we express our conceptions by means of language. It is a picture of the ideas which rise in our minds, and of the order in which they are produced.

The qualities of a good style, may be ranked under two heads.perspicuityandornament.

PERSPICUITY, which is considered the fundamental quality of a good style, claims attention, first, to single words and phrases; and, secondly, to the construction of sentences. When considered with respect to words and phrases, it requires these three qualities,purity,propriety,andprecision.

Purityof language consists in the use of such words and such constructions as belong to the language which we speak, in opposition to words and phrases belonging to other languages, or which are obsolete or new-coined, or employed without proper authority.

Proprietyis the choice of those words which the best usage has appropriated to the ideas which we intend to express by them. It implies their correct and judicious application, in opposition to low expressions, and to words and phrases which would be less significant of the ideas which we wish to convey. It is the union of purity and propriety, which renders style graceful and perspicuous.

Precision, frompræcidere, to cut off, signifies retrenching all superfluities, and pruning the expression in such a manner as to exhibit neither more nor less than an exact copy of the ideas intended to be conveyed.

A proper construction of sentences is of so great importance in every species of composition, that we cannot be too strict or minute in our attention to it.

Elegance of style requires us generally toavoid, many short or long sentences in succession; a monotonous correspondence of one member to another; and the commencing of a piece, section, or paragraph, with a long sentence.

Elegance of style requires us generally toavoid, many short or long sentences in succession; a monotonous correspondence of one member to another; and the commencing of a piece, section, or paragraph, with a long sentence.

The qualities most essential to a perfect sentence, areUnity,Clearness,Strength, andHarmony.

UNITY is an indispensable property of a correct sentence. A sentence implies an arrangement of words in which onlyoneproposition is expressed. It may, indeed, consist of parts; but these parts ought to be so closely bound together, as to make on the mind the impression, not of many objects, but of only one. In order to preserve this unity, the following rules may be useful.

1.In the course of the sentence, the scene should be changed as little as possible.In every sentence there is some leading or governing word, which, if possible, ought to be continued so from the beginning to the end of it. The following sentence is not constructed according to this rule: "After we came to anchor, they put me on shore, where I was saluted by all my friends, who received me with the greatest kindness." In this sentence, though the objects are sufficiently connected, yet, by shifting so frequently the place and the person, thevessel, theshore,we,they,Iandwho, they appear in so disunited a view, that the mind is led to wander for the sense. The sentence is restored to its proper unity by constructing it thus: "Having come to anchor, I was put on shore, where I was saluted by all my friends, who received me with the greatest kindness."2.Never crowd into one sentence things which have so little connexion, that they would bear to be divided into two or more sentences.The violation of this rule produces so unfavorable an effect, that it is safer to err rather by too many short sentences, than by one that is overloaded and confused.3.Avoid all unnecessary parentheses.

1.In the course of the sentence, the scene should be changed as little as possible.In every sentence there is some leading or governing word, which, if possible, ought to be continued so from the beginning to the end of it. The following sentence is not constructed according to this rule: "After we came to anchor, they put me on shore, where I was saluted by all my friends, who received me with the greatest kindness." In this sentence, though the objects are sufficiently connected, yet, by shifting so frequently the place and the person, thevessel, theshore,we,they,Iandwho, they appear in so disunited a view, that the mind is led to wander for the sense. The sentence is restored to its proper unity by constructing it thus: "Having come to anchor, I was put on shore, where I was saluted by all my friends, who received me with the greatest kindness."

2.Never crowd into one sentence things which have so little connexion, that they would bear to be divided into two or more sentences.The violation of this rule produces so unfavorable an effect, that it is safer to err rather by too many short sentences, than by one that is overloaded and confused.

3.Avoid all unnecessary parentheses.

CLEARNESS.Ambiguity, which is opposed to clearness, may arise from a bad choice, or a bad arrangement of words.

A leading rule in the arrangement of sentences, is, thatthose words or members most nearly related, should be placed in the sentence as near to each other as possible, so as thereby to make their mutual relation clearly appear.This rule ought to be observed,

1.In the position of adverbs."By greatness," says Mr. Addison, "I do not only mean the bulk of any single object, but the largeness of a whole view." The improper situation of the adverbonly, in this sentence, renders it a limitation of the verbmean, whereas the author intended to have it qualify the phrase,a single object;thus, "By greatness, I do not mean the bulk of any single objectonly, but the largeness of a whole view."2.In the position of phrases and members."Are these designs which any man who is born a Briton, in any circumstances, in any situation, ought to be ashamed or afraid to avow?" Corrected: "Are these designs which any man who is born a Briton, ought to be ashamed or afraid,in any circumstances,in any situation, to avow?"3.In the position of pronouns.The reference of a pronoun to its noun, should always beso clear that we cannot possibly mistake it:otherwise the noun ought to be repeated. "It is folly to pretend to arm ourselves against the accidents of life, by heaping up treasures, which nothing can protect us against but the good providence of our Heavenly Father."Which, in this sentence, grammatically refers totreasures;and this would convert the whole period into nonsense. The sentence should have been thus constructed, "It is folly to pretend, by heaping up treasures, to arm ourselves against theaccidentsof life, againstwhichnothing can protect us but the good providence of our Heavenly Father."

1.In the position of adverbs."By greatness," says Mr. Addison, "I do not only mean the bulk of any single object, but the largeness of a whole view." The improper situation of the adverbonly, in this sentence, renders it a limitation of the verbmean, whereas the author intended to have it qualify the phrase,a single object;thus, "By greatness, I do not mean the bulk of any single objectonly, but the largeness of a whole view."

2.In the position of phrases and members."Are these designs which any man who is born a Briton, in any circumstances, in any situation, ought to be ashamed or afraid to avow?" Corrected: "Are these designs which any man who is born a Briton, ought to be ashamed or afraid,in any circumstances,in any situation, to avow?"

3.In the position of pronouns.The reference of a pronoun to its noun, should always beso clear that we cannot possibly mistake it:otherwise the noun ought to be repeated. "It is folly to pretend to arm ourselves against the accidents of life, by heaping up treasures, which nothing can protect us against but the good providence of our Heavenly Father."Which, in this sentence, grammatically refers totreasures;and this would convert the whole period into nonsense. The sentence should have been thus constructed, "It is folly to pretend, by heaping up treasures, to arm ourselves against theaccidentsof life, againstwhichnothing can protect us but the good providence of our Heavenly Father."

STRENGTH. By thestrengthof a sentence is meant such an arrangement of its several words and members, as exhibits the sense to the best advantage, and gives every word and member its due weight and force.

1. The first rule for promoting the strength of a sentence, is, totake from it all redundant words and members.Whatever can be easily supplied in the mind, should generally be omitted; thus, "Content with deserving a triumph, he refused the honor of it," is better than to say, "Beingcontent with deserving a triumph." &c. "They returned back again to the same city from whence they came forth." If we expunge from this snort sentencefivewhich are were expletives, it will be much more neat and forcible thus, "They returned to the city whence they came." But we should be cautious of pruning so closely as to give a hardness and dryness to the style. Some leaves must be left to shelter and adorn the fruit.2.Particular attention to the use of copulatives, relatives, and all the particles employed for transition and connexion, is required. In compositions of an elevated character, therelativeshould generally be inserted. An injudicious repetition ofandenfeebles style; but when enumerating objects which we wish to have appear as distinct from each other as possible, it may be repeated with peculiar advantage; thus, "Such a man may fall a victim to power; but truth,andreason,andliberty, would fall with him."3.Dispose of the capital word or words in that part of the sentence in which they will make the most striking impression.4.Cause the members of a sentence to go on rising in their importance one above another. In a sentence of two members, the longer should generally be the concluding one.5.Avoid concluding a sentence with an adverb, a preposition, or any inconsiderable word, unless it be emphatical.6.Where two things are compared or contrasted with each other, a resemblance in the language and construction should be observed.

1. The first rule for promoting the strength of a sentence, is, totake from it all redundant words and members.Whatever can be easily supplied in the mind, should generally be omitted; thus, "Content with deserving a triumph, he refused the honor of it," is better than to say, "Beingcontent with deserving a triumph." &c. "They returned back again to the same city from whence they came forth." If we expunge from this snort sentencefivewhich are were expletives, it will be much more neat and forcible thus, "They returned to the city whence they came." But we should be cautious of pruning so closely as to give a hardness and dryness to the style. Some leaves must be left to shelter and adorn the fruit.

2.Particular attention to the use of copulatives, relatives, and all the particles employed for transition and connexion, is required. In compositions of an elevated character, therelativeshould generally be inserted. An injudicious repetition ofandenfeebles style; but when enumerating objects which we wish to have appear as distinct from each other as possible, it may be repeated with peculiar advantage; thus, "Such a man may fall a victim to power; but truth,andreason,andliberty, would fall with him."

3.Dispose of the capital word or words in that part of the sentence in which they will make the most striking impression.

4.Cause the members of a sentence to go on rising in their importance one above another. In a sentence of two members, the longer should generally be the concluding one.

5.Avoid concluding a sentence with an adverb, a preposition, or any inconsiderable word, unless it be emphatical.

6.Where two things are compared or contrasted with each other, a resemblance in the language and construction should be observed.

Figures of Speech may be described as that language which is prompted either by the imagination, or by the passions. They generally imply some departure from simplicity of expression; and exhibit ideas in a manner more vivid and impressive, than could be done by plain language. Figures have been commonly divided into two great classes; Figures ofWords, and Figures ofThought.

Figures of Words are calledTropes, and consist in a word's being employed to signify something that is different from its original meaning; so that by altering the word, we destroy the figure.

When we say of a person, that he has a finetastein wines, the word taste is used in its common, literal sense; but when we say, he has a finetastefor painting, poetry, or music, we use the word figuratively. "A good man enjoys comfort in the midst of adversity," is simple language; but when it is said, "To the upright there arisethlightindarkness," the same sentiment is expressed in a figurative style,lightis put in the place ofcomfort, anddarknessis used to suggest the idea ofadversity.

When we say of a person, that he has a finetastein wines, the word taste is used in its common, literal sense; but when we say, he has a finetastefor painting, poetry, or music, we use the word figuratively. "A good man enjoys comfort in the midst of adversity," is simple language; but when it is said, "To the upright there arisethlightindarkness," the same sentiment is expressed in a figurative style,lightis put in the place ofcomfort, anddarknessis used to suggest the idea ofadversity.

The following are the most important figures:

1. A METAPHOR is founded on the resemblance which one object bears to another; or, it is a comparison in an abridged form.

When I say of some great minister, "That he upholds the state like apillarwhich supports the weight of a whole edifice," I fairly make a comparison; but when I say of such a minister, "That he is thepillarof the state," the word pillar becomes a metaphor. In the latter construction, the comparison between the minister and a pillar, is made in the mind; but it is expressed without any of the words that denote comparison.Metaphors abound in all writings. In the scriptures they may be found in vast variety. Thus, our blessed Lord is called a vine, a lamb, a lion, &c.; and men, according to their different dispositions, are styled wolves, sheep, dogs, serpents, vipers, &c.Washington Irving, in speaking of the degraded state of the American Aborigines who linger on the borders of the "white settlements," employs the following beautiful metaphor: "The proudpillarof their independence has been shaken down, and the whole moralfabriclies in ruins."

When I say of some great minister, "That he upholds the state like apillarwhich supports the weight of a whole edifice," I fairly make a comparison; but when I say of such a minister, "That he is thepillarof the state," the word pillar becomes a metaphor. In the latter construction, the comparison between the minister and a pillar, is made in the mind; but it is expressed without any of the words that denote comparison.

Metaphors abound in all writings. In the scriptures they may be found in vast variety. Thus, our blessed Lord is called a vine, a lamb, a lion, &c.; and men, according to their different dispositions, are styled wolves, sheep, dogs, serpents, vipers, &c.

Washington Irving, in speaking of the degraded state of the American Aborigines who linger on the borders of the "white settlements," employs the following beautiful metaphor: "The proudpillarof their independence has been shaken down, and the whole moralfabriclies in ruins."

2. AN ALLEGORY may be regarded as a metaphor continued; or it is several metaphors so connected together in sense, as frequently to form a kind of parable or fable. It differs from a single metaphor, in the same manner that a cluster on the vine differs from a single grape.

The following is a fine example of an allegory, taken from the 60th psalm; wherein the people of Israel are represented under the image of a vine. "Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen and planted it. Thou preparedst room before it; and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land. The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars. She sent out her boughs into the sea, and her branches into the river."

The following is a fine example of an allegory, taken from the 60th psalm; wherein the people of Israel are represented under the image of a vine. "Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen and planted it. Thou preparedst room before it; and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land. The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars. She sent out her boughs into the sea, and her branches into the river."

3. A SIMILE or COMPARISON is when the resemblance between two objects, whether real or imaginary, is expressed in form.

Thus, we use a simile, when we say, "The actions of princes are like those great rivers, the course of which every one beholds, but their springs have been seen by few." "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people." "The music of Caryl was like the memory of joys that are past, pleasant and mournful to the soul." "Our Indians are like those wild plants which thrive best in the shade, but which wither when exposed to the influence of the sun.""The Assyrian came down, like the wolf on the fold,And his cohorts were gleaming with purple and gold;And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea,When the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee."

Thus, we use a simile, when we say, "The actions of princes are like those great rivers, the course of which every one beholds, but their springs have been seen by few." "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people." "The music of Caryl was like the memory of joys that are past, pleasant and mournful to the soul." "Our Indians are like those wild plants which thrive best in the shade, but which wither when exposed to the influence of the sun."

4. A METONYMY is where the cause is put for the effect, or the effect for the cause; the container for the thing contained; or the sign for the thing signified.

When we say, "They readMilton," the cause is put for the effect, meaning "Milton'sworks." "Gray hairs should be respected;" here the effect is put for the cause; meaning by "gray hairs,"old age, which produces gray hairs. In the phrase, "The kettle boils," the container is substituted for the thing contained. "He addressed thechair;" that is, the person in the chair.

When we say, "They readMilton," the cause is put for the effect, meaning "Milton'sworks." "Gray hairs should be respected;" here the effect is put for the cause; meaning by "gray hairs,"old age, which produces gray hairs. In the phrase, "The kettle boils," the container is substituted for the thing contained. "He addressed thechair;" that is, the person in the chair.

5. A SYNECDOCHE OR COMPREHENSION. When the whole is put for a part, or a part for the whole; a genus for a species, or a species for a genus; in general, when any thing less, or any thing more, is put for the precise object meant, the figure is called a Synecdoche.

Thus, "A fleet of twentysail, instead of,ships." "Thehorseis a noble animal;" "Thedogis a faithful creature:" here an individual is put for the species. We sometimes use the "head" for theperson, and the "waves" for thesea. In like manner, an attribute may be pat for a subject; as "Youth" for theyoung, the "deep" for thesea.

Thus, "A fleet of twentysail, instead of,ships." "Thehorseis a noble animal;" "Thedogis a faithful creature:" here an individual is put for the species. We sometimes use the "head" for theperson, and the "waves" for thesea. In like manner, an attribute may be pat for a subject; as "Youth" for theyoung, the "deep" for thesea.

6. PERSONIFICATION or PROSOPOPOEIA is that figure by which we attribute life and action to inanimate objects. When we say, "The groundthirstsfor rain," or, "the earthsmileswith plenty;" when we speak of "ambition's beingrestless," or, "a disease's beingdeceitful;" such expressions show the facility, with which the mind can accommodate the properties of living creatures to things that are inanimate.

The following are fine examples of this figure:"Cheer'd with the grateful smell, oldOcean smiles;""The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; andthe desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose."

The following are fine examples of this figure:

7. AN APOSTROPHE is an address to some person, either absent or dead, as if he were present and listening to us. The address is frequently made to a personified object; as, "Death is swallowed up in victory. Odeath!where is thy sting? Ograve!where is thy victory?"

"Weep on the rock of roaring winds, Omaidof Inistore; bend thy fair head over the waves, thou fairer than the ghost of the hills, when it moves in a sun-beam at noon over the silence of Morveu."

"Weep on the rock of roaring winds, Omaidof Inistore; bend thy fair head over the waves, thou fairer than the ghost of the hills, when it moves in a sun-beam at noon over the silence of Morveu."

8. ANTITHESIS. Comparison is founded on the resemblance, antithesis, on the contrast or opposition, of two objects.

Example."If you wish to enrich a person, study not toincreasehisstores, but todiminishhisdesires."

Example."If you wish to enrich a person, study not toincreasehisstores, but todiminishhisdesires."

9. HYPERBOLE or EXAGGERATION consists in magnifying an object beyond its natural bounds. "As swift as the wind; as white as the snow; as slow as a snail;" and the like, are extravagant hyperboles.

"I saw their chief, tall as a rock of ice; his spear, the blasted fir; his shield, the rising moon; he sat on the shore, like a cloud of mist on the bills."

"I saw their chief, tall as a rock of ice; his spear, the blasted fir; his shield, the rising moon; he sat on the shore, like a cloud of mist on the bills."

10. VISION is produced, when, in relating something that is past, we use the present tense, and describe it as actually, passing before our eyes.

11. INTERROGATION. The literal use of an interrogation, is to ask a question; but when men are strongly moved, whatever they would affirm or deny with great earnestness, they naturally put in the form of a question.

Thus Balaam expressed himself to Balak: "The Lord is not man, that he should lie, nor the son of man, that he should repeat. Hath he said it? and shall he not do it? Hath he spoken it? and shall he not make it good?" "Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?"

Thus Balaam expressed himself to Balak: "The Lord is not man, that he should lie, nor the son of man, that he should repeat. Hath he said it? and shall he not do it? Hath he spoken it? and shall he not make it good?" "Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?"

12. EXCLAMATIONS are the effect of strong emotions, such a surprise, admiration, joy, grief, and the like.

"O that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of way-faring men!" "O that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest!"

"O that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of way-faring men!" "O that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest!"

13. IRONY is expressing ourselves in a manner contrary to our thoughts; not with a view to deceive, but to add force to our remarks. We can reprove one for his negligence, by saying, "You have taken great care, indeed."

The prophet Elijah adopted this figure, when he challenged the priests of Baal to prove the truth of their deity. "He mocked them, and said. Cry aloud for he is a god: either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is on a journey, or, peradventure, he sleepeth, and must be waked."

The prophet Elijah adopted this figure, when he challenged the priests of Baal to prove the truth of their deity. "He mocked them, and said. Cry aloud for he is a god: either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is on a journey, or, peradventure, he sleepeth, and must be waked."

14. AMPLIFICATION or CLIMAX consists in heightening all the circumstances of an object or action, which we desire to place in a strong light.

Cicero gives a lively instance of this figure, when he says, "It is a crime to put a Roman citizen in bonds: it is the height of guilt to scourge him; little less than parricide to put him to death: what name, then, shall I give to the act of crucifying him?"

Cicero gives a lively instance of this figure, when he says, "It is a crime to put a Roman citizen in bonds: it is the height of guilt to scourge him; little less than parricide to put him to death: what name, then, shall I give to the act of crucifying him?"

RULE 4. Frequent commission of sinhardensmen in it. Great painshavebeen taken, &c.—isseldom found. The sincereare, &c.—ishappy. Whatavail, &c.—Disappointmentssink—the renewal of hopegives, &c.—iswithout limit,hasbeen conferred upon us.—Thoucanstnot heal—but thoumaystdo, &c.—consiststhe happiness, &c.—Whotouchedst, ordidst touchIsaiah's hallowed lips with fire.Note 1.Andwilt thounever be to Heaven resigned?—Andwhohad great abilities, &c.Note 2.Are peace and honor.—wascontroversy.RULE 7.Themthat you visited.—himthat was mentioned.—hewho preached repentance, &c.—theywho died.—hewho succeeded.RULE 8. Time and tidewait,&c.—removemountains.—areboth uncertain.—dwellwith, &c.—affectthe mind, &c.—Whatsignifythe counsel and care, &c.—arenow perished.—Whyarewhiteness and coldness, &c.—bindthemcontinually, &c.—rendertheirpossessor, &c.—Thereareerror and discrepance—whichshow, &c.RULE 9.Isthe same in idea.—isin the porphyry.—isremarkable, &c.—whichmovesmerely asit ismoved.—affectsus, &c.—Man's happiness or miseryis, in a great measure, &c.—foritmay be, &c.—wasblameworthy.RULE 10. The nationispowerful.—The fleetwasseen, &c.—The churchhas, &c.—is, or ought to be, theobject, &c.—itis feeble.RULE 11. My peopledo, &c.—The multitude eagerlypursuepleasure astheir, &c.—weredivided intheirsentiments, andthey havereferred, &c.—The peoplerejoice—givethemsorrow.RULE 12.Homer'sworks are, &c.—Asa'sheart.James Hart'sbook.Note 1.It was themen,women, and children's lot, &c. or,It was the lot ofthe men, women, and children.—Peter,John, and Andrew's, &c.Note 2.This isCampbellthe poet's production; or,The production of Campbell, &c.—The silk was purchased at Brown's themercerandhaberdasher.Note4. Thepupil'scomposing, &c.—rule'sbeing observed.—of thepresident'sneglecting to lay it before the council.RULE 13. Ofhisaudience.—putiton Jacob.—sprinklethem—and they shall, &c.—ofhisreputation.Note. You were blamed; youwereworthy.—wherewereyou?—how fatwereyou?RULE 14. Whohastbeen, &c.—who isthe sixththat haslosthis lifeby this means.Who all my senseconfinedst;or,didst confine.Note. Andwho broughtesthim forth out of Ur.RULE 15,Whoshall be sent, &c.—This is the manwho, &c.RULE 16. Theyto whommuch is given, &c.—with whomyou associate &c.—whomI greatly respect, &c.—whomwe ought to love, andto whom, &c—Theywhomconscience, &c.—Withwhomdid you walk?—Whomdid you see?—Towhomdid you give the book?RULE 17. Who gave John those books?We.—himwho lives in Pearl street—My brother andhe.—SheandI.RULE 18:Note2. Thirtytuns.—twentyfeet—one hundredfathoms.Note6. He bought a pair ofnewshoes—piece ofelegantfurniture.—pair offinehorses—tract ofpoorland.Note7. Are still moredifficult to be comprehended.—mostdoubtful, orprecariousway, &c.—This model comes nearer perfection than any I, &c.RULE 19:Note. Thatsort.—thesetwo hours.—Thiskind, &c.—He saw oneperson, or morethan one, enter the garden.Note2. Better thanhimself.—isso small.—hisstation may be,isbound by the laws.Note3. Oneachside, &c.—tookeachhis censer.RULE 20.Whomdid they, &c.—Theywhomopulence,—whomluxury, &c.—Himandthemwe know, &c.—Herthat is negligent, &c.—my brother andme&c.—Whomdid they send, &c.—Them whomhe, &c.RULE 21. It isI.—If I werehe.—it ishe, indeed.—Whomdo you, &c.—Whodo men say, &c.—andwhosay ye, &c.—whomdo you imagine it to have been?—it wasI; but you knew that it washe.RULE 25. Bid himcome—durst notdoit.—Hear himread,&c.—makes usapproveandreject, &c.—bettertolive—thantooutlive, &c.—towrestle.RULE 26:Note. The takingofpains: or, without taking pains, &c.—The changingoftimes,—the removing and setting upofkings.RULE 28:Note3. Hedidme—I hadwritten—hecamehome.—befallenmy cousin—he would havegone.—alreadyrisen.—isbegun.—isspoken.—would havewritten—had theywritten, &c.RULE 29:Note1. It cannot,therefore, be, &c.—he wasnot oftenpleasing.—shouldneverbe separated.—We may livehappily, &c.RULE 30:Note. I don't knowany thing; or, Iknownothing, &c.—I did not seeanybody; or, I sawnobody, &c.—Nothing everaffectsher.—andtake no shapeorsemblance, &c.—Therecanbe nothing, &c.—Neitherpreceptnordiscipline is so forcible as example.RULE 31. Forhimself.—amongthemselves.—with whomhe is, &c.—With whomdid, &c.—From whomdid you receive instruction?RULE 33. My brother andhe, &c.—You andI, &c.Heand I—John andhe, &c.—Between you andme, &c.RULE 34. Andentreatme, &c.—andactingdifferently, &c.Note1. Buthemay return—buthewill write no more.Note2. Unless itrain.—If heacquireriches, &c.RULE 35. ThanI—as well ashe, thanthey.—buthe.—butheandI.—butthemwho had gone astray.Promiscuous Examples.—Himwho is from eternity, &c.—dependsall the happiness,—whichexists, &c.—the enemieswhom, &c.—Is itIorhe whomyou requested?—Though greathavebeen,—sincerelyacknowledge.—Therewas, in the metropolis.—exercising our memories.—wasconsumed.—Affluencemaygive—butitwill not.—of this world often choke.—Themthat honor,—andtheythat despise.—I intendedto calllast week.—the fields lookfreshandgay.—veryneatly, finely wovenpaper.—where IsawGen. Andrew Jackson,himwho.—Take thefirst two,—last three.—thirtyfeethigh.—aunion,—ahypothesis.—I haveseenhimto whomyou wrote, he would havecomeback, orreturned.—understandsthe nature,—herejects.—If thoustudy,—thouwiltbecome.—is notproperlyattended to.—Heknew.—therefore, tohavedone it,—thanthe title.—veryindependently.—duty todo.—myfriend'sentering.—is thebestspecimen, or itcomes nearerperfectionthan any, &c.—blowthem, will go, &c.—Each of those two authors has hismerit.—Reason'swhole,—liein.—strikesthe mind,—than ifthe parts had been adjusted,—withperfectsymmetry.Satiredoesnot carry init.—composesthe triangle.—persons'opportunities wereever.—Ithas beenreported.—shouldneverbe.—situationin which.—isthoroughly versed inhis.—arethe soul,—followslittle.—An armypresents.—arethedutiesof a christian.—happier thanhe.—alwayshaveinclined, andwhich alwayswill incline him to offend.—whichrequiregreat.—Themthat honor me, will I.—hasopinions peculiar toitself.—thatit maybe saidhe attainedmonarchical.—hastpermitted,—wiltdeliver.—wasformerly propagated.—the measureis,—unworthy your.—werefaithless.—After Ihadvisited.—nor shallI, consent.—Yesterday I intended towalkout, butwas.—makeorarethirteen,—leavethree.—If hego,—makethe eighth timethat hewill havevisited.—isnobler.—was possessed, orthat evercan be.—one greatedifice,—smallerones.—honestyis.—it tobe.—willfollow me,—Ishalldwell.—isgone astray.—he could, nothave done.—feelinga propensity.

RULE 4. Frequent commission of sinhardensmen in it. Great painshavebeen taken, &c.—isseldom found. The sincereare, &c.—ishappy. Whatavail, &c.—Disappointmentssink—the renewal of hopegives, &c.—iswithout limit,hasbeen conferred upon us.—Thoucanstnot heal—but thoumaystdo, &c.—consiststhe happiness, &c.—Whotouchedst, ordidst touchIsaiah's hallowed lips with fire.

Note 1.Andwilt thounever be to Heaven resigned?—Andwhohad great abilities, &c.

Note 2.Are peace and honor.—wascontroversy.

RULE 7.Themthat you visited.—himthat was mentioned.—hewho preached repentance, &c.—theywho died.—hewho succeeded.

RULE 8. Time and tidewait,&c.—removemountains.—areboth uncertain.—dwellwith, &c.—affectthe mind, &c.—Whatsignifythe counsel and care, &c.—arenow perished.—Whyarewhiteness and coldness, &c.—bindthemcontinually, &c.—rendertheirpossessor, &c.—Thereareerror and discrepance—whichshow, &c.

RULE 9.Isthe same in idea.—isin the porphyry.—isremarkable, &c.—whichmovesmerely asit ismoved.—affectsus, &c.—Man's happiness or miseryis, in a great measure, &c.—foritmay be, &c.—wasblameworthy.

RULE 10. The nationispowerful.—The fleetwasseen, &c.—The churchhas, &c.—is, or ought to be, theobject, &c.—itis feeble.

RULE 11. My peopledo, &c.—The multitude eagerlypursuepleasure astheir, &c.—weredivided intheirsentiments, andthey havereferred, &c.—The peoplerejoice—givethemsorrow.

RULE 12.Homer'sworks are, &c.—Asa'sheart.James Hart'sbook.

Note 1.It was themen,women, and children's lot, &c. or,It was the lot ofthe men, women, and children.—Peter,John, and Andrew's, &c.

Note 2.This isCampbellthe poet's production; or,The production of Campbell, &c.—The silk was purchased at Brown's themercerandhaberdasher.

Note4. Thepupil'scomposing, &c.—rule'sbeing observed.—of thepresident'sneglecting to lay it before the council.

RULE 13. Ofhisaudience.—putiton Jacob.—sprinklethem—and they shall, &c.—ofhisreputation.

Note. You were blamed; youwereworthy.—wherewereyou?—how fatwereyou?

RULE 14. Whohastbeen, &c.—who isthe sixththat haslosthis lifeby this means.

Who all my senseconfinedst;or,didst confine.

Note. Andwho broughtesthim forth out of Ur.

RULE 15,Whoshall be sent, &c.—This is the manwho, &c.

RULE 16. Theyto whommuch is given, &c.—with whomyou associate &c.—whomI greatly respect, &c.—whomwe ought to love, andto whom, &c—Theywhomconscience, &c.—Withwhomdid you walk?—Whomdid you see?—Towhomdid you give the book?

RULE 17. Who gave John those books?We.—himwho lives in Pearl street—My brother andhe.—SheandI.

RULE 18:Note2. Thirtytuns.—twentyfeet—one hundredfathoms.

Note6. He bought a pair ofnewshoes—piece ofelegantfurniture.—pair offinehorses—tract ofpoorland.

Note7. Are still moredifficult to be comprehended.—mostdoubtful, orprecariousway, &c.—This model comes nearer perfection than any I, &c.

RULE 19:Note. Thatsort.—thesetwo hours.—Thiskind, &c.—He saw oneperson, or morethan one, enter the garden.

Note2. Better thanhimself.—isso small.—hisstation may be,isbound by the laws.

Note3. Oneachside, &c.—tookeachhis censer.

RULE 20.Whomdid they, &c.—Theywhomopulence,—whomluxury, &c.—Himandthemwe know, &c.—Herthat is negligent, &c.—my brother andme&c.—Whomdid they send, &c.—Them whomhe, &c.

RULE 21. It isI.—If I werehe.—it ishe, indeed.—Whomdo you, &c.—Whodo men say, &c.—andwhosay ye, &c.—whomdo you imagine it to have been?—it wasI; but you knew that it washe.

RULE 25. Bid himcome—durst notdoit.—Hear himread,&c.—makes usapproveandreject, &c.—bettertolive—thantooutlive, &c.—towrestle.

RULE 26:Note. The takingofpains: or, without taking pains, &c.—The changingoftimes,—the removing and setting upofkings.

RULE 28:Note3. Hedidme—I hadwritten—hecamehome.—befallenmy cousin—he would havegone.—alreadyrisen.—isbegun.—isspoken.—would havewritten—had theywritten, &c.

RULE 29:Note1. It cannot,therefore, be, &c.—he wasnot oftenpleasing.—shouldneverbe separated.—We may livehappily, &c.

RULE 30:Note. I don't knowany thing; or, Iknownothing, &c.—I did not seeanybody; or, I sawnobody, &c.—Nothing everaffectsher.—andtake no shapeorsemblance, &c.—Therecanbe nothing, &c.—Neitherpreceptnordiscipline is so forcible as example.

RULE 31. Forhimself.—amongthemselves.—with whomhe is, &c.—With whomdid, &c.—From whomdid you receive instruction?

RULE 33. My brother andhe, &c.—You andI, &c.Heand I—John andhe, &c.—Between you andme, &c.

RULE 34. Andentreatme, &c.—andactingdifferently, &c.

Note1. Buthemay return—buthewill write no more.

Note2. Unless itrain.—If heacquireriches, &c.

RULE 35. ThanI—as well ashe, thanthey.—buthe.—butheandI.—butthemwho had gone astray.

Promiscuous Examples.—Himwho is from eternity, &c.—dependsall the happiness,—whichexists, &c.—the enemieswhom, &c.—Is itIorhe whomyou requested?—Though greathavebeen,—sincerelyacknowledge.—Therewas, in the metropolis.—exercising our memories.—wasconsumed.—Affluencemaygive—butitwill not.—of this world often choke.—Themthat honor,—andtheythat despise.—I intendedto calllast week.—the fields lookfreshandgay.—veryneatly, finely wovenpaper.—where IsawGen. Andrew Jackson,himwho.—Take thefirst two,—last three.—thirtyfeethigh.—aunion,—ahypothesis.—I haveseenhimto whomyou wrote, he would havecomeback, orreturned.—understandsthe nature,—herejects.—If thoustudy,—thouwiltbecome.—is notproperlyattended to.—Heknew.—therefore, tohavedone it,—thanthe title.—veryindependently.—duty todo.—myfriend'sentering.—is thebestspecimen, or itcomes nearerperfectionthan any, &c.—blowthem, will go, &c.—Each of those two authors has hismerit.—Reason'swhole,—liein.—strikesthe mind,—than ifthe parts had been adjusted,—withperfectsymmetry.

Satiredoesnot carry init.—composesthe triangle.—persons'opportunities wereever.—Ithas beenreported.—shouldneverbe.—situationin which.—isthoroughly versed inhis.—arethe soul,—followslittle.—An armypresents.—arethedutiesof a christian.—happier thanhe.—alwayshaveinclined, andwhich alwayswill incline him to offend.—whichrequiregreat.—Themthat honor me, will I.—hasopinions peculiar toitself.—thatit maybe saidhe attainedmonarchical.—hastpermitted,—wiltdeliver.—wasformerly propagated.—the measureis,—unworthy your.—werefaithless.—After Ihadvisited.—nor shallI, consent.—Yesterday I intended towalkout, butwas.—makeorarethirteen,—leavethree.—If hego,—makethe eighth timethat hewill havevisited.—isnobler.—was possessed, orthat evercan be.—one greatedifice,—smallerones.—honestyis.—it tobe.—willfollow me,—Ishalldwell.—isgone astray.—he could, nothave done.—feelinga propensity.

RULE 1. Idleness is the great fomenter of all corruptions in the human heart. The friend of order has made half his way to virtue. All finery is a sign of littleness.RULE 2. The indulgence of a harsh disposition, is the introduction to future misery. To be totally indifferent to praise or censure, is a real defect in character. The intermixture of evil in human society, serves to exercise the suffering graces and virtues of the good.RULE 3. Charity, like the sun, brightens all its objects. Gentleness is, in truth, the great avenue to mutual enjoyment. You, too, have your failings. Humility and knowledge, with poor apparel, excel pride and ignorance, under costly attire. The best men often experience disappointments. Advice should be seasonably administered. No assumed behavior can always hide the real character.RULE 4. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Continue, my dear child, to make virtue thy chief study. Canst thou expect, thou betrayer of innocence, to escape the hand of vengeance? Death, the king of terrors, chose a prime minister. Hope, the balm of life, sooths us under every misfortune. Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher, was eminently good, as well as wise. The patriarch Joseph is an illustrious example of true piety.RULE 5. Peace of mind being secured, we may smile at misfortune. To enjoy present pleasure, he sacrificed his future ease and reputation. His talents, formed for great enterprises, could not fail of rendering him conspicuous. The path of piety and virtue, pursued with a firm and constant spirit, will assuredly lead to happiness. All mankind compose one family, assembled under the eye of one common Father.

RULE 1. Idleness is the great fomenter of all corruptions in the human heart. The friend of order has made half his way to virtue. All finery is a sign of littleness.

RULE 2. The indulgence of a harsh disposition, is the introduction to future misery. To be totally indifferent to praise or censure, is a real defect in character. The intermixture of evil in human society, serves to exercise the suffering graces and virtues of the good.

RULE 3. Charity, like the sun, brightens all its objects. Gentleness is, in truth, the great avenue to mutual enjoyment. You, too, have your failings. Humility and knowledge, with poor apparel, excel pride and ignorance, under costly attire. The best men often experience disappointments. Advice should be seasonably administered. No assumed behavior can always hide the real character.

RULE 4. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Continue, my dear child, to make virtue thy chief study. Canst thou expect, thou betrayer of innocence, to escape the hand of vengeance? Death, the king of terrors, chose a prime minister. Hope, the balm of life, sooths us under every misfortune. Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher, was eminently good, as well as wise. The patriarch Joseph is an illustrious example of true piety.

RULE 5. Peace of mind being secured, we may smile at misfortune. To enjoy present pleasure, he sacrificed his future ease and reputation. His talents, formed for great enterprises, could not fail of rendering him conspicuous. The path of piety and virtue, pursued with a firm and constant spirit, will assuredly lead to happiness. All mankind compose one family, assembled under the eye of one common Father.

RULE 6. We have no reason to complain of the lot of man, nor of the mutability of the world. Sensuality contaminates the body, depresses the understanding, deadens the moral feelings of the heart, and degrades man from his rank in creation.Self-conceit, presumption, and obstinacy, blast the prospect of many a youth. He is alternately supported by his father, his uncle, and his elder brother. The man of virtue and honor, will be trusted, relied upon, and esteemed. Conscious guilt renders one mean-spirited, timorous, and base. An upright mind will never be at a loss to discern what is just and true, lovely, honest, and of good report. Habits of reading, writing, and thinking, are the indispensable qualifications of a good student. The great business of life is, to be employed in doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God. To live soberly, righteously, and piously, comprehends the whole of our duty.In our health, life, possessions, connexions, pleasures, there are causes of decay imperceptibly working. Deliberate slowly, execute promptly. An idle, trifling society, is near akin to such as is corrupting. This unhappy person had been seriously, affectionately admonished, but in vain.RULE 7. How much better it is to get wisdom than gold. The friendships of the world can exist no longer than interest cements them. Eat what is set before you. They who excite envy, will easily incur censure. A man who is of a detracting spirit, will misconstrue the most innocent words that can be put together. Many of the evils which occasion our complaints of the world, are wholly imaginary.The gentle mind is like the smooth stream, which reflects every object in its just proportion, and in its fairest colors. In that unaffected civility which springs from a gentle mind, there is an incomparable charm. The Lord, whom I serve, is eternal. This, is the man we saw yesterday.RULE 8. Idleness brings forward and nourishes many bad passions. True friendship will, at all times, avoid a rough or careless behavior. Health and peace, a moderate fortune, and a few friends, sum up all the undoubted articles of temporal felicity. Truth is fair and artless, simple and sincere, uniform and consistent. Intemperance destroys the strength of our bodies and the vigor of our minds.RULE 9. As a companion, he was severe and satirical; as a friend, captious and dangerous. If the spring put forth no blossoms, in summer there will be no beauty, and in autumn, no fruit. So, if youth be trifled away without improvement, manhood will be contemptible, and old age, miserable.RULE 10. They believed he was dead. He did not know that I was the man. I knew she was still alive. The greatest misery is, to be condemned by our own hearts. The greatest misery that we can endure, is, to be condemned by our own hearts.

RULE 6. We have no reason to complain of the lot of man, nor of the mutability of the world. Sensuality contaminates the body, depresses the understanding, deadens the moral feelings of the heart, and degrades man from his rank in creation.

Self-conceit, presumption, and obstinacy, blast the prospect of many a youth. He is alternately supported by his father, his uncle, and his elder brother. The man of virtue and honor, will be trusted, relied upon, and esteemed. Conscious guilt renders one mean-spirited, timorous, and base. An upright mind will never be at a loss to discern what is just and true, lovely, honest, and of good report. Habits of reading, writing, and thinking, are the indispensable qualifications of a good student. The great business of life is, to be employed in doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God. To live soberly, righteously, and piously, comprehends the whole of our duty.

In our health, life, possessions, connexions, pleasures, there are causes of decay imperceptibly working. Deliberate slowly, execute promptly. An idle, trifling society, is near akin to such as is corrupting. This unhappy person had been seriously, affectionately admonished, but in vain.

RULE 7. How much better it is to get wisdom than gold. The friendships of the world can exist no longer than interest cements them. Eat what is set before you. They who excite envy, will easily incur censure. A man who is of a detracting spirit, will misconstrue the most innocent words that can be put together. Many of the evils which occasion our complaints of the world, are wholly imaginary.

The gentle mind is like the smooth stream, which reflects every object in its just proportion, and in its fairest colors. In that unaffected civility which springs from a gentle mind, there is an incomparable charm. The Lord, whom I serve, is eternal. This, is the man we saw yesterday.

RULE 8. Idleness brings forward and nourishes many bad passions. True friendship will, at all times, avoid a rough or careless behavior. Health and peace, a moderate fortune, and a few friends, sum up all the undoubted articles of temporal felicity. Truth is fair and artless, simple and sincere, uniform and consistent. Intemperance destroys the strength of our bodies and the vigor of our minds.

RULE 9. As a companion, he was severe and satirical; as a friend, captious and dangerous. If the spring put forth no blossoms, in summer there will be no beauty, and in autumn, no fruit. So, if youth be trifled away without improvement, manhood will be contemptible, and old age, miserable.

RULE 10. They believed he was dead. He did not know that I was the man. I knew she was still alive. The greatest misery is, to be condemned by our own hearts. The greatest misery that we can endure, is, to be condemned by our own hearts.

RULE 1. The path of truth is a plain and safe path; that of falsehood is a perplexing maze. Heaven is the region of gentleness and friendship; hell, of fierceness and animosity. As there is a worldly happiness, which God perceives to be no other than disguised misery; as there are worldly honors, which, in his estimation, are a reproach; so, there is a worldly wisdom, which, in his sight, is foolishness.But all subsists by elemental strife;And passions are the elements of life.

RULE 1. The path of truth is a plain and safe path; that of falsehood is a perplexing maze. Heaven is the region of gentleness and friendship; hell, of fierceness and animosity. As there is a worldly happiness, which God perceives to be no other than disguised misery; as there are worldly honors, which, in his estimation, are a reproach; so, there is a worldly wisdom, which, in his sight, is foolishness.

RULE 1. The three great enemies to tranquillity, are vice, superstition, and idleness: vice, which poisons and disturbs the mind with bad passions; superstition, which fills it with imaginary terrors; idleness, which loads it with tediousness and disgust.

RULE 1. The three great enemies to tranquillity, are vice, superstition, and idleness: vice, which poisons and disturbs the mind with bad passions; superstition, which fills it with imaginary terrors; idleness, which loads it with tediousness and disgust.

[1]The wordthing, from the Saxon verbthingian, to think, is almost unlimited in its meaning. It may be applied to every animal and creature in the universe. By the term creature, I mean that which has been created; as, a dog, water, dirt. This word is also frequently applied to actions; as, "To get drunk is a beastlything." In this phrase, it signifies neither animal nor creature; but it denotes merely an action; therefore this action is the thing.

[2]Genii, imaginary spirits: geniuses, persons of great mental abilities.

[3]Indexes, when pointers or tables of contents are meant: indices, when referring to algebraic quantities.

[4]In the note next preceding, it is asserted, that my, thy, his, her, our your, and their, are personal pronouns. What can more clearly demonstrate the correctness of that assertion, than this latter construction of the word theirs? All admit, that, in the construction, "The faithof them," the wordthem, is a personal pronoun: and for this conclusive reason:—it represents a noun understood. What, then, istheir, in the phrase, "their faith?" Is it not obvious, that, ifthemis a personal pronoun,theirmust be, also? for the latter represents the same noun as the former.

[5]The second person singular ofdo, when used as a principal verb, is spelled with ane; thus, "What thoudoest, do quickly;" but when employed as an auxiliary, theeshould be omitted; as, "Dostthou notbeholda rock with its head of heath?"

[6]The men were drunk; i.e. inebriated. The toasts were drank.

[7]Gotten is nearly obsolete. Its compound forgotten, is still in good use.

[8]Ridden is nearly obsolete.

[9]Sang and sank should not be used in familiar style.

[10]Spitten is nearly obsolete.

[11]The correctness and importance of this rule appear to be so obvious, as to render it not a little surprising, that anywriter, possessing the least degree of rhetorical taste, should reject it. I am bold to affirm, that it is observed by every correct reader and speaker; and yet, strange as it may seem, it is generally violated by those printers who punctuate by the ear, and all others who are influenced by their pernicious example; thus, "The head, the heart and the hands, should be constantly and actively employed in doing good." Why do they not omit the comma where the conjunction is understood? It would be doing no greater violence to the principles of elocution; thus, "The head the heart and the hands, should be, &c." or thus, "The head the heart, and the hands, should be employed," &c. Who does not perceive that the latter pause, where the conjunction is expressed, is as necessary as the former, where the conjunction is understood? And, since this is the case, what fair objection can be made to the following method of punctuation? "The head, the heart, and the hands, should be constantly and actively employed in doing good;" "She is a woman, gentle, sensible, well-educated, and religious."

[12]As a considerable pause in pronunciation is necessary between the last noun and the verb, a comma should be inserted to denote it; but as no pause is allowable between the last adjective and the noun, or between the last adverb and the verb, the comma, in such instances, is properly omitted; thus, "David was a brave, wise, andpiousman."


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