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the more, though by imperceptible degrees, to make distinctions in the application of words which were used promiscuously before. And it is by thus marking the delicate differences of things, which, in a ruder state, they overlooked, more than by any other means, that their language is refined and polished. Hence it acquires precision, perspicuity, vivacity, energy. It would be no difficult task to evince, as partly it may be collected from what hath been observed already, that our own language hath from this source received greater improvements in the course of the last century and of the present, than from the accession of new words, or perhaps from any other cause. Nothing then, surely, can serve more to corrupt it, than to overturn the barriers use hath erected, by confounding words as synonymous, to which distinct significations have been assigned. This conduct is as bad policy with regard to style, as it would be with regard to land, to convert a great part of the property into a common. On the contrary, as it conduceth to the advancement of agriculture, and to the increase of the annual produce of a country, to divide the commons, and turn them into property, a similar conduct, in "the appropriation of words, renders a language more useful and expressive.

PART II.-Impropriety in Phrases.

I come now to consider the improprieties which occur in phrases. The first of this kind of which I shall take notice is, when the expression, on being grammatically analysed, is discovered to contain some inconsistency. Such is the phrase of all others after the superlative, common with many English writers. Interpreted by the rules of syntax, it implies that a thing is different from itself. Take these words for an example, "It celebrates the church of "England, as the most perfect of all others*."— Properly, either" as more perfect than any other," or" as the most perfect of all churches." This is precisely the same sort of impropriety into which Milton hath fallen in these words,

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That ever since in love's embraces met.

Use, indeed, may be pleaded for such expressions, which, it must be acknowledged, use hath rendered intelligible. But still the general laws of the lan

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guage, which constitute the most extensive and important use, may be pleaded against them. Now, it is one principal method of purifying a language, to lay aside such idioms as are inconsistent with its radical principles and constituent rules; or as, when interpreted by such principles and rules, exhibit manifest nonsense. Nor does the least inconvenience result from this conduct, as we can be at no loss to find expressions of our meaning, altogether as natural, and entirely unexceptionable.

Sometimes, indeed, through mere inattention, slips of this kind are committed, as in the following instance: "I do not reckon that we want a genius "more than the rest of our neighbours*." The impropriety here is corrected by omitting the words in Italics.

Another oversight, of much the same kind, and by the same author, we have in the following passage: "I had like to have gotten one or two bro"ken heads for my impertinencet." This unavoidably suggests the question, How many heads was he possessed of?-Properly, "I was once or "twice like to have gotten my head broken."

Another from the same work, being a passage formerly quoted for another purpose, is this, "The "first project was to shorten discourse by cutting "polysyllables into one." One thing may be cut

* Swift's Proposal for ascertaining the English Tongue.

Voyage to Brobdignag.

Voyage to Laputa.

into two or more; but it is inconceivable that, by cutting, two or more things should be made one.

Another, still from the same hand, "I solemnly. "declare, that I have not wilfully committed the "least mistake*." The words used here are in

compatible. A wrong wilfully committed is no

mistake.

Addison hath fallen into an inaccuracy of the same kind, in the following lines:

So the pure limpid stream, when foul with stains

Of rushing torrents and descending rains †.

A stream may doubtless be at one time limpid, and at another foul, which is all that the author meant; but we cannot properly call it a pure limpid stream, when it is foul with stains. So much for those improprieties which involve in them some absurdity.

I shall next illustrate those by which an author is made to say one thing when he means another. Of this kind I shall produce only one example at present, as I shall have occasion afterwards of considering the same fault under the article of perspicuity. "I will instance in one opinion, which I look upon

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every man obliged in conscience to quit, or in pru"dence to conceal; I mean, that whoever argues "in defence of absolute power in a single person, "though he offers the old plausible plea, that it is "his opinion, which he cannot help, unless he be

* Remarks on the Barrier Treaty.

+ Cato.

"convinced, ought in all free states to be treated as "the common enemy of mankind*." From the scope of the discourse it is evident, he means, that whoever hath it for his opinion, that a single person is entitled to absolute authority, ought to quit or conceal that opinion; because, otherwise, he will in a free state deserve to be treated as a common enemy. Whereas, if he says any thing, he says, that whoever thinks that the advocates for absolute power ought to be treated as common enemies, is obliged to quit or conceal that opinion; a sentiment very different from the former.

The only species of impropriety that remains to be exemplified, is that wherein there appears some slight incongruity in the combination of the words, as in the quotations following: "When you fall "into a man's conversation, the first thing you "should consider is,― t." Properly, "fall "I wish, Sir,

"into conversation with a man."

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you would animadvert frequently on the false "taste the town is in, with relation to plays as well "as operast." Properly," the false taste of the

"town.

"The presence of the Deity, and the care such “an august cause is to be supposed to take about "any action§." The impropriety here is best cor

* Sentiments of a Church of England Man.
Spect. No. 49.
Ib. No. 22.

§ Pope's View of the Epic Poem.

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