Again, when we call Geography, "that science which de scribes the earth and its inhabitants," or Arithmetic is termed "the science of numbers," the antonomasia becomes apparent. It will thus be seen, that this form of expression is frequently nothing more than an instance of periphrasis, or circumlocution.

This form of expression is very common in parliamentary language and in deliberative assemblies, in which, in speaking of individual persons, they are not called by their proper names, but by their office, or some other designating appellation. Thus, in speaking of Washington, the orator designates him, by antonomasia, as "the sage of Mount Vernon," or of Shakspeare, as "the bard of Avon," from the river on whose bank he resided.

Amplification is the expansion of a subject, by enumerating circumstances which are intended by an orator to excite more strongly in his audience the feelings of approbation or of blame. It is dwelling upon the subject longer than is actually necessary for its enunciation; and is in so far a species of circumlocution.†

It is contrary to the rules of all parliamentary assemblies, to call any member by his proper name. Each individual is called by the name of the state, town, city, county, or ward, which he represents. Thus, we say, "the gentleman from Massachusetts," ,"" the member irom Virginia," "the member from Ward 10," &c.; or, from his position, "the gentleman on my right," or, "the gentleman who last spoke," &c.

The antonomasia is a figure frequently used by the most distinguished historical writers, and especially by Mr. Gibbon, the historian of the "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire."

†The following passage is quoted by Mr. Booth from Scriblerus, "the perusal of the whole of which admirable satire," says Mr. Booth, "is indis pensable to every one who would study the principles of English Composition:

"We may define amplification to be making the most of a thought; it is the spinning-wheel of the Bathos, which draws out and spreads it in its finest thread. There are amplifiers who can extend half a dozen thin thoughts over a whole folio; but for which, the tale of many a vast romance, and the substance of many a fair volume, might be reduced into the size of a primer.

"A passage in the 104th Psalm, 'He looks on the earth and it trembles, be touches the hills and they smoke,' is thus amplified by the same author. 'The hills forget they 're fixed, and in their fright

Cast off their weight, and ease themselves for flight;
The woods with terror winged outfly the wind,

And leave the heavy panting hills behind.'"

You here see the hills, not only trembling, but shaking off the woods from their backs, to run the faster; after this, you are presented with a foot race of mountains and woods, where the woods distance the mountains, that, like corpulent, pursy fellows, come puffing and panting a vast way behind them.

Grammar.

Woman.
Arithmetic.

To disappoint.

The skies.

Zoology.

Examples of Periphrasis.

The science which teaches the proper use

of language.

The gentle sex; or, the female sex.

The science of numbers.

To frustrate one's hopes.

The upper deep.

That department of natural science which treats of the habits of animals.

Examples of Euphemism.

James worked so hard that he James worked so hard that he

sweat very profusely.

The room smells badly.

Mary is a great slut.

He is a very dirty fellow.
You lie.

The Queen.

Homer.

Washington.

Hesiod.

Lord Wellington.

perspired very freely; or the perspiration stood on him in drops.

There is an unpleasant effluvia in the room.

Mary is inattentive to her per

sonal appearance; or, is
careless in her personal
habits.

He is destitute of neatness.
You labor under a mistake.*

Examples of Antonomasia.

Her Majesty.

The author of the Iliad and

Odyssey.

The Sage of Mount Vernon.

The earliest of the Poets.
The Hero of Waterloo.

*No word of Holy Writ has in it a better turn of worldly wisdom than that from the Book of Proverbs:- "A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger." The "soft answer" is, in fact, a euphemism. No one is offended who is told that "he labors under a mistake,” while, perhaps, no accusation would give greater offence, than the sam● Idea, expressed as above, unsoftened by euphemism

The following sentences present examples of Periphrasis, Euphemism and Antonomasia, and it is required of the student to designate each.

Solomon, (the wisest of men,) says, "Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith."

David (The Author of the Psalms) was one of the sweetest and most pious writers of the Old Testament.

Moses (The Jewish Lawgiver) was educated by the daughter of Pharaoh. Saul (The first king of Israel) was a man of uncommon stature.

Methuselah (He who lived to the greatest age recorded of man) died before his father. I

Adam Smith (The author of the Wealth of Nations) says that there is in man a natural propensity to truck, barter and exchange one thing for another.

It is pleasant to relieve (be the instrument of relieving) distress.

Short and (The transient day of) sinful indulgence is followed by long and distressing (a dark and tempestuous night of) sorrow.

Christ (He who spake as never man spoke) says, in his sermon on the mount, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

*The judicious use of periphrasis or circumlocution, often involves an acquaintance with figurative language, under which head it properly belongs. It is taken from that connexion in order to be applied in other exercises which precede the subject of figures.

† His father was Enoch, who never died, but was translated.

He thought the man a scoundrel (dishonest) and therefore would not pay him the money (would place no confidence in him.)

He behaved like a boor (in an improper manner) and therefore the genteel (persons of refinement) would have nothing to do with him.

I consider him an impudent puppy (rude in his manners) and shall therefore separate myself from his company.

The man was drunk (intoxicated, or had indulged in liquor) when he used these indecent words (that improper language) and although I was very mad (was displeased) with him, I did not scold at (reprove) him.

Major Andre was hanged (perished on the scaffold) although he earnestly requested that he might be fired at (shot.)

That man eats his victuals like a pig (is unrefined in his manners at the table) and guzzles down his drink like a fish (and is too fond of his cup.) He has on dirty stockings (His hose are not neat) and muddy shoes (his shoes are soiled.)

A truly genteel man (A man of refinement) is known as well by his talk (conversation) as by his clothes (dress.) He never uses low language and vulgar expressions (indulges in loose conversation.) His hands and face and his whole body are well washed, he cleans his teeth, combs his hair, (His whole person is kept neat and cleanly,) and brushes his clothes whenever they are dirty, (his dress never appears to be soiled,) and he always looks well, as if he were going to a party, (and he always looks prepared for the drawingroom.)

Of the oldest of the English Poets, (Chaucer) as he is the father of English poetry, so I hold him in the same degree of veneration as the Greeks hold Homer (the author of the Iliad and Odyssey) or the Romans, hold Virgil (the author of the Æneid.) He is a perpetual fountain of good sense; learned in all sciences; and therefore he speaks properly on all subjects. As he knew what to say, so also he knows where to leave off; a continence which is practised by few writers, and scarcely by any of the ancients, excepting the authors of the Iliad, the Odyssey and the Eneid.

The author of the Essay on the Understanding (Mr. Locke) has advanced the opinion that moral subjects are as susceptible of demonstration as mathematical.

The Bard of Avon (Shakspeare) was one of the most remarkable men that the world ever produced, (that ever appeared in the ranks of humanity.) It may truly be said of him that he touched nothing which he did not adorn; and that he has strewed more pearls in the paths of literature than any other poet that the world has seen. His works have had more admirers than those of any other author excepting the writers of the holy Scriptures.

The science which treats of language, (Grammar) and the science which describes the earth and its inhabitants, (Geography) are branches frequent ly studied, but too frequently imperfectly understood.

The author of the Waverley novels (Sir Walter Scott) must have beer a man of remarkable industry, as well as of uncommon talent.

XXI.

TAUTOLOGY AND CATACHRESIS.

Tautology is the repetition of the same meaning in different words, or the needless repetition of the same words.

Thus, in the sentence, "The nefarious wickedness of his conduct was reprobated and condemned by all," the tautology consists in the use of nefarious and wickedness together; which is the same as to say, the wicked wickedness; and reprobated and condemned, which are words of similar meaning. So, also, in the sentence, "The brilliance of the sun dazzles our eyes, and overpowers them with light," the same idea is conveyed by the word "dazzles" and the expression, "overpowers them with light;" one of them, therefore, should be omitted.

Whenever anything is represented as being the cause, condition, or consequence of itself, it may also be considered as a tautology, as in the following lines:

"The dawn is overcast, the morning lowers,
And heavily in clouds brings on the day."

Addison.

Tautologies are allowable only in lege instruments, and other writings where precision is of more importance nan elegance; when, therefore, it consists in the repetition of a word, it may be corrected by the use of a synonyme; but when it consists in the repetition of an idea, unless such repetition is important for clearness or for emphasis, it should be wholly uppressed.

Example.

They returned back again to the same city from whence they came forth.

In this sentence, all the words in Italic are tautologies; for the word return implies to turn back, the city implies the same city, and from and forth are both included in the word whence. The sentence, read without the words in Italic, is as clear and expressive as words can make it. Words which do not add to the meaning are useless, especially in prose.

Exercises.

He led a blameless and an irreproachable life, and no one could censure áis conduct.

God is eternal, and his existence is without beginning and without end
Opium produces sleep, because it possesses a soporific quality.
The grass grows because of its vegetative power.