thought innate, till they come to the use of reason; nor then neither."-Locke. In old English two negatives denied; hence, perhaps, this phraseology originated. Johnson remarks, that the use of neither, after a negative, and at the end of a sentence, though. not grammatical, renders the expression more emphatic. Analogy, however, is decidedly in favour of the affirmative term; I, therefore, prefer the word "either." Were Johnson's argument admitted, such expressions as these, "I forbade you not to go;" "I won't suffer no such thing;" "He would not have none of my assistance," might, I apprehend, be justified on the same principle. Those who employ them, doubtless, believe them to be more emphatic, than if they included a single negative. "This I am the rather disposed to do, that it will serve to illustrate the principles above laid down."-Campbell on Rhetoric. This sentence involves an error, on which I have already animadverted. "The rather" should be followed by as, not that. "This is another use, that in my opinion contributes rather to make a man learned than wise: and is neither capable of pleasing the understanding, or imagination." Lowth justly observes, that or is here improperly used for nor, the correlative words being neither, nor. In addition to this observation, I remark, that the word neither is erroneously placed. To render this collocation of the conjunction correct, there should be another attributive opposed to the word "capable," as, "neither capable of pleasing the understanding, nor calculated to gratify the imagination." But, as the author intended to exclude two subjects, these should have been contrasted by the exclusive conjunctions, thus, "is capable of pleasing neither the understanding, nor the imagination." A similar error occurs in the following sentence: "Adversity both taught you to think and reason."-Steele. The conjunction, which is, in truth, the adjective both, is improperly placed. It should be, "taught you both,” i. e. the two things," to think and reason." It has been already observed, that the conjunction or is used disjunctively, and subdisjunctively, sometimes denoting a diversity of things, and sometimes merely a difference of names. Hence often arises ambiguity, where the utmost precision of expression is necessary. When Ruddiman delivers it as a rule, that " verbal adjectives, or such as signify an affection of the mind, require the genitive," I have known the scholar at a loss to understand, whether there be two distinct classes of adjectives, here intended, or one class under two designations. The ambiguity might here be avoided, by using and or with instead of or. It may also be prevented in many cases, by more forcibly marking the distinction by the use of either. Thus, if we say, "whosoever shall cause, or occasion a disturbance," it may be doubtful, whether the latter of the two verbs be not designed as explanatory of the former, they, though their meanings be distinct, being often used as synonymous terms. If we say, "shall either cause or occasion," all doubt is removed. Sometimes ambiguity may be precluded either by the insertion, or the omission, of the article. Thus, if we say, "a peer, or lord of parliament,” meaning to designate only one individual, or one order, the expression is correct. But if it be intended to signify two individuals, every peer not being a lord of parliament, and every lord of parliament not being a peer, we should say, "a peer, or a lord of parliament," or "either a peer, or lord of parliament." b Having now endeavoured to explain and illustrate the etymology and syntax of the English language, I cannot dismiss the subject without earnestly recommending to the classical student to cultivate a critical acquaintance with his native tongue. It is an egregious, but common error, to imagine, that a perfect knowledge of Greek and Latin precludes the necessity of studying the principles of English grammar. The structure of the ancient, and that of modern languages, are very dissimilar. Nay, the peculiar idioms of any lan a In our penal statutes, which should be precisely worded, because they are literally interpreted, much ambiguity frequently arises from the loose and incorrect manner in which this conjunction is used. The issue of a question, respecting a contested election at Rochester in 1820, depended on the construction of this designation, 66 a peer, or lord of parliament." guage, how like soever in its general principles to any other, must be learned by study, and an attentive perusal of the best writers in that language. Nor can any imputation be more reproachful to the proficient in classical literature, than, with a critical knowledge of Greek and Latin, which are now dead languages, to be superficially acquainted with his native tongue, in which he must think, and speak, and write. a The superiority of Greek and Latin over the English language in respect of harmony, graceful dignity, conciseness, and fluency, will be readily admitted. Our language is, comparatively, harsh and abrupt. It possesses strength, indeed; but unaccompanied with softness, with elegance, or with majesty. It must be granted also, that the Greek is, perhaps, a more copious, and is certainly a more ductile and tractable language. But though, in these respects, the English be inferior to the languages of Greece and Rome, yet in preciseness of expression, diversity of sound, facility of communication, and variety of phrase, it may claim the pre-eminence. It would be easy to evince the truth of this assertion, did the limits, which I have prescribed to myself permit. The fact is, that analogous languages almost necessarily possess a superiority in these respects over those, which are transpositive. It is to be remembered, also, that our language is susceptible of high improvement; and though its abrupt and rugged nature cannot be entirely changed, much may be done to smooth its asperities and soften its harshness. As a further inducement to the study of the English language, I would assure the young reader, that a due attention to accuracy of diction is highly conducive to correctness of thought. For, as it is generally true, that he, whose conceptions are clear, and who is master of his subject, delivers his a The superior ductility of the Greek, above every other language, must appear from its singular aptitude to form new words by composition or derivation, so as immediately to communicate any new idea. Hence the names of most of our modern discoveries and inventions are of Greek extraction. Thus we have the terms 66 microscope," "telegraph," "panorama," "odometer," and many others. 302 CRITICAL REMARKS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. sentiments with ease and perspicuity; so it is equally certain, that, as language is not only the vehicle of thought, but also an instrument of invention, if we desire to attain a habit of conceiving clearly and thinking correctly, we must learn to speak and write with accuracy and precision. It must, at the same time, be remembered, that to give our chief attention to mere phraseology, or to be more solicitous about the accuracy of the diction than the value of the sentiment, is a sure indication of a nerveless and vacant mind. As we estimate a man, not by his garb, but by his intellectual and moral worth, so it is the sentiment itself, not the dress in which it is exhibited, that determines its character, and our opinion of its author. "True expression, like th' unchanging sun, Clears and improves whate'er it shines upon; In short, the precept of Quintilian should be studiously observed: " curam ergo verborum, rerum volo esse solicitudinem."—Inst. Orat. lib. viii. a "Cui lecta potenter erit res, Nec facundia deseret hunc, nec lucidus ordo. Verbaque provisam rem non invita sequentur." THE END. Hor. de Art. Poet. G. Woodfall and Son, Printers, Angel Court, Skinner Street, London. SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO. BEATSON'S (Rev. B. W., of Pembroke Coll., Camb.) Progressive Exercises in the Composition of Greek Iambic Verse. With a Treatise on the Dramatic Tragic Metrical System, the Iambic Metre, and an Outline of Attic Prosody. 6th Edition. 12mo, 3s., cloth. BLAND'S (Rev. R.) ELEMENTS OF LATIN HEXAMETERS AND PENTAMETERS. 20th Edition, corrected and improved by the REV. G. C. ROWDEN, D.C.L. 12mo, 3s., cloth lettered. KEY to the above. New Edition, 12mo, 5s., cloth lettered. BOSWORTH'S (Rev. Dr.) INTRODUCTION TO LATIN CONSTRUING; or, Easy Lessons for Latin Reading while learning the Grammar: with the Quantity of the Vowels on which the Pronunciation depends. 6th Edition, 12mo, 2s. 6d., cloth lettered. This little work is intended to teach, practically, the use of the Latin Grammar and Dictionary; and, while every care has been taken to remove obstacles, this Introduction is intended to call forth the latent energies of the mind by leaving sufficient cause for the pupil's own exertion. BOSWORTH'S (Rev. Dr.) LATIN CONSTRUING; or, Rules for Translating Latin into English. Illustrated by Progressive Examples from the best Roman Classics; with the Quantity of the Doubtful Penults, and the Mode of Reading Latin in our Universities and Public Schools. To which is added, a Full Account of the Roman Calendar, and the Divisions of the Day. 5th Edition, stereotyped, 12mo, 2s. 6d., cloth lettered. It is the object of this book to point out to those who have a competent knowledge of Grammar, a general method of construing Latin without the debilitating aid of English translations. After attending to the rules, illustrated as they are by copious examples from the easiest and best Roman classics, the pupil will have no difficulty in taking up any Latin author, and construing it with judgment and precision. BOSWORTH'S RUDIMENTS OF GREEK GRAMMAR, AS USED IN THE COLLEGE OF ETON; with the quantity of the Latin and Greek Penultimate Vowels, on which the Pronunciation depends, and Explanatory Notes in English. 4th Edition. 12mo, 4s., cloth lettered. CÆSAR'S COMMENTARIES, translated into English, by WILLIAM DUNCAN, Professor of Philosophy in the University of Aberdeen. 12mo, 78., cloth lettered. CAREY'S LATIN VERSIFICATION, simplified and rendered Easy to the Young Student in a graduated Series of Exercises calculated to meet his increasing ability in the successive stages of his progress. 4th Edition. 12mo, 28., cloth lettered. This book is recommended by the Rev. T. K. Arnold, as an Introduction to his Latin verse composition. A KEY to the same. 12mo, 2s. 6d., cloth lettered. CROMBIE'S (Rev. Dr.) GYMNASIUM, sive SYMBOLA CRITICA, intended to assist the Classical Student in attaining a correct Latin Prose Style. 6th Edition, enlarged. 2 vols. 8vo, 17. 1s., cloth. CROMBIE'S (Rev. Dr.) GYMNASIUM, sive SYMBOLA CRITICA. Abridged by the Author. 5th Edition. 12mo, 6s., cloth. CLAVIS GYMNASII, editioni sextæ accommodata, sive Exercitationes in symbolam criticam, partim, sicut in veteribus extant, datæ, et partim, à REV. ALEX. CROMBIE, Latine redditæ. Editio sexta emendatior, et notis auctior. 8vo, 68., cloth. COWIE'S (Alex. A. M.) QUESTIONS ON CROMBIE'S GYMNASIUM, adapted to the Abridged Edition; a Manual intended to save the trouble of the Teacher in selecting the necessary Questions, and also to direct the Scholar to those critical Observations which will form the Subjects of his Examination. 12mo, 2s. 6d., cloth. |