From hence I conclude they are in error.
The girls' books are neater than the boys.
I intended to have transcribed it.

What is latitude and longitude?

Cicero was more eloquent than any Roman.

Who dares apologize for Pizarro ?—who is but another name for rapacity!

LESSON IV.

Tell me whether you will do it or no.

We have no more but five loaves and two fishes.

I know not who it was who did it.

This rule is the best which can be given.

This is a part of my uncle's father's estate.
Many people never learn to speak correct.

Some people are rash, and others timid; those apprehend too much, these too little.

I no sooner saw my face in it, but I was startled at the shortness of it.

Every person is answerable for their own conduct.

They are men that scorn a mean action, and who will exert themselves to serve you.

Every one of these theories are now exploded

Either of these four will answer.

There is no situation where he would be happy.
He is not so sick but what he can laugh.

The audience was all very attentive.

LESSON V.

Was the master or many of the scholars in the room?
His father's and mother's consent was asked.

Whom is he supposed to be?

He is an old venerable man.

It was then my purpose to have visited Sicily.

In his letters there are not only correctness, but elegance. Opportunity to do good is the highest preferment which a noble mind desires.

The year when he died is not mentioned.

The house is situated pleasantly.

Subduing our passions is the noblest of conquests.

The number of our days are with thee.

The circumstances of this case is different.

Well for us if some such other men should rise!

A man that is young in years may be old in hours, if he have lost no time.

GENERAL RULE OF SYNTAX.

In the formation of sentences, the consistency and adaptation of all the words should be carefully observed; and a regular, clear, and correspondent construction should be preserved throughout.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE SYNTAX.

Obs. 1. In proportion as the rules of Syntax are made few and general, they must be either vague or liable to exceptions. The number of the principles which deserve to be placed in the rules is not fixed by any obvious distinction; hence the diversity in the number of the rules as given by different grammarians. In this matter a middle course seems to be best. We have, therefore, taken the parts of speech in their order, and comprised all the general principles of relation, agreement, and government, in twenty-six leading Rules. Of these rules, fight (namely, the 1st, the 4th, the 14th, the 15th, the 16th, the 17th, the 18th, and the 19th) are used only in parsing; two (namely, the 13th and the 26th) are necessary only for the correction of false syntax; the remaining sixteen answer the double purpose of parsing and correction. The Exceptions belong to ten different rules. The Notes are subordinate rules of syntax, formed for the detection of errors. The Observations are chiefly designed to explain the arrangement of words, and whatever is difficult or peculiar in construction.

Obs. 2. The General Rule of Syntax, being designed to meet every form of error in construction, necessarily includes all the particular rules and notes. It is too broad to convey very definite instruction, and ought not to be applied where a special rule or note is applicable. A few examples, not properly coming under any other head, will serve to shew its use and application: such examples are given in the false syntax below.

Obs. 3.—In the foregoing pages, the principles of syntax, or construction, are supposed to be developed; but there may be in composition many errors of such a nature that no rule of grammar can shew what should be substituted. The greater the inaccuracy, the more difficult the correction; because the sentence may require a change throughout. Thus, the following definition, though very short, is a fourfold solecism : "Number is the consideration of an object, as one or more."—Murray. This sentence, though written by one grammarian, and copied by others, cannot be corrected but by changing every word in it: but this will of course destroy its identity, and form another sentence, not an amendment. Examples of false syntax cannot embrace what is either utterly wrong in thought or unintelligible in language; for the writer's meaning must be preserved in the correction, and where no sense is discovered, particular improprieties can never be detected and proved. The sentence above is one which we cannot correct; but we can say of

it-first, that number in grammar can never be defined, because unity and plurality have no common property; secondly, that number is not consideration, in any sense of the word; thirdly, that an object is known to be one object, by mere intuition, and not by consideration; and fourthly, that he who considers an object as more than one, misconceives it.

Obs. 4.—In the first eighteen rules, we have given the syntax of all the parts of speech in regard to relation and agreement. And, by placing the rules in the order of the parts of speech, we hope to have relieved the pupil from all difficulty in recollecting the numbers by which they are distinguished; for, in the exercise of parsing, it is very important that the rules be distinctly and accurately quoted by the pupil. Relation and agreement have been taken together, because they could not properly be separated. One word may relate to another and not agree with it; but there is never any necessary agreement between words that have not a relation, or a dependence on each other according to the

sense.

Obs. 5.—The English language having few inflections, has also few concords or agreements. Articles, adjectives, and participles, which in many other languages agree with their nouns in gender, number, and case, have usually in English no modifications in which they can agree with their nouns.

FALSE SYNTAX UNDER THE GENERAL RULE. "If I can contribute to your and my country's glory."—Goldsmith.

[Not proper, because the pronoun your has not a clear and regular construction. But, according to the General Rule of Syntax, "In the formation of sentences, the consistency and adaptation of all the words should be carefully observed; and a regular, clear, and correspondent construction should be preserved throughout." The sentence having a double meaning, may be corrected in two ways: thus, If I can contribute to our country's glory; or, If I can contribute to your glory and that of my country.]

Is there, then, more than one true religion ?

The laws of Lycurgus but substituted insensibility to enjoyment."— -Goldsmith.

Rain is seldom or ever seen at Lima.

There is much of truth in the observation of Ascham.
Adopting the doctrine which he had been taught.
This library exceeded half a million volumes.

The Coptic alphabet was one of the latest formed of any.
Many evidences exist of the proneness of men to vice.
To perceive nothing, or not to perceive, is the same.
The King of France or England was to be the umpire.
Give no more trouble than you can possibly help.

The art of printing being then unknown, was a circumstance in some respects favourable to the freedom of the pen.

"Another passion which the present age is apt to run into, is to make children learn all things."—Goldsmith.

It requires few talents to which most men are not born, or, at least, may not acquire.

"Nor was Philip wanting in his endeavours to corrupt Demosthenes, as he had most of the leading men in Greece." Goldsmith.

"The Greeks, fearing to be surrounded on all sides, wheeled about and halted, with the river on their backs."—Id. Poverty turns our thoughts too much upon the supplying of our wants; and riches upon enjoying our superfluities.

EXAMPLES FOR PARSING.

CHAP. VIII. SYNTACTICAL.

In the Eighth Chapter are exemplified the Exceptions and Observations under the Rules of Syntax and the Notes.

LESSON I.

What is the earth and its dimensions?

He is a great deal heavier man than I.

I have met with few who understood men equal to him.
He was then recently returned from the East victorious.
Laws may, and frequently are, made against drunkenness.
He appeared in an human shape.

I do not attempt explaining the mysteries of religion.
One of the wisest persons that hath been among them.
What is it else but to reject all authority?

They advocate distinctions unworthy any free state.
He knew none fitter to be their judge but himself.
Record the names of every one present.

We doubt not but we will satisfy the impartial.

You was in hopes to have succeeded to the inheritance.
Judge not before hearing of the cause.

God is the avenger of all breach of faith and injustice.
It is better being suspected, than being guilty.

Declare the past and present state of things.

Goodness, and not greatness, lead to happiness.
It is pride who whispers, "What will they think of me?"
In judging of others, charity should be exercised.
Questions are easier proposed than answered rightly.
The plot was the easier detected.

Of all the books mine has the fewer blots.

Who does the house belong to?

Knowledge is only to be acquired by application.

Policy often prevails upon force.

Thomas has bought a bay large horse.

There is no need for your assistance.

The books are as old, and perhaps older, than tradition.
I shall treat you as I have them.

Neither he or his brother is capable of it.
What was the cause of the girl screaming?
Let him and I have half of them.

He that is diligent, you should commend.
They ride faster than us.

Did you understand who I was speaking of?

LESSON II.

Richard, who was so much older than her.
The three first classes have read.

Among every class of people self-interest prevails.
His education has been neglected much.

There is no other bridge but the one we saw.

He went and laid down to sleep.

In eulogising of the dead, he slandered the living.

Neither the virtuous nor the vicious are exempt from trials.

He spoke as if he was in a passion.

Let him take heed lest he fails.

He both wrote sermons and plays.

He has long ago forsaken that party.

It was proved to be her that opened the letter.

Is not this the same man whom we met before?

I forego my claim for peace's sake.

I could not avoid frequently using it.

I hope it is not me thou art displeased with.

I never before saw such large trees.

I will shew you the way how it is done.

This arose from the young man associating with bad people. The Jews are Abraham's, Isaac's, and Jacob's posterity. One or both was there.

What sort of an animal is that?

They would become sooner proficients in Latin.