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The first part of the following sentence abounds with adverbs, and those such as are hardly consistent with one another; How much soever the reformation of this degenerate age is almost utterly to be dispaired of, we may yet have a more comfortable prospect of future times.' The sentence would be more correct in the following form; Though the reformation of this degenerate age is nearly to be despaired of,' &c.

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Oh! shut not up my soul with the sinners, nor my life with the blood-thirsty; in whose hands is wickedness, and their right-hand is full of gifts.' As the passage, introduced by the copulative conjunction and, was not intended as a continuation of the principal and independent part of the sentence, but of the dependent part, the relative whose should have been used instead of the possessive their; viz. and whose right-hand is full of gifts.'

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.' There seems to be an impropriety in this instance, in which the noun serves in a double copacity, performing at the same time the offices both of the nominative and objective cases. Neither hath it entered into the heart of man, to conceive the things,' &c. would have been regular.

"We have the power of retaining, altering, and compounding, those images which we have once received, into all the varieties of picture and vision.' It is very proper to say, 'altering and compounding those images which we have once received, into all the varieties of picture and vision;' but we can with no proprié'y say, 'retaining them into all the varieties; and yet, according to the manner in which the words are ranged, this construction is unavoidable; for 'retaining, altering, and compounding' are participles, each of which equally refers to, and governs the subsequent noun, those images; and that noun again is neces sarily connected with the following preposition, into. The construction might easily been have rectified by disjoining the participle retain ng from the other two participles, in this way; We have the power of retaining those images which we have once received, and of altering and compounding them into all the varieties of picture and vision;' or perhaps better thus ;- We have the power of retaining, altering, and compounding those images which we have once received, and of forming them into all the varieties of picture and vision.'

Exercises in False Syntax.—Several alterations and additions have been made to the work The first proposal was essentially different and inferior to the second. He is more bold and active, but not so wise and studious as his companion Thou hearest the sound of the wind, but thou canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth. Neither has he, nor any other persons, suspected so much dissimulation The court of France, or England was to be the umpire. In the reign of Henry II. all foreign commodities were plenty in England. There is no talent so useful towards success in business, or which puts men more out of the reach of accidents, than that quality generally possessed by persons of cool temper, and is, in common language, called discretion. The first project was to shorten discourse, by cutting polysyllables into one. I shall do all I can to

persuade others to take the same measures for their cure which I have. The greatest masters of critical learning differ among one another. Micaiah said, if thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the Lord spoken by me. I do not suppose, that we Britons want a genius more than the rest of our neighbours. The deaf man whose ears were opened, and his tongue loosened, doubtless glorified the great Physician. Groves, fields, and meadows, are at any season of the year, pleasant to look upon; but never so much as in the opening of the spring. The multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace. The intentions of some of these philosophers, nay, of many, might and prob ably were good. It is an unanswerable argument of a refined age, the wonderful civilities that have passed between the nation of authors, and that of readers. It was an unsuccessful undertaking; which, although it has failed, is no objection at all to an enterprise so well concerted. The reward is his due, and it has already, or will hereafter, be given to him. By intercourse with wise aud experienced persons, who know the world, we may improve and rub off the rust of a private and retired education. Sincerity is as valuable, and even more valuable, than knowledge. No person was ever so perplexed, or sustained the mortification, a he has done to day. The Romans gave, not only the freedom of the city, but capacity for employments, to several towns in Gaul, Spain, and

Germany. Such writers have no other standard on which to form themselves, except what chances to be fashionable and popular. Whatever we do secretly, shall be displayed and heard in the clearest light. To the happiness of possessing a person of such uncommon merit, Boethius soon had the satisfaction of obtaining the highest honour his country could bestow.

SECTION 3.-Containing instances of False Syntax, promiscuously disposed.

1. Though great has been his disobedience and his folly, yet if he sincerely acknowledges his misconduct, he will be forgiven. On these causes depend all the happiness or misery, which exist among men. The property of James, I mean his books and furnie ture, were wholly destroyed. This prodigy of learning, this scholar, critic, and antiquarian, were entirely destitute of breeding and civility. That writer has given an account of the manner, in which Christianity has formerly been propagated among the heathens. We adore the Divine Being, he who is from eternity to eternity. Thou, Lord, who hath permitted affliction to come upon us, shall deliver us from it, in due time. In this place, there were not only security, but an abundance of provisions. By these attainments are the master honoured, and the scholars encouraged. The sea appeared to be more than usually agitated. Not one in fifty of those, who call themselves deists, understand the nature of the religion they reject. Virtue and mutual confidence is the soul of friendship; where these are wanting, disgust or hatred often follow little differences. Time and chance happeneth to all men; but every person do not consider who govern those powerful causes. The active mind of man never or seldom rests sati-fied with their present condition, howsoever prosperous. Habits must be acquired of temperance and of self-denial that we may be able to resist pleasure, and endure pain, when either of them interfere with our duty. The error of resting wholly on faith, or on works, is one of those seductions, which most easily misleads men; under the semblance of piety, on the one hand, and of virtue on the other haud. It was no exaggerated tale; for she was really in that sad condition, that her friend represented her. An army present a painful sight to a teeling mind. The enemies, who we have most to fear, are those of our own bearts. Thou art the Messiah, the Son of God, who was to come into the world, and hast been so long promised and desired. Thomas disposition is better than his brothers; and he appears to be the happiest man ;-but some degree of trouble is all mens portion. Though remorse sleep sometimes during prosperity, it will awake surely in adversity. It is an invariable law to our present condition, that every pleasure, that are pursued to excess, convert themselves into poison. If a man brings into the solitary retreat of age, a vacant, an unimproved mind, where no knowledge dawns, no ideas rise, which within itself has nothing to feed upon, many a heavy and many a comfortless day he must necessarily pass. I cannot yield to such dishonourable conduct, neither at the present moment of difficulty, nor, I trust, under no circumstance whatever. Themistocles concealed the enterprises of Pausanias, either thinking it base to betray the secrets trusted to his confidence, or imagined it impossible for such dangerous and ill concerted schemes to take ef fect. Pericles gained such an ascendant over the minds of the Athenians, that he might be said to attain a monarchical power in Athens. Christ did applaud the liberality of the poor widow, who he had seen casting her two mites in the treasury. A multiplicity of little kind offices, in persons frequently conversant with each other, is the bands of society, and of friendship. To do good to them that hate us, and, on no occasion, to seek revenge, is the duty of a Christain. If a man profess a regard for the duties of religion, and neglect that of morality, that man's religion is vain. Affluence might give us res pect, in the eyes of the vulgar, but will not recommend us to the wise and good. The polite, accomplished libertine is but miserable amidst all his pleasures; the rude inhabitant of Lapland is happier than him. The cheerful and the gay, when warmed by pleas ure and by mirth, lose that sobriety and self-denial, which is essential to the support of

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2. There were, in the metropolis, much to amuse them, as well as many things to excite disgust. How much is real virtue and merit exposed to suffer the hardships of a stormy life! This is one of the duties, which requires peculiar cirsumspection. More complete happiness, than that I have described, seldom falls to the lot of mortals. There are prin ciples in man, which ever have, and ever will incline him to offend. Whence have there arose such a great variety of opinions and tenets in religion? Its stature is less than that of a man; but its strength and agility much greater. They that honour me, them will I honour. He summonses me to attend, and I must summons the others. Then did the officer lay hold of him, and executed him immediately. Who is that person, whom I saw you introduce, and present him to the duke? I offer observations, that a long and chequered pilgrimage have enabled me to make on man. Every church and sect of people have a set of opinions peculiar to themselves. May thou as well as me, be meek,

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patient, and forgiving. These men were under high obligations to have adhered to their friend in every situation of life. After I visited Europe, I returned to America. Their example, their influence, their fortune, every talent they possess, dispenses blessings on all around them. When a string of such sentences succeed one another, the effect is disagreeable. I have lately been in Gibraltar, and have seen the commander in chief. Propriety of pronunciation is the giving to every word the sound, which the politest usage of the language appropriates to it. The book is printed very neat, and on fine wove paper. The fables of the ancients are many of them highly instructive. He resembles one of those solitary animals, that has been forced from its forest, to gratify human curiosity. There' is not, nor ought not to be, such a thing as constructive treason. He is a new created' knight, and his dignity sits awkward on him. Hatred or revenge are things deserving of censure, wherever they are found to exist. If you please to employ your thoughts on that subject, you would easily conceive our miserable condition. His speech contains one of the grossest and infamousest calumnies, which ever was uttered. A too great variety of studies dissipate and weaken the mind. Those two authors have each of them merit James was resolved to not indulge himself in such a cruel amusement. The not attending to this rale, is the source of a very common error. Calumny and detraction are sparks, which if you do not blow, they will go out of themselves Clelia is a vain woman, whom if we do not flatter, she will be disgusted. That celebrated work was Bearly ten years published, before its importance was at all understood. A great mass of rocks thrown together by the hand of nature, with wildness and confusion, strike the mind with more grandeur, than if they were adjusted to one another with the accuratest symmetry.

3. He showed a spirit of forgiveness, and a magnanimity, that does honour to human nature. They that honour me, I will honour; and them that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. Having thus began to throw off the restraints of reason, he was soon hurried into deplorable excesses. These arts have enlightened, and will enlighten, every person who shall attentively study them. When we succeed in our plans, its not to be attributed always to ourselves; the aid of others often promote the end, and claim our acknow ledgment. Their intentions were good; but wanting prudence, they mist the mark for which they aimed. I have not, nor shall not consent to a proposal so unjust. We have subjected ourselves to much expense, that thou may be well educated. This treaty was made at earl Moreton the governor's castle. Be especially careful, that thou givest no offence to the aged or helpless. The business was no sooner opened, but it was cordially acquiesced in. As to his general conduct, he deserved punishment as much, or more than his companion. He left a son of a singular character, and behaved so ill that he was put in prison. If he does but approve my endeavours, it will be an ample reward. I beg the favour of your acceptance of a copy of a view of the manufactories of the West Riding of the county of York. I intended to have written the letter, before he urged me to it; and, therefore, he has not all the merit of it. All the power of ridicule, aided by the desertion of friends, and the diminution of his estate, were not able to shake his principles. In his conduct was treachery, and in his words, faithless professions. Though the measure be mysterious, it is worthy of attention. Be solicitous to aid such deserving persons, who appear to be destitute of friends. Ignorance or the want of light, produce sensuality, covetousness, and those violent contests with others about trifles, which occasion so much misery and crimes in the world. He will one day reap the reward of his labour if he is diligent and attentive. Till that period comes, let him be contented and patient. To the resolutions which we have, upon due consideration, once adopted as the rules of conduct, let us adhere firmly. He has little more of the great man besides the title. Though he was my superior in knowledge, he would not have thence a right to impose his sentiments. That picture of the emperor's is a very exact resemblance of him. How happy are the virtuous, who can rest on the protection of the powerful arm, who made the earth and the heaven! Prosperity and adversity may be improved equally; both the one and the other proceeds from the same author. He acted conformable with his instructions, and cannot be censured justly. The orators did not forget to enlarge themselves on so popular a subject. The language of Divine Providence to all human agents, is, Hitherto shalt thou come, and no further.' Idle persons imagine, howsoever deficient they be in poiut of duty, they consult at least their own satisfaction. Good as the cause is, it is one from which numbers are deserted. The man is prudent which speaks little. 1 4. He acted independent of foreign assistance. Every thing that we here enjoy, change, decay, and come to an end. All float on the surface of the river, which is running to a houndiess ocean, with a swift current. The winter has not been severe as we expected it to have been. Temperance, more than medicines, are the proper means of curing many diseases. They understand the practical part better than him; but he is much better ac quainted with the theory than them. When we bave once drawn the line, by intelligence and precision, between our duty and sin, the line we ought on no occasion to transgress

All those distinguished by extraordinary talents, have extraordinary duties to perform. No person could speak stronger on this subject, nor behave nobler, than our young advocate for the cause of toleration. His conduct was so provoking, that many will condemni him, and a few will pity him The people happiness is the statemans honour. We are in a perilous situation; on one side, and the other, dangers meet us; and each extreme shall be pernicious to virtue. Several pictures of the Sardinian king were transmitted to France. If we consult the improvement of mind, or the health of body, it is well known exercise is the great instrument for promoting both. If it were them, who acted so ungratefully, they are doubly in fault. Whether virtue promotes our interest or no, we must adhere to her dictates. We should be studious to avoid too much indulgence, as well as restraint, in our management of children. No human happiness is so complete, as does not contain some imperfection. His father cannot hope for this success, unless his son gives better proofs of genius, or applies himself with indefatigable labour. The house framed a remonstrance, where they spoke with great freedom of the kings preroga. tive. The conduct, which has been mentioned, is one of those artifices, which sedures men most easily, under appearance of benevolence. This is the person, who we are so much obliged to, and who we expected to have seen, when the favour was conferred. He is a person of great property, but does not possess the esteem of his neighbours. They were solicitous to ingratiate with those, who it was dishonourable to favour. The great diversity, which takes place among men, is not owing to a distinction that nature made in their original powers, as much as to the superior diligence, with which some have improved those powers beyond others. While we are unoccupied in what is good, evil is at hand continually. Not a creature is there that moves, nor a vegetable that grows, but what, when minutely examined, furnished materials of pious admiration. What can he the reason of the committee having delayed this business? I know not whether Charles was the author, but I understood it to be he. A good and well cultivated mind, is far more preferable than rank or riches. Charity to the poor, when it is governed by knowledge and prudence, there are no persons who will not admit it to be a virtue. His greatest concern, and highest enjoyment, were to he approved in the sight of his Creator. Let us not set our hearts on such a mutable, such an unsatisfying world.

5. Shall you attain success, without that preparation, and escape dangers without that precaution, which is required of others? When we see had men to be honoured and prosperous in the world, it is some discouragement to virtue. The furniture was all purchased at Wentworth's the joiner's. Every member of the body, every bone, joint, and muscle, lie exposed to many disorders; and the greatest prudence or precaution, or the deepest skill of the physician, are not sufficient to prevent them. It is right said, that though faith justify us, yet works must justify our faith. If an academy is estab lished for the cultivation of our language, let them stop the license of translators, whose idleness and ignorance, if it be suffered to proceed, will reduce us to babble a dialect of French. It is of great consequence, that a teacher firmly believes, both the truth and im portance of those principles which he inculcates upon others; and that he not only speculatively believes them, but has a lively and serious feeling of them. It is not the uttering, or the hearing certain words, that constitute the worship of the Almighty. It is the heart that praises, or prays. If the heart accompany not the words that are spoken, we offer a sacrifice of fools. Neither fatter or contemn the rich or the great. He has trave elled much, and passed through many stormy seas and lands. You must be sensible that there is, and can be no other person but me, who could give the information desired. To be patient, resigned, and thankful, under afflictions and disappointments, demonstrate genuine piety. Alvarez was a man of corrupt principles, and of detestable conduct; and, what, is still worse, gloried in his shame. As soon as the sense of a Supreme Being is lost, so soon the great check is taken off, which keep under restraint the passions of Mean desires, low pleasures, take place of the greater and the nobler sentiments, which reason and religion inspires. Steady application, as well as genius and abilities, are necessary to produce eminence. There is, in that seminary, several students considerably skilled in mathematical knowledge. If Providence clothe the grass of the field, and shelters and adorns the flowers, that every where grows wild amongst it, will he not clothe and protect his servants and children much more? We are too often hurried with the violence of passion, or with the allurements of pleasure. High hopes. and florid views, is a great enemy to tranquillity. I intended to have finished the letter before the bearer called, that he might not have been detained; but I was prevented by company.George is the most learned and accomplished of all the other students, that belong to the seminary. This excellent and well written treatise, with others that might be mentioned, were the foundation of his love of study. There can be no doubt but that the pleasures of the mind excel those of sense.

men.

For Lectures on Prosody, the learner is referred to the larger grammar, of which this is an abridgement.

PUNCTUATION.

PUNCTUATION is the art of dividing a written composition into sentences or parts of sentences, by points or stops, in order to mark the different pauses, which the sense and an accurate pronunciation require.

The points, principally used in written composition, are

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The Comma represents the shortest pause; the Period, the longest; and the Semicolo, a pause between the comma and the period. To these three points, grammarians have generally added the Colon, as representing a pause between the semicolon and the period.

Punctuation is a modern art. The ancients were entirely unacquainted with the use of our points; and wrote not only without any distinction of members and periods, but also without distinction of words. the year 360 before Christ.

This custom continued till How the ancients read their works, written in

this manner, it is not easy to conceive. After the practice of joining words together had ceased, notes of distinction were placed at the end of every word. This practice, with some variation, continued a considerable time.

As it appears, that the present usage of stops did not take place, whilst manuscripts and monumental inscriptions were the only known methods of couveying knowlege, we must conclude that it was introduced with the art of printing. The introduction was, however, gradual; all the points did not appear at once. The colon, semicolon, and note of admiration were produced sometime after the others. The whole set, as they are now used, came to be established, when learning and refinement had made cousiderable progress.

course.

The precise quantity or duration of each pause cannot be defined; for it varies with the time of the whole, and with the occasion of pronouncing the disThe opinion that the points denote pauses of a definite, uniform length, and that the pauses in reading are to be exactly measured by the points inserted in the composition, is very erroneous; and has probably contributed very much to that dull, monotonous manner of reading and speaking, which is obser ved to be so powerful in lulling an audience to sleep. Punctuation is founded principally on Syntax; and has little more to do in regulating the pauses to be made in reading, than as it assists the reader to discover the grammatical construction and connexion of sentences and the parts of sentences. The judicious reader will, therefore, regulate his pauses according to the sense; sometimes making a pause where no point is inserted; and frequently making pauses of the same length, on different occasions, at different points, and pauses of different length at the same points.

lo order to determine the proper application of the points, it is necessary to understand what is meant by an adjunct or imperfect phrase, a simple sentence, and a compound sentence.

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Au adjunct or imperfect phrase contains no assertion, or does not amount to a proposition; as, Therefore,' desirous of praise,' in the pursuit of riches.' A simple sentence contains one subject or nominative case, and one finite verb, expressed or understood; as, Exercise promotes health.'

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A compound sentence contains more than one subject and one finite verb, ex

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