4. Proper names of persons, places, streets, mountains, rivers, ships: as, "George, York, the Strand, the Alps, the Thames, the Seahorse,"

5. Adjectives derived from the proper names of places; as, Grecian, Roman, English, French, and Italian.”

6. The first word of a quotation, introduced after a colon, or when it is in a direct form: as, "Always remember this ancient maxim: Know thyself.'""Our great Lawgiver says, 'Take up thy cross daily, and follow But when a quotation is brought in obliquely after a comma, a capital is unnecessary: as, "Solomon observes, that pride goes before destruction.'"

me.

The first word of an example may also very properly begin with a capital: as, " Temptation proves our virtue."

7. Every substantive and principal word in the titles of books: as," Johnson's Dictionary of the English Lan"Rollin's Ancient guage ;""Thomson's Seasons;" History."

8. The first word of every line in poetry,

9. The pronoun V, and the interjection O, are written in capitals: as, "I write:" "Hear, O earth!"

Other words, besides the preceding, may begin with capitals, when they are remarkably emphatical, or the principal subject of the composition.

Cc 4

CHAPTER VIII.

OF PARAGRAPHS.

As Every species of composition admits of being divided into paragraphs, it appears to be proper to explain the nature and use of these divisions, more particularly than they have been explained in Chapter VI. page 392. The following rules on this subject will afford the student some instruction.

1. Different subjects, unless they are very short, or very numerous in small compass, should be separated into paragraphs.

2. When one subject is continued to a considerable length, the larger divisions of it should be put into paragraphs. And it will have a good effect to form the breaks, when it can properly be done, at sentiments of the most weight, or that call for particular attention.

3. The facts, premises, and conclusions, of a subject, sometimes naturally point out the separations into paragraphs and each of these, when of great length, will again require subdivisions at their most distinctive parts. By showing the learner how some of these divisions may be introduced, he will more easily comprehend their nature. They may be expressed in the following manner, or in any other similar forms of expression.—"From this enumeration of particulars, it appears to follow, that, &c." "The natural consequence of this deduction

of facts, is, &c." "The legitimate inference from these premises, seems to be, &c." "From the preceding statement, we are warranted in concluding, &c."

4. In cases which require a connected subject to be formed into several paragraphs, a suitable turn of expression, exhibiting the connexion of the broken parts, will give beauty and force to the division. This rule will be more intelligible to the student, by the following phrases, which point out, in a few instances, how separated paragraphs may be connected in sentiment. "This idea was, indeed, no more than conjecture: but it was confirmed by, &c." "What has been related is not, in itself, very important; but connected with subsequent facts, it has great weight, &c." "Happy as he appears to have been, in this situation, his felicity was augmented by another event: this was, &c." "These are the miseries of vice; let us now describe the happiness of virtue, &c."

In the following letter, some of the preceding rules respecting paragraphs, are distinctly exemplified: and we present it to the student, as an illustration and confirmation of those rules. To elucidate them all would require a greater number of pages, than can be properly assigned for that purpose in the present work.

According to my promise, I now send you the fine sentiments of Addison, upon Gratitude. But before I exhibit this virtue, I shall present you with a few general observations, which are of great importance, to young persons in particular; and which I am persuaded will meet your most cordial approbation.

Time once past never returns: the moment which is lost, is lost for ever.

He that waits for an opportunity to do much at once, may breathe out bis life in idle wishes; and regret, in the last hour, bis useless intentions, and barren zeal.

The appearances of our security are frequently deceitful. When our sky seems most settled and serene, in some unobserved quarter gathers the little black cloud, in which the tempest ferments, and prepares to discharge itself on our head.

To sensual persons, hardly any thing is what it appears to be and what flatters most is always farthest from reality. There are voices which sing around them; but whose strains allure to ruin. There is a banquet spread, where poison is in every dish. There is a couch which invites them to repose; but to slumber upon it is death.

There is certainly no greater felicity, than to be able to look back on a life usefully and virtuously employed; to trace our own progress in existence, by such tokens as excite neither shame nor sorrow. It ought therefore to be the care of those, who wish to pass the last hours with comfort, to lay up such a treasure of pleasing ideas, as shall support the expenses of that time, which is to depend wholly upon the fund already acquired,

The beautiful piece of Addison, on the duty and pleasure of being grateful to our benefactors, is as follows.

There is not (says he) a more pleasing exercise of the mind, than gratitude. It is accompanied with so great inward satisfaction, that the duty is sufficiently rewarded by the performance. It is not, like the practice of many other virtues, difficult and painful; but attended with so much pleasure, that were there no positive command which enjoined it, nor any recompense laid up for it hereafter, a generous mind would indulge in it, for the natural gratification it affords.

If gratitude is due from man to man, how much more from man to his Maker?—The Supreme Being does not

only confer upon us those bounties, which proceed more immediately from his hand, but even those benefits which are conveyed to us by others. Every blessing we enjoy, by what means soever it may be derived upon us, is the gift of Him, who is the great author of good, and the Father of mercies.

If gratitude, when exerted towards one another, naturally produces a very leasing sensation in the mind of a grateful man, it exalts the soul into rapture, when it is employed on this great object of gratitude; on this be neficent Being, who has given us every thing we already possess, and from whom we expect every thing we yet hope for.

Yours most affectionately."