"action, can be committed, without either a new inroad and "breach on the temper and passions, or a further advancing of "that execution already done: whoever did ill, or acted in "prejudice to his integrity, good-nature, or worth, would of "necessity, act with greater cruelty towards himself, than he "who scrupled not to swallow what was poisonous, or who, "with his own hands should voluntarily mangle or wound his "outward form or constitution, natural limbs or body."* Here, to commit a bad action, is, first, "To remove a good and or66 derly affection, and to introduce an ill or disorderly one " next, it is, "To commit an action that is ill, immoral, and un"just ;" and in the next line, it is, " To do ill, or to act in pre"judice of integrity, good-nature, and worth;" nay, so very simple a thing as a man's wounding himself, is, " To mangle, "or wound, his outward form or constitution, his natural "limbs or body." Such superfluity of words is disgustful to every reader of correct taste; and serves no purpose but to embarrass and perplex the sense. This sort of Style is elegantly described by Quintilian, "Est in quibusdam turba inanium verborum, qui dum communem loquendi morem reformidant, ❝ducti specie nitoris, circumuent omnia copiosa loquacitate quæ "dicere volunt. Lib. vii, cap. 2.

The great source of a loose Style, in opposition to Precision, is the injudicious use of those words termed synonimous. They are called synonimous, because they agree in expressing one principal idea; but, for the most part, if not always, they express it with some diversity in the circumstances. They are varied by some accessary idea which every word introduces, and which forms the distinction between them. Hardly, in any Language, are there two words that convey pecisely the same idea; a person thoroughly conversant in the propriety of the Language, will always be able to observe something that dis-. tinguishes them. As they are like different shades of the same colour, an accurate writer can employ them to great advantage,

* Characterist. Vol. II. p. 85.

"A crowd of unmeaning words is brought together by some authors, who, "afraid of expressing themselves after a common and ordinary manner, and al"lured by an appearance of splendor, surround every thing which they mean # to say with a certain copious loquacity."

by using them, so as to heighten and to finish the picture which he gives us. He supplies by one, what was wanting in the other, to the force, or to the lustre of the image which he means to exhibit. But, in order to this end, he must be extremely attentive to the choice which he makes of them. For the bulk of writers are very apt to confound them with each other; and to employ them carelessly, merely for the sake of filling up a period, or of rounding and diversifying the Language, as if their signification were exactly the same, while, in truth, it is not. Hence a certain mist and indistinctness is unwarily thrown over Style.

In the Latin Language, there are no two words we should more readily take to be synonimous, than amare and diligere, Cicero, however, has shewn us, that there is a very clear distinction betwixt them. "Quid ergo," says he, in one of his epistles, "tibi commendem eum quem tu ipse diligis? Sed tamen "ut scires eum non ame diligi solum, verum etiam amari, ob eam "rem tibi hæc scribo."* In the same manner tutus and securus, are words which we should readily confound; yet their meaning is different. Tutus, signifies out of danger; securus, free from the dread of it. Seneca has elegantly marked this distinction; "Tuta scelera esse possunt, secura non possunt." † in our own Language, very many instances might be given of a difference in meaning among words reputed synonimous; and, as the subject is of importance, I shall now point out some of these. The instances which I am to give, may themselves be of use; and they will serve to shew the necessity of attending, with care and strictness, to the exact import of words, if ever we would write with Propriety or precision.

Austerity, Severity, Rigour. Austerity, relates to the manner of living; Severity, of thinking; Rigour, of punishing. To Austerity, is opposed Effeminacy; to Severity, Relaxation; to Rigour, Clemency. A Hermit, is austere in his life; a casuist, severe in his application of religion or law; a Judge, rigorous in his sentences.

Custom, Habit. Custom, respects the action; Habit, the actor. By Custom, we mean the frequent repetition of the same act; by Habit, the effect which that repetition produces on the mind + Epis. 97.

* Ad Famil, 1. 13. ep. 47.

or body. By the Custom of walking often in the streets, one acquires a Habit of idleness.

Surprised, astonished, amazed, confounded. I am surprised, with what is new or unexpected; I am astonished, at what is vast or great; I am amazed, with what is incomprehensible; I am confounded, by what is shocking or terrible.

Desist, renounce, quit, leave off. Each of these words imply some pursuit or object relinquished; but from different motives. We desist, from the difficulty of accomplishing. We renounce. on account of the disagreeableness of the object, or pursuit. We quit, for the sake of some other thing which interests us more; and we leave off, because we are weary of the design. A politician desists from his designs, when he finds they are impracticable; he renounces the court, because he has been affronted by it; he quits ambition for study or retirement; and leaves off his attendance on the great, as he becomes old and weary of it.

Pride, Vanity. Pride, makes us esteem ourselves; Vanity, makes us desire the esteem of others. It is just to say, as Dean Swift has done, that a man is too proud to be vain.

Haughtiness, Disdain. Haughtiness, is founded on the high opinion we entertain of ourselves; Disdain, on the low opinion we have of others.

To distinguish, to separate. We distinguish, what we want not to confound with another thing; we separate, what we want to remove from it. Objects are distinguished from one another, by their qualities. They are separated, by the distance of time or place.

To weary, to fatigue. The continuance of the same thing wearies us; labour fatigues us. I am weary with standing; I am fatigued with walking. A suitor wearies us by his perseverance; fatigues us by his importunity.

To abhor, to detest. To abhor, imports, simply, strong dis like; to detest, imports also strong disapprobation. One abhors being in debt; he detests treachery.

To invent, or discover. We invent things that are new ; we ́ discover what was before hidden. Galileo invented the telescope; Harvey discovered the circulation of the blood.

Only, alone. Only, imports that there is no other of the same kind; alone, imports being accompanied by no other. An only child, is one who has neither brother nor sister; a child alone, is one who is left by itself. There is a difference, therefore, in precise Language, betwixt these two phrases, "Virtue only makes us happy ;" and, " Virtue alone makes us happy." Virtue only makes us happy, imports, that nothing else can do it. Virtue alone makes us happy, imports, that virtue, by itself, or unaccompanied with other advantages, is sufficient to do it.

cr

Entire, Complete. A thing is entire, by wanting none of its parts; complete, by wanting none of the appendages that belong to it. A man may have an entire house to himself; and yet not have one complete apartment.

Tranquillity, Peace, Calm. Tranquillity, respects a situation free from trouble, considered in itself; Peace, the same situation with respect to any causes that might interrupt it; Calm, with regard to a disturbed situation going before, or following it. A good man enjoys Tranquillity in himself; Peace, with others; and Calm, after the storm.

A Difficulty, an Obstacle. A Difficulty, embarrasses; an Obstacle, stops us. We remove the one; we surmount the other. Generally, the first, expresses somewhat arising from the nature and circumstances of the affair; the second, somewhat arising from a foreign cause. Philip found Difficulty in managing the Athenians from the nature of their dispositions; but the eloquence of Demosthenes was the greatest Obstacle to his designs.

Wisdom, Prudence. Wisdom, leads us to speak and act what is most proper. Prudence, prevents our speaking or acting improperly. A wise man, employs the most proper means for success; a prudent man, the safest means for not being brought into danger,

Enough, Sufficient. Enough, relates to the quantity which one wishes to have of any thing. Sufficient, relates to the use that is to be made of it. Hence, Enough, generally imports a greater quantity than Sufficient does. The covetous man never has enough; although he has what is sufficient for

nature.

To avow, to acknowledge, to confess. Each of these words imports the affirmation of a fact, but in very different circum-` stances. To avow, supposes the person to glory in it; to acknowledge, supposes a small degree of faultiness, which the acknowledgment compensates; to confess, supposes a higherdegree of crime. A patriot avows his opposition to a bad minister, and is applauded; a gentleman acknowledges his mistake, and is forgiven; a prisoner confesses the crime he is accused of, and is punished.

• To remark, to observe. We remark, in the way of attention, in order to remember; we observe, in the way of examination, in order to judge. A traveller remarks the most striking objects he sees; a general observes all the motions of his enemy.

Equivocal, Ambiguous. An Equivocal Expression is, one which has one sense open, and designed to be understood; another sense concealed, and understood only by the person who uses it. An Ambiguous Expression is, one which has apparently two senses, and leaves us at a loss which of them to give it. An Equivocal Expression is used with an intention to deceive; an Ambiguous one, when it is used with design, is, with an intention not to give full information. An honest man will never employ an Equivocal Expression; a confused man may often utter Ambiguous ones, without any design. I shall give only one instance more.

With, By. Both these particles express the connexion between some instrument, or means of effecting an end, and the agent who employs it: but with, expresses a more close and immediate connexion; by, a more remote one. We kill a men with a sword; he dies by violence. The criminal is bound with ropes by the executioner. The proper distinction in the use of these particles, is elegantly marked in a passage of Dr. Robertson's History of Scotland. When one of the old Scottish kings was making an inquiry into the tenure by which his nobles held their lands, they started up, and drew their swords; "By these," said they," we acquired our lands, and "with these we will defend them." ""By these we acquired our lands ;" signifies the more remote means of acquisition by force and martial deeds; and," with these we will defend