siness that I have done ;' or else, half so much uneasiness as I have suffered.' 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 despaired 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 bloodthirsty; 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 capacity, 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 propriety 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 necessarily connected with the following preposition, into. The construction might easily have been rectified by disjoining the participle retaining 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 wither 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 neighbors. 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 probably 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 and 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, as 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 honor 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 furniture, were wholly destroyed. The 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 honored, 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 nan never or seldom rests satisfied 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 peity, on the one hand, and of virtue on the other hand. 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 feeling mind. The enemies, who we have most to fear, are those of our own hearts. 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. 2. 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 dishonorable conduct, neither at the present moment of difficulty, nor, I trust, under no circumstance whatever. Themis tocles concealed the enterprises of Pausanius, 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 effect. 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 respect, 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 pleasure and by mirth, lose that sobriety and self-denial, which is essential to the support of virtue. There were, i 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 circumspection. More complete happiness, than that I have described, seldom falls to the lot of mortals. There are principles 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 honor me, them will I honor. He summonses me, to attend, and I must summons the others. Then did the officer lay hold of him, and executed him immediately.

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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

THE COMMA;

THE SEMICOLON;

THE COLON; and

THE PERIOD.

The Comma represents the shortest pause; the Period, the longest ; and the Semicolon, 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. This custom continued till the year 360 before Christ. 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 conveying knowledge, 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 considerable progress.

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 discourse. The 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 observed 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.

In 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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An 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, expressed or implied; as, 'Examine well the counsel, that favors your desires.'

The subject and verb may both be attended with adjuncts, expressing the object, cause, end, time, place, manner, and the like.

A sentence is rendered compound, not only by means of a plurality of subjects and verbs, but also of adjuncts.

If two or more adjuncts are connected with the verb in the same manner, by the same preposition, conjunction, &c. the sentence is compound, and may be resolved into two or more simple ones. But if the adjuncts

are connected with the verb in a different manner, the sentence is simple; as, 'They have sacrificed their health and fortune at the shrine of vanity, pride, and extravagance.' Elegance of taste has a connexion with many

virtues of the most amiable kind.'

In the former example, several of the adjuncts being connected with the verb in the same manner, the sentence is compound; in the latter, all the adjuncts being connected with the verb in a different manner, the sentence is simple.

Of the Comma.

RULE I. -The members of a simple sentence must not be separated by a comma; as, 'Adversity borrows its sharpest sting from our impatience.'

Exercises in False Punctuation. Idleness, is the great fomenter of all corruptions in the human heart. The tear of repentance, brings its own relief. The friend of order, has made half his way to virtue. All finery, is a sign of littleness. To be, contents his natural desire. To see the sun, is pleasant. Advice, should be seasonably administered. The indulgence, of harsh dispositions, is the introduction to future misery. The best of men, often experience disappointments.

EXCEPTION 1. An adjunct of importance not standing in its natural order; especially an adjunct of the verb, if it come before the subject, between the subject and the verb or between the verb and its object, may often be separated by a comma on both sides; —as, Within the last fifteen years, that Honorable Body has lost a large proportion of its members.' 6 That Honorable Body, within the last fifteen years, has lost, &c. or, "That Honorable Body has lost, within the last fifteen years a large proportion,' &c.

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Exercises. The tutor by instruction and discipline lays the foundation of the pupil's future honor. Charity like the sun brightens all its objects. Gentleness is in truth the great avenue to mutual enjoyment. Trials in this stage of being are the lot of man. By industry and economy he amassed a large fortune. We have received by the late arrivals important news from Europe.

EXCEPTION 2. The nominative case independent, when an address is made, and nouns in apposition, when attended with adjuncts, must be separated by commas; as, Do, Trim, said my uncle Toby.' 'Death, the King of terrors, chose a prime minister.'

Exercises.- Continue my dear child to make virtue thy principal study. To you my worthy benefactors am I indebted under providence for all I enjoy. Hope the balm of life sooths us under every misfortune. Confucius the great Chinese philosopher was eminently good as well as wise.

EXCEPTION 3. The nominative case absolute, and the infinitive mood absolute, with their adjuncts; an adjective or participle with words depending upon it; and generally, any imperfect phrases, which may be resolved into a simple sentence, must be separated by a comma; as, 'His father dying, he succeeded to the estate.' To confess the truth, I was in fault.' Who having finished the usual Academic course, have returned to us again, to prosecute your professional studies.'

Exercises. Peace of mind being secured we may smile at misfortunes. To prevent further altercation I submitted to the terms proposed. Charles having been deprived of the help of tutors his studies became totally neglected. The chancellor being attached to the king secured his crown.

EXCEPTION 4. Where the verb of a simple sentence is understood, a comma may sometimes be inserted; as, 'From law arises security; from security, curiosity; from curiosity, knowledge.'

Exercises. From Boston he proceeded to New York; from New York to Philadelphia. As a companion he was severe and satirical; as a friend captious and dangerous; in his domestic sphere harsh, jealous and irascible.

RULE II.A compound sentence must be resolved into simple ones, and separated by commas; as, 'The decay, the waste, and the dissolution of a plant may affect our spirits, and suggest a train of serious reflections.'

Exercises. Self-conceit presumption and obstinacy blast the prospect of many a youth. Discomposed thoughts agitated passion and a ruffled temper poison every pleasure of life. We have no reason to complain of the lot of man nor of the world's mutability. Sensuality contaminates the body depresses the understanding deadens the moral feeling of the heart and degrades man from his rank in the creation. It is labor only which gives the relish to pleasure. In that unaffected civility which springs from a gentle mind there is an incomparable charm. Many of the evils which occasion our complaints of the world are wholly imaginary.

EXCEPTION 1. -Two words of the same kind, immediately connected by a conjunction, though they may render the sentence a compound one, must not be separated. But, if there be more than two, they must all be separated, unless connected in pairs, in which case the pairs only must be separated; as, 'Some men sin deliberately and presumptuously.' 'Deaths of parents, friends, and companions are doubtless intended for our improvement.' 'There is a natural difference between merit and demerit, virtue and vice, wisdom and folly.'

Exercises. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Benefits should be long and gratefully remembered. When thy friend is calumniated, openly and boldly espouse his cause. Human affairs are in continual motion, and fluctuation. Time brings a gentle and powerful opiate to all misfortunes. The man of virtue, and honor will be trusted, and esteemed. Conscious guilt render us mean-spirited timorous and base. In our health life possessions connexions pleasures there are causes of decay imperceptibly working. Health and peace a moderate fortune and a few friends sum up all the undoubted articles of temporal felicity. An upright mind will never be at a loss to discern what is just and true lovely and honest praise worthy and of good report. To live soberly righteously and piously comprehends the whole of our duty.

• No

EXCEPTION 2. - In comparative sentences, where the members are short, the comma is better omitted; as, 'Wisdom is better than riches.' preacher is so successful as time.'

Exercises. — How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Mankind act oftener from caprice, than reason. Expect no more from the world than it is able to afford you. The friendships of the world can subsist no longer than interest cements them. I do not like this so well as that.

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