_ ., , ,. . ,.

____ __ --_,,

--------------------------~-------------------------------HU

HOLLIS# APU2442 /bks
AUTHOR: Burn, John, d. ·1793.
'TI'ILE: Practical grammar· ..of the English language : in which the several
parts of speech are clearly and methodically explained ... I
by John Burn.
EDITION: 9th ed., ·corr .. and improved with an enlarged ... apperidix,
containing instructions for writing English, by the late Wm.
M'Ilquharn.
PUB. INFO: Glasgow : Printed for J. and A. Duncan, 1805.
DESCRIPTION: XX·, 275 p: ; ~7 cm . .

SUBJECTS: *Sl .English language~-Grammar.
AUTHORS: *Al Burn~ John, d. 1793.
OTHER TITLES: ~arvard reading textbooks preservation microfilm project ;
. 03566.

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...

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LOCATION: Gutman .·Education: EducT , 207 58 . 05.. 18 0~
Gutman . Education: Film .HRT 00506
·..,
Master Microforms: · Film Mas 24632 ·
~
.
Microfilm~ Cambridge; Mass . : Harvard University· Library .
·Microreproduction service, 1994. 1 . microfiliri' reel
n.e gative ·; 35 mm .
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.ENGLisif:tA~GUAG~:'. . '.--:~' '· .=;~s~~

f;/;.'.·-.-'l'fi:e.feVeral_J;»A:jri(~~I~~~f·
,..': .,:;_~ _.':,. ;,;!·~~~€'
;~r~:·:: . /:,>1~
lf:a'k·-~le~Jrl~d piet~.~)<;:· ,;~
1

'{~- · -]\tf~aji;.;~pl~~~4ft~clf~C:o~~~'ll~~:in'd':co'
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'-'.:'.'. '.:< "''• ' · ,. ' . . , " \ • ··\ ·· • ' . .
~J
~~. ,; ·.~:~~!:t::.~~~~~,: t~.-P~~i~~.l,~~~~.~- ;~1:1.i.~.s, : ~~ ,;-\ -~~ .
~7- · .·.:-illufti.,Ate'.;:H~y".a". 'Vai-ic·t y-or..Examplci~
"' -· .. .,,-.: <
: '_~. ;.,. '· , --:: ..., "·· ·1.i:,~r - " • ·"· '"'- ~- ., , " .,.,.. ...
. .
' . . 'i>.IP
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:.;.. a;·:-~'H~""cl'&~~JTCON}~_:
(ii~ · fo-'r A RANGfl:: :·:;·.:-~._Hi
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· ·- ~- · '"··"·- · •"'"""'r·J ~--.. '"~ ·~..,,. ~~~~i'~· · :-_
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·M-'EN ·being·r6~~~d-: by: Gan fof foci~­

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. ·-- -ety'; -there

.

;; ·.'.- -~ -~~e,re~ ~~-·~t~~i~n.~;•' l!}~t· _

•is.a' fir_ong ' pr()penfit~

.implanted_. ih~ th-eili~'--arifing'

fro~ ·

1hd-r

·:VaB~us . hi'uitiorls~- ~c>nnecflons ·and. mu.:.
- ·1~ti~t·depend~ndes~:-to.
~hh
·:Hence tne 1.uniiy·of fpe~ch; - by
-irte~t'ns of wiiidi, as·ane~inent·~riter'~y.s,
;we'. ca~n' d~\rert .~ur f6.rrows,
h1irth; impart · our '.fecre~s, communicate
'ohr cbu.nfe!s;--and ~iake m'utu'al compaB:s
·and-agr:~e·1nents, fo_r fuppfyihg-our.rri"ut-Ual
• -~,:ants;-and_ fot_<lffifiing each othe_r: . .

converfe·one

·another:

miiigie"o'ur

.-.

..,

-

l·': -

'

I

f

' •

- BuT though- nll men can · fpeak. their
in~:tile"r t~ngue, yet- thei-e are; -compara.. .
·tively~ but few -who can· fpeak or w·rite it
-\~,

~

,,.
- ~3,

-- '\l.'ith

___ __ ...., __...

. _._:p:·:.a ..a--F-'A
,. ' 'C '~R.

\'"

~.. .

TaouaH this publication" l:fe chiefly
defigned for t~ore who are altogether;· .o.r

H~NCE the neceffity of Grammar. an.
art which teaches the -~hoke of prop~r­
words~ ~he ~elation ' which 'they ·bear· t<>
one another, · with their · proper arrange-.
~.ent _ipcp phi:~fe& .Qr .feiiten.<;es. .·Rut as
. this ~r.t.~is po~
Qe l~a-rn,ed whhou t -.prp-.

to

_per 1 he~p.~·anp.ffifit.ua19ns, (o:n~itl\er is.it
·t~)>e .imagined .that. ·the .v~ry befl: .he.!p,s.
~~~.infiruftiop~; '\'\'.jthQut._th.e IJlO{l yigorQ~.
,~nc!ea:vou-rs ~µ t.~ p~rt ..of thqfe wh,c;>,
would'.b(!coine .pi:qfid.~nts in .it, are .o.f

.th~mf~l.ves fuffic~ent · Jo~ .att~ining thi,

,va_h1able ··end. H.owe.~rJ:by a: prQp.~r
.attentfon to, ~nd applicati~n <?f .fuch h~lps.
as are here offered, it is hoped the knowled g e o f t he E11;:Jy1J lang 11agc m ay be aCr_a in ed ; the u ti l i' y 3 n d pl e;ifu re a :-i {in g:
irqm which wi! 1 much more tkm com..
· .p~nfatc for ail the rroubf e an d labQur it

.

but 'little .aequ-ainted . With the dead fan:.;
g.uages; · yet · it : is hoped, . that : even..fuch ·
as have had ··a , more liberal education
may alfo find fomething . in ,ic not unwor..'
t-hy . of.their. nodce. ~ ·
l

'

•.

the mahi ~nd··mrght b'e.attai#eq~ .
befides:. tbe .. explapa~ion of. the · differen~·
p;arts <>f fpeec~, .their .concord and goverI)· .
rnem; a·:vai:refy·of:examples,~ for the .Je~rn.. ~r~s ·exercif~· are giveD.: under ea~h: rute of'
Syntax;:. for : it · is ·.certain,- one, who ·is .
wholly un~cquainted with Grammar; can- .
:not· eafiity . be _
made· to , underfi.and ~ how·
_,one ·word ·agrees -}Vi~,. <>r-is governed ·by.~other;-'. w.ithoot fetting before:~ :e~- amples :: of: .f~Jfe'. conffruffion,, By thefe .
e~er~ifes::he will not- onJy .: have fcope for
exercifing .his·ov. n, gen ius, but alfo -h'ave ·
the p leafure of rectifying, wh:it ' is either
TH.AT

deflgnedly made wrong, or fr)nnd fo, in

th~ ~entence's {EmteJ from. different au-~ ,

. :t~-s~~

..mav
" .recuire.
.
-..

THOUG.H

·'..

1; .

;

A'.j_~

'

.

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;,
I

.vi
· . ·l> i l::Ji.~:-~ii,." ..~ :: ·.
._: lt has b~~~ :·£~~nd -~~ the / courfo of
~~aching, ·.that a' leain.e1) ~before ·be has._.
.gotten ; through th.~. c 6Xp'a-nation of the:_

e .

._

•

.

in

.-.- · . · · -

.- ~: ·3~::· . .:;; .:{;,,; . ,. { .. .. -.l_. •.'! - l

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are capable..

. . ,· ,AN. .. J

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• ,.cf ''- -

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to.

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·T.tt\;rd ·15 '.~''h\ihiher . hF.fenre:nces 'gl_ven ,

··\iriHer th'e''fev·e-fal_'Tblts of Sy'ntax; an·d in

~

the v~ri ous nwdifi._cc. tions of; ~vhich ._they,

·or

~.

· m~de ,~J~ tirlderg~ 'l a, 'v'a'rie'ty . of oth~
\ch~tlges; without '~oing the lean:· v'fol~nce

..

~

··--:' F~RTHER~ be~re proce~d-irig \vith th.e·:
· 1"1~ng".ScholiJr t~}he rules -ot'corripofilron..
. an.cl arra'nge"rnent, it_ wil! not .be improper'
10 caufc hitn 1urn fuc h. fe ntences as adrriit
ef <lillt:rent f1JrrnS of ex prtfUon;'- into all

" .

;.'

·ifu(l;'.app11catfon- of ~.-h:aFhe.is· r€q~irea fo,
:1~

--vii

~to't'he ·f~ntiment~ -'; : But: ft is 'unnecdfary .
' t~·=- ·'be·. m'ofe'"p~;ti~~lar '\f.~at is a1~e~ay
· f~td -~'is · a ''f~'fficfent ::hint" fhow " the· fo ..
~
ii.emgc!nt ' ~n'd -i fydi'ci:qus 'reacher .what , ,is
_'in·;e~n~·:·.-i)y' tl'l~·~p;O'p.o.f~d :'d!ve~~ficatfon'.

tlfe :tendency;~ ·~he."ufe'.

memo:Fy •.;~

V-

:

of

·in

"

- ~~inmi·t :1.0

~ -,~,: ~:, ~ 'l! .)r -~ '¢·fe·.·

. . AN example this' the reaaei will find
the so 'arid '. s 1 }Yclges (?f the Gramnuir~
.where the -f~me :.feritirrient is expreffed
·_£even different _ways;· bHt by franfpofing
the· words b(ljhjulnefa:._and impudence; or ~- .
··by fubfiit'uting the . wor~~ ·tommfi:r~tion,.
iolnpl!./Jipn., <jymp~thy;<~ &c·.' infie_ad of 'the .
word-pity; ~nd infie~ad of the words, ilver.• .
jio.1} contemP.J? ?!'· the_
words faorn, ridt~ule,
·. , -, -"·
_ ·gffe.ili~, lia'fr~d; "deteftrit{on, &c: it may b_e ·

.parts of fpeech, ha~ become w~ary of ~o.
dry· a .taik, ~d fon1etim,.e? fo. <li(couraged,
.w.hh~this pait.Qf;the bu.Unefs, t-hat he has
given. it up, as a thing.i.mi)o_ffibl_e,. b.y.h~m,
ever to be tindedlO_od. For which _re~-·
_ .to~t:,; ,and,·t~ pr~vent- -thi~ in.convenie~~~1 ,
' ;fJraiJimat'icarRules;
;with··a·
Praxis
-of. f~he..
.
.
.
.... ' - -Engtijh,: are.fobj<;>ine·d to . ~he e~plicatioU:.
~f eich~pa!i_.of._.fpeeth. · 'l'his has alre.ady_·
':ba-O'the' deflred'• eff~a; animating .the;
'.)e~n~er to· proceed, with gre;iter ~lac;_rity,_
·; t&\v.h~t remained. - '.] lor,- thua ·he begins.

_-._~r)y:·i<>- 'p~rcei~e

,,

the'prbmifctfOus' ex~rlifes, ic~pable o_f f~fn~
;:~ ry vhiaticitl~~ \v hich: rhay be all t!-eated
l

I

i

i-n the fame manner ' " and t ha t not _
only
<Vi 7. a· 'Voce , but al fo iri · wr iti ng.
To do
~ hieb,' let as ma ny as 2.re in the fame
1

elaf.s he. fe.t dow.u:·with tbcir. Di.t tlomnies ,
. l
and:

.

-

- -,..~!>';~=i::,ef:\~·..~.'i"'r' ;{ .: <- • . ••... :~

GENERAL CONTENTS .

. · ·1~~R-ODUCTION-q/Lettet:1 anrl

·GENE·

· . ·

S;.flab!a,

.

·-o/ the fa:mds ef the•vn~·el.s,

.

r

-0.f ih;, douh!e at.d triple VC'i.uef;,
' .__O.f diffina11t co1:flnant.r,
.. .7-Generafrufe.r ofjpellini,
. lVhat gn.Jmmar it-;nd the parts ef_/}ccch,.
Of'tbe article,
.
OJI he Noun-Declt'!fion-.Nt1mhr-Go.'dei·, ·
7 Rule1 .of S; 11tax,
..
'Of the prol1ouil~R~/~1 Sp;ta.-.:,
. .OJ"ihe adjeEliv.:e-'.lfulef· if s)'~lia.v, .
.. .Ofthe verb_;__:_Dfffer~nt ki~~d1 ·qr 'i.'erb;,
· Vfthe t:/<' q/ Do t1nd Did in c;:j1;::,,11i.•::; c,.·(f'/,.t )
"' '· "(j.r ,·,.,. :·:· ''.' ·1· "'·;-~J
'j
. :/
c ,;_, , ""
' < ,. )
1

if

.~•.'

'

b ,.,..,,

\

:::.
6
I2

19
.2 7

29

3o
3S
41

s2
56
7_:;

~I r:
i_;

)?"
~ .. ·....

;

'

..

~age·-·

·· Rulir ef.Sj"ta~. Raft I. 1he 'fJ~rh agrur, &c. 83- ,
--· .Rule.K•... !l};_e f~hft~_!i"lJe~~r~.~.m-~pe, 8 5 ,.
..:__R;ie i.. ... erWO er more Juhftantfoes,
ib.
· -Rule .Jr!. ~ 'Iwo pronouns~
- 86
-Ruie .lJ. ·.. .Anr"a{!i-ve_ 11erb,., ,
87
.___Ruie
'I.hi ~elati'Ve muffogree, ..
88 ..
-!!.~k P. One verb go'Vern~ anqt~! ~ ib.
-Rule ·~- 'The Y~la#ve fl!tlft be put in the
- ~ccufati'Vt~ -- ; : .
·
· _.
• 89 .?
-Ru/1 J?.. If ~nptk~r. '!Xt;h.?come ~d'll}1xt
the relati,,e,
ib:- -:. .
..:,.__Rule
S...... . , .Co/le8ive.nof.1tf
..S.. ::..:•
·
,,
-- ,,. ...

o:

~

~R.JJ/i~·; · When the poJR/fi~e, thy~
:9l
_:._R~le)l. ; By l~~ving Olff _the9dv_e.rh!.·'!l~r;_n~ ·9~

·. .

-Rylt.: v~· W"ben '}~e- pa.rticiple__.. b~~~mei, ~-- .
-·' . I
•
'
- mu11,, .' · •·
· . 93 ;

~R..u.!.~

.w:

_.AN un,j~c~ry chang~-ef. ~o~~ :

·
. ftr.uEjion_ m~ft ~'be a.Jifile4~-: _ . - _l/4 _
Of the ad'Vlrl>; · ?6 .~
~Of ibe prep#,tion1 __ . -... · .
.-. . __
: 100 - .
OJ the .co~junflion~ .. · ·
.
104·
OJ the tlifiinBion het'}Vixt <(T ·and hor,106
OJ th~ 1interjta'ion,
I J 5
Jlq_~ ~m part iffpm:h i: far~edfiom aMt!.•er, ~b.
Offtntenc~s~
.. . .
.
-_ · .._ ~. 11

·J ,

., _·

Of the_ -~Frange1!1e~t .of ;::qt~~ ~ti.f.~t&~fU~ : .~·· ~/J~ ~":~
_:.. ...

···

.

~

:Flu Englitb fahol~~ mo~ijiartici~lar/y aj[ifterJ'!~ze .
_paife and co'!(true,_ .
. .
123
Fa_ulty ~l!ffagu .from the Spetl:ator,· &c..
I)
3
Gf. the 1~p_rope~ ufe of the tzrticle, ·
ib.
Of the pronoun, ·..
. ·.
•

-

1 54

rs

· Of, compar.iJ!a, , . . .
. . 7
Cfhe pr~ter1tof·the:·~rb-.;;.ufidfar the Parti~: ·
,· . .
-c·
. _lpIe, .
: - . . . . I '5 8
.~h,_ Adj~e-~iv.e7_ufe_d/fr th_e_ Ad~erb, &c. 1 6S
Prep?fitions_'"!P.r~pert, ujed-; .. ,
. i66
_O f Periods· af!t/:. the. pr°.p~~.arrangem_rnt,-- w
9
·.Rqle_.I. -A pe~fod,_ jhou/4 contaif1 one e;,t.ire_ ~
.,.. : " ., .t~~~1ght, ..: ·.
.:, - ~ i 8
~ql~ J~_· :: ../kfefl!_perJ ef {J p_eriod, ~~ich. oug/Jt . ',
. .,· . . mt tp be.fonjoined.hy
a_
cfJpulative
- I So
·,1_
<
•
..
' ,
~
).l_uie Ul ...:._two ·1hi11g.r. fa conne8ed. q.r to re-: '
· .'
quir._e ~~/..~ cQP~!ative~- ~
1-82
: R~le .IV!7r:bj~('i. repr,e[ei~_ied. a; Jin:ilar pr,_:.
.-> . '1f!Jf'!Flar, .., . . . . .
i 87
R~l.e 'V.~improper. :.tp .. chaffge from _perfan to
perfon, ..
191
Rule VI. .To drop copulatives, .
193
•

•

.!

'

~ Language hurt by omitting partic!eJ,
194 _
R~J~. ¥1_1.-a circumfta;1u c,ught lo be placed, J 96 .

Rµle VIII. Words expreffing things connefled
1
!n J!xmg~:~ ::
20 s_ , R\Ue.~~-

...

C 0-N tr B N -Ts. -..·

.xv111
.

.

~Rlille ·IX

[~-

.

-Relati'fle .words to In-placed· pi mar,

2 Io ~

mofl imJ,,rla.nJ.imagu,~ ... · 21 I
Rule.XL fn arranging differen,~particUlars- -

E~ceptionJ,

-_ihe

Rule X

fefPe11d the.~hqug~t.,_~ , , . .

-

. . ....•

~. ,.· •<

..

...

2 r9

Ii

23-2
239 ·

JI.

250 . -·

'

APJ?.;ENDIX.:'~-

"lntroduBi~n; ~ -·

.:: . -:·
·~-

· ··
_Of Style,'
,., . :. .
•
:..Of ;E'erfp{clf~ly, ...:1
_of Senieiz~~;, .- .. ::..-.._ · •

:'be . 'added to·'thofe _m;rked
page 2q, Ji~m-~,~~e 11. General Rule. ef
Spelling.. _. -.·- ;
· ·

216

Improper ·and Proper phrafa.r· &Gtflraf~d, · .-.
:of p.imlluatioi1. 224~<!! tmph'lfi.r~ ·- ;·
· · Of capitals, 2;8 ~OfprpfaJ1; ./ ·
" .pirhet~ri~~lfigm-:es,, .· ,\. · . .

:2tix.. ] ·

Page ·

'2. S5 .

-~

. _. -.: _·~
257 · ·:
.._ . • ; :::.·· ~ -~--. ·=
· .. 2:,S8 · :
.·.· . .·-. · .
2 63
.

2 •

267

;f

r!

27I

274

.. · . !-

-

"'

I

d

1
,

-

•

'

~ :i:~;.

_..,
<

~-<~

•

AF~ ~n'is£t - ~tmable; .

admittable,.
arable, arbitrabl_e,. ·afpecrable, bendable,
comfortable, conteflable. culpable, deleCl:- .
able, ·demandab!e, . demonfirable, dri~k­
able, emendp~Je, frequentable, grantabJe,
governable, immixable, impregnable, in.
:flammable, inteUable. Jamemal;>le, match- able; mendable,." merchantable, mixable,
~~i:kable, · obfervable, optable, palpable,
portable, prefentable, quenchable, remarkable, rentablc, returnable, fearcha ble, f t:qucilra blc, 1p~rable, taxable,
ternptable, . tenaJ?.table, .· touc.hable, war- ..
raiitable •
••

:: :OJ__~!e~.ts~~f f/~. /r(cff!o)~;,~--ihe· Jt_riiC!~r::~: ef.bentences,
.-~
,
.
. .
: -ojmiity, in th-::jt~~ai/r~'r:f'Se;!e~ccl, ~ Of ftrm;th) in tl·;-jt ruDurc ~( S:r;to;a;,
O/_h~nnt;nJ', _in the Jtruc711re ef S'r!ii_~·nr~!,

•

_tQ

l•

.

.

. .......

.

;..,

- .- . -

~

.... -

-..... .

• -= ""- .
.
!

· ··

i

....

~

.

, ..

--:.-Exi~pti~n1~
· - -.

.....

.

.

-..;

Ma~y

of thefe · words admit .: of a
prepofition, as, ftarchabfe, ,unfearchable,
·which are not infert~dj . bec~ufe the pre- .

· ·.pofitio~
. ..·
.
.

-

pona.~t

.-

r-- -

•

,.

...

-

part uI a graiµu~uca1 courie,. is.
accor.dingly refumcd in the following .Appendi:.:, which, it is
~ilt not be un- .

:..

hoJ?Cd>

'

accept1ble to the public. · '
.
This fupplement is -n ot intel:lded to f uperfede t~e _many valu~ble · treatifes. already- written on Enghfh compofit1on;
but ~ to· ferve ·as a foundation ·for. farther
inquir~s: tho~e wb&.:~i!h::: ~~ ~be':\v~}~'. in- .
formea on .tne fub1ect, may.:- confult
lCames' Eleme;its ·of Critkif~, : Blait!s
Leetures. on· Rh~toric, an~.:~.~IJ_efLet~r~s.
Irving's Elemen!s .of "Engli'tq:~·C~rnpof~
" tion, Melmoth~s Letters of Fitzofuorne-~
. &c~-· &c,
'!'

• ••

-

·

· . ·,

:·

-·it'
•

·.,

.

I

..

T
HEgr~at ~bje~,of_Janguage is to exprefs"the·
· •arious.
af1<l
of thofe by .whom. _
w-a~t~.

. .·. : ·.

. ......
,,.,

OF STYLE.- ·
~tfe~lions~

it is ufed;. arid. the manner 0£ exp1"effion, .pecu- . liar· to anyJp.e~_~er or ,~Tit;;:r, is called hisjt)k.
1
_· . · •_ .T~~e ge!lh1~:~i~--~~:.
much di~covered by.ftyle,
·as'·by. any. 9ther. d~!tiq$on: and. every eminent - .
. ~ writ@r~ vri~pout ii?-d ulgipg aµy un wamnted.licen-·
. ces;-.h~s .a- !angu~·ge _~·hi~h he. d~riv.es · from him~~~: .

i .. ,, .

I ·.
;

~

i

'•

4

.•

r
&

I

~'

felf,- ~and which is -peculiarly, and. literally . his

-;-:own.r; -

.

-·
--~---

•· 1 pern·aps;c- - as . mucn
le d''
• h; "•Ln • t-1-.
. Th
_ ere 1s
\ver~,.y
.........
fi:yle~ or "m:rnn:::r, in \vhich· '<liffcvnt p::rfon! ::x:prcfa their f(: nrim en rs, as rr±··rc: i ~ \':n i:::ty in r:~ ..

features of their, faces, or difference in the rn:ie:>
of their v.oi~es; ;. yet, as correc1nefs of. language

rn~y

be acq~ircd · by:the obfervatibn

may ilyle

be

of Rules, fo
greatly improved by att::ntt v;: J:· r~­

ruGng th ~ belt :i.uthors 1 till tth'ir nn: Hi ~-r o t- expretlion: become ; ·fa~1ilfar: - th.e only lbndard br

w_hich ,_ the conformity, imp:-:ed ·-in·gr.i.mmatical
·. truth;.mufi·be afcertai'ncd, in any.lal1guage,~s-rhc ·

·· authorized.and prefent-ufe of that-language:.
A perfon's ftyle is always intimatdr:oormeCltd·
· wit.hJ1is; minm:r·of thinking' I t: is a:pldnr~ of.:
the..ideas ·w]uch. arife in his: mind, aod.of: the .
~
'
'7 . - '
roa.une:-:
..-.·3., '
;'

- - - -

.

.-.l
, .. s

APP.RN DIX,

The ·ufe of
· language being to convey our ~deas intQ. the
,.,f; oth"'r.:
'"'nd to clothe
thPm
;" -··
~" .,,;
. _,,:·..:.:,.j~ ...,...
..,,.., ......
.
--· .....
...
natageous drcfs, all the qualities a good.nyle
tn:.IJ be reduc~d to two heads, namely, perfpicuiity and ornament._
·
~.;.

-

-

of

_

-~

P.ERSPICUITY.

Perfpi.cuityl or clearnefs an_d plainnefs, in writing or fpeaking; confifts of two parts, and req~res attention 1 _
firfi to fingle _wc:mi'J a_n~l phrafes,
ar;~thcn to the conflrutlion of fentences. 'Vith
re!.J:-d to words 311'1 phrafes, pur~ty~ propriety
~mi pretjfion are the chief properties. (. The two .
fa:ft of th.de a.re fo nearly. allied, that- they ire ofte:n confounded '\0.tb: each· other: a diH.in8ion> ·
h m.vei>er, obtains between them.
.t. Purity-Qf fly le confiils in uiing fuch words,..
and conftruCtions, "' belong to the langu:ige
w h.ich \re' f peak, in. oppofition to fuch as are
•
. ,
. uied· 'Yithout proper. ~h~rityi ; ~ 1 • ·
2 •.

Propriety of

larigila~ · j the· feleCl:i~g ~r l

foch words ;is the be!l ufa.ge 'has appropriated to .
tLofc id~;:is which we intend to exprefs.by them; .

ir,; ~ppo!tti on to io•v and lcfs fig~ifica nt . \Vords.
:ii:W l'lhufr~.. ,
_
· ..
3. J'rnffio11J with refpelf.t~ wordsiand 'plirafes,.
.confifts in r.etrenchi~g fuperfluitie's, and .P.runing .
~be exprcfiion; fo as.to exhibit; . neitli~I' more nor ·

•

•'
..l

.!n.

.

lefs than; an .c.xa'£t. copy of. the...ideas.. of, the: P.~r-.
•. J'on who ufos it.. .. .
• : . tie Pcrfpicuitr .being the end, and _
Cuprcme.excdknce of wn.tmz, there cann6t be a more fa- ·
·ut

·.. .
. •.

~-"

___,.

_......._ .

APPENDIX.

. ta1 objell: to an autjl.or's fiyle, than that
in need of a coma'.ientator.'~

. mmncr in '\\·hich they do arife.

....

---- ...

I

'

it fbnds

· • Errors, with·.. rega.rd: to · perfoicuitv; :?re fo .
_plentifully: fcattered ·over the. pages ()(the mo ft
. tielebrated .writers, · that a larg~ feleC\ion,. in .this)
~lace, ' fcems· unneceffary :.
. ·· G.tammatic~l errorsijn the._ure-of articles, pro•_ .
~ r.oun5,a<lj~tlives, verbs;-p,repofitbn:;; &c.· are fo

fully.pointed out i.n th'e precediog gr.am mar, th::it
a.repetition·.of:them here. is~fuperfluous. But,
A k:no-wk<lg~of.t~ r.,ule& of grammar, though

:ibfoluteff:ne&!f1ry, i{°not fufficient for the purpofes _of.la11gu3g~: .for there·rrDy be bo.th an i0~ ­
prnp~r .1:ho~ce {}f; ¥,rords 1 _and an ambiguous ar. r:,ingeinent:of:them, where t11ere is no tranfgrcffion-of '.2 Hy-~gi:ammati{;al rule .- 'The ufeofJ o w, or.\'urgar words or phrafcs is
always difg9fli11g; ,an d. fh'cws :. a perfon to h;i.vc
kept illiterate company .· _
·
Settitig. up.far.. a. maxim, la_ring d;,; w11 a1 a rnle,
CJti ,out for , tht,cou.rt; clap_t up in a cortJer, lift in
tht .lurrh;:wf!ll :roundIf_ to <fvqr1; curryingfawur,
da1uitig attrndana, fquerud out a n:earring, and.
1

rn:.rny,other.vul ~ ar

exprdiions, frequently ufcd,
deform the writinr-s of t~;)fc \vTW u!e th·em.
"The king;; of-Syria ;t11d Egyp t, the lin,p of
~ P.ergamqs. · and Macedon, without.: ~ntcrmiil1on,

worritd .c.a ch, other .for ·above. two.h uo.drcd ye;.rs.»
B.urlt.
cc C.ontcnt; tnercfore,- I am,,. myJordj th"atllritain
ftands, in this· refpe~, as- !he. how.does.. Able
r.noug,h ihe is, at pn:feµt, t~ faift fer. J:e:ft!f.,,
.
Shaftn611';1·
Thifc:> .

.

.•

-

'"The~,

.
APPENJ>tX. ;

.
;.

-

.

and·_many other· partic?lmJ miglit
eifity.chou the faith of a phi_lofophe~1 who be-- lien:d no'more than wh_at_he could deduce from:
tlhc principles 'of nature."
. . . ·_Dr]tlerJ•.
' ·" J'he n:ieinory of him, aqd of · them, would·
lu.vc jlunk together in the noftril& of m~n~in~:··

' . ,:.2Jii .
be.much ·impro':ed, :_but.ccaqnot. ~ ~cquired bj'"
art. · Vlhof!er J.H>O~d . of 1t, ":~ k~rccl 1

..

need.-~ry,·crtt1cal prcc~pts, ~Olenable him to J'udgc
. gf a-.~rue rhythmus, and ~elody of compofition.;
·1u_ft_nui:nbers, - acc-~fate proportions, a ·mufical

-"-:·

.~Y~ph~y;m~gnificentfigure~;an~ that decorum
, ~h1ch JS the i:efu~- of all thefe, are unifon to.·thc
human .-mind.''~Her.e> we meet little.-to offcBa.
-_-· the carf~9d :~. little !~ inforip the judime~_. ,;,

_ _ . - - . ·. - .· - . Br;lil!ghrofa.
-~
•" I need. fay: no mo~e: eoucerl!_ing ~~ drift
·tlic& letter~"· . ,. . . · · · A.i~tl:s- L_ttter.s.

ef

~ EJ~rf year: i n.ew flow~~>=·in· ,hisjudgmen~,.
/;Mts all:_the o)d one~, t-ho~gh. it .i$.'Qiuch inferior-·
to them: bot~ in-colour and,thape~!'- gandru/1.1•.
_ u His name mufi g.o down ~o p4fieri_~;:with dif"".
tinguifhed honour."· 1 Hurcf.s·.4·ife·Of :~a.rhµrtciJ.
H

•

ltjs.w~ll if tpe read~fj W~th~Ut Tf:!je£l:ing 'IJJ
eud~avour pat_
ieiitly. to gath~r theJ>lain

. · .· Kames' _Elem:-ef.Crit.'.
was but ef a.piece. indeed,_ that a ~eremr;>->:

_meaning.':· ,

DJ1 condu8:ed in defi~nce of humaniry, fhouJd;
.· ht found_ed . in contem.pt of juftice.'~ . Melf!WtiJ •.

· '\Yrirer-5, foriletimes;
words.and ph~fes ·fo . .
- jpdefiniteJy, that the reader can.either-affix

no·

·meaning at· all· to· then~; ·or .rriay-.~ffi~ to'tbem.
211J mea.ning· he plea1es:-'~ Whence arifes the

· harmony of language?·:_. What· are · the rules ·for ·
obtaining -it? rhe\nfwer·is obv.ious. ~ Wh;\teVer
renders a period fw~et·and pl~afa11t~ makes-it a}fo .
· -~w.. A m->od.car.is the s_\ft.of naLur~;:i.t.may..

-·

b~

.·

-

• . ·· • .

......... ~

, _

.•

;

•

··~·...

·t.,

,,;r· -

-

: ... Y'~ ~~~o:, . det!f!~ · ~~ ~~11,o!· i~p~rt~-' 6mpI.y, ·
_tl:ron5 d1~ke;_ .to de~ft, imports al~o !hong dtf;ipprob.ation. "A m~rn ab1iors bting in debt;. he

'f!'.'.l have. obferv~d that the fup('.riorit)',, amori:g
£"le coffre-houfe politicians, proceeds from a.ii..
. &piui.uµ.of ga_llant.-y and,_faihio,q," .
.
Dees it proceed from thei~w.n opinion? or ,
from th-al of others?

·ure

:.. ~

1

tk Jump,
·~-It.

"'4

.. . ~J}e ~~f·fo~,rce ~f::~Joofe" ftyle, in oppofition
to pr~~fi~b,~:.· i-~·~:tl}e -i)\fudi~ious ufe of · ~o!<t~ ·
. te~~ed:JJ.i!?,1,l!r}ous:<;;:~ ~~rds are_faid •to be fy~
·· nony~ous : whFn ~JleJ.E?~gree in :expreffing o~e,
P!~IJ~![>~~)~~~ ~&,~g~~ ~Yth . fo~e diverfitjr- of
c1rcumClances.
... . · ·
· .
-, · · M3.~y i~llah~es;:of this kirid,'-niight ·be given;
· ··- fuch
as'.J·· -·· ·.
· . ·...,- .. - .
.
•

., ·
\.

detdts treacheryL
·
·
To avo'W, pcknowled,;e, coefefi. Each of thefe
words fignifies the affirmation of a fo(t; but in
very different circumttances. To an)w fuppofcs
_t~h~ p~r~o~, tq__ g]ory in it;. to ackno.wfedge -fup~
poFe.s. .?-- ~egree or_ aeiinqu~ncy, ,~hich · rhe, ~c­
k11~~1~~gment ~~mpenfaie_s; to conTe~ fuppores
~a-higher degr~e o.t criminaliry.- --A patriot avows
his oppo6tioo to · a~.corh{pf' mii'liftry)·a,nd applaudedf,a gcntJcjnan ac~nowledgeshis mifia\e.
. a'od i~ '(orgiv.en;, prifo~er :confeffi-s the- crime
. -of which he is accufed·, apa is punilhecl. ' ':
(.,'ef!ohz1 ha~'it: Cuilqri1 refpeels-the atl:ion.;_ ha ..
•
..
.
. bit

is

ia

--·

!!5?&

-~·.-!'•

.•

A PPLM1llX.

INt the af\Or. By .· cuftf?m we ' mean the fre-

.

ciucnt repetition of the ,fame aa; by habit, the
elfcB: which th;it TCpdition produces on the

sninci or body. By the cull<>m of walking oftenjn th~ ftrccts, one acquires a habit of i~lc:nefs. ·
' Blltir.1, amplttt. A thing is entire by. wanting ·~
none of its pa'rts; complete, ~y - wan!ingpone_of
itsappcn~e&. Aman '!131~1M~~. o[~J!Cntir~ ..
boufc· which has not one·complcJe apartment .. .
2'""~ fnvmt, to dtft~'IJtr• 'I'o inY.ent ls: t,o .pro... .
duct:· fomtthing new; to difoov.er, to ;fihd out
. lomcthing.which was hiddeq: ?<hl~!~c(.inv.e_n·i ·.
tcd · the. telefcope;. Harn:>: .dl.fc.ove.red.·1he cir-culation of the blooch
· ·. · ·
-· .

.. Pridt, 'IJDllity. Pride · malces us enecm· our- \
felve.s;. vanity. makes, us. ddire the efiee~ of"

others .. ~ A man.. may; be too.Eroud.to .be·vam.
Jf'il:!or1;;J,r11dmcc. 'Yi(Llorn k;1ds ur. to f pea 1-.:
-~ :rn<l att· with proprkty; prudence prevents u~
fro:1 1 fp.:1~ing or "{ting improperly. A wife
man employs the moil proper me~ns for fuccef:;•·
.a·pn1dent:llliU1). the:: fafdl.- ~eailfto .avoid .d~.nr:er.
~
·
... 'fhe·cxplanation·oftlie fow~word&thatJollow>.
is left· for. the !tamer's pullice~ · · · . ,
·'
.A1'lintfo11,. forfakei. lc:ave;.. dc:fcrt•. relinqui~,
f!Uit. .A~att, diminHhj .dtcreafe, leifen~ !fugt,
\·aft,. enormous,. i~menfe.; . PriJr,... arrogance,
· prcfumption. Rt1,arJ;' cfteem, vcnc~tion, ref~a. •Pit1, compaffion, comruiferation. ~ R~li­

.gi'n• piet1; devotion.

, To mute copioufncfs and predGon, to be ~ull
~~caf7 1 :ma at the fame timecorreCl and c:u~,

..
II

IQ

• .;

•

/

m the choice of words,

is doubtfcfa· one cf the
h~ghen and moft di.fficult.attallimcnta in writing.

""'
:OF :'SENT-ENCES
•

.>

· A Jen~ence : i~pli~ one co~p1cte .proj>Olitiorr~ ·

··oren.*nciation.,<?f th~Hght; ·hutcvery.fentencc is
_
n ot cori.~~: t~ a:fhigl~::propolition.

-

. . T}:l~ '. l>lrtr-ot~h.i~lf'?- ftntence ·canfiis· arc

· caUed.its:-m~~si ::a:Jl~~, as thefc may·be:cithe~
.few cr<m~a~y:[?l)"d:·'91~~~,b~ conncllrd ii} -..aiious
·ways; '!~~~fa~t'~ th9':1.&'·h~·i;tlay often be cithe:ra..pre~~J~~o~~·fc~tincC,L or difi~utcd into two
, or tnree,'".Wit~ou;tthC.n1~teria1 breach of any rule.
. .:Wi!h' reg~~p 't~_ ;th~ IJe~gth of Icntcnca, no
pofittvc">f_~lc~ .•~e: given: =i?~h~11lle writer mu(l
. :llway~~~e'r~guJated . by his own tiftc. ·
_
.. .The mofi dfential properfi~g of a 'perf~{l r~n­
_t_e~ce feem·_to·be.clearnefs ~nd prcci1ion, unitr.,
. Hrcngth and.harmony.

'-9f dtart~tft and prl(ffion, in th jirUOurt if &n.
'

./tn(U.

.

.' In thc.arrapg~ment·of a pcriod, ·aJ wcli·u in
·the choi~ oF'•oms, tlie ·chief objdl, to be hpt.
:in vicw,··is pttfpicuity. ·!This •ibooJd nCTer be
facrificc~•to any beauty.wbataer. Communica.
tion of.thou&Iiebeing the chief ufe of~, .
nothing oughtto'bc m~re flodicdthan io'pr;cw@t
all ob{curity ~ ·thc-npreftion; for, tQl ba~e DO
meaning is but one dcgne wonc than to ha'fea
m~aning µiu ia not uodriftood..
~
· An i~p<>rbnt rule, in il!e flro8arc ot 3 {C,..
·tcnce, is, that the words or mcmbcra ~ ~

"
.;

_,

nnttly

~·-··

-..
APP.Elf DIX.

-

·

m~tcty conncB:ed, ' be~ phecd as , near to ead1 .
-0iher as is confiftent"Wlth elegance and harmony.
Jt. Ambiguities ai:~ frcqucq~ly occafioned"by
1
the po6tion o~ adverb$; as,
.
. . ._
'
· .Cc The Romans underftood liberty at leaft a~

·'

"Sixttts .thc fourth was, if I miCbkc"'not,· a
·&Teat col\~£\ot; of hEoks, at /1c!ft.•: .· .. ' . -: . · ·
.A! ftafl fhould be c0nneflcd w!t~ coll'!f~r, n_ot.
with /JoD}s.
·
· · ·· ,.-·' :·:~.'.' ·
· : " .By. gicat~ef~,_'.l do not onry.mean the ~ut1c of
"any Gngle objca, bu~ th.c largend's of fl, 'vh?lc
\'icw:' ·
·
· ~peDator. '
' Better tbtis,-Bf.· wcatnd's, I do riot mean t~e
bulk''of.'1ny linglc objct\ o~ly, bu~ th~ l~rgen~~i
1

of a whole view.
· ·
o ·1 fo:ike er.!, !hree wnnls.."
li"or, "1 only f1;ake thr~~ ~oH1s.
In common converfati~n,.flie tone <md em1phafis ufod, ·in .pro~ouncing . foch wun.\~ ;;i._-;.,.cn~J1
· whaUj. ot bnft,:generally. f~ve t_o fh_rw tht:~r -reference and to r.cnder t.iiell' mcanrng ,0bv1ous.;
but in written difcourfea, which acldref~ ·th~ eye,
. . but aot the car, greater ~cuncy _is requifite.
·Hcncc;·adYcrbs fuould be Co connclled .,\.. ith -the

•'Word.I. they arc meant to qu:Uify, as to prevent
.all appearance of am\.iguity.
. ·1
'1d. Words cxp~ffing thingi conncE\~d ia
.thought, fuould be placed .a1 nearly togcthu as
-polliblc~
\

.
~

aa,

· ..

..-Th.c

:J

" Th; ·Englilh a>-e naturally fanciful, ·and ve·ry

\vell :lS we.''
.
. ~ ~ . -·· S-z».ift·
Thcfe words admit of two "dii_fcTcnt mea~ing5

9C'c:ording as the cc?p~a~S11 j~ readmg ~~Cm_, i~.
laid 11p0n fibtrlJ or upon' at ltajt.~ - .; '.'.'.
.

:26-

.APPENDIX.
.

.

often difpofed, by that gloominefs and. mclanchol y of temper whi~h is fo frequent in our
nation; to many wild notions and viGons - to
_which others are not (o liable.'~. ·.
Sptll;t~.
Better-.-The ~ngti~ are naturally fanciful,
:an~ by ~hat gloomm~~s :_and melancholy of tc.mpeT
which is f'! fr.equen.ttn.Qur nation, are often dif-

pofed to m·any u~~~A~_iQil~ and vifions, to which
()thers are not Co liable:;~~
" It i.s foUy to pr~~~~~to arm ourfdve& again rt.

the. acc1dc~ts ·. of hf~,'i·~y heaping up ueafurt~
us againl\, but the
good~rovidcnc~6f.oui:be-~venly Father." 'Fillotfan.
This confirulboP: ftCrJ?& to imply, . that it is
trM/ur1J, ~ot tbe·aecldmt1 of /!fa, from which we
cannot protea ourfelvcs.
.
• 'B~l!tr thus,-lt is f~lly to pretend, by heaping· up ' trcafores, to arm ourfdvcs a~ainfi the
:;ic~idents of iife, :;ig2foft which nothing ca~ protect D S but the good provic~c:;cc cf OS r h: :iv er: ;\'
F01ther.
·
'
1
•
,
•
•
' 1 I :i.11uuc
" ...1 t o t~1c
r
artiCiC Bti:-.·n in the ·.ncvcJc....
p3!dia Britannica, publitheJ ;n Edinburgh i~ the
0 .., , .i.. - h ._
o;-car
1 -j U
·
'h
l'
J
j t \:ulC1 \\d.S_.~ritt~n
uf •hitt:."
. ·
" · Ma~µnzil1 L!ft cf Biad:lr;I:.
This. 2rr.mgcment_~ms to import that he
[Dr. Blacklock) w:is the:Jolc author cf this book,
whereas it is meant that~hc wrote ouly the Effiy
on blindncfs.
'

. :vhzcl; no~hmg can :::.p~qt~ll

i

3a.

The too frequent urc of pronouns it a
· 1rcat fourcc of ambiguity:
" ~ were_ fummo~ed oc~onallj by ~1hnr
~

:.

A a

.

.

·

Kings,

~

·~-

-----

·~-

.. ~ .

. .APPENDIX-.

.·
'•

'

~.!he virtue of a ~ifrJion be what it will

I

=; t

·t

·

:. U)~Hht:rcJ. ~". , i·h,.
t -[ ••• •1
. .... _euii.

.

.._n~"'

of,. Stnltnui ·:·• ..

··
'.4-

.

bttw(cn t~C! compQl}Wt parr1. ·

. _..

.

'\.

. .ifl: ~ A ·fe.nten~e or pe~orl lhould cxprcfs one '
cntire_thoujtht,·and oifr~rcnt thoughts Chould be
·placed in.oifferent'}>cTiOd8~ •... .
" Jt[thefon1 br~h t'heicy f("tteu of the miin,
Hl:mds,-with ·i\rms that can ~hfhnd the cryfblrock; whiHl othrrs, who of tl-,er:1f~lres fr~m

l

g•r ...._..,_, t .,n ,j

·~)·1 .

.Burke on tht 8rihlim~ a11d Bt~i11Jiu1.
is_2rr:m$emcnt docs not inform· us \vhethcr
the daufe, "m tho ord~r of th~nt:rs,, ' ".
h
•
.
forcg
r
. •.
<> , re1crs to t e
4
11
nomg, ~r '? dwmg part of rhe 'ft-htcncc.
..,- c amb1guu.r. mlly be removed t11us f ·Lct· the
. utacof a dcfinmon be what it will 't 14
•
the order bf tMngs' rh"f her &
~ , I .c~i_n_s, m
' . ·.''Th~ ~ark, in' ita·ruu' cn~~t, kilt ,:~1.iiJf­
. ffe/l~J uilo'l111nfihtna,'ilf1111nilint1bt~,~iefi!fa '
· •
grtidual1>·.

-· ~ . ~ ff~ ·,-.; ~f~-·..

~

where nfl fea:monfters pit:rcc through fioatin~

~.
• ':!
,...,1,, 1
ems r:itn("r to fo1low
L.1.1n t<_) .p.rcccde our cnouir\· of .i. ·l .
.l
'!
l
n
\HllLlltOl'<"''t
h
tu

-

J!e~jop
I
· ~

.,

'

·' : ;'{~' ~~·::~~l·

of .~'nity ~is tc:qu~fi'te.. There . mu ft oilw.ays
be_fpn}e l~ad~I?i ptincipJc.to,form ~ cbiio pf cori-

Stt:m'nr.

. :"'bUu..(o w.luch member it -~efors:

thin·"

- ·-

degrc~

.fth.· -" circum fiance lhouJd not-be ·1 . d b.
b
f . .
p a~e t:<fu ~ .-. ·' ·
~ ers 0 2 pt>nod, fo as to leave it
.1_

~

I~ ~.c~ri1p_~nt.~~~-~,-<5f'.~~ty dcfcription, -a c~rt:a~~:.

-~RS t tm~.and .th~t_/~ttr<:om~endable uahta do fl:and .m their light: and therefore th~ do
w~tJ.ae~ c.an to cart· a cloud over them,.tha?'the
_lunmg of their vi~tues·~ay not o_bfcure
~11/o_!fa11's

. ':

(Jj~unity~. ·!~~ tgf.ft~1E1tir1

-

•

. .,

ing, h; ~ad iio l~~g~z: ~~~rage- to un~rtakc. this
work in .its full extent:'~ft
..

lTttn. t.·o m~

!

,

:,,m

In tr.~ &rutr D./'

--

gr11dually titclining,)lc h'ad no longer courage to
undertake." · Johr.farls /!ft of Sowgt.
This arrangement ~ould lead us to conclude .
that the work, and not the ·-poet; was affiilled
with an.all.hma.
: ' .. .
.
. . :'
Better,-Being"-~ow· :lfHined \tiith 'an allhm~,· :
nnd finding· the powers··of life gr.adu.illy declin-

.an·d b
'lll:rir f~rs, t~ ~ave:rccourfe to their aicl.''·
y
·
·
·
Rolurljim'.s Yuw of Socitty
.. ~'lb:· Earl cf Fal~outhandMr•.Coventry wer~
n1:als, 'Who 01ould have the mofl: inff uebce with
the .Duke, .'luho_ loved the Earl heft, but thought
.~othcT the w1fc.-r ma~, w_ho.fµJ?p~r.ted Pen, who
difOOligcd al.I t~c c?~rt1ers, ev~n. :igairifl: the Earl.
~IM ~nt~-~-~4 ?e~, as a fellow of no feiife.>'
•
~Clirnndo11'.1 Co.ntinu~tion
.• ~-Mc~lookw1th an ;v.il~yc-upon the good tha;
at ~rs; and thmk · t~at their· rcputatfol1

:::!

_... ....

APPENDIX. ·

· JW:E;"- -w~cn ~mpelled by tbeir..waiits,

.·,,

·-- _

"1 -1io\1.i<.•,">)
1-: " ,. ~ ~ ..~i.1<..:
~ •

\, ,. •.,1.~1.1.
i. , ~ ~ ;..
, . , t. ., I ••
... ..,(~····
r r·~· ,.--....
'l
1.-J~··"""' d..
'''")

1 \•}

~gainft ~l bqt f!YJ.11 1 ,~~hofc. fur;cr~cr! ty oycr crt-:-:ttlircs of ·foc.h fize -and force-; !hould ·ma.lee him
•mind fol of his privilege of r~fon, and force him~
humbly·t9 :id~r~ ·the gTCat -Comp0fcr of thcfc, ·
wondrouf frames, and the author of his o\in fupcrior wifdom.,, ··
.·
Sbaftefi~:
Here -the fun is· introduced, b~king th~ icy'
fetters of the main; the fun is fuccccdcd by fn-

. 1..n·

m<>nfiert; piercin·g through the floating i02ndl
J\ a :2
<t-:iti
.,

__
.

their parts, man is introduced, to rec.eivc a long
and fcrious adme>nition.
- ,
.
Authors \'llho are fond of long p....-riods .often
-fall into errors of this kind.-Witnefs the fol ..
Jowin!:.
"' ·ro rhi~ foct.'cc<lf"<l that Hcenirauf;;1efs wl•ich
~ii;q:~~ ~·ith ti1~ Rei1oration> :rnd fr~m infrthng
our rchgton anrl morals, fell to corm~ our Ian ...
gu:ige, which at fall was not Uk~ ~ much improved by tho.re, who, at that time,. ma<le up the
thecourt ~f king Charleta'the fecond: .eitber Cuch·
had foltowed him, .:in
b:u-iifiimenr;"or .
wh? had been -altogether .converfant in the ·dia.:
Jett of thefe fanati~ rimes; ·or young men, ·who·
had been _edu~ated_m the fa_me company:- fo tl_lat·
thecoµrt, -which ufcd to be. t~dhnduJo!propri­
"'f; aitd cprrea'!ef,S of fp~ech, ~as thCn, and, l .
1~1nt, f1:i(h n·cr 1mce cont1 11uedJ the ..,i:;t)rJl fchooL
in u_lft'·•n•t
r"r th .. • aA---p•:fl.. ...
,: - • r · ···
~~!~-.... - IL. ~'flt. \.\..t,;tU ::1:::n~nt. i ~1il :o \~.!~ii
fC'IDalfl .ttH better care be taken in the or.duc:nion_
~four yOung noh.iiity ; ;rnd th:it they ni:<y f~t out
!~~to · t}1~ \\'~~ld wnh ~o~e fiiindation of litcra2

orutr to (JU<1l1[y thc:m for P·'~IGES c:f po.

"litenc:fa." .
.
S·wffi on the Englifh Y"ottg11;.
·Ho:w many different fafls, re~fonings, and oblcrv2t1ons are hei:c crowded togctbc.r , into one
.: .
.
period I
-. P~ri?d~ are fqmetimt"!l exte~dc:d t~ Cuch ;i.
J~~tl'! and coh1prchend fo many p:aniculars, :lS,
~ ~nude th~m more juflJy to the 1tlame .oJ dif:.
courf~a than of fcntcnccs.
.
'

" He is fuppof~d to have fallcn 1 by his f~thcr's,
d~ath,.

., ... f·•t
,.:!,.h __,,,.,i ;.-'"'"T--·•~r·n:, ... ~ r-1- ,.,._.•·-->
,..,.r:;.," !0'.lnri
1} v.a
.... t \..~~""-"""~~_,_,~~±v-!. T .j;"w.,..vu .... ,.,- b. ''I• cl1"'"1"~ 'lS. .1)
...- l.Ju
'~"r'"''
re"Jnin~...
hl·m
.,,..
..
.......... '- r··! 1t'"
u
-Horace, ;tnd \v~~_Jo, ~:ell plcafrd with his 'pro~­
ciency, thati.fJe-unck·r~ook the- cir:::and co1l of ~ia ·
academical eoucatio_b/~ Joh1:fon's Lift'./ Pr1C~·
.Herc-·Pticir·ist:Q1HlqC\c::d ·foim ·the houfe of hzs
father •to .ihat'of..J1is'.tincTc,·
teut to \Y c:H min ft er"
''
fchool,: where :he mJKcs cm!Gdr:table progrefs m litercume; Js<takeffft~m fchooJ, and remains at ·.
his uncle's; ·obt:i~ns• ~he patroriag<; o(:the furl o.f
_l..J.1._~_'-:)"""

0
'-.1.~·-""') •

~

-

.

his

in

_---·

death, i~to the h'imd~ of his uncle, a_vint1:ernear .
Charing·crois, who fent him, for fo~~ tlme,_ to· . . .
Dr. lluiby,.at W.efiminficr; but, not mtcndm8
w give him any education beyond ·that of t~e
'fchool, took him, wmn he was wdl advanced m
!:ter:uure. to h!s c•.•:n hct?fe • .'Hh~n thi:: f.:lrl of

to.

r_....rc,

.....

.o\ P1>£N D l X.

-

#luitb their orm.r; and; after thefe ·.liave · alled

who

..;.-

I

l

.

l),)rfet, ..who, if Burnet may be credired, found
him reading Horace; · andt lafi of ·:in,.. is · a~ut ·
[(). t1,,'l":"~tGr\'
c-- 1-"!Jt
\_
!
ti1at !loblcman_~

1t .I~}.:f)''
I.'

of

! \,-

\,

j

! •

~

• • • ~

.,,. a

Pt\•tci:r~~l,_
rl.-o•c(,t:\..:~1
"
a
'-'
•
..,
"'

'1.. ... • ' '-•

l) l r c n t n ~~ H. :.) Ld,: ...: ! ~: ~; ~ • (' r ~ ~ ..... •v ~ . ~ p-.,.~ f ; ,,.the middle of fentences: th1: unity an<l bcautr of
.J. f-:.2Iit.:J ce.11 llC'it..r !.;~ LQH'.Flc·~< ·~ hrr::-: tl~~-Y J.r,:
· it1troduc~d in ~n\' ·fvrm: Ttley·arc·dt · be~ ·bati'
an awkwardof"difpofing of fom_c: tho:igr:t, ~
which: the writer wants · arr to introdUcc in it' •
1

f

: .1 •

,•

I

,

_...

\

,

: ,

, '"""

4

)

1 - .. _ • •

1

,

1

way

· proper ·pl:ice.·

.

-

·

wSomt enter into thofe ~trcm\a1ics[t~ Olympic gimes].for glory,· :md er hers for }!aio; c.whiJc
there i~ a ·third '(and '_thofc: by·no -rncans-~n­
· ttmpt1blc)"whb choof~ to b~ merely fpclb~,, ­
. " .(\s the worlcl is at prcfcnt·conlh?'~d; 1t" .
fnrC: p~ffibk; .1 fru, to ·do ·aay ~'" -o~e-1
/\ a .3 .'
gcr.cnuo:i

.

___ ____
..,_....

taieration. (iii. public life I mean) wfthout Jill.
mg under. fom~ o~r ot~er of thefe var~ous ba~­
mcrs, wluch d1ftmg;udh the ·feveral corps, 1.:i
tht:fe our political w:arfa1es." :
M~~moth.
~.As for my garden, I a_m obliged to "nature for
i!s chief beauties; having no other (except . a
fmiall fpot which l have allotted for the purpofes
Of my table) but what the fields and meadows
;;J:!ord."
.r
.
lrf;tfmalh~
Thu5 !1:Ues wer-c form'd,, the name of king
unknown,
_ _·
·
"TIU common "int•:rell "pl~c'_d·th~ f\V~i iu pne.
'rw:is virtue only {or in arts or .arnis,
Diffufing bleffing~ or a\·eiting.-li:imXs'J
•.r.Ji.e.farnc which in :a fire the.TotiS:'obcy'<l,
A prince the father of his·peopfe made.'~ - - .

_

·

-·

Popt.

3a.

Sc_ntenccs fh.ould ucvcr be prolonged _b e'iQDd ·what frcms their natural clofe.
"' Speaking of Burnet. and ·F.ontenelle,; er The
t~1 ;";. could not ernt r1is ·k;irm:d tre-:xt1fc \Vtthout a
pcin~gyric of modern le;irni1ig.a!ld kn.ow ledge, in
GJ:J)parifon of the ancic:nts:Lgd the other .falls fo .

i;rnfsly into the cenfure of the old poetry·, and ~
~'n:krcncc

of the :ncw 1 th~it 1 (OJ.!ld not H'.d.tl
r
\
r fl
• 1
•
••
•
l • •
oin;~ o tneie urams w1tnout 1no1gnatlon; .~men

.

~ ~"t_

no qu.ality amon~ men is.fo apt to rajfe in -me as
. fdf:fofficiency, the worft compo.fition .out.of the:
and ignorance of mankind.''· '
'I!t{tple Oil Ancimt and Mq~rn Learaing.
Th.c1'•ord illdig1~atia11 forms the ~atura~ con.
c1u1ion.of .this fentencc: ·what follows is foreign
to L'lc prcpofition with which the author fct out.
.
. Of

rri4e

.'

.
\•

" J

~

-~

.

.

..

...

,

.

: OJ
,. ftrmgth, in· the ftruBur! cf S!nfmce1.
The firength ora fentence confills .in fuch a
llifpofitionf of .i.ts feveral ·p~r.ts, Jl~ fhall tend moft
Fowerfully to imp~efs · the ~mind of .the :reader,
with the m(aning ._which'.the :author .willies to
c-0nvey. . In order.to produce this effea, .perfpi
cuity and unity are abfolutely nece!fary; but they
are._.r10t. ofthemfdyes~ fufiici::::nt. ·.
· A feut~nce fho.l.lld be divefied of 2}i redundant
words and _m embers. __, Thefe may fome:times be
conGCT.ent with-ptr_fpi.4uity a1Hl u11ity; :bu~ they
~re ahv::iys irreconcibl~le with ftrengrh. Words
4

which :a(!d ):i~th"iiJJL :-? the fenf~, _or cldrnefs,
lTil}fr diminilli the for-t'e of the expreflio_n.
.
0
' ":

I"ioi• many are- there by whom thefe t!.di!!p

' ·
o f goo cl 1:twJ were never 'near cl !"
. · B ;; 1·rng::r:,i::.
This is tidin;~s of _tidings, or n ew s of ncv. &.
In the Attic commonwealth , it was tlir pri11~/t'ge_ and birthright of evt:.ry _r;itizm and f>O_CIJ to
rail· alcud; ;mrl in public..
~~,,f~#- ,,. Tr 1,. r./....
c.-,_ ~
._.. ~)t ,
_.. , ~ a .J. ·'--'·
- - - I p rnil in

public, ,would have cxprd]\.:d

the faine fignification. _
The unnecd{iry; renctitiL)n
of prtic!e :; en~
l
frebles the.Hvki an<l -alwa vs pro•J.uces a Jii~greeable dfcfr~·
,
·
"-· And then thofe who -are -Of an mfenor
condition, ·:ihat they labour and .be diJigcr_it; -in
the worlc .of. ~m honefi . calling; _.for, this ~js priY"ately g~od and .p'r ofitable unto m_c:·n, ?""to theif'
families; anti thofe who are above tlus nc:ceffily,
and are in a better capacity, to maintain good
6

-

:

•

•

v.·orb,

- -~·?PENDtX-.

APPE>:.µ~~· .

.. ~or~s, properly fo .called, . wor~s -:of. piety~ 0110 ·
-~rity and juftic~; that they b_e careful .to.p!osute anti ·advance them,. accordrng·to the1r'pci\\'"::
u:-and opportunity, becuufe thefe thir;igs·11Te·p~b··
lidy good and - ~enefi'cial to mankind:''.. · .
·

<'onCiderab!e impQttance in the fiudy of elo.- ·
quencc. ·- .
r
"Th.ere is not, in my opinion, a more pleaGn~
· arid triumphant confideration in religion, than
this of the perpetual pro~rcfs which the · ~o,ui :
makes towards the perfection · of its nature~ ·
without ever arriving ~t a period· in it."
·
.
·
Addi.far:.
" The general . idea_ of gcod er bdd fortune,
-~herefore, ~reates fome c~nccrn for the perfonwho has.met ':Vhli it ;!·but tile- gem:ral idea .of
ptovocation exci'tes ·no fympathy with the anger .
of the ma.n who has re~eivcd ;t: Nature, it feems,
teaches ·us to be.:moie averfr to' enter into this

-

_
· Z'illotfin's Sernem.r. - A-redundancy of· copnfafu·es · ma rbe p:ropcr ··
a1 fome occafions: " Dining- otre:·day· at ~m ?
..A:ltlcrrnan's in the city, Peter ohft:rV:cd him ex:piiliating, after~ the manner of' his brethren .. in .
tlt.c praifcs-of his ·firloio. ofbcef;'f · DeeTi faid the
f1ge -magifrrate, -is the Icing of meat. -·lleef com-~d1c:1ds in it :he qu•ntdrence of.11artf.dge" and;
quail,. c.nd vemron; and pheafant,: and ·plumb-· .
pudding; and cu{brd.u. · ·.
'Swift.•
· H~r~ the rcpetici<m · of1 t~e- .conjunlHon iS: ..
t".h~r.:rtleriH:ic of .the drowfy fpeakrr. ·
:l1Yny W3S compo fr<l of Greci:rns} :rncl ~
and Lycians. and · P2mphylians, and ·
Fhr-y~i;Jns."
Hne the> copulatiVt'S ·have a gocd'
ef:'al, as tending to gi·1e au impreffion of .-.. ·
gnat mul:(tude~
JI:
.·

r.. The

~i::ms,

Sometiniee· the ·total omHll'5n of copulati'y(jS' : l
p.rn".hi<.:ts a good dT~U:.

~.

Thu::.,

Ot1r•men 'h>aving oifchargetl ·theirjave.lins;
atauk.with fword in hand; on .a fodd~n th~ ca.i
Ya.liy m:ike their ..appearance behin~; other bodies
of men nc·feen, Mawing m~·ari · thd enemies tl:lrn :
their backs~ the · horfc:men meet· thc'm· in- theiP
'llight; a gre.1t ·fl:ntghter •cnfues.'' •
.
· From-th~fe c >.:amp!c.i it:<lppe:n:~· that· an at:.: ··
ic;otion to the fon:rJI cafc:s, when it is proper to
Gmit, .and .whc!! .to .r~co~lc :ho: copubti.ve, is oi
• u

·

.·

.....

paffion;·· and, till ' informed of jts caufe, to be
f!lifpo fed i:;ithe.r to take part again ft it:•·
·Sm:f. bt.J .,-1
,,..r 71.t; I ~ . . . ..
. _
~ aecr:y ~ . .:1 .. :r:: lju:t:r.:m.:.

I

The pronoun i! m::ikes :t very inconf!der:ible
figure, in the conclufion of thefe, and the Hke ·

l
..

ll

"'

...-..:U.-~.:....... ~..:.._.........

•
l

... .....

which they will m:'lke the firnn ;; efl: imprefficn;
,
·- n .
, · , ,
l 1 \lt tu•:
trcetk h'1tl011 1 W/1! (' !! t~; C ;' 0U£/l t i O C"{ cupy, cannot. be afcertained by :my generat ·ruJe •
\Vords. thar- rnake ;m incor.fidcrable figure,.
fuch as,. 'particles which-mark the ~fes-of"nouos,
or prepofitiont combined with \'erbsr as, cf, t~,
fi:om, ""i!li• hy, upo"• agpinfl, &c. Chould n~\'Cf k
pbcecl at-the cJofe of a fcnteRce-•.
The 3ttcntire fiudcnt· will find · numerous
;t_mples, ii'! the courfe of his reading, for muftn1

trng diefe rule&.

· · .

O.f

•. r

......

In <i>rJnging a fentencc, th::: m::if't irnp-0rtant
words oughL to be placed in tha~ fi!u:iticn, in

ex-

t:oufiderablc.:

.

{;_·n~cn c cs .

.. .

~~

··-·~ ·

·:. ,!'t~~' :~;: ;'. :\;;;~;~,· ~ ' :i+l. :;~.: .:'

.

.APPBN·DIX.

- -·.
. .
.
tftf harm:r.y, in th.e ftruE/ure of Senttncrr.

:~~.::-~ .
~- ·~,

.

r-

:-,.~ ~~:\;1: :.

'4"

•

· .... ;~- )A.~tthoug~ · found is cf Ids iinpon:ince ·than ·
· :fel),ft;. yet ,it mu ft not -be totally dtfrcga_rded.
.' ~~Theze fbould be an intimate connexion bj:tween·
~;tli~ id.ea which is conveyed. a~d the found ,wiµch ,,
~· ~)iWCJl _if• · Npthing- can enter· into the afrcc.
.~ tiO.tis. ~vhich. ftumblcs at~thc ~hrefuold i1 by o!f_eri- '.
_ ·-=--t" d~rig the ear. It may always lle .-anupied as a ··.
't ~.. : -"'"'~_:pi:in4:p1e} that ~'.hat~yeI WOfQS ar~ _(lifficui~- in ~i~~ piotuu1ciJtiont ar~,-i1i.tl1e fame prooortion,. lli.irfh
~·= and:]>,~fol . to .the~Ca'r•.. Thi::_ underft~nping and .
:~ the;~~,guage h:i.ve a- ·ttrift connexion; 11.nd thofo -

'
! '

-

\

~·' '~,." - to ,tbi~ ·wit~ dearn~fs a~d pr~ci~on.
""~

o-J

.

:· \.

i

';:,.~·

.,~r~~,.

t()

thej ufiice of pofierity.
· ·• ·
Joh:fan'.: Rc:.ffel.u; :·

·

11111

ho.ugh-:;ve-ry ptfr~fon receives from n~ture, a-_'.·:

p: ic~l..a:r tjetern;iin~tion to one manner of ex- '.
pr . .;1T1on, more than " another:; yet correLl:nef~
a:.~ elegance are generally the refult of care and
~ r fntion, for .which the pleafure th..ence arWP~
.1: pn an:pie recornpcnfe.
?
...- ·

.

,,

.,1

.
l

c:vcrj-.fidc, .that·•he'liarp -of · orphans

I

•
,....,;(S
tl('Jt

.
'
"
ll/' I
more c } rnrmp;6·
.J,
1.: ::r:.
"\Yhc.n thine aching eye
01all look forn:;:ird to
,
th~ o·.xi th•t ii far dln;,rnt; and wheu be.hind llwu

I

;'

{.

{h~lr: fiµd no retreat; when thy fieps fhallfaulter,
•. a~-~- _ thou.· {halt~ tre~?I_c ·at the dep_~h ; beneath,

\\;'h1di tho~ght itfclf JS not 2ble to fathom ; then

fhi'JI the 'angel o[ retrihution lift his. inexorable •
ha.nd"'2gain£l thee; ·from the irrc.mcable way.thy
fhaJI be fm1tten; and thou fhalt plunge into
{ ~ .. tJt~-bii:~~ng flood! and. though tho.u ~!~It liv.~_f~r- :
.~, "Gycr» ahou ihalt nfe no more/' . Hawki['UJOfth • .
_

:·" feet

·\.. .

'~7S

age ;md .c~untry; h_e mu ft confider right a·Dd '.· ··~ ·
wrong in their abfiralled and invariable fi~tc; ~- -:::~~
he rnuft difregard,prefent laws and opinion$, :~~ .'. ·--:'_:._
rife t~ general and tranfcend~tal truths~ w~~... ~ :'._~
,_ will always be the.fame: he muit therefore co~ 'i;,,.f~;-~
tent ;hiinfelf wit~ th~Jlo~ pro_gr~fs ~f his na~;;:·~:· (~
1
con~emn th~ pra1fe of his own ttme, and com~ ~. · .· -.;

mit lhis claims
~

Th t following p,\ffages may be ·quoted 3.S inft_anecs-of ..harmonious confiruttion. .
· -· " f\Ve'fhal! cond ult you to a li ilHide, bbori ou s,
iq<lnd, ;it the fidt afcent; but elfe fo fmooth, fo
g~cni; fo fu.~ of.goodly p_roipe&a,.'and melod~ous ..

• foumb

•• •

, ,- ._.i

I,

I .

·wh&-hrn to compofe and arr~n~e -fente1Mes,
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