d. In the rule, it is said that no pause-mark is admissible under certain circumstances, therein specified. This qualification of the principle laid down will be clearly understood, if the learner bear in mind that pauses are of two kinds: first, those which are marked, or represented to the eye, by the common grammatical points, exhibiting the constituent parts of sentences; and, second, those which are unmarked, such rhetorical pauses as are omitted in writing and printing, but required in reading aloud. Thus, in the examples under the rule, the sense and the construction alike forbid the comma to interfere in separating the nominative or subject from the verb; and yet a correct elocution demands between them a slight pause.

e. From want of attending to the distinction between these two kinds of pauses, some writers would place a comma immediately before the verb, when its subject consists of a number of words, or, as it is commonly expressed, when the nominative is accompanied with an inseparable adjunct; as, "The good taste of the present age, has not allowed us to neglect the cultivation of the English language." But unless where, in any given sentence, the length of the subject would give rise to ambiguity or to difficulty in reading it, this mode of punctuation seems to be useless. Indeed the reason assigned on its behalf is a sufficient ground for its rejection; namely, that the nominative is accompanied with an inseparable adjunct. For if the adjunct cannot be separated from the nominative, and if the nominative is intimately joined in sense with the verb which it governs, surely the relation subsisting between them should not be broken up, except in cases where it is absolutely necessary. That such adjuncts, too, are as intimately and grammatically connected with the verb as they are with the nominative, and that they cannot well stand apart, will be obvious from the example already given, which means that "the good taste of the present age has not allowed us and not that "the good taste has not allowed us "-"to neglect the cultivation of the English language." Sentences of this kind are obviously very different from those in which adjuncts, or modifying words, are separable both from the nominative and from the verb, as in the examples cited in Remark c, where a comma, both before and after the intervening phrase, serves to bring together the parts related to each other. The pointing objected to is based on a theory which cannot be reduced to practice, that every expression, separated from another by the smallest cessation of the voice, should be indicated by a mark; but we again repeat, that only by the sense and the grammatical form of a passage, and not by the rhetorical mode

of its delivery, must the art of punctuation be regulated, at least so far as the common points are concerned.

f. To the rule here recommended, there are, however, several exceptions, required by the peculiar form in which a proposition is sometimes expressed, and by the fact that the insertion of a comma between the subject and the predicate tends occasionally to a clearer perception of an author's meaning. The exceptions are as follow:

g 1. When a sentence is so constructed as to leave it uncertain whether a modifying word belongs to the subject or the predicate, as in the passage, “ The man of talent merely is strong for enterprise and execution,' a comma should be introduced where it will best develop the sense. If the aim of the writer was to speak of a man of mere talent, the comma should be inserted after the adverb "merely;" but, if of a man of talent who is strong only for enterprise and execution, it should be placed before the adverb. The sentence, indeed, might have been written in accordance with syntactic principles, which would have precluded the necessity of transgressing one of the chief laws in punctuation; but the province of the punctuator is not to change the construction of sentences, but to bring out their meaning in so far as his art will permit him.

g 2. When the subject consists of two or more nouns not united by a conjunction, a comma is required before the predicate; as, “Immensity, sublimity, are expressed by a prolongation of the voice.” -- “Riches, pleasure, health, become evils to those who do not know how to use them." If, however, the nouns are joined by a conjunction, the comma between the subject and the predicate is omitted; as, "Sculpture, painting, and poetry will always have admirers." See pp. 33, b; 37, d.

3. When the nominative is followed by two or more words which belong to it, and between which a comma must be inserted, a comma is required also before the verb; as, "A new feeling of what is due to the ignorant, the poor, and the depraved, has sprung up in society."—" Worlds above, around, and beneath, arch thee about as a centre."

g 4. When between the extremities, either of a nominative clause or of its predicate, occurs a word or an expression requiring to be marked off by commas, a comma should also be introduced imme diately before the predicate; as, "The success with which Rousseau passed, coarse and selfish as he was, for a man of deep and tender feeling, appears to have been the signal for a procession of writers to withdraw the public attention from their own transgressions."

The evil which is intermixed in human society, serves, without question, to exercise the noblest virtues of the human soul." If, however, the subject is not a clause, but a phrase, it should not be separated by a comma from the predicate, though the latter contains a word or an expression enclosed by commas; as, "A sincere and honest man may, in truth, do such work as shall make him a benefactor to his neighborhood."

g 5. When the subject consists of a nominative clause, ending with a noun or pronoun, which is apt to be read so closely with the predicate as to confound the sense, a comma should precede the verb; as, "Who does nothing, knows nothing." "That a peculiar state of the mere particles of the brain should be followed by a change of the state of the sentient mind, is truly wonderful."-"He that sees a building as a common spectator, contents himself with speaking of it in the most general terms;" a sentence which, if left unpointed, might, unless more than ordinary attention was given, be blunderingly read, "He that sees a building, as a common spectator contents himself with speaking of it," &c.

g 6. When a nominative clause contains two verbs, with one of which it ends, a comma is required before the predicate; as, “He that places himself neither higher nor lower than he ought to do, exercises the truest humility."

g 7. When the subject ends and the predicate begins with the same verb, or with two verbs of a like form, a comma should be placed between them; as, "Whatever is, is right."—"The defendant served, moved to set aside the summons."

g 8. When a subject is repeated in a different form before its verb, as sometimes ungrammatically occurs, a comma may be used, in solemn or forcible language, between the two forms; as, "The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me." But, when these modes of expression are used in familiar kinds of writing, it is better to omit the comma; as, "My flocks they do wan der." In another part of the work, it will be seen that a dash is employed in sentences of this construction, when they are highly rhetorical.

h. By a colloquial idiom, the subject is sometimes found both at the beginning and the end of a proposition. In such cases, a comma is inserted before the repeated subject; as, "He was a distinguished philosopher, Socrates."

i. The above exceptions may appear, from their number, to overthrow the rule; but some of them, it will be seen, are in opposition

to it, only because the sentences themselves are contrary to the laws of good or elegant composition. As for the others, it may be remarked, that, if a competent person take up any well-written essay or discourse in the English language, he will perceive that the principle contained in the rule is applicable to so overwhelming a number of sentences, as to render the exceptions, were there ten times more than we have pointed out, quite insignificant.

j. A comma should not be inserted after any of the forms of the verb to be, when used as a copula, or connecting link, between the subject and the predicate; or before a verb in the infinitive mood, when preceded by another verb; as, "The sole object of importance is the moral development of society.". -"It ill becomes wise and good men to oppose and degrade one another." Some writers would insert a comma; but the punctuating of such sentences as these, where the parts are so closely related, is unnecessarily stiff, though between them a correct delivery requires a pause

ORAL EXERCISES.

Explain how it is, that, according to the sixth Rule (p. 50), commas are unnecessary in the following propositions:

Nature has given all men some conceptions of inmortality.
The region beyond the grave is not a solitary land.

Simplicity of life and manners produces tranquillity of mind.
The Almighty sustains and conducts the universe.

Human affairs are in continual motion and fluctuation.

To calculate shrewdly is different from meditating wisely.

An Epicurean world makes an Epicurean God.

The earth-clod of the globe has been divinely breathed upon.
Aptitude for business is not power of reason.

The best monuments of the virtuous are their actions.
Misery is the necessary result of a deviation from rectitude.
Sensitiveness to the approbation of virtuous men is laudable.
The streams of small pleasures fill the lake of happiness.
Intemperance is the grossest abuse of the gifts of Providence.
A desire of knowledge is natural to the mind of man.
"Know thyself" is a useful and comprehensive precept.
His being a scholar prevented any gross mistake in his style.
To be proud and inaccessible is to be timid and weak.
He who masters his passions conquers his greatest enemy.
Our intellectual powers may be indefinitely enlarged.

Mention why, in accordance with the Remarks on pages 50-54, the sentences that follow are pointed or unpointed with commas : —

Light, whether it be material or spiritual, is the best reformer.

He who teaches, often learns himself.

Those who were not so, became cringing and hypocritical

He who made it, now preserves and governs it.

A youth, a boy, a child, might understand the question.

Job, Hesiod, and Homer mention several of the constellations. The idea of what ought to be, rises up from the bosom of what is Whoever firmly wills, will be a good man.

Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

The careless poet of Avon, was he troubled for his fame?
And Harry's flesh it fell away. But John he cried in vain.
He seemed wanting in every good affection, Nero.
He groweth rich, that fawning and supple parasite.
It needs a divine man to exhibit any thing divine.

It is our duty to appropriate our time to valuable purposes.

EXERCISE TO BE WRITTEN.

Insert commas only where required by the preceding Remarks: —

Reason and true philosophy never attempt, in their conclusions, to separate God from his works. (Rule, and last of Remark g 4.)

Times of general calamity and confusion have ever been productive of the greatest minds.*

It is not in our power to change the established order of things. (Remark j, and Rule.)

Patience with the erring and offending is one of the holiest of all forms of character.

He who being master of the fittest moment to crush his enemy magnanimously neglects it is born to be a conqueror. (Rem. c, g 4.) One of the arts that tend most to the improvement of human intellect is the art of language.

Philosophy, religion tend to promote just and honorable views of the Creator of the universe. (First. of Remark g 2.)

The most sublime speculation of the contemplative philosopher can scarcely compensate for the neglect of the smallest active duty. The highest art of the mind of man is to possess itself with tranquillity in the hour of danger. (Rule, and Remark j.)

*The sentences, in this exercise, to which no references are attached, may be compared with the Rule and with Remarks a—e, pp. 50, 51.