INTRODUCTION. THOSE who have studied English Composition, with a view to acquire Simplicity of Style, have generally found that the Etymons of English Particles were not traced, nor their signification explained, in any easily accessible work. To supply this defect by investigating the Etymology, explaining the Signification, and exemplifying the use of these Particles in the writings of our earlier authors, is one of the objects of this Tract. In this part of the work much light has been derived from that ingenious Philologist, Horne Tooke; but many words are here added which he has not noticed, and explanations offered, differing from those which he has given, when it appeared that his opinion was not supported by sufficient reasons. Thus there seems good reason to infer that he is mistaken in the derivation of the words "odd,” “ down," "forth,” etc., etc., in his account of the derivative or future infinitive terminating in nne, and always preceded by to; and some substantives in th. His views of abstraction are generally, but not always either clear or just. When he says "strictly speaking there is nothing arbitrary in language," he expresses what is truly philosophical, for he evidently admits that "we are struck with a similar 214002 ity in certain respects" before "we invent a common appellative to express the objects that agree in exciting the same relative feeling;" but this admission, like expressions on the same subject that are found in several philosophical writings, "arises," as an able Metaphysician observes, "from the inconsistency of error, and not from the writers having arrived at the truth."For how can it be reconciled with such expressions as these? "The business of the mind, as far as it concerns language, extends no farther than to receive impressions, that is, to have sensations or feelings." "What are called the operations of the mind, are merely the operations of language." "Language is the instrument of thought." If we expel from the mind what Bacon terms Mola Fori, ("Idols of the market-place," that is, "prejudices arising from mere words and terms in our co.nmon intercourse with mankind,") we shall find that all abstract truth ultimately rests upon,-1st, "A perception or conception of two or more objects,"2dly, “A feeling of their similarity in certain respects," and 3dly, The invention of a common appellative, to express the objects that agree in exciting the same relative feeling." i Besides, Tooke sometimes slides into fallacy, by not distinguishing the Etymological from the customary meaning of words, or in not regarding some words in their Syntactical, but in their original character; and in so far as his work is to be considered as containing a philosophical argument upon abstract notions, the force of it, as has been observed, depends upon Hobbes's premises." Truth consisteth in the right ordering of names in our affirmations." "Words give to our conclusions all their generality." It is certain that, without general terms, reasoning must be imperfect; but the very invention of language, and still more the conduct of the uninstructed deaf and dumb, sufficiently prove that man can reason without language of any kind. The ingenious and learned Tyrwhitt seems to be in error when he says that the termination in ING superseded the Participle in ENDE, for the verbal substantive in ING, existed before the Nor man conquest; and it appears that this verbal substantive in ING, with the definite article-the-before it, has not, as Lindley Murray imagines, become a Substantive, but that the Substantive is used as a Present Participle; and that our ancient Participle in ENDE, has been displaced and superseded by the Verbal Substantives in ING. All speculations founded on the supposed derivation of verbals in ING from the Present Participles resemble (as the ingenious Richard Taylor, Editor of a new Edition of the Diversions of Purley, observes,) historical disquisitions in which, facts and dates not being considered of any importance, it should be ingeniously argued a priori that Hengist and Horsa were sons of Queen Anne and William the Conqueror. Another object contemplated in this Tract is to induce the Student by a careful Examination of the Saxon Derivatives, and the style of Chaucer, Douglas, and Spenser, to trace the Origin, History, and Progress of the Language; and hence to acquire an accurate notion of the meaning, and the proper employment of the words which compose it. i And, in order to carry on and complete our ultimate object, an English Grammar, containing various examples of the violation of Purity and Perspicuity, will soon be published. In English there are upon Grammatical principles only one Voice, one Mood, and two Tenses. "The Grammar of a language is one thing, its capacity of expression is another." And if the public should approve this attempt to facilitate and promote the study of English Literature, a series of small tracts will follow, comprising an analysis of the constituents, and an exemplification of the employment of various styles, from the days of Spenser till our own times. The plan sometimes recommended even to persons more advanced, of studying the English Language detached and distinguished from the study of English Literature, is not only futile but absurd; for it is obviously an error to imagine that Grammatical information can be attained by a mere mechanical process only-by the exertion of the memory, apart from the exercise of other powers of the mind. In the opinion of the celebrated author of the Phil I osophy of Rhetoric,-"Grammar in its general principle, has a close connexion with the understanding." The study of the Saxon part of the English Language has been recommended by the most eminent Literary men, yet many persons seem reluctant to undergo the labour of aequiring a correct knowledge of the structure of this important part of the Language. The neglect of this only proper mode of studying the English Language and Literature by some who have undertaken to teach them in distinguished situations, may require that the disapprobation here expressed should be supported by the authority of very eminent authors. Swift, a writer of pure English, preferred thrill from the Saxon verb thrillian, to penetrate from the Latin verb penetrare. Doctor Whately, Archbishop of Dublin, and a distinguished Philosophical writer, thus expresses the same opinion:-" To those who wish to be understood, and to write with energy, one of the best principles of selection, is generally to prefer terms of Saxon origin." The late Robert Hall, whose style combines the energy of Johnson, with the simplicity and the elegance of Addison, erased the word penetrate, and substituted pierce from the Saxon verb percian. After, says Dr. Gregory, Robert Hall had written down the striking apostrophe which occurs in his celebrated sermon on Infidelity, at about page 76 of most of the editions" Eternal God on what are thine enemies intent! what are those enterprises of guilt and horror, that, for the safety of their performers, require to be enveloped in a darkness which the eye of Heaven must not penetrate!" he asked "Did I say penetrate, Sir, when I preached it?" "Yes." "Do you think, Sir, I may venture to alter it? for no man who considered the force of the English language, would use a word of three syllables there, but from absolute necessity." "You are, doubtless, at liberty to alter it, if you will.” "Then be so good, Sir, to take your pencil, and for penetrate put pierce; pierce is the word, Sir, and the |