My sister and I, as well as my brother, are daily employed in their respective occupations.

RULE III.

The conjunction disjunctive has an effect contrary to that of the conjunction copulative; for as the verb noun, or pronoun, is referred to the preceding terms taken separately, it must be in the singular number: as," Ignorance or negligence has caused this mistake;" "John, James, or Joseph, intends to accompany me;" "There is, in many minds, neither knowledge nor understanding.”

Grammar, p. 133. Key, p. 23.

Man's happiness, or misery, are, in a great measure put into his own hands.

Man is not such a machine as a clock or a watch which move merely as they are moved.

Despise no infirmity of mind or body, nor any condition of life: for they are, perhaps to be your own lot. Speaking impatiently to servants, or any thing that betrays inattention or ill-humour are certainly criminal. There are many faults in spelling, which neither analogy nor pronunciation justify.

When sickness, infirmity, or reverse of fortune af. fect us, the sincerity of friendship is proved.

Let it be remembered, that it is not the uttering, or the hearing of certain words, that constitute the worship of the almighty.

A tart reply, a proneness to rebuke, or a captious and contradictious spirit, are capable of imbittering domestic life, and of setting friends at variance.

The following sentences exemplify the notes and observations under RULE III.

Grammar, p. 133. Key, p. 24.

1. Either thou or I art greatly mistaken, in our judgment on this subject.

I or thou am the person who must undertake the business proposed.

F

62

EXERCISES.

2. Both of the scholars, or one of them at least, was present at the transaction.

Some parts of the ship and cargo were recovered; but neither the sailors nor the captain, was saved.

Whether one person or more was concerned in the business, does not yet appear.

The cares of this life, or the deceitfulness of riches, has choaked the seeds of virtue in many a promising mind.

RULE IV.

A noun of multitude, or signifiing many, have a verb or pronoun agreeing with it, either of the singular or plural number; yet not without regard to the import of the word, as conveying unity or plurality of idea: as "The meeting was large," "The parlia ́ment is dissolved ;""The nation is powerful;" My people do not consider: they have not known me;' "The multitude eagerly pursue pleasure as their chief good;"The council were divided in their sentiments."

Grammar, p. 134. Key, p. 24.

The people rejoices in that which should give it

sorrow.

The flock, and not the fleece, are, or ought to be, the ojects of the shepherd's care.

The court have just ended, after having sat through the trial of a very long cause.

The crowd were so great, that the judges with difficulty made their way through them.

The corporation of York consist of a mayor, aldermen, and a common council.

The British parliament are composed of king, lords, and commons.

When the nation complain, the rulers should listen to their voice.

In the days of vouth, the multitude eagerly pursues

The church have no power to inflict corporal punish

ment.

The fleet were seen sailing up the channel.

The regiment consist of a thousand men.

The meeting have established several salutary regulations.

The council was not unanimous, and it separated without coming to any determination.

The fleet is all arrived and moored in safety.

This people draweth near to me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

The committee was divided in its sentiments, and it has referred the business to the general meeting.

The committee were very full when this point was decided: and their judgment has not been called in question.

Why do this generation wish for greater evidence, when so much is already given.

The remnant of the people were persecuted with great severity.

Never were any people so much infatuated as the

Jewish nation.

The shoal of herrings were of an immense extent. No society are chargeable with the disapproved misconduct of particular members.

RULE V.

Pronouns must always agree with their antecedents, and the nouns for which they stand, in gender and number: as, "This is the friend whom I love;" "This is the vice which I hate;" "The king and the queen had put on their robes;' "The moon appears and she shines, but the light is not her own."

The relative is of the same person as the antecedent, and the verb agrees with it accordingly: as, "Thou who lovest wisdom," "I who speak from experience."

Grammar, p. 1355. Key, p. 26.

The exercise of reason appears as little in these sportsmen, as in the beasts whom they sometimes hunt, and by whom they are sometimes hunted.

They which seek wisdom will certainly find her. The male amongst birds seem to discover no beauty, but in the colour of its species.

Take handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it towards heaven, in the sight of Pharaoh ; and it shall become small dust.

Rebecca took goodly raiment, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob.

The wheel killed another man, which is the sixth which have lost their lives, by this means.

The fair sex, whose task is not to mingle in the labours of public life, by this means.

The Herculus man of war foundered at sea; she overset, and lost most of her men.

The mind of man cannot be long without some food to nourish the activity of his thoughts.

What is the reason that our language is less refined than those of Italy, Spain or France?

I do not think any one should incur censure for being tender of their reputation.

Thou who has been a witness of the fact, can give an account of it.

In religious concerns, or what is conceived to be such, every man must stand or fall by the decision of the Great Judge.

Something like what have been here premised are the conjectures of Dryden.

Thou great First Cause, least understood!

Who all my sense confin'd

To know but this, that thou art good,
And that myself am blind:

Yet gave me in this dark estate, &c.

What art thou, speak, that, on designs unknown, While others sleep, thus range the camp alone.

The following examples are adapted to the notes and observations under RULE V.

Grammar, p. 135. Key, p.27.

1. Whoever entertains such an opinion, he judges erroneously.

The cares of this world they often choak the growth of virtue.

Disappointments and afflictions, however disagreeable, they often improve us.

2. Moses was the meekest man whom we read of in the Old Testament.

Humility is one of the most amiable virtues which we can possess.

They are the same persons who assisted us yesterday.

The men and things which he has studied have not improved his morals.

3. Howsoever beautiful they appear, they have no real merit.

In whatsoever light we view him, his conduct will bear inspection.

On whichsoever side they are contemplated, they appear to advantage.

However much he might despise the maxims of the king's administration, he kept a total silence on that subject.

4. Which of them two persons has most distinguished himself?

None more impatiently suffer injuries, than those that are most forward in doing them.

5. He would not be persuaded but what I was greatly in fault.

These commendations of his children, appear to have been made in somewhat an injudicious manner.

6. He instructed and fed the crowds who surrounded him.

F 2