lish Verb, gives us the following rule, which may well be studied by these affected refiners of the idiom of our language. It may here be remarked that Mr. Pickbourn's authority is paramount; as he has, in the volume referred to, presented a more clear, methodical, and philosophical account of the verb and its derivatives than any or all who have preceded or followed him. Whenever," he says, "the participle in ing is joined by an auxiliary verb, to a nominative capable of the action, it is taken actively; but when joined to one incapable of the action it becomes passive. If we say "The men are building a house," the participle building is evidently used in an active sense; because the men are capable of the action. But when we say, "The house is building," or "Patents are preparing," the participles building and preparing must necessarily be understood in a passive sense, because neither the house nor the patents are capable of action."

The expressions which we have condemned will appear faulty also, if we consider the time expressed by the words is, being, and built. The participle built, implies that the action is performed. Whatever is built, or is being built, certainly requires nothing to finish the action of building, for the word built, wherever we place it, or with what word soever we connect it, certainly implies a finished action; and if finished, it cannot in any sense imply an action which is now incomplete. Those, therefore, who squeamishly object to the apparent inconsistency of using an active participle in a neuter or passive sense, must sharpen their appetites to digest a cruder inconsistency, and use their vain endeavors to reconcile the discrepancy between past and present time, in order that they may use them indiscriminately.

To return to the subject of synthesis; it is to be remarked that great attention must be paid to the proper use of the pronouns. The exercises for the correction of errors in the use of the pronouns should be copious and extensive. Few persons can be found who invariably use the pronouns, especially the adjective pronouns, correctly in writing; still fewer are there, who, in colloquial language, do not frequently err in this respect. How often we hear such directions as the following, in the mouths even of the teachers of grammar: "No one must leave their places," "You have been idle this two hours," "Let each one come in their turn," &c. "Every boy must close their books," "Every person, whatever be

their station, is bound by the rules of morality," &c.; and even in one of the most judicious and tasteful selections for the reading exercises in our first classes, compiled by a most distinguished scholar and poet, who by the way is not chargeable with the errors in selections, which he did not feel authorised to correct, we find the following monstrous expression: — "Here on a cotton-wood tree, an eagle had fixed its nest, and seemed the undisputed mistress of a spot, to invade which neither man nor beast could venture across the gulf that surrounds it; while it is farther secured by the mist that rises from the falls. * * * * The river is still in the act of cutting down the bottom of an ancient lake, and will require many ages to accomplish its work, or to reduce the whole to a moderate and uniform declivity. The eagle may then be dispossessed of his ancient and solitary domain." You will observe that the sentence begins with making the eagle of the neuter gender, the eagle had fixed its nest; -the poor bird is immediately afterwards changed into the feminine, and becomes the undisputed mistress of the spot. But it is not long before she is stripped of her feminine loveliness, and invested with royalty, merely that she may be dispossessed of his ancient and solitary domain. This extract is not taken from an English Bard, but from a Scotch Reviewer, it is from that high authority, the Edinburgh Review. Had the British Lion been treated thus, the whole science of pyrotechnics could scarcely be thought able to furnish an adequate storm of squibs and rockets, to punish the assailant. Thanks to the patriotism of our country, the American Eagle needs no such defenders.

Among the exercises on the verbs, especially the irregular verbs, it should not be forgotten that frequent errors are made by the use of the imperfect tense for the perfect participle, and the perfect participle for the perfect tense. Copious exercises, therefore, should be given in order that the pupil may acquire skill and readiness in the correction of such errors. In connection with the verbs also, it should not be forgotten that there is a propriety to be studied in the prepositions which are used after certain verbs, and other words. Thus we boast of- bestow on, confide in, &c. Many of the prepositions are improperly used. Take an example, "Her sobriety is no derogation to her understanding." Now the preposition from and not to should be used after the word

"derogation," and the sentence should be, "Her sobriety is no derogation from her understanding." Errors of this kind are frequently found in our best writers, and they therefore require the constant vigilance of the teacher, and the attention of the pupil.

There is another very common error in the use of neuter verbs in such expressions as the following, "I am come,” — “I was fallen," "I am grown,' "The tumults of life are not begun," &c. These expressions are sanctioned by the usage of the most distinguished theological writer of this western continent, but notwithstanding, I venture to assert that they ought to be condemned as a useless anomaly, although Murray and Lowth do not condemn them; and the former expressly asserts, that "the neuter verb in some instances admits the passive form." The question, however, arises, whether this departure from grammatical consistency adds any thing to the beauty, the harmony, or the copiousness of the language. If not, why should it be allowed? Certainly the expressions, “I have come," "I had fallen," "I have grown, 99 "Tumults have begun," are as elegant as those which I have already quoted; and as the use of the objectionable phrases creates the necessity of a new grammatical rule, they may as well be given up. Mr. Pickbourn in his Dissertation on the English Verb, decides against them. Although, therefore, these forms of expression are sanctioned by such high authorities, yet reason and analogy will not justify us in assenting to their decision; for, besides the awkwardness of the expressions they are objectionable as an unnecessary anomaly.

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The allowable abbreviations of some words have also led into errors which have almost incorporated themselves with the language. Thus, the abbreviation of the expressions "You had" and "You would," into "You'd," has caused "You had," to be used for " You would." Thus in the sentence, "I'd rather be a dog and bay the moon than such a Roman," we hear read, "I had rather be a dog," &c. Again the distinguished and almost faultless Cowper says

"No, dear as freedom is, and in my heart's
Just estimation prized above all price,

I had much rather be myself the slave

And wear the bonds, than fasten them on him."

Once more, Shakspeare makes Cassius say

"I had as lief not be, as live to be

In awe of such a thing as I myself."

Now in all these cases, it is very evident that the verb "be" can never follow the auxiliary "had." We cannot say, “I had be;" but we may say, "I would be." It is probable then, that the authors originally wrote the abbreviated form "I'd," for "I would," and that either carelessness or ignorance in transcribers, substituted in all these phrases," I had," for "I would." I deem these little things of sufficient importance to be noticed on this occasion, because there are probably present, some who, like myself, have found difficulty in reconciling poeticisms with grammatical rule.

Without exhausting the subject I feel that I have made a heavy draft on the patience of my hearers, and the hour admonishes me that I must prepare to draw my remarks to a close. I cannot refrain, however, from exhorting the practical teacher to seize every opportunity that may be afforded, of communicating a lesson in Grammar by the correction of every error in the common colloquial expressions of his pupils. Not a day nor a half day passes in the school-room, without affording abundant opportunity for such lessons or corrections, and the teacher may rest assured that these "unwritten " lessons are most forcible, and most permanently retained.

The reading books which are used in the school-room, afford many opportunities for the display of critical skill in the application of grammatical rule. The best selections consisting of extracts from the most distinguished writers in the language, afford many opportunities, of which the skilful teacher may, with great advantage, avail himself in applying and fixing the principles of correct phraseology. And I have been taught by the experience of many years, that what is acquired in this way, is more interesting to the pupil, more conducive to his improvement, and becomes more permanent in his memory than any thing which is learnt in any other way.

Before drawing to a close, I must be permitted to allude to a principle which is more frequently violated than any other with which I am acquainted; and if no more light had been thrown upon it than Mr. Murray's Abridgment has shed, it would probably continue to afford the most copious fountain of error that exists in connection with the spoken or written language. I allude to the 13th Rule of Murray's Syntax, which is in the following words: "In the use of words and phrases which

in point of time relate to each other, a due regard to that relation should be observed." The explanation which Mr. Murray has given of this rule, and its application, in his original work is clear and satisfactory; but the rule itself, as it stands in the abridgments in common use, is vague and unsatisfactory; and I have known some teachers, enjoying considerable reputation in their profession, who altogether omit to notice the rule, or allow their pupils to pay attention to it. As the errors arising both from written and spoken language from neglect of this rule are exceedingly numerous, I deem it not impertinent nor indelicate, on this occasion to quote from the Second Part of the Progressive Exercises in English Grammar, the substitute for Mr. Murray's 13th Rule, just quoted, together with the explanation which is given to illustrate the errors arising from a neglect of attention to this rule. It is contained in the paragraph marked No. 108, page 48th, and is in these words:

"In the use of verbs and words which express time, care must be taken that the proper tense be used to express the time which is meant. Thus, if I say, I intended to write yesterday, it means that the action of writing was to be performed at that time, namely, yesterday. But if I say, I intended to have written yesterday, it means that the action of writing was to be performed at some time previous to yesterday. Again, in the sentence, "The Lord hath given, and the Lord has taken away;" as the verbs are both in the same tense, the words imply that the Lord gave and took away at the same time, which is impossible. It is manifest that the action of giving was first performed, and then the action of taking away; and the sentence should be, "The Lord gave, (that is, at some former time,) and the Lord hath taken away (that is, now.)" Again, in the sentence, "The Bishop declared that virtue was always advantageous;" it is to be remarked that each of the verbs in the past tense, carries the time back one degree earlier; and by supplying such words as will specify the exact time, it will be seen that the sentence is incorrect: Thus; "The Bishop declared (last week) that virtue was always (before that time) advantageous;" (but, that at that time, namely, last week, it had ceased to be so.)" This explanation will show why the sentence is incorrect, and that it should be, "The Bishop declared that virtue is always advantageous."

I have already stated that the neglect of this regard to the