pains." But this use of the word rather suits familiar than grave style. The same may be said of the phrase, “To do a thing anyhow;" i. e. " in any manner;" or, " somehow ;"" i. e." in some manner." "Somehow, worthy as these people are, they look upon public penance as disreputable."

RULE XVI.

Two negatives, in English, destroy one another, or are equivalent to an affirmative as, " Nor did they not perceive him ;" that is," they did perceive him." "His language, though inelegant, is not ungrammatical:" that is, "it is grammatical."

It is better to express an affirmation, by a regular affirmative, than by two separate negatives, as in the former sentence: but when one of the negatives is joined to another word, as in the latter sentence, the two negatives form a pleasing and delicate variety of expression.

Some writers have improperly employed two negatives instead of one; as in the following instances: "I never did repent for doing good, nor shall not now :" "nor shall I now." "Never no imitator ever grew up to his author:" “never did any," &c. "I cannot by no means allow him what his argument must prove:"" I cannot by any means,” &c. or, "I can by no means." "Nor let no comforter approach me ;""nor let any comforter," &c. "Nor is danger ever apprehended in such a government, no more than we commonly apprehend danger from thunder or earth-quakes " it should be, any more." "Ariosto, Tasso, Galileo, no more than Raphael, were not born in republics." "Neither Ariosto, Tasso, nor Galileo, any more: than Raphael, was born in a republic."

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RULE XVII.

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Prepositions govern the objective case; as, "I have heard a good character of her ;"" From him that is needy turn not away;" "A word to the

wise is sufficient for them;" "Strength of mind is with them that are pure in heart."

The following are examples of the nominative case being used instead of the objective. "Who servest thou under ?” "Who do you speak to ?" "We are still much at a loss who civil power belongs to ?" "Who dost thou ask for?" "Associate not with those who none can speak well of." In all these places it ought to be "whom."

The prepositions to and for are often understood, chiefly before the pronouns : as, "Give me the book ;""Get me some paper;" that is, " to me; for me." "Wo is me;" i. e. " to me." "He was banished England;" i. e. 66 from England."

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1. The preposition is often separated from the relative which it governs: as, "Whom wilt thou give it to ?" instead of, "To whom wilt thou give it ?" "He is an author whom I am much delighted with ;"" The world is too polite to shock authors with a truth, which generally their booksellers are the first that inform them of." This is an idiom to which our language is strongly inclined; it prevails in common conversation, and suits very well with the familiar style in writing: but the placing of the preposition before the relative, is more graceful, as well as more perspicuous, and agrees much better with the solemn and elevated style.

2. Some writers separate the preposition from its noun; in order to connect different prepositions with the same noun: as, "To suppose the zodiac and planets to be efficient of, and antecedent to, themselves." This, whether in the familiar or the solemn style, is always inelegant, and should generally be avoided. In forms of law, and the like, where fulness and exactness of expression must take place of every other consideration, it may be admitted.

3. Different relations, and different senses, must be expressed by different prepositions, though in conjunction

6 to con

with the same verb or adjective. Thus we say, verse with a person, upon a subject, in a house," &c. We also say, "We are disappointed of a thing," when we cannot get it," and disappointed in it," when we have it, and find it does not answer our expectations. But two different prepositions must be improper in the same construction, and in the same sentence: as, "The combat between thirty Britons against twenty English."

In some cases it is difficult to say, to which of two prepositions the preference is to be given, as both are used promiscuously, and custom has not decided in favour of either of them. We say "Expert at," and " expert in a thing." "Expert at finding a remedy for his mistakes ;" "Expert in deception."

When prepositions are subjoined to nouns, they are generally the same that are subjoined to the verbs from which the nouns are derived: as, "A compliance with,” “to comply with;""A disposition to tyranny," "disposed to tyrannise."

4. As an accurate and appropriate use of the preposition is of great importance, we shall select a considerable number of examples of impropriety, in the application of this part of speech.

1st. With respect to the preposition of "He is resolved of going to the Persian court;""on going" &c. "He was totally dependent of the Papal crown;"" on the Papal," &c. "To call of a person and to wait of him;" "on a person," &c. "He was eager of recommending it to his fellow citizens," "in recommending," &c. Of is sometimes omitted, and sometimes inserted, after worthy : as, "It is worthy observation," or, "of observation." But it would have been better omitted in the following sentences. "The emulation who should serve their country best no longer subsists among them, but of who should obtain the most lucrative command." "The rain hath been falling of a long time;" "falling a long time." "It is

situation chiefly which decides of the fortune and characters of men :" "decides the fortune," or, concerning the fortune." "He found the greatest difficulty of writing;" " in writing."" It might have given me a greater taste of its antiquities." A taste of a thing implies actual enjoyment of it; but a taste for it, implies only a capacity for enjoyment. "This had a much greater share of inciting him, than any regard after his father's commands ;" share in inciting," and " regard to his father's," &c.

2d. With respect to the prepositions to and for.“ You have bestowed your favours to the most deserving persons;" "upon the most deserving," &c. "He accused the ministers for betraying the Dutch ;"" of having betrayed." "His abhorrence to that superstitious figure;" "of that," &c. "A great change to the better;"" for the better." "Thy prejudice to my cause ;""against." "The English were very different people then to what they are at present;"" from what," &c. In compliance to the declaration;"" with," &c. "It is more than they thought for ;" "thought of." "There is no need for it ;" "ofit." For is superfluous in the phrase," More than he knows for." "No discouragement for the authors to proceed ;” “ to the authors," &c. "It was perfectly in compliance to some persons ;" ."" with." "The wisest princes need not think it any diminution to their greatness, or derogation to their sufficiency, to rely upon counsel ;"" diminution of.” and "derogation from "

3d. With respect to the prepositions with and upon. "Reconciling himself with the king." "Those things which have the greatest resemblance with each other, frequently differ the most." "That such rejection should be consonant with our common nature." "Conformable with," &c. "The history of Peter is agreeable with the sacred texts." In all the above instances, it should be, "to," in- · stead of" with." "It is a use that perhaps I should not have thought on;" "thought of" "A greater quantity may be taken from the heap, without making any sensible

alteration upon it;"" in it." "Intrusted to persons on whom the parliament could confide;" "in whom." "He was made much on at Argos ;"" much of." "If policy' can prevail upon force;" "over force." "I do likewise dissent with the examiner ;" "from."

4th. With respect to the prepositions in, from, &c.— "They should be informed in some parts of his character;' "about," or 66 66 concerning." Upon such occasions as fell into their cognizance;" "under." "That variety of factions into which we are still engaged;"" in which.” "To restore myself into the favour;"" to the favour." "Could he have profited from repeated experiences ;" "by." From seems to be superflucus after forbear: as, "He could not forbear from appointing the pope," &c. "A strict observance aftertimes and fashions;"" of times." "The character which we may now value ourselves by drawing" "upon drawing." "Neither of them shall make me swerve out of the path;" "from the path." "Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel;" it ought to be," which strain out a gnat, or, take a gnat out of the liquor by straining it." The impropriety of the preposition has wholly destroyed the meaning of the phrase.

The preposition among always implies a number of things; and therefore cannot be used in conjunction with the word every, which is in the singular number: as, "Which is found among every species of liberty;"" The opinion seems to gain ground among every body."

5. The preposition to is made use of before nouns of place, when they follow verbs and participles of motion: as, "I went to London ;" "I am going to town." But the preposition at is used after the neuter verb to be: as, "I have been at London ;" "I was at the place appointed ;" "I shall be at Paris." We likewise say; "He touched, arrived at any place." The preposition in is set before countries, cities, and large towns as, "He lives in France, in London, or in Birmingham." But before villages, single

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