them out, and to show how far their signification extends, as, a garden, an eagle, the woman."

33. 4, an, and the, are the only articles, but even between these, limited as their number is, a distinction has been observed, a and an being called the Indefinite Articles and the the Definite Article.

34. But as the only office of these articles, and also of the classified adjective pronouns, is merely to describe, their most appropriate name is Describers or Describing Words.

35. On this subject it will be more useful to enlarge at a subsequent period, and we may therefore at once proceed to the consideration of that class of words denominated Verbs.

Verbs are those words which express the doing of something.

Examples-George speaks. Ann reads. John writes. 36. The Verb To Be, meaning to exist, and its inflectionsnamely, am, art, is, are, was, wast, wert, and were, are the only exceptions to this rule.

37. In accordance with the rest of the parts of speech, we are again introduced to the usual list of heterogeneous grammar rules on this subject:

Harris observes that "All those attributives which have the complex power of denoting both an attribute and an assertion, make that species of words which grammarians call verbs." Murray defines a verb to be "A word which signifies to be, to do, or to suffer." Crombie asserts that "Its essence consists in affirmation, and by this property it is distinguished from every other part of speech." Lennie denominates a verb "A word that affirms something of its nominative; or a verb is a word which expresses being, doing, or suffering." M'Culloch calls "A verb a word which affirms or asserts." Notwithstanding that so great a number of such definitions awaited his choice, Cobbett confesses that the mind of man is unable to bring the whole of the verbs into any short and precise description. He however offers the following rule with respect to them : "Verbs, are, then, a sort of words, the use of which is to express the actions, the movements, and the state or manner of being of all creatures, whether animate or inanimate." 38. The difficulty is easily surmounted. If it be stated

that verbs express the doing of something, and the question "What do you do?" be put to any one, a large catalogue of verbs will at once spontaneously present themselves 'to the mind in reply, as "I play, talk, cry, walk, laugh, read, smell, see, hear, feel."

If the interrogated be afterwards informed that all words answering this question are verbs, he will ever afterwards be ready to supply his interrogator with verbs to any

extent.

39. This term Verb is also Latin. It comes from T'erbum, the word. Verbum was applied by the Latins to this part of speech by way of eminence, because, without some verb, in a collection of words, no affirmation can be made. For the same reason, the verb being the leading word in all our assertions, we may not inappropriately adopt the term.

40. In accordance with the plan first proposed, Adverbs form the next subject of consideration.

Adverbs are words which, while Verbs express the doing of something, denote the manner of doing or acting.

Examples-George speaks fluently. Ann reads well. John writes prettily.

Adverbs also describe other Adverbs and Describing Words.

Examples-Ann reads remarkably well. George is a very fluent speaker.

41. Adverb is another Latin word, but being the representative of a class of words which are, for the most part, added to, or used in connection with, verbs, its retention may present no check to the ready progress of instruction. 42. Lennie is one of the clearest writers on these adverbs:

"An Adverb," says he, "is a word joined to a Verb, an Adjective or another Adverb, to express some quality or circumstance of time, place, or manner respecting it, as, "Ann speaks distinctly; she is remarkably diligent; she reads very correctly."

43. A general definition might be, "That Adverbs de

scribe Verbs, Describing Words, and other Adverbs, as the Describers do Names." For instance, we say of some people, "They generally act in a very indiscreet manner.' The

same sentiment, too, may be expressed by describing the adverb indiscreetly, and resolving the sentence thus: "They generally act very indiscreetly." When we relate the manner in which a person speaks or acts we say fluently or rashly— meaning in a fluent manner or in a rash manner. Or we say "He speaks or acts affectedly, defectively, improperly, grammatically, correctly, forcibly, or feebly," or otherwise.

44. These adverbs are all formed by affixing ly to the describing words out of which they severally spring, which is the case with the greater proportion of English adverbs. This ly has been defined as correspondent to like, and hence "He speaks correctly;" is " He speaks correct like”a pretty tolerable definition.

45. Too great a particularity can scarcely be observed on this point, because adverbs, from their variety, are not so readily comprehended and set in form as the other parts of speech. Here, there, hence, whence, ever, never, and all similar words are of this class. Seeing that here signifies in this place; hence, from this place; and so on, has enabled Horne Tooke to prove, incontrovertibly, says Dr. Crombie, that most of the adverbs are corruptions of other words, or abbreviations of phrases, or of sentences. It is unnecessary to do more than merely mention this circumstance, because it can be of no practical consequence to English students whether they happen, in truth, to be corruptions or contractions, or whether they happen to be neither, if their properties and functions as words of our own language can be ascertained.

46. We have now arrived at that stage when you ought to be fully prepared for the particulars which characterise Connecting Words.

47. Connecting Words are those which are used to connect or join other words and sentences together.

Examples-Mercy and truth. It gilds the bed of death with beams from heaven. Diogenes sat in a tub, but he was generally in good humour.

48. To this part of speech belong the words about, with,

or, nor, among, at, also, because, if, though, lest, nevertheless, yet, notwithstanding, and some others.

49. These connecting words have been divided into two classes, Prepositions and Conjunctions. They are notable as separate classes insomuch that

Prepositions always serve to shew the relationship between persons and things, as, "John lives in London." "John dines at my house." "John runs about us." In, at, with, and about, show the relationship, or connection, which John bears to London, to my house, to me, and to us. 50. Conjunctions merely connect or join words and sentences together, as "John and Thomas." "Thomas, though not well, attends to his duty, as if he were obliged to it." And, though, and if, are conjunctions.

The distinction between Conjunctions and Prepositions is more curious than useful, and is better rejected. By the old grammarians, amongst whom may be mentioned Harris and Monboddo, these two classifications are described as serving the same purpose in language, that pegs and nails afford to the joiner in fitting the various parts of a piece of furniture together. Not only the joiner, but every one else knows, that without these little instruments the respective portions of a chest of drawers cannot be subtantially united, and so it is with language-without these little words its more prominent features would be loose, indefinite, and consequently unsubstantial. In preference, however, to this peg-and-nail description, these terms bearing a more legitimate association with the shop of the artizan, and as connecting or joining is clearly their use, there can be no objection to calling them Connecting Words or Connectives. Harris denominates them Connectives.

51. Prepositions may be known by their taking after them the forname him. For instance, above him, below him, before him, after him, with him, respecting him, upon him. All these are what are called prepositions, but they are more properly connecting words.*

It is highly essential that no class of words should be passed over without offering some pertinent remarks-not resting upon the brevity of simple definition, for it is certainly true, that in proportion to the student's acquaintance with the parts of speech will other matters be divested of their tediousness, and become easy of attainment.

52. By Horne Tooke, Jamieson, Gilchrist, Ruddiman, and others, many speculative theories have been advanced on these words. All of them may, however, be rejected as calculated only to lead to perplexity and indecision.

53. Grammarians usually present another part of speech, which, notwithstanding that it is thought it degrades our classification, we should not omit without such reasons as it may be conceived are fully adequate to warrant its rejection. The words referred to are called Interjections.

Interjections are expressive of any sudden emotion, mental or physical.

Examples-Alas! hurra! hark! hush! Oh! heigh ho! fie! pshaw!

54. Cobbett observes that "Interjection comes from two Latin words; inter, which means between, and jectio, which means something thrown; so that the full literal meaning of the word is something thrown between." Harris says, "Interjections coincide with no part of speech, but are either uttered alone, or else thrown into a sentence, without altering its form, either in syntax or signification."

55. Both these writers have wisely chosen a definition according alike with philosophy and sound reason. Interjections are truly something thrown between, for they always make an interruption in the context; have no effect upon any other words in construction with them; are unvariable of themselves, and have no bearing upon any grammar rule. They consist purely of instinctive and mechanical cries or ejaculations, and are all devoid of strictly ideal character. For instance, when weighed down beneath a load of sorrows, we ejaculate ah! alas! or alack! when suddenly excited by some unforeseen event, we cry vah! hah! or aha! when shocked by the manfestation of indecency we vociferate fie! or pshaw! when annoyed by the prattling of some incessant gabbler, we give expression to hush! or mum and when prompted by the ludicrous, we rapidly articulate ha! ha ha! the signs of laughter.

56. An equally legitimate approximation to speech, is manifested in the various cries or ejaculations of inferior animals, and, as it is considered by Horne Tooke, and Dr. Crombie, these physical emissions of sound have no more