to the first three words, the proper idea of finishing is the brin ging a thing to its last period: the completion of any thing is the actual arrival of that last period; and the characteristic of ending, is cessation or discontinuation. Lazy people begin many things without finishing any. We ever feel a secret satisfaction in the completion of a work we have been long about. May we not question the wisdom of those laws, which, instead of ending suits, do but serve to prolong them? By the word conclude we understand, performing the last act of ratiocination; widely dif fering from complete. We complete a piece of mechanism, but conclude an oration. A piece of clockwork is of little value till completed. It is allowed by all rhetoricians that the greatest ornaornament of an harangue, is a well finished conclusion. We finish, what we have begun, by continuing to work at it. We complete a work, by putting the last hand to it. We end it, by discontinuation. Thus we may finish without ending, and end without completing.

On, Upon. These two words are indiscriminately used one for another on all occasions, but with great impropriety. On, rather signifies by; as, on my word; on ny honour, etc. Whereas upon means up, on the top of, and is applied to matter; as, upon the table; upon the chair; upon the house, etc. The absurdity of a contrary diction is evident, from the following change of words: it was his honour upon which he swore. Indeed, the word, upon is used with elegance, even detached from substance, when the sense is figurative; as for instance, he relied upon the promise of his friend; intimating, that such a promise was the staff upon which he leaned but on other occasions, the impropriety is gross.

So Study, to Learn. To study, implies an uniform application, in search of knowledge; to learn, implies that application with success. We study to learn; and learn by dint of study. People of vivacity learn easily; but are heavy at study. We can study but one thing at a time; but we may learn many. The more we learn the inore we know ; but oftentimes, the more we study the less we know. We have studied well, when we have learned to doubt. There are many things we learn without study; and other things we study without learning. Those are not the wisest who have studied most; but those wo have learned most. We see some persons studying continually without learning any thing; and others, learning almost every thing without the least study. The time of our youth is the time of study; but it is in a more advanced age, when we truly can be said to learn; it is then only, we have capacity to digest, what we have before laid up in the memory.

Admonition, Advice, Counsel. The end of admonition is gentle reproof. Advice and counsel, are to convey instructions; but with

this difference, that advice implies no superiority with respect either to rank or parts in the person who gives it; whereas counsel generally carries with it one, if not both. Admonition in a master, frequently has a greater effect than correction. People are readier to give advice than to take it. Parents should take care to counsel their children before they turn them out into the world. Admonition should be given with temper; advice, with sincerity; and counsel, with art and modesty. Admonish a friend in private, but reward him openly. Nothing is more salutary than good advice, and yet nothing is more nauseous 10 take. When counsel is given with an air of impertinence, it is sure to make the counsel despised, and the counsellor odious.

Excuse, Pardon, Forgiveness. We make excuse for an apparent fault, or slight offence; we ask pardon for a real fault, or when the offence is greater. We implore forgiveness of our sins. The first is an apology in order to justify ourselves, and is founded on politeness; the second is a mark of a good disposition, and is done in hopes of extenuation; the last, to avert the vengeance of God, and declares repentance. The good mind excuses easily. The good heart pardons readily. God deligts more in forgiveness than in revenge. Excuse is more used, when we address ourselves to equals; pardon to superiors; and forgiveness to heaven...

Duty, Obligation. Duty means something consciencious, and springs from a law; obligation something absolute in practice, and springs from custom. We are said to fail in our duty; and to dispense with an obligation. It is the duty of a clergyman to carry himself modestly; and he is obliged to wear dark coloured cloaths. Policy finds less disadvantage in neglecting her duty, tha in forgetting the least of her obligations..

Great, Big, Large. The word great is a general term, signifying any thing considerable either in bulk, extent, quality, number, etc. thus we say a great house; a great road; a great weight; a great many; a great famine; a great happiness. The words big and large are more circumscribed; big implies greatness of bulk, large greatness of extent. Thus we say a big man; a big stone; but a large room; a large field. A large man is as great an impropriety as a big field; and we need only mention a big or large pleasure to shew the absurdity.

Genius, Talent. These are both born with us, and are a happy disposition of nature by which we are qualified for some peculiar employment but genius seems to be more internal, and possessed of the powers of inventions; talent, more external, and capable of execution. Thus we have a genius for poetry and painting; but a talent for speaking and writing. Such as have a genius for mechanics, may have no talents for watch-making. Ways,

Ways, Means, We go the ways; we use the means. Ways are the methods; we take; means, what we put in execution to succeed. The first word enfolds in its idea, honour, and probity; the last pays little or no regard but to the end aimed at. Thus good ways are those which are just; good means, those which are sure. Simoniacal pratices are very bad ways; but very good means of obtaining benefices. It isgrammatical impropriety to annex the singular number to the word means; the fault almost of every speaker and writer; liberality, say they, is a sure means of becoming popular: there is no better means of keeping in with the world than that of passing by affronts with composure. Glaring absurdity! since the word means is evidently plural, and it would be much more elegant was the false concord avoided.

Cannot, Impossible. One of these words more properly relates to inability; the other to impossibility. We cannot serve two masters. It is impossible to execute two opposite orders at the same time. We cannot love one by whom we have been injured. It is impossible to love one to whom we have a natural aversion.

Answer, Reply. The answer is made to a demand or a question asked; the reply, to an answer or a remonstrance. Academics are taught first to start difficulties, and then to answer them. It is nobler to hear a wise remonstrance and profit by it, than make any reply. The word answer is more extensive in its signification than reply; we answer the questions of those who ask us; the demands of such as expect our services; the examination of counsel; the arguments of disputants; the letters we receive; and for all our conduct. The word reply is far more limited; it supposes a dispute commenced from diference of sentiment; we reply to the answer of an author whose works we have criticised; to the reprimands of those whose correction we are unwilling to submit to; to pleaders; to an answer in chancery. An answer should be clear, true, and dictated by reason and good sense; a reply strong and convincing, armed with truth, and strengthened by experience: we should teach children as much as possible to give nice and judicious answers; and convince them that there is more honour in listening, than in making replies to those who have the goodness to instruct them.

Danger, Hazard, Risk Venture. All these words imply chance of harm, but that of danger relates to the evil that may happen; those of hazard, risk, and venture to the good, we may lose; with this difference, that hazard expresses something near; risk, something at a distance; venture, something father off, relating only to the possibility of events. Hence those expressions, in danger of death; in hazard of our life; by giving a loose to debauchery, we risk our health; nothing venture, nothing have. Danger creates fear; hasard, alarm; risk, caution ; but we

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often venture with the greatest satisfaction. The avaricious man spurred on by interest, fears no danger; hazards his health and happiness, runs every risk that attends his profession; and gladly ventures his all, in search of that, which if obtained, he would not have the spirit to enjoy.

Against, in spite of. Both these denote opposition; but the expression, in spite of, implies more resolution and greater force than the word against; against, supposing little or no resistance in the object opposed; but in spite of, a considerable struggle. We act against the will, or against rule, and in spite of oppositions. The good man does nothing against the dictates of his conscience. The wicked man commits sin in spite of the punishment annexed to it. Rashness will attempt things against all appearance of success; and resolution will pursue the attempt, in spite of all the obstacles it meets with.

To See, to Look at, to Behold to View. We see whatever strikes the sight; we look at an object, when we designedly cast our eye upon it: we behold it when we look with attention: view it, when we survey it. We see all objects before our eyes we look at those which excite our curiosity: we behold such as cause our admiration : we view those we are desirous to examine. We see distinctly or confusedly: we look at, near, or at a distance. We behold with wonder and attention. We view with care and exactness. The eyes open to see; turn to look at ; fix themselves to behold; and move all ways to view. The connoisseur in painting looks at the first picture he sees; if it be the work of a celebrated artist, he beholds it with pleasure, and views every part of it with the greatest minuteness.

To Stare, to Gaze. Though the common meaning of these words is to fix both the eyes upon an object, and look at it with wonder, intently and earnestly; yet there is a great difference between them. Staring, implies looking with wonder and imprudence; gazing, with wonder and respect. The impudence of some fellows is so great, that they will stare a modest woman out of countenance. A man in love, will sometimes gaze upon the object of his affections, till he almost loses his sight. When our saviour first appeared to his disciples after his resurrection, they gazed on him with astonishment and raptures: To stare another in the face has always been considered as a breach of good

manners.

Old, Ancient, Antique. These words rise one upon the other; antique upon ancient, and that of ancient upon old.. A fashion is old when it ceases to be in use; ancient, when its use has been sometime past; antique, when it has been a long time ancient. That which is recent is not old; that which is new is not ancient; that which is modern is not antique. Oldness, agrees

best with age; ancientness, with the origin of families; antiquity, with what existed in former times. As we grow old we decrease in strength; but gain more experience. Ancientness makes fashions disagreeable; but adds splendour to nobility. Antiquity destroys the proofs of history, and weakens credit; but. renders monuments of greater value.

General, Universal. General implies a great number of particulars; universal, every particular. The government of princes has no object in view, but the general good. The providence of good is universal. An orator speaks in general, when he makes no particular applications. Knowledge is universal, when it knows every thing. Christianity is generally known and believed; but not universally.

Pile, Heap. These words equally signify a quantity of things together, one upon another; with this différence, that pile rather means things put up regularly; whereas, heap implies no other order in the arrangement, than what rises from chance. As a pile of wood; a heap of rubbish. We say, a pile of bricks; when they are the materials prepared for building; and a heap of bricks, when they are the remains of a fallen edifice.

Value, Worth. Value rises from the intrinsic goodness of things; worth from the estimation of them. Of two things, the best is the most valuable; and that worth most, that bears the greatest price.

Valley, Bottom, Vale, Dale. Of these four words valley implies a narrow space, situated between two hills; bottom, a like space, but quaggy and disagreeable. Vale signifies a space more extended; whereas, dale means rather low lands. The words, dale and vale, are oftener found in poetry; valley, and bottom in prose. Valleys are, for the most part, winding, and as they receive water from the hills on each side, are generally converted into meads. He whose house stands in a bottom cannot live on a more unhealthy spot. A fine vale, with beautiful enclosures, bounded by rising woods, is a delightful prospect. Dales are more easily ploughed than hilly lands.

Head, Chief. The word, head, is reckoned synonymous only to chief, when used in a figurative sense; but, even then, it requires a different application. Head agrees best with respect to arrangements: chief, with regard to subordination. Thus we say, the head of a battalion, or a ship; the chief of a party undertaking. A commander in chief is generally at the head of his troops.

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To find, to Meet with. We find things unknown, or which we sought after. We meet with things that are in our way, or which present themselves to us, unsought for. The unfortunate find always some resource in their misfortunes. People who rea