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2. Its properties: form, size, material, use, where made, &c.

3. The parts; which may be separately described.

4. Its kinds: the species which it as a genus includes

under it.

90. The definition of a species requires that we point out— wherein it essentially agrees with other

1. Its genus
objects.

=

2. Its difference

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

groove-barrelled.

(2.) Difference

=

2. Properties:* Accuracy of aim; length of range; used in war and field sports, &c.; recently invented.

3. The Parts: (1) Stock

=

wooden; used to support barrel, and connect it with the lock.

(2.) Lock to strike fire into powder-parts: spring; trigger; dog-head; nipple.

(3.) Barrel

=

cast iron; equal thickness; grooved; contains powder and bullet.

4. The kinds : Breech-loading, muzzle-loading, horizontal grooved, spiral grooved, Minié, Enfield, &c., &c.

(b) THE PARAGRAPH.

1 The rifle is a well known fire-arm, differing from the common musket in having a grooved or rifled barrel, whence it derives its name. 2 It is of recent invention, and has been recently improved, so that now its extent of range and accuracy of aim make it the most deadly weapon either in warfare or in the chase. There are several kinds of rifles, differing slightly from each other in their construction, as the Enfield, the Minié, &c.; but all, like other hand guns, consist of the three main parts, a stock, a lock, and a barrel.

4

[These parts may be described in a separate paragraph.]

The stock, which is made of wood, supports the one end of the barrel; and as the lock is also attached to it, it serves to unite the other parts

*Embraces logical proprium and accidens.

† Corresponds with the division of an integral whole.
Corresponds with the division of a logical whole.

of the instrument. The barrel is a long tube, made of wrought-iron, inthe interior of which parallel grooves are drawn through the whole length of the barrel, in either a horizontal or a spiral direction. These grooves are designed to give greater speed and directness to the ball, which latter is frequently constructed so as to expand with the explosion of the gunpowder, and fit into the grooves of the barrel. The spark of ignition is carried to the gunpowder within the barrel by means of the lock, which consists of a spring; a handle for moving the spring, called the trigger; the nipple, on which the percussion-cap is placed; and the doghead, a small hammer, by which it is struck, and the rifle is discharged.

1

1 Definition,-genus, species.

Properties.

8 Kinds. • Parts.

Exercise 39,

Draw out a Scheme for a paragraph, describing each of the following class-objects, and write a Paragraph therefrom :

1. A steam-engine.

2. A clock.

3. A telescope.

4. A man-of-war.

5. A balloon.

6. A camera obscura.

7. A pianoforte.

8. A printing press.
9. A book.
10. A church.

11. A Roman camp.

12. A fleet or an army.

3. ABSTRACT QUALITIES.

92. A paragraph descriptive (in the strict sense) of an abstract quality should contain:

1. The definition of its species; which, as in the case of class objects, consists of—

= wherein it agrees with other qualities. wherein it differs from other qualities

(1.) Genus
(2.) Difference

=

of the same genus.

2. The application: to what it belongs, in what forms found, &c.

Other particulars must be reserved for Reflection (§ 94).

93.

Example.-Honesty.

(a) THE SCHEME.

= the social virtues.

1. Definition: (1.) Genus
(2.) Difference
2. Application Found in man
times in business dealings;

aims at giving each his due.
in a civilised state: appears some-
sometimes in the acknowledgment

of faults; sometimes in the utterance of sincere convictions, which motives of interest would conceal.

(b) THE PARAGRAPH.

1 Honesty is the social virtue which aims at giving every man his due, whether in substantial property, or in credit for the performance of good actions. It is generally found in civilised society; though luxury, to which a high degree of civilisation often leads, is injurious to its existence. While we look most naturally for honesty in the commercial dealings of man with man, the term is also frequently applied to that disposition which leads men to acknowledge their faults, as well as to the fearlessness which urges them to utter sentiments of which interest might rather suggest the suppression or concealment.

1

1 Definition,—genus, species.

Exercise 40.

Application.

Draw out a Scheme for a paragraph, descriptive of any of the following abstract qualities, and write a Paragraph therefrom:

1. Extravagance.

2. Justice.

3. Revenge.

4. Perseverance.

5. Hypocrisy.

6. Friendship.

7. Mercy.

8. Truth; truthfulness.

9. Envy.

10. Cowardice.

11. Duplicity.

12. Benevolence.

Chapter III.-Reflection.

94. The Reflective Paragraph contains an expression of the thoughts and emotions suggested by the contemplation of objects, actions, and abstract qualities. It may therefore be naturally combined with either the narrative or any kind of the descriptive paragraph.

95. The reflections suggested by an object (individual or class, §§ 87-89) may refer to the following heads: :

1. The feelings which the object excites in us, and which, with various modifications, will belong to the two great classes

(1.) The pleasurable. (2.) The painful.

2. The qualities which appear to give rise to these feelings, respectively.

96.

(1.) Its beauty or deformity, in form, colour, cognate
qualities, grandeur, sublimity, picturesqueness.
(2.) Its utility or inutility; [1.] in the parts, adaptation
of means to ends [2.] in the whole, its
form its required work.

per

power to (8.) Its suggestiveness; either [1.] of pleasing or painful associations, or [2.] of other objects resembling it in its power to call up similar feelings.

Example.-Individual Object.

HOLYROOD PALACE.

1. The feelings: Pleasure; interest; sympathy.

2. The qualities: (1.) Picturesqueness, quaintness, and simplicity of

form.

(2.) Its suitableness for a royal residence, from its size, form, and character; unsuitableness, from

its locality.

(3.) a. Antiquity; historical associations: Queen Mary, Rizzio, Prince Charles Edward.

b. It affects us like the sight of some ancient well worn weapon, or the recitation of a fine old ballad.

Exercise 41.

Draw out a Scheme for a reflective paragraph on any of the individual objects in Exercise 39, and write a Paragraph therefrom.

97.

Example.-A Class Object.

THE TELESCOPE.

1. The feelings: Pleasure, admiration, interest.

2. The qualities:*

(1.) Ingenious collocation of parts.

(2) Its extraordinary power of revealing to us wonders hidden from the unaided eye.

(3.) Suggests to us a seer-like power, reaching far beyond the limits of human vision. [In this view it fills us with a kind of awe]

* Every object will not require-many, indeed, will not admit ofthe introduction of all these particulars. The judgment of the pupil must be exercised in deciding which heads are most appropriate in each

case.

Reminds us of the ingenuity and perseverance of its inventors; of the struggles of the man of science, in consideration of which we should feel grateful for our advantages.

Exercise 42.

Draw out a Scheme for a reflective paragraph for any of the class objects in Exercise 40, and write a Paragraph therefrom.

98. In considering an action or event, or the possession* of an abstract quality, our reflections may refer to any (or all) of the following heads. All the particulars need not be discussed in connection with each subject; and where any of them becomes considerable, it may have an entire paragraph devoted to itself:

1. The cause, origin, or motive: an account of the circumstances which explain the occurrence of the action, or the existence of the quality.

2. The effect or consequence: good or bad, immediate or remote.

8. The illustration, in which

(1.) It is compared, in these respects, with other and similar actions; or,

(2.) Particular instances of the manifestation of the quality are referred to.

4. The feelings which it excites in us; as that it is right or wrong, and worthy of our approbation or disapprobation; that its doers (action) or possessors (quality) deserve our sympathy, pity, or aversion; or some other treatment, as ridicule or contempt.

5. The application: its influence on the life and conduct of ourselves or others.

99.

Example.-An Event.

THE GRANTING OF MAGNA CHARTA.

1. The cause: The king weak and tyrannical; the nobles powerful, disgusted with his conduct; their motive, to weaken his power; his motive, to postpone a crisis, and deceive them into false security.

In reflecting on qualities, we remove them from the category of objects in themselves, and think of them as possessed by other objects.

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