signified by the infinitive, is supposed to be before, after, or present with, the thing denoted by the governing verb. It is, therefore, with great propriety, that tenses are assigned to verbs of the infinitive mood. The point of time from which they are computed, is of no consequence; since present, past, and future, are completely applicable

to them.

We shall conclude our observations under this rule, by remarking, that though it is often proper to use the perfect of the infinitive after the governing verb, yet there are particular cases, in which it would be better to give the expression a different form. Thus, instead of saying, “I wish to have written to him sooner," "I then wished to have written to him sooner;" "He will one day wish to have written sooner;" it would be more perspicuous and forcible, as well as more agreeable to the practice of good writers, to say; "I wish that I had written to him sooner," "I then wished that I had written to him sooner,' "He will one day wish that he had written sooner." Should the justness of these strictures be admitted, there would still be numerous occasions for the use of the past infini tive;" as we may perceive by a few examples. "It would ever afterwards have been a source of pleasure, to have found him wise and virtuous." "To have deferred his repentance longer, would have disqualified him from repenting at all." "They will then see, that to have faithfully performed their duty, would have been their greatest consolation."*

RULE XIV.

Participles have the same government as the verbs have from which, they are derived: as "I am weary with hearing him." "She is instructing us ;” “The tutor is admonishing Charles."+

1. Participles are sometimes governed by the article ; for the present participle, with the definite article the be

See Key to the English Exercises Tenth Edit. Rule xiii. The Note.

+ See "English Exercises." Eleventh Edit. p. 75.

It

fore it, becomes a substantive, and must have the preposition of after it; as, “These are the rules of grammar, by the observing of which you may avoid mistakes." would not be proper to say, "by the observing which;" nor "by observing of which;" but the phrase, without either article or preposition, would be right: as, "by observing which." The article a or an has the same "This was a betraying of the trust reposed in

effect: as,

him."

This rule arises from the nature and idiom of cur language, and from as plain a principle as any on which it is founded; namely, that a word which has the article before it, and possessive preposition of after it, must be a noun and, if a noun, it ought to follow the construction of a noun, and not to have the regimen of a verb. It is the participial termination of this sort of words that is apt to deceive us, and make us treat them as if they were of an amphibious species, partly nouns and partly verbs.

The following are a few examples of the violation of this rule. "He was sent to prepare the way by preaching of repentance;" it ought to be, "by the preaching of repentance;" or, "by preaching repentance." By the continual mortifying our corrupt affections;" it should be, "by the continual mortifying of," or, "by continually mortifying our corrupt affections." "They laid out themselves towards the advancing and promoting the good of it;"" towards advancing and promoting the good." "It is an overvaluing ourselves," to reduce every thing to the narrow measure of our capacities;" "it is overvaluing ourselves," or, an overvaluing of ourselves." "Keeping of one day in seven," &c. it ought to be, "the keeping of one day;" or, "keeping one day."

A phrase in which the article precedes the present participle and the possessive preposition follows it, will not, in every instance convey the same meaning, as, would be conveyed by the participle without the article and preposition. "He expressed the pleasure he had in the hearing of the philosopher," is capable of a different sense from, "He expressed the pleasure he had in hearing the philosopher." When, therefore, we wish, for

the sake of harmony or variety, to substitute one of these phraseologies for the other, we should previously consider whether they are perfectly similar in the sentiments they convey.

2. The same observations which have been made respecting the effect of the article and participle, appear to be applicable to the pronoun and participle, when they are similarly associated: as, "Much depends on their observing of the rule, and error will be the consequence of their neglecting of it," instead of " their observing the rule, and their neglecting it.” We shall perceive this more clearly, if we substitute a noun for the pronoun: as, "Much depends upon Tyro's observing of the rule," &c. But, as this construction sounds rather harshly, it would, in general, be better to express the sentiment in the following, or some other form: "Much depends on the rule's being observed; and error will be the consequence of its being neglected:" or "on observing the rule; and-of neglecting it." This remark may be applied to several other modes of expression to be found in this work; which, though they are contended for as strictly correct, are not always the most eligible, on account of their unpleasant sound. See pages 53, 72, 159 -163.

We sometimes meet with expressions like the following: "In forming of his sentences, he was very exact ;" "From calling of names, he proceeded to blows." But this is incorrect language; for prepositions do not, like articles and pronouns, convert the participle itself into the nature of a substantive; as we have shown above in the phrase, "By observing which." And yet the participle with its adjuncts, may be considered as a substantive phrase in the objective case, governed by the preposition or verb, expressed or understood: as, "By promis ing much, and performing but little, we become despicable." "He studied to avoid expressing himself too severely."

3. As the perfect participle and the imperfect tense are sometimes different in their form, care must be taken that they be not indiscriminately used. It is frequently

said, "He begun," for "he began;" "he run, for "he ran ;" "he drunk," for "he drank;" the participle being here used instead of the imperfect tense: and much more frequently the imperfect tense instead of the participle: as, "I had wrote," for "I had written:" "I was chose" for "I was chosen;"" I have eat," for, "I have eaten." "His words were interwove with sighs," "were interwoven." "He would have spoke ;" "spoken. - He hath bore witness to his faithful servants;" "borne." "By this means he over-run his guide;"" over-ran. "The sun has rose ;"" risen." "His constitution has been greatly shook, but his mind is too strong to be shook by such causes ;" "shaken" in both places." They were verses wrote on glass ;” “ written.” "Philosophers have often mistook the source of true happiness: it ought to be "mistaken."

ני,

The participle ending in ed is often improperly contracted by changing ed into t ; as, "In good behaviour, he is not surpast by any pupil of the school." much distrest." They ought to be "surpassed,” “ distressed."

"She was

RULE XV.

Adverbs, though they have no government of case, tense, &c. require an appropriate situation in the sentence, viz. for the most part before adjectives, after verbs active or neuter, and frequently between the auxiliary and the verb: as, "He made a very sensible discourse; he spoke unaffectedly and forcibly, and was at▪ tentively heard by the whole assembly."

"We

A few instances of erroneous positions of adverbs may serve to illustrate the rule. "He must not expect to find study agreeable always ;" "always agreeable.". always find them ready when we want them ;""we find them always ready," &c. "Dissertations on the prophecies which have remarkably been fulfilled;""which have been remarkably." "Instead of looking contemptuously down on the crooked in mind or in body, we

should look up thankfully to God who hath made us bet ter;"" instead of looking down contemptuously, &c. we should thankfully look up," &c. "If thou art blessed naturally with a good memory, continually exercise it;" "naturally blessed," &c. "exercise it continually."

Sometimes the adverb is placed with propriety before the verb, or at some distance after it; sometimes between the two auxiliaries; and sometimes after them both; as in the following examples. "Vice always creeps by degrees, and insensibly twines around us those concealed fetters, by which we are at last completely bound." "He encouraged the English barons to carry their opposition farther." "They compelled him to declare that he would abjure the realm for ever;" instead of, "to carry farther their opposition;" and "to abjure for ever the realm." "He has generally been reckoned an honest man :" "The book may always be had at such a place;" in preference to "has been generally ;" and 66 may be always." "These rules will be clearly understood, after they have been diligently studied," are preferable to, "These rules will clearly be understood, after they have diligently been studied."

From the preceding remarks and examples, it appears that no exact and determinate rule can be given for the placing of adverbs, on all occasions. The general rule may be of considerable use; but the easy flow and perspicuity of the phrase, are the things which ought to be chiefly regarded.

The adverb there is often used as an expletive, or as a word that adds nothing to the sense; in which case it precedes the verb and the nominative noun: as, "There is a person at the door;" "There are some thieves in the house;" which would be as well, or better, expressed by saying, "A person is at the door ;" "Some thieves are in the house." Sometimes it is made use of to give a small degree of emphasis to the sentence: as, "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." When it is applied in its strict sense, it principally follows the verb and the nominative case: as, "The man stands there."

1. The adverb never generally precedes the verb: as, "I never was there;" "He never comes at a proper