I always intended to reward my son according to his merit. It would, on reflection, have given me great satisfaction, to have relieved him from that distressed situation. It required so much care, that I thought I should lose it before I reached home. We have done no more than it was our duty to do. Ile would have assisted one of his friends, if he could have done it without injuring the other; but as that could not be done, he avoided all interference. Might it not have been expected, that he would defend an authority, which had been so long exereised without controversy? These enemies of Christianity were confounded, whilst they were expecting to find an opportunity to betray its author. His sea-sickness was so great that I often feared he would die before our arrival. If these persons had intended to deceive, they would have taken care to avoid what would have exposed them to the objections of their opponents. It was a pleasure to receive his approbation of my labours; for which I cordially thanked him. It would have afforded me still greater pleasure, to have received his approbation at an earlier period: but to have received it at all, reflected credit upon me. To have been censured by him, would soon have proved an insuperable discouragement. Him portion'd maids, apprentic'd orphans blest, The Doctor in his lecture, said, that fever always produces thirst. * In referring to declarations of this nature, the present tense must be used, if the position is immutably the same at all times, or supposed to be so; as "The bishop declared, that virtue is always RULE XIV. Grammar, p. 167. Exercises, p. 75. Esteeming themselves wise, they become fools." Suspecting not only you, but them also, I was studious to avoid all intercourse. I could not avoid considering, in some degree. them as enemies to me, and him as a suspicious friend. advantageous:" not, "was always advantageous."-But if the assertion referred to something that is not always the same, or supposed to be so, the past tense must be applied; as, "George said; that he was very happy:" not, "is very happy." The following sentences will fully exemplify, to the young grammarian, both the parts of this rule." He declared to us, that he was afraid of no man; because conscious innocence gives firmness of mind.”—He protested, that he believed what was said, because it appeared to him probable."-" Charles asserted, that it was his opinion, that men always succeed, when they use precaution and pains."-"The doctor declared to his audience, that if virtue suffers some pains, she is amply recompensed by the pleasures which attend her." If the preceding rule should not be completely applicable to every case which ingenuity may state, the author presumes that it will be found very generally useful. Though we have, in the notes under the thirteenth rule of the Grammar, explained in general the principles, on which the time of a verb in the infinitive mood may be ascertained, and its form determined; yet, as the subject is curious and important, and the practice of good writers upon it is very discordant, we presume it will not be unacceptable to the young student of grammar, if we produce a few additional observations calculated to settle his judginent on this contested point. The following rule, founded on the authorities of Harris, Lowth, and Campbell, and we think too, on the authority of common sense, appears to be accurate, as well as simple and intelligible. "When the action or event signified by a verb in the infinitive mood, is contemporary or future, with respect to the verb to which it is chiefly related, the present of the infinitive is required: when it is not contemporary nor future, the perfect of the infinitive is necessary." To comprehend and apply this rule, the student has only to consider, whether the infinitive verb refers to a time antecedent, contempora ry, or future, with regard to the governing or related verb. When this simple point is ascertained, there will be no doubt in his mind, respecting the form which the infinitive verb should have. Two of three examples may illustrate these positions. If I wish to signify, that I rejoiced at a particular time, in recollecting the sight of a friend, some time having intervened between the seeing and the rejoicing, I should express myself thus: "I rejoiced to have seen my friend." The seeing, in this case, was evidently antecedent to the rejoicing; and therefore the verb which expresses the former, must be in the perfect of the infinitive, The same meaning may be ex pressed in a different form: "I rejoiced that I had seen my friend; From having exposed himself too freely in dif ferent climates, he entirely lost his health. The examples which follow are suited to the notes and observations under RULE XIV. Grammar, p. 167. Exercises, p. 76. 1. By observing truth, you will command esteem as well as secure peace. or "in having seen my friend:" and the student may, at any time, try the propriety of a doubtful point of this nature, by converting the phrase into its correspondent forms of expression. If, on the contrary, I wish to signify that I rejoiced at the sight of my friends, that my joy and his presence were contemporary, I should say, "I rejoiced to see my friend;" or, in other words, "I rejoiced in seeing my friend." The correctness of this form of the infinitive may also be tried, by converting the phrase into its correspondent modes of expression. As the verb to desire and to wish, are nearly related, the young student may naturally suppose, from the rule at page 164 of the Grammar, that the latter verb, like the former, must, invariably be followed by the present of the infinitive. But if he reflect, that the act of desiring always refers to the future; and that the act of wishing refers sometimes to the past, as well as sometimes to the future; he will perceive that the following modes of expression are strictly justi fiable: "I wished that I had written sooner," "I wished to have writ ten sooner:" and he will be perfectly satisfied that the following phrases must be improper: "I desire that I had written sooner, "I desire to have written sooner."-See this point more particularly explained in the author's Grammar, p. 166 of the stereotype edition. Some writers on grammar contend, that the sentence," I intend to have written," is correct and grammatical, because it simply denotes, as they assert, the speaker's intention to be hereafter in possession of the finished action of writing. But to this reasoning the following answers may be given: that the phrase "to have written" is stated in English grammars, as the established past tense of the infinitive mood; that it is as incontrovertibly the past tense of the infinitive in English, as scripsisse is the past tense of the infinitive, in Latin; that no writers can be warranted in taking such liberties with the language, as to contradict its plainest rules for the sake of supporting a hypothesis; that these writers might, on their own principles and with equal propriety, contend that the phrase, "I intend having written," is proper and grammatical; and that by admitting such violations of established grammatical distinctions, confusion would be introduced, the language would be disorganized, and the most eccentric systems of grammar might be advanced and plausibly supported.-In short, the phrase, "I intend to have written," appears to involve the following absurdity: "I intend to produce hereafter an action or event, which has been already completed." He prepared them for this event, by sending to them proper information. A person may be great or rich by chance; but cannot be wise or good, without taking pains for it. Nothing could have made her so unhappy, as marrying a man who possessed such principles. Or-the marrying of a man, &c. The changing of times and seasons, the removing and setting up of kings, belong to Providence alone Or-changing times and seasons, removing and setting up kings, &c. The middle station of life seems to be the most advantageously situated for the gaining of wisdom. Poverty turns our thoughts too much upon the supplying of our wants; and riches, upon enjoying our superfluities. Or-for gaining wisdom-upon supplying our wants. Pliny, speaking of Cato the Censor's disapprov ing of the Grecian orators, expressed himself thus. Propriety of pronunciation is the giving of that sound to every word, which the most polite usage of the language appropriates to it. Or is giving to every word that sound, &c. Or-consists in giving to every word that sound, &c. Not attending to this rule, is the cause of a very common error. Or-want of attention to this rule, &c. This was in fact a converting of the deposite to his own use. Or-in fact converting the deposite, &c. 2. There will be no danger of their spoiling of their faces, or of their gaining of converts. Or-no danger of spoiling their faces, or of gaining converts. Or-no danger that they will spoil their faces, or gain converts. For his avoiding of that precipice, he is indebted to his friend's care. Or-For avoiding that precipice, &c. It was from our misunderstanding of the directions, that we lost our way. Or-From misunderstanding the directions, we lost our way. In tracing his history, we discover little that is worthy of imitation. By reading books written by the best authors, his mind became highly improved. 3. By too eager pursuit, he ran a great risk of being disappointed. He had not long enjoyed repose, before he began to be weary of having nothing to do. He was greatly heated, and drank with avidity. Though his conduct was, in some respects, exceptionable, yet he durst not commit so great an offence, as that which was proposed to him. A second deluge learning thus o'er-ran, And the monks finish'd what the Goths began. If some events had not fallen out very unexpectedly, I should have been present. He would have gone with us, had he been invited. He returned the goods which he had stolen, and made all the reparation in his power. They have chosen the part of honour and virtue. His vices have weakened his mind, and broken his health. He had mistaken his true interest, and found himself forsaken by his former adherents. The bread that has been eaten, is soon forgotten. No contentions have arisen amongst them, since their reconciliation. The cloth had no seam, but was woven throughout. The French language is spoken in every state in Europe. His resolution was too strong to be shaken by slight opposition. He was not much restrained afterwards, having taken improper liberties at first. |