upon a horse, would be represented by a different combination of nervous elements to that which would be produced by that of a man below, or behind, or before a horse. A very different idea is signified when we say that a man came from Brighton to London, from that which is communicated when we say, that a man came from London to Brighton. (32.) Conjunctions are employed either to compress two ideas into one, or to separate one portion from a more extensive idea. In the first case, the conjunction is called copulative; in the second, disjunctive; conjunctions are, in fact, equivalent to the signs of plus and minus. (33.) Such is a brief resumé of the mode of communicating impressions made on the sensorium, from one person to another. In the first place, we use a noun, which is a sort of generic term given to certain combinations common to many ideas. This general idea is then limited by the adjective, and still further by the adverb. The verb is then employed to signify the time of the occurrence of the idea, or of the changes which took place with it; and these changes are more particularised by the use of other adverbs. We, however, introduce other nouns ; and their relations are more accurately detailed by prepositions and conjunctions. It is manifest that the whole system is artificial, and whilst we must deplore its insufficiency to communicate exact ideas, yet we must, at the same time, marvel at the great and glorious results which it has been the means of effecting. CHAPTER III. RESOLUTION OF A SENTENCE. (34) Resolution of a Sentence.—(35, 36) Arrangement of Nouns. -(37) Notation of Naturalists and Chemists.-(38-41) Limited Nouns.-(42) Geometric Arrangement.-(43) Arrangement of the Verb.—(44) Qualified Verbs.—(45) Relation of Verbs to Substantives.-(46) Conjunctions.-(47) Notation of Sentences.-(48) Example.-(49) Value of the Notation.(50) Resumé.-(51) Application. (34.) FROM the observations which I have already made, we are now in a condition to resolve a sentence, or so to set it out, that it may appear on paper as it would have acted on the brain, had it been a reality instead of a mere description; and this resolution would not be difficult were the idea confined to the same instant of time, but a variation of time involves a succession of ideas, which it is difficult to express. (35.) In the first place, we must arrange the substantives in their natural relations, and we must put those substantives which contain the smallest number of known combinations at the top, then we с may place successively lower all those which contain a less number of combinations. When, however, we have two substantives agreeing in all combinations but the terminal, these two should be placed on the same line. Upon this plan we should arrange the substantives, Animals, Brutes, Man, Reds, Whites, in the following manner: Animals A Brutes B Man C E Reds F Whites G In this case we have three degrees of perfection in the specification of these words. Animals may be said to consist of A, Man of A C, Whites of AC G. Now the word Brute in this arrangement, has the same amount of definition as that of Man, and may be expressed by A B; and Reds express the same definition as Whites, and may be represented by A C F. (36.) In this case I have only assumed one letter for the specific qualities of each noun; but if the signification of any word can possibly be disputed, then instead of one letter we must use a series of letters expressive of the qualities in such a way, that there can be no dispute upon the exact limit of the word, for until any two disputants agree precisely upon the signification of the word, any superstructure based upon it may be rendered of no effect. When the meaning of any word is under dispute, it must be unravelled by other words, till the disputants have the same ideas for the same words. (37.) Naturalists use, in some respects, a similar mode of describing different animals; as when they divide them into individuals, species, genera, orders, classes, etc.; and chemists more accurately note the composition of substances by symbols in an analogous manner. (38.) When arranging substantives into their relative position, we should bear in mind any word which is appended to them to limit their signification, such as the adjective; for instance, if I speak of "a man," "a white man,' a happy white man," I have three different degrees of limitation in the three different cases. 66 99 66 (39.) So also with regard to the adverb joined to the adjective, the meaning is more particularised, as a very happy white man" bears a different amount of limitation to that expressed by "a happy white man." (40.) As, moreover, prepositions have so far an effect upon the meaning of the noun, as to limit, or particularise its signification, we must also add their value to the noun in any formal resolution of a sentence, as different significations would be |