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I had intended yesterday to have walked out, but I have been again disappointed.

The court of Spain, who gave the order, were not aware of the consequence.

If the acquisitions he has made, and qualified him to be a useful member of society, should have been misapplied, he will be highly culpable.

There was much spoke and wrote on each side of the question; but I have chose to suspend my decision.

Was there no bad men in the world, who vex and distress the good, they might appear in the light of harmless innocence; but could have no opportunity for displaying fidelity and magnanimity, patience and fortitude.

The most ignorant, and the most savage tribes of men, when they have looked round on the earth, and on the heavens, could not avoid ascribing their origin to some invisible, designing cause, and felt a propensity to adore their Creator.

Let us not forget, that something more than gentleness and modesty, something more than complacency of temper and affability of manners, are requisite to form a worthy man, or a true Christian.

One of the first and the most common extreme in moral conduct, is placing all virtue in justice, or in generosity.

It is an inflexible regard to principle, which has ever marked the characters of them who distinguished themselves eminently in public life; who patronised the cause of justice against powerful oppressors; in critical times, bave supported the falling rights and liberties of men; and reflected honour on their nation and country.

When it is with regard to trifles, that diversity or contrariety of opinions show themselves, it is childish in the last degree, if this becomes the ground of estranged affection. When, from such a cause, there arise any breach of friendship, human weakness is discovered then in a mortifying light. In matters of serious moment, the sentiments of the best and worthiest might vary from that of their friends, according as their lines of life diverge, or as their temper, and habits of thought, presents objects under different points of view. But with candid and liberal minds, unity of affection still will be preserved.

Desires and wishes are the first spring of action. When they become exorbitant, the whole of the character is like to be tainted. If we should suffer our fancies to create to themselves, worlds of ideal happiness; if we should feed our imagination with plans of opulence and of splendour; if we should fix to our wishes certain stages of a high advancement, or certain degrees of an uncommon reputation, as the sole sta

tion of our felicity; the assured consequence shall be, that we will become unhappy under our present state; that we shall be unfit for acting the part, and for discharging the duties that belong to it; and we shall discompose the peace and order of our minds, and shall foment many hurtful passions.

Maria always appears amiably. She never speaks severe or contemptuous.*

Young persons who study grammar, find it difficult to decide, in particular constructions, whether an adjective, or an adverb, ought to be used. A few observations on this point, may serve to inform their judgment, and direct their determination. They should carefully attend to the definitions of the adjective and the adverb; and consider whether, in the case in question, quality or manner, is indicated. In the former case, an adjective is proper; in the latter, an adverb. A number of examples will illustrate this di rection, and prove useful on other occasions.

She looks cold-She looks coldly on him.

He feels warm-He feels warmly the insult offered to him.

He became sincere and virtuous-He became sincerely virtuous.

She lives free from care-He lives freely at another's expence.

Harriet always appears neat-She dresses neatly.

Charles has grown great by his wisdom-He has grown greatly in reputation.
They now appear happy-They now appear happily in earnest.

The statement seems exact-The statement seems exactly in point.

The verb to be, in all its moods and tenses, generally requires the word immediately connected with it to be an adjective, not an adverb; and, consequently, when this verb can be substituted for any other, without varying the sense or the construction, that other verb must also be connected with an adjective. The following sentences elucidate these observations: "This is agreeable to our interest; That behaviour was not suitable to his station; Rules should be conformable to sense:" "The rose smells sweet; How sweet the hay smells! How delightful the country appears! How pleasant the fields look! The

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are

was

is

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are

clouds look dark; How black the sky looked! The apple tastes sour; How bitter the

were

is

plums tasted! He feels happy." In all these sentences, we can, with perfect propriety, substitute some tenses of the verb to be for the other verbs. But in the following sentences, we cannot do this: "The dog smells disagreeably; George feels exquisitely; How pleasantly she looks at us !"

The directions contained in this note are offered as useful, not as complete and unexceptionable. Anomalies in language every where encounter us: but we must not reject rules because they are attended with exceptions.

PART IV.

EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION.

CHAPTER I.

SENTENCES WHICH REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE COMMA, DISPOSED UNDER THE PARTICULAR RULES.

RULE I.

See Vol. 1. p. 268, and the Kry, Part 4. Chap. 1. Rule 1.

THE tear of repentance brings its own relief.

Manhood is disgraced by the consequences of neglected youth.

Idleness is the great fomenter of all corruptions in the human heart.

It is honourable to be a friend to the unfortunate.
All finery is a sign of littleness.

Slovenliness and indelicacy of character commonly go hand in hand.

The friend of order has made half his way to virtue.

Too many of the pretended friendships of youth are mere combinations in pleasure.

The indulgence of harsh dispositions is the introduction to future misery.

The intermixture of evil in human society serves to exeroise the suffering graces and virtues of the good.

RULE II.

See Vol. 1. p. 268, and the Key, Part 4. Chap. 1. Rule 2.

Gentleness is in truth the great avenue to mutual enjoy

ment.

Charity like the sun brightens all its objects.

The tutor by instruction and discipline lays the foundation of the pupil's future honour.

VOL. II.

N

Trials in this stage of being are the lot of man.

No assumed behaviour can always hide the real character. The best men often experience disappointments.

Advice should be seasonably administered.

RULE III.

See Vol. 1. p. 269, and the KEY, Part 4. Chap. 1. Rule 3.

Self-conceit presumption and obstinacy blast the prospect of many a youth.

In our health life possessions connexions pleasures there are causes of decay imperceptibly working.

Discomposed thoughts agitated passions and a ruffled temper poison every pleasure of life.

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Vicissitudes of good and evil of trials and consolations fill the life of man.

Health and peace a moderate fortune and a few friends sum up all the undoubted articles of temporal felicity.

We have no reason to complain of the lot of man or of the world's mutability.

RULE IV.

See Vol. 1. p. 269, and the KEY, Part 4. Chap. I. Rule 4.

An idle trifling society is near akin to such as is corrupting. Conscious guilt renders us mean-spirited timorous and

base.

An upright mind will never be at a loss to discern what is just and true lovely honest and of good report.

The vicious man is often looking round him with anxious and fearful circumspection.

True friendship will at all times avoid a careless or rough

behaviour.

Time brings a gentle and powerful opiate to all misfor

tunes.

RULE V.

See Vol. I. p. 270, and the KEY, Part 4. Chap. 1. Rule 5.

The man of virtue and honour will be trusted relied upon and esteemed.

Deliberate slowly execute promptly.

A true friend unbosoms freely advises justly assists readily adventures boldly takes all patiently defends resolutely and continues a friend unchangeably.

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