tural and grammatical order of sentences, not only conduce to the variety and harmony of composition, but also to its energy and elevation. Instead of the simple and natural arrangement, great elegance and force are imparted to an expression by inversion or a departure from the natural disposition of words. This method of composition also has the advantage of producing sound and effect in the structure of language, and moreover obviates the necessity of resorting to the clumsy practice of expressing the emphatic words by underscoring and italics.

See page 49.

(k). In the improper use of particles, unskilful writers and speakers offend the most frequently, in the profuse employment of the pronouns it or its, when, whom, which, that, &c., so that it is almost impossible to discover to which of the its, whichs, whoms, and thats reference is intended to be made in the sentence.

The two following droll specimens of the employment of the thats and the says and saids of careless writers and speakers, afford no bad illustrations of the observation propounded.

"He said that that, that that man said, was not that that "that man should say; but that that, that that man said, was "that, that that man should not say.'

"Mr. B. did you say, or did you not say, what I said you "said; because C. said you said, you never did say what I "said you said. Now if you did say, that you did not say, "what I said you said, then what did you say?"

Few authors of note are more remarkable for the indiscriminate use of the pronouns than Spencer: as has been observed, he has made his he's and she's and its in every stanza perform all sorts of services, referring to almost any preceding substantive he pleased; the contrivance, however, must be admitted to have enabled him to impart ease, variety, and spirit to his style.

See page 68.

(1). "THE COMMENTARIES are," to adopt the expression of Sir William Jones, "not only one of the most correct and "beautiful outlines ever exhibited of any human science," but also "present the student with an excellent model for forming a pure and an appropriate style. The late Mr. Fox (see Lord "Holland's Introductory Chapter to the History of the Early

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"Part of the Reign of James the Second) has pronounced "the Commentaries to be one of the most perfect models of a "neat and plain style extant in the English language. The "Commentaries on the Laws of England, says Dr. Bever /History of the Legal Polity of the Roman State), will ever be an insuperable barrier against the daily inroads of pedantry and affectation with which tasteless and injudicious "writers are constantly assailing our language.' These dicta are deserving of recollection, considering the attempts of a "clique of senseless and interested persons to depreciate the reputation of Blackstone, and swamp his name and work in "oblivion in their silly and superstitious worship of their golden calf. But it is hoped that every lover of his country that every man who feels a just and becoming "pride in being the compatriot of the illustrious men who "have contributed to its literary, scientific, and military fame "and honour, will not forget their obligations to our Miltons, our Shakspeares, our Blackstones, our Newtons, our Wel"lingtons, and our Marlboroughs, notwithstanding all the petty and paltry efforts, all the puny and puling abuse of 66 newspaper and magazine scribblers, to depreciate and humble "those illustrious and ever-to-be-honoured names."-THE BAR INSTITUTE; or, Guide to the Study and Practice of the Law.

66

66

66

See page 138.

(m). The most notorious alliteratists on record are Petrus Placentus, who published a Latin poem consisting nearly of three hundred and fifty lines, every word of which began with P; a letter which Anthelm (one of the three great luminaries of the Anglo-Saxons), in his Latin letter to Eahfoed, was very ambitious to shine in. Theobaldus, a monk of the order of St. Benedict, is said to have composed a panegyric on baldness, every word of which began with C.

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