acceptation it hath long fince been difufed, having been fupplanted by beheld. But the formation of the word is fo analogical, as to make it have at leaft the appearance of inpropriety, when ufed in a fenfe that feems naturally fo foreign to it. The word beholding, to exprefs the fame thing, is ftill more exceptionable than the other, and includes a real impropriety, being an active form with a paffive fignification. To vouchsafe, as denoting to condefcend, is liable to a fimilar exception, and for that reafon, more than for its harihnefs, may be difpenfed with. The verb to unloofe, fhould analogically fignify to tie, in like manner as to untie fignifies to loofe. To what purpose is it then, to retain a term, without any neceffity, in a fignification the reverfe of that which its etymology manifeftly fuggefts? The verb to unravel, commonly indeed, as well as analogically, fignifies to difentangle, to extricate; fometimes, however, it is abfurdly employed to denote the contrary, to diforder, to entangle, as in thefe lines in the addrefs to the goddefs of Dulness, Or quite unravel all the reafoning thread, Dunciad, B. i. All All confiderations of analogy, propriety, perfpicuity, unite in perfuading us to repudiate this prepofterous application altogether. Canon the eighth. THE third canon is, When any words become obfolete, or at leaft are never ufed, except as conftituting part of particular phrases, it is better to difpenfe with their fervice entirely, and give up the phrases. THE reafons are; firft, because the difufe in ordinary cafes renders the term fomewhat indefinite; and occafions a degree of obfcurity: fecondly, because the introduction of words which never appear but with the fame attendants, gives the ftyle an air of vulgarity and cant. Examples of this we have in the words lief, dint, whit, moot, pro, and con, as I had as lief go myself,' for ' I fhould like as well to go myself.' He con vinced his antagonist by dint of argument,' that is, by ftrength of argument.' He made them yield by dint of arms,'' by force of arms.' "He is not a whit better,'-' no better.' The • cafe you mention is a moot point, a difput• able point.' The queftion was ftrenuously debated pro and con,' on both fides.' THE Canon the ninth. THE fourth and laft canon I propofe, is, All thofe phrafes, which, when analy fed grammatically, include a folecifm, and all thofe to which use hath affixed a particular sense, but which, when explained by the general and established rules of the language, are fufceptible either of a different sense or of no sense, ought to be difcarded altogether. It is this kind of phraseology which is diftinguished by the epithet idiomatical, and hath been. originally the spawn, partly of ignorance, and partly of affectation. Of the first fort, which includes a folecifm, is the phrafe, I had rather do fuch a thing,' for I would rather do it.' The auxiliary had, joined to the infinitive active do, is a grofs violation of the rules of conjugation in our language, and though good ufe may be confidered as protecting this expreffion from being branded with the name of a blunder, yet as it is both irregular and unneceffary, I can forefee no inconvenience that will arife from dropping it altogether. I have feen this idiom criticifed in fome effay, whofe name I cannot now remember, and its origin very naturally accounted 6 counted for, by fuppofing it to have sprung from the contraction I'd, which fupplies the place both of I had, and of I would, and which hath been at first ignorantly refolved into I had, when it ought to have been I would. The phrafe thus frequently mistaken, hath come at length to eftablish itself, and to ftand on its own foot*. 6 Of the fecond fort, which, when explained grammatically, leads to a different fenfe from what the words in conjunction commonly bear, is, He fings a good fong,' for he fings well.' The plain meaning of the words as they stand connected is very different, for who sees not that a good fong may be ill fung? Of the fame ftamp is, He plays a good fiddle,' for he plays well on the fiddle.' This feems alfo to *Whether with Johnson and Lowth we should confider the phrafes by this means, by that means, it is a means, as liable to the fame exception, is perhaps more doubtful. Prieftley confiders the word means as of both numbers, and of fuch nouns we have feveral examples in the language. But it may be objected, that as the fingular form mean is fill frequently to be met with, this must inevitably give to the above phrafes an appearance of folecifm, in the judgment of those who are accustomed to attend to the rules of fyntax. But however this may induce fuch critics to avoid the expreffions in question, no person of taste, I prefume, will venture fo far to violate the prefent ufage, and confequently to shock the ears of the generality of readers, as to fay, By this mean,' or By that mean.' · involve involve a folecism. We fpeak indeed of playing a tune, but it is always on the inftrument, UNDER the third fort, which can fcarcely be confidered as literally conveying any fense, may be ranked a number of vile, but common phrases, fometimes to be found in good authors, like ·Shooting at rovers, having a month's mind, currying favour, dancing attendance, and many others. Of the fame kind alfo, though not reprehenfible in the fame degree, is the idiomatical ufe that is fometimes made of certain verbs, as ftand for infift, he ftands upon fecurity; take for underftand, in fuch phrases as thefe, You take me," and as I take it; hold for continue, as he does not hold long in one mind.' But of all · kinds, the worft is that wherein the words, when conftrued, are fufceptible of no meaning at all. Such an expreffion is the following, There were feven ladies in the company, every one • prettier than another,' by which it is intended, I fuppofe, to denote that they were all very pretty.. One prettier, implies that there is another lefs pretty, but where every one is prettier, there can be none lefs, and, confequently none more pretty. Such trath is the difgrace of any tongue. Ambitiously to difplay nonfenfical phrases |