NOTE I.—­When the conjunction and between two nominatives appears to require a plural verb, but such form of the verb is not agreeable, it is better to reject or change the connective, that the verb may stand correctly in the singular number; as, “There is a peculiar force and beauty in this figure.”—­Kames, El. of Crit., ii, 224.  Better:  “There is a peculiar force, as well as a peculiar beauty, in this figure.”  “What means this restless stir and commotion of mind?”—­Murray’s Key, 8vo, p. 242.  Better:  “What means this restless stir, this commotion of mind?”

NOTE II.—­When two subjects or antecedents are connected, one of which is taken affirmatively, and the other negatively, they belong to different propositions; and the verb or pronoun must agree with the affirmative subject, and be understood to the other:  as “Diligent industry, and not mean savings, produces honourable competence.”—­“Not a loud voice but strong proofs bring conviction.”—­“My poverty, but not my will, consents.”—­Shakespeare.

NOTE III.—­When two subjects or antecedents are connected by as well as, but, or save, they belong to different propositions; and, (unless one of them is preceded by the adverb not,) the verb and pronoun must agree with the former and be understood to the latter:  as, “Veracity, as well as justice, is to be our rule of life.”—­Butler’s Analogy, p. 283.  “The lowest mechanic, as well as the richest citizen, may boast that thousands of his fellow-creatures are employed for him.”—­Percival’s Tales, ii, 177.  “These principles, as well as every just rule of criticism, are founded upon the sensitive part of our nature.”—­Kames, El. of Crit., Vol. i, p. xxvi. “Nothing but wailings was heard.”—­“None but thou can aid us.”—­“No mortal man, save he,” &c., “had e’er survived to say he saw.”—­Sir W. Scott.

NOTE IV.—­When two or more subjects or antecedents are preceded by the adjective each, every, or no, they are taken separately; and, (except no be followed by a plural noun,) they require the verb and pronoun to be in the singular number:  as, “No rank, no honour, no fortune, no condition in life, makes the guilty mind happy.”—­“Every phrase and every figure which he uses, tends to render the picture more lively and complete.”—­Blair’s Rhet., p. 179.

   “And every sense, and every heart, is joy.”—­Thomson.

    “Each beast, each insect, happy in its own.”—­Pope.

NOTE V.—­When any words or terms are to be taken conjointly as subjects or antecedents, the conjunction and, (in preference to with, or, nor, or any thing else,) must connect them.  The following sentence is therefore inaccurate; with should be and; or else were should be was:  “One of them, [the] wife of Thomas Cole, with her husband, were shot down, the others escaped.”—­Hutchinson’s Hist., Vol. ii, p. 86.  So, in the following couplet, or should be and, or else engines should be engine: