OBS. 20.—­This author, proceeding with his remarks, suggests forms of correction for several other common modes of expression, which he conceives to be erroneous.  For the information of the student, I shall briefly notice a little further the chief points of his criticism, though he teaches some principles which I have not thought it necessary always to observe in writing. “‘And seemed not to understand ceremony, or to despise it.’ Goldsmith.  Here either ought to be inserted before not.  ’It is not the business of virtue, to extirpate the affections of the mind, but to regulate them.’ Addison.  The sentence ought to have been:  ’It is the business of virtue, not to extirpate the affections of the mind, but to regulate them.’  ’I do not think, that he was averse to the office; nor do I believe, that it was unsuited to him.’  How much better to say:  ’I do not think, that he was averse to the office, or that it was unsuited to him!’ For the same reason nor cannot follow never, the negative in the first clause affecting all the rest.”—­Ib. p. 332. “Nor is sometimes used improperly after no:  [as,] ’I humbly however trust in God, that I have hazarded no conjecture, nor have given any explanation of obscure points, inconsistent with the general sense of Scripture, which must be our guide in all dubious passages.’ Gilpin.  It ought to be:  ’and have given no explanation;’ or, ’I have neither hazarded any conjecture, nor given any explanation.’  The use of or after neither is as common, as that of nor after no or not.[429] ’Neither the pencil or poetry are adequate.’ Coxe.  Properly, ’Neither the pencil nor poetry is adequate.’  ’The vow of poverty allowed the Jesuits individually, to have no idea of wealth.’ Dornford.  We cannot allow a nonentity.  It should be:  ‘did not allow, to have any idea.’”—­Ib., p. 333.

OBS. 21.—­Thus we see that Churchill wholly and positively condemns nor after not, no, or never; while Burn totally disapproves of or, under the same circumstances.  Both of these critics are wrong, because each carries his point too far; and yet it may not be right, to suppose both particles to be often equally good.  Undoubtedly, a negation may be repeated in English without impropriety, and that in several different ways:  as, “There is no living, none, if Bertram be away.”—­Beauties of Shak., p. 3.  “Great men are not always wise, neither do the aged [always] understand judgement.”—­Job, xxxii, 9.  “Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.”—­Job, xxxiv. 19.  Some sentences, too, require or, and others nor, even when a negative occurs