(2.) “L has always a soft liquid sound; as in love, billow, quarrel.  It is sometimes mute:  as in half, talk, psalm.”—­Murray’s Gram., p. 14; Fisk’s, 40. (3.) “L has always a soft liquid sound; as in love, billow.  It is often silent; as in half, talk, almond.”—­Kirkham’s Gram., p. 22. (4.) “The words means and amends, though formerly used in the singular, as well as in the plural number, are now, by polite writers, restricted to the latter.  Our most distinguished modern authors say, ‘by this means,’ as well as, by these means.’”—­Wright’s Gram., p. 150. (5.) “’A friend exaggerates a man’s virtues:  an enemy inflames his crimes.’  Better thus:  ’A friend exaggerates a man’s virtues:  an enemy his crimes.’”—­Murray’s Gram., Vol. i, p. 325.  “A friend exaggerates a man’s virtues, an enemy inflames his crimes”—­Key, Vol. ii, p. 173. (6.) “The auxiliary have, in the perfect tense of the subjunctive mood, should be avoided.”—­Merchant’s Gram., p. 97.  “Subjunctive Mood, Perfect Tense.  If I have loved, If thou hast loved,” &c.—­p. 51. (7.) “There is also an impropriety in governing both the indicative and subjunctive moods, with the same conjunction; as, ’If a man have a hundred sheep, and if one of them be gone astray,’ &c.  It should be, and one of them is gone astray, &c.”—­Ib., p. 97. (8.) “The rising series of contrasts convey inexpressible dignity and energy to the conclusion.”—­Jamieson’s Rhet., p. 79. (9.) “A groan or a shriek is instantly understood, as a language extorted by distress, a language which no art can counterfeit, and which conveys a meaning that words are utterly inadequate to express.”—­Porter’s Analysis, p. 127.  “A groan or shriek speaks to the ear, as the language of distress, with far more thrilling effect than words.  Yet these may be counterfeited by art.”—­Ib., p. 147. (10.) “These words [book and pen] cannot be put together in such a way as will constitute plurality.”—­James Brown’s English Syntax, p. 125. (11.) “Nor can the real pen, and the real book be expressed in two words in such a manner as will constitute plurality in grammar.”—­Ibid. (12.) “Our is an adjective pronoun of the possessive kind.  Decline it.”—­Murray’s Gram., p. 227. (13.) “This and that, and likewise their Plurals, are always opposed to each other in a Sentence.”—­Buchanan’s Syntax, p. 103.  “When this or that is used alone, i.e. not opposed to each other, this is written or spoken of Persons or Things immediately present, and as it were before our Eyes, or nearest with relation to Place or Time. That is spoken or written of Persons or Things passed, absent and distant in relation to Time and Place.”—­Ibid. (14.) “Active and neuter verbs may be conjugated by adding their