[69] “The definitions and the rules throughout the Grammar, are expressed with neatness and perspicuity.  They are as short and comprehensive as the nature of the subject would admit:  and they are well adapted both to the understanding and the memory of young persons.”—­Life of L. Murray, p. 245.  “It may truly be said that the language in every part of the work, is simple, correct, and perspicuous.”—­Ib., p. 246.

[70] For this definition, see Murray’s Gram., 8vo, p. 40; Duodecimo, 41; Smaller Gram., 18; Alger’s, 18; Bacon’s, 15; Frost’s, 8, Ingersoll’s, 17; A Teacher’s, 8; Maltby’s, 14; T.  H. Miller’s, 20; Pond’s, 18; S.  Putnam’s, 15; Russell’s, 11; Merchant’s Murray, 25; and Worcester’s Univ. and Crit.  Dictionary.  Many other grammarians have attempted to define number; with what success a few examples will show:  (1.) “Number is the distinction of one from many.”—­W.  Allen’s Gram., p. 40; Merchant’s School Gram., 28; Greenleaf’s, 22; Nutting’s, 17; Picket’s, 19; D.  Adams’s, 31. (2.) “Number is the distinction of one from more.”—­Fisher’s Gram., 51; Alden’s, 7. (3.) “Number is the distinction of one from several or many.”—­Coar’s Gram., p. 24. (4.) “Number is the distinction of one from more than one.”—­Sanborn’s Gram., p. 24; J.  Flint’s, 27; Wells’s, 52. (5.) “Number is the distinction of one from more than one, or many.”—­Grant’s Latin Gram., p. 7. (6.) “What is number?  Number is the Distinction of one, from two, or many.”—­British Gram., p. 89; Buchanan’s, 16. (7.) “You inquire, ‘What is number?’ Merely this:  the distinction of one from two, or many.  Greek substantives have three numbers.”—­Bucke’s Classical Gram., p. 38.  All these authors say, that, in English, “there are two numbers, the singular and the plural.”  According to their explanations, then, we have two “distinctions of one from two, several, more, or many;" and the Greeks, by adding a dual number, have three!  Which, then, of the two or three modifications or forms, do they mean, when they say, “Number is the distinction” &c.?  Or, if none of them, what else is meant?  All these definitions had their origin in an old Latin one, which, although it is somewhat better, makes doubtful logic in its application:  “NUMERUS est, unius et multorum distinctio.  Numeri igitur sunt duo; Singularis et Pluralis.”—­ Ruddiman’s Gram., p. 21.  This means:  (8.) “Number is a distinction of one and many.  The numbers therefore are two; the Singular and the Plural.”  But we have yet other examples:  as, (9.) “Number is the distinction of objects, as one or more.”—­Kirkham’s Gram., p. 39.  “The distinction of objects as one,” is very much