“It is well ordered, that even the most innocent blunder is not committed with impunity; because, were errors licensed where they do no hurt, inattention would grow into habit, and be the occasion of much hurt.”—­Kames, El. of Crit., i, 285.

“The force of language consists in raising complete images; which have the effect to transport the reader, as by magic, into the very place of the important action, and to convert him as it were into a spectator, beholding every thing that passes.”—­Id., ib., ii, 241.

“An orator should not put forth all his strength at the beginning, but should rise and grow upon us, as his discourse advances.”—­Blair’s Rhet., p. 309.

“When a talent is given to any one, an account is open with the giver of it, who appoints a day in which he will arrive and ’redemand his own with usury.’”—­West’s Letters to a Young Lady, p. 74.

“Go, and reclaim the sinner, instruct the ignorant, soften the obdurate, and (as occasion shall demand) cheer, depress, repel, allure, disturb, assuage, console, or terrify.”—­Jerningham’s Essay on Eloquence, p. 97.

   “If all the year were playing holydays,
    To sport would be as tedious as to work: 
    But when they seldom come, they wish’d-for come,
    And nothing pleaseth but rare accidents.”
        —­Shak., Hen.  V.

   “The man that once did sell the lion’s skin
    While the beast liv’d, was kill’d with hunting him.”
        —­Id., Joh.  Dict., w.  Beast.

IMPROPRIETIES FOR CORRECTION.

ERRORS OF VERBS.

LESSON I.—­PRETERITS.

“In speaking on a matter which toucht their hearts.”—­Philological Museum, Vol. i, p. 441.

[FORMULE.—­Not proper, because the verb toucht is terminated in t.  But, according to Observation 2nd, on the irregular verbs, touch is regular.  Therefore, this t should be changed to ed; thus, “In speaking on a matter which touched their hearts.”]

“Though Horace publisht it some time after.”—­Ib., i, 444.  “The best subjects with which the Greek models furnisht him.”—­Ib., i, 444.  “Since he attacht no thought to it.”—­Ib., i, 645.  “By what slow steps the Greek alphabet reacht its perfection.”—­Ib., i, 651.  “Because Goethe wisht to erect an affectionate memorial.”—­Ib., i, 469.  “But the Saxon forms soon dropt away.”—­Ib., i, 668.  “It speaks of all the towns that perisht in the age of Philip.”—­Ib., i, 252.  “This enricht the written language with new words.”—­Ib., i, 668.  “He merely furnisht his friend with matter for laughter.”—­Ib., i, 479.  “A cloud arose and stopt the light.”—­Swift’s Poems, p. 313.  “She slipt zpadillo in her breast.”—­Ib., p. 371.  “I guest the hand.”—­Ib.,