and contriving such helps, as, if they strengthen not its natural powers, may yet expose them to no unnecessary fatigue.  When ideas become very complex, and by the multiplicity of their parts grow too unwieldy to be dealt with in the lump, we must ease the view of the mind by taking them to pieces, and setting before it the several portions separately, one after an other.  By this leisurely survey we are enabled to take in the whole; and if we can draw it into such an orderly combination as will naturally lead the attention, step by step, in any succeeding consideration of the same idea, we shall have it ever at command, and with a single glance of thought be able to run over all its parts.”—­Duncan’s Logic, p. 37, Hence we may infer the great importance of method in grammar; the particulars of which, as Quintilian says, are infinite.[44]

21.  Words are in themselves but audible or visible signs, mere arbitrary symbols, used, according to common practice and consent, as significant of our ideas or thoughts.[45] But so well are they fitted to be made at will the medium of mental conference, that nothing else can be conceived to equal them for this purpose.  Yet it does not follow that they who have the greatest knowledge and command of words, have all they could desire in this respect.  For language is in its own nature but an imperfect instrument, and even when tuned with the greatest skill, will often be found inadequate to convey the impression with which the mind may labour.  Cicero, that great master of eloquence, frequently confessed, or declared, that words failed him.  This, however, may be thought to have been uttered as a mere figure of speech; and some may say, that the imperfection I speak of, is but an incident of the common weakness or ignorance of human nature; and that if a man always knew what to say to an other in order to persuade or confute, to encourage or terrify him, he would always succeed, and no insufficiency of this kind would ever be felt or imagined.  This also is plausible; but is the imperfection less, for being sometimes traceable to an ulterior source?  Or is it certain that human languages used by perfect wisdom, would all be perfectly competent to their common purpose?  And if some would be found less so than others, may there not be an insufficiency in the very nature of them all?

22.  If there is imperfection in any instrument, there is so much the more need of care and skill in the use of it.  Duncan, in concluding his chapter about words as signs of our ideas, says, “It is apparent, that we are sufficiently provided with the means’ of communicating our thoughts one to another; and that the mistakes so frequently complained of on this head, are wholly owing to ourselves, in not sufficiently defining the terms we use; or perhaps not connecting them with clear and determinate ideas.”—­Logic, p. 69.  On the other hand, we find that some of the best and wisest of men confess the inadequacy