OBSERVATIONS ON RULE XI.

OBS. 1.—­The collective noun, or noun of multitude, being a name that signifies many, may in general be taken in either of two ways, according to the intention of the user:  that is, either with reference to the aggregate as one thing, in which sense it will accord with the neuter pronoun it or which; or with reference to the individuals, so as to accord with a plural pronoun they, their, them, or who, masculine, or feminine, as the individuals of the assemblage may happen to be.  The noun itself, being literally singular both in form and in fact, has not unfrequently some article or adjective before it that implies unity; so that the interpretation of it in a plural sense by the pronoun or verb, was perhaps not improperly regarded by the old grammarians as an example of the figure syllepsis:.as, “Liberty should reach every individual of a people, as they all share one common nature.”—­Spectator, No. 287.

   “Thus urg’d the chief; a generous troop appears,
    Who spread their bucklers and advance their spears.”
        —­Pope, Iliad, B. xi, l. 720.

OBS. 2.—­Many of our grammarians say, “When a noun of multitude is preceded by a definitive word, which clearly limits the sense to an aggregate with an idea of unity, it requires a verb and pronoun to agree with it in the singular number.”—­Murray’s Gram., p. 153; Ingersoll’s, 249; Fisk’s, 122; Fowler’s, 528.  But this principle, I apprehend, cannot be sustained by an appeal to general usage.  The instances in practice are not few, in which both these senses are clearly indicated with regard to the same noun; as, “Each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judgement require secrecy.”—­Constitution of the United States, Art. i, Sec. 5.  “I mean that part of mankind who are known by the name of women’s men, or beaux.”—­Addison, Spect., No. 536.  “A set of men who are common enough in the world.”—­Ibid. “It is vain for a people to expect to be free, unless they are first willing to be virtuous.”—­Wayland’s Moral Science, p. 397.  “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed.”—­Matt., xiii, 15. “This enemy had now enlarged their confederacy, and made themselves more formidable than before.”—­Life of Antoninus, p. 62.

   “Thus from the tents the fervent legion swarms;
    So loud their clamour, and so keen their arms.”
        —­Pope, Iliad, B. xvi, l. 320.