oyez, hear, listen. Straight way—­by a straight way. While—­wheel; period in which some thing whiles or wheels itself round. Till—­to while. Per, Latin,—­the English by.  Perhaps—­per haps, per chance.  These examples of derivation are given with the view to invite the attention of the intelligent pupil to the “Diversions of Purley, by John Horne Tooke.”

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QUESTIONS ON THE PHILOSOPHICAL NOTES.

How does the use of adverbs contribute to the conciseness of language?—­Illustrate the fact.—­What is said of ly, like, and quick?—­How are the following words composed, always, alone, only, also?—­What is the meaning of ever, never, not, adrift, ago, asunder, aloft, astray, awry?—­Give the signification of needs, to-wit, ye, yes, o-yes, straightway, while, till, and per.

NOTE.  Learners need not answer the questions on the Philosophical Notes, in this or any other Lecture, unless the teacher deem it expedient.

EXERCISES IN FALSE SYNTAX.

NOTE 3, TO RULE 29, Adjectives are sometimes improperly applied as adverbs; as, indifferent honest; excellent well; miserable poor:—­She writes elegant; He is walking slow.

The adjectives indifferent, excellent, and miserable, are here improperly used, because adjectives do not express the degree of adjectives or adverbs, but such modifications are denoted by adverbs.  The phrases should, therefore, be, “indifferently honest, excellently well, miserably poor.” Elegant and slow are also inaccurate, for it is not the office of the adjective to express the manner, time, or place of the action of verbs and participles, but it is the office of the adverb.  The constructions should be, “She writes elegantly; He is walking slowly.”

You may correct the following examples several times over, and explain the principles that are violated.

FALSE SYNTAX.

He speaks fluent, and reasons coherent.

She reads proper, and writes very neat.

They once lived tolerable well, but now they are miserable poor.

The lowering clouds are moving slow.

He behaved himself submissive, and was exceeding careful not to give offence.

NOTE 4, TO RULE 29.  Adverbs are sometimes improperly used instead of adjectives; as, “The tutor addressed him in terms rather warm, but suitably to his offence.”

The adverb suitably is incorrect.  It does not express the manner of the action of the verb “addressed,” but it denotes the quality of the noun terms understood; for which reason it should be an adjective, suitable.

FALSE SYNTAX.

The man was slowly wandering about, solitarily and distressed.

He lived in a manner agreeably to his condition.