Ch. II.

AND SO much for CONJUNCTIONS, their Genus, and their Species.

CHAP.

the rest, should have their works filled with Particles of
all kinds, and with Conjunctions in particular; while
in the modern polite works, as well of ourselves as of
our neighbours, scarce such a word as a Particle, or
Conjunction is to be found. Is it, that where there is
Connection in the Meaning, there must be Words had to
connect; but that where the Connection is little or none,
such connectives are of little use? That Houses of Cards,
without cement,, may well answer their end, but not
those Houses, where one would chuse to dwell?
this the Cause? or have we attained an elegance, to the
Antients unknown?

Is

Venimus ad summam fortunæ, &c.

CHAP. III.

Concerning those Connectives, called
Prepositions.

PREPOSITION REPOSITIONS by their name express Ch. III. their Place, but not their Character.Their Definition will distinguish them from the former Connectives. A PREPOSITION is a Part of Speech, devoid itself of Signification, but so formed as to unite two Words that are significant, and that refuse to co-alesce or ́unite of themselves (a). This connective Power, (which $ 3 relates

(a) The Stoic Name for a Preposition was Пgodetixos Zivdeouos, Præpositiva Conjunctio, a Prepositive Conjunction. Ὡς μὲν ἦν καὶ κατὰ τὰς ἄλλας παραθέσεις αι προθέσεις συνδεσμικής συνάξεως γίνονται παρεμφατικάι, λέλεκται ἡμῖν· ἐξ ὧν καὶ ἀφορμὴ ἔυρηται παρὰ τοῖς Στωικοῖς τῆ καλεῖσθαι ἀλλὰς Προθετικὲς Συνδέσμες. Now in what manner even in other applications (besides the present) Prepositions give proof of their Conjunctive Syntax, we have mentioned already;

whence

7

Ch. III. relates to Words only, and not Sentences) will be better understood from the following Speculations.

SOME things co-alesce and unite of themselves; others refuse to do so without help, and as it were compulsion.Thus in Works of Art, the Mortar and the Stone co-alesce of themselves; but the Wainscot and the Wall not without Nails and Pins. In nature this is more conspicuous. For example; all Quantities, and Qualities co-alesce immediately with their Substances. Thus it is we say, a fierce Lion, a vast Mountain ; and from this Natural Concord of Subject and Accident, arises the Grammatical Concord of Substantive and Adjective. In

whence too the Stoics took occasion to call them PREPOSITIVE CONJUNCTIONS. Apollon. L. IV. c. 5. p. 313.Yet is this in fact rather a descriptive Sketch, than a complete Definition, since there are other Conjunctions, which are Prepositive as well as these. See Gaz. L. IV. de Præposit. Prisc. L. XIV. p. 983.

2

In like manner Actions co-alesce with Ch. III. their Agents, and Passions with their Patients. Thus it is we say, Alexander conquers; Darius is conquered. Nay, as every Energy is a kind of Medium between its Agent and Patient, the whole three, Agent, Energy, and Patient, coalesce with the same facility; as when we say, Alexander conquers Darius. And hence, that is from these Modes of natural Co-alescence, arises the Grammatical Regimen of the Verb by its Nominative, and of the Accusative by its Verb. Farther than this, Attributives themselves may be most of them characterized; as when we say of such Attributives as ran, beautiful, learned, he ran swiftly, she was very beautiful, he was moderately learned, &c. And hence the Co-alescence of the Adverb with Verbs, Participles, and Adjectives.

THE general Conclusion appears to be this. "THOSE PARTS OF SPEECH "UNITE OF THEMSELVES IN GRAM"MAR,

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Ch. III.

MAR, WHOSE ORIGINAL ARCHE "TYPES UNITE OF THEMSELVES IN

NATURE." To which we may add, as following from what has been said, that the great Objects of Natural Union are SUBSTANCE and ATTRIBUTE. Now tho' Substances naturally co-incide with their Attributes, yet they absolutely refuse doing so, one with another . And hence those known Maxims in Physics, that Body is impenetrable; that two Bodies cannot possess the same place; that the same Attribute cannot belong to different Substances, &c.

FROM these principles it follows, that when we form a Sentence, the Substantice without difficulty co-incides with the Verb, from the natural Co-incidence of Substance and Energy-THE SUN So likewise the Energy

WARMETH.

with

(b) Causa, propter quam duo Substantiva non ponuntur sine copulâ, e Philosophiâ petenda est: neque enim duo substantialiter unum esse potest, sicut Substantia et Accidens; itaque non dicas, Cæsar, CATO PUGNAT. Scal. de Caus. Ling. Lat. c. 1777