The Litchfield County post., 1827-04-19

| PIdCuCe Ot gIVing TWO ptuTdIS IS universal
 and its prOpriety was never doubted.
 As the correctness cf the disputed phra-
 ses depends upon a principle, common to all languages, it may be as we'll tried by
 examples from the Latin, as by those in
 English: and perhaps the absurdity of the
 error will be more apparent, from its being
 presented in new form. A school-boy
 who should write DOnsini Cato or Domi-
 1uS CGtOnes, would probably be fogged for blockhead.
 1t has been claimed by some, that the phrase :" The Miss Browns" is a compound noun and that there is no more propriety in saying " The Misses Browns" than in saying "the golds-watches," or "the el- bows-chairs," or !" the rails-fences" How this plan of melting down several young la-
 dies, by kind of pathological chemistry,
 into one noun-subStantive, would please the ladies themselves, shall not now inquire.
 But would appeal to the common sense of every reader of English, and beg him, in mere charity, to expound to me what pos sible analogy there is between the two ex- amples. In the legitimate compound noun, the first member of the word is mere adjective, qualifying or describing 1 the substantive which follows. Thus a 1 gold watch is watch of gold; an elbow chair, is chair with elbows; rail fence, is a fence of rails. Now what is Miss Brown? Is she Brown of Miss or can some other definition be given of her trust it needs no argument to show that the
 two cases are wholly dissimilar. Miss
 Brown may be assured that she is not
 compound noun and if she is not so, it ! IXUiI hO fn off fn Eo If hnr self and sisters jointly.
 1 But there is another class of critics, who reject this doctrine of the compound noun, as wholly absurd aud come round us by most ingenious theory, to demonstrate that the most natural perphrasis in the world will reconcile all the rules of syntax, & avoid the " double plural," (of which they have great horror,) in the peculiarly graceful phrase-"The Misses Brown!" Just "com-
 plete the square" as a mathematician might say,-and you hear The misses, each of
 whose names is Brown;" as correct, simple
 and beautiful form of address as one
 would wish to see. This theory is the
 more to be admired, as it will redeem, from
 the charge of illegitimacy, many an unlucky
 form of speech. whose paternity woRld otth-
 erwise be matter of great doubt. Take for
 example :" the two Brown" Now many
 rash critic might pronounce this an outra- geous violation of all rules, and all propriety of speech. But mark how all shadow of
 suspicion shall vanish before the illumina-
 ting influence of this admirable theory! |" The two, each of whose names is Brown" There you have it as plain as the nose on your face. Thus, you see, any enormity
 in the abuse of the Kings English may be
 explained, away, as easily as by the fo0r-
 ish of conjuror's wand.
 But, after all, as I am not ambitious of
 much literary display, shall content my
 self with paying my respects to !" The Mis-
 ses Browns" in plain, old fashioned ENGLISH. } Parties which huve c1isted, and chich do nOw e1ist in this C0untry.-Concluded, - Tho second candidate was spoken of by e those who knew him, as possessing good talents, gentlemanly manners, with an in- s dependent spirit. He was said to be firm ' and discriminating, and more than ordina- rily free from prejudices and partialities. He was known to the country from the : various stations which he had filled in pub- lie life-as member of Congress-of the <, diplomatic corps-and at the head of the 7 Treasury. He had secured the affections f of many, and had not excited the resent ments of any. If he had less positive : weight than some, he had fewer counter 7 balances than most men elevated to the s consideration of the nation for such an of r flee. Some who were strongly attached to other candidates were persuaded to
 think that his election would have a con- ciliatory effect throughout the country. s Disease at last put him out of the list of . candidates, or virtually so; for would it have ! been worse than idle to have placed him , in the chair of the Chief Magistrate when {, he was unequal to its arduous duties. Health f of body and mind are necessary and indis- pensable requisites for such an office.
 The third candidate was a man of high military reputation not that he was thor n ough-bred in the art of war, but he posses sed striking fitness as military man for g the occasions in which he was called to act.
 He had been engaged in Indian warfare. s and had driven the enemy before him with d a stout heart and high hand. He com- r manded at New rleanS in a perilous mo-