Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-10-08

TO singular nornnatye may constitute II plural, and
require plural verb ~ We hope not.
But Part III, comprising disquisition on dion and
an examination Of faulty difficult expressions may be
considered, think, the most valuable portion OF Mr.
Baeys work 1t opens most interesting department
of grammatical research and investigation and we only
wish that the able author could have found consistent
with the limits he has prescribed to himself the
volume to treat largely on the subject of o and
especially on English idoms. As il is have series
Of most valuable criticisms certain idomatc express
sions and cogent refuadon Of many innovations which
the usage of the great vulgar is attempting to fost
the language
I" In regard to any sentence propounded for analysis
we are to inquire" says Mr.. B.
81 Isit English in form 2. If SO, how is the sem
tence to be analysed? g. What the government agree
nsent, and relations Of its words?
"This solution is to be sought
IL BY tracing the etynology Of the words from other
languages 2. BY their import, according to
the philosophy Of language, and their present in sig
MITIGATION. 8. BY the analogy of the language NTH Itself
and with other languages. A. good English sentence
requires not only English words, but right coocation
Of them"
We believe these tests win be found adequate to fur
nh solution of nearly all the difficulties presented by
diomatic sentences, and, if rigidy applied, would
clude, it seems to u.s. the admissbity Of locu
tons which Mr. Bailey is disposed to adopt being de-
manded by usage and being founded such,
for instance, phrases similar to sthe house is being
built' in the of " the house is building We
cept both forms legitimate by virtue of usage but
logic clearly against the former and in point of usage
it has not the g immemoria antiquity" Of the latter.
The consideration Of faulty difficult expressions
naturally leads to notice some Of the sources of
ruption in language Following the authority Of Mr.
Harrison, may state these as follows: !. The intro
duction of foreign terms, phrases, and idoms. 2 The
ma of inAa tpd nhras e he III
unauthorized words. A. The effects of colonization.
As examples OF the frsnamed source Of corruption,
take the following medley Of foreign phrases:
81 was chez moi inhaling the odsM nsusqa6 Of my
scented 5oRao when the Prince de entered He found
in my aeaitoet, blazfe surtout, and pensyely
gagged in solitary conugaon of the verb sennayr; and
though he had been Of my ha5gfs or by any
means des norss," &c.
Or the following collection of foreign iiioms, being
English written Ia Francaise:
"DEAR MADAM no sooner found myself here than
visited my apartments, which are composed of FIVE
pieces. The small which gives upon the garden is
practised through the great and there is no other
issue As was exceeded with fatigue no made
my toilette than let myself fall upon bed Of repose,
| where sleep came to surprise me," &c.
AS proofs of the corrupons engendered by COLOMBIA
ton, Mr. Harrison (hmsef Engishman) adduces the
following slang terms Of american politics
:" What do we Fin England understand by Seekers,
Pukes& Wolverines, boosters, Corncracters Buckeyes and
Rmg-tdtlcd Roarers z"
What would Mr. H. think of the :" Cats" the "Wild-
cats" and the Ranrods," Of Maine Of the Barn
burners and sHunkerF," the softs and the Hards,
the " fairfield and the !" Unterrifed' Of New York
And in truth, is it TO be regretted in grammatical
point of view if other that in popular politics
now find, as good Arthur Golding said three hundred
years ago
! "0ur English tongue driven almost out Of mind,
Dismembered, hacked, MANNED rent and torne
Defac'd, patch'd, marr'd, and made skornet"
Butwe have time these of corrup-
ton in all their windngs through language, and dis
miss the subject in hand by expressing thanks to Mr.
Bailey that he has furnished good book in which
study the of the English language and by which
detect its corruptons The minor defects which
have ventured, in spirit Of friendly criticism TO sug
gest do not sensbly impair its value textbook
prevent it from being in judgment the best elemen-
tary work English grammar which has yet under
/ notice.
We beg respectfully to suggest Mr. Harrison that th