The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-01-26

a selfish end, or that he was taught frem
some old author. now, 4out of date, ard
having never seen any other, supposed
that every one else-used the same book.
Yet the aathor of that definition, if be is
not VIM. keayon i.is more logical than
Kenyon. On page 49 KeRyon says, ssThe
nominative case is the nenn or pronoun
that is the subject ola personal verb"
Before, he has told us that case is vari-
alton Of the noun; here, be tells us that
the variation is the noun itself This is
like defining sickness thus Sickness is
a man who is not able to work. O Ken
yon! thou art logical, especially, 1ohem
treating Of English grammar. Page 81.
4" The objective case, is substantive used
as the recipient of a transitive verb in the
active voice, or as the consequent term of
a relation expressed by a proposition" ;"
No remarks could render this more absurd
than it is, 1t would be difficult to find
in any book definition more laJored,
false, Uerbose and obscure than this.
Kenyon's greatest defect is, omitting
principles and telling only facts He rare
| ly gives the reason for classification, or
Modification, as he terms it; but says
"there are SO many kinds" He rarely
defines, and still more rarely defines cor
rectly, In speaking of voice he gives no
definition for it; afterwards he says, she
has defined the passive voice to be verb
&c..-thus coufounding voice with verb
In his definitions of modes he has given
different form for each mode. The
indicative mode declares, the potential
expresses, the imperative indicates the
Isubjunetiye is a particular form, &C."
One of the first requisites of definitions
in scientific work is symmetry of form !;
another, that it should embody some es-
sential and distinguishing property. "The
infnitive mode is form usually preceded
by to-" Is there ANYTHING like the sec
ond requisite here? There is no princi-
pie here. Th4 participle is a form not
necessarily preceded By to. How does
this differ from the infnitive? 1t could
be applied to it just as well One could
speak of the logic of such definitions, with
far more propriety than Kenyon spoke of
the term relative pronoun." He only
objected to the term | object to his
definition, thing of greater consequence,
Kenyon is not consistent. He objects to
+" negative definitions" while he himself
gives them. He objects to the term ''in-
dicative mode, but retains it out of respect
to immemorable, though unphalosophical,
usage" Herejects the term relative pro-
noun, where there is as much call for re-
spect. What does such an author know
about philosoPhy2
The remainder of the book is similar.
| have already quoted more than enough
to show that it is unfit to be used Fur
ther examination is therefore needless.
The whole book is compound of conceit
and ignorance, of gloridcation Of self, and
vlllifcatlon of others | have thus ex-
amined the book, not to revile it, but to
show its true character, and at the same
time | have tried to show what a worthy
book ought to be.
/ would gladly examine Covell's in the
same manner but fear | should trespass
on your patience and courtesy. | will
only say, that finding must use book
not in use here, determined 1t should
be the best [ could obtain. | examined
with care and candor many works, aud
thought Covell's the best of all. Since
then, have seen Yields, Recommended
by the Associations committee) but
have found no reason to reverse my dec;s-
ion With your permission will briefly
state the merits of Covelps 1t covers
the whole ground, 1t gives the deriya-
ton and definition of all its terms. 1t is
methodical, systematic, accurate and log
ical. | do not say it is perfect. On some
points | differ with Covell On some
points | think he should be fuller. But
he has more excelencies aud fewer de-
fects than any author | am acquainted
with. This is sufficient to convince me
that it is the book to be used. CovelI
gives principles, not mere facts. He pre-
sents III an attractive and simple manner
a subject often thought dull and difficult.
[ have been told that it is already used
in several of the schools about here. Il
am sure its general introduction in the
county would be of great aid to the cause
of education. Ishould be unjust to such
teachers and directors as wish to see the
work, if | did not tell how they could OBJ
tain it. twenty-five cents sent to the
publishers, D. Appleton & Co., 346
Broadway, N. Y, will bring it by mail
The money could not be better spent even
if one did not decide to use the book.
By publishing the above you win greatly
oblige me, and, | think, aid the cause Of
popular education, Yours Truly, I
j. A. COOPER.
Ulysses Academy, Ian, G, 1860.
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