The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-03-25

Is absolutely necessary to the sense. But
take smother case:
(2.)"Wc had intended to 60 by the river
road, but having ascertained that that was
impossible, another road was TAKEN"
Here the nominative II easily supplied from
the beginning Of the seatence, and there IL
no necessity for expressing Il. IL Is law
fully suppressed. That Is, IL Is omitted
according to that general law OF grammar
which permits us 10 suppress a word in
writing or speaking whenever we can do
so without obscuring the sense. In this
case, however, we gain nothing by using
the nominative absolute. We may express
the same ideas, and more definitely, by
using the ordinary, direct form. II Is not
at all doubtful who took another road, but
we might as well say plainly that ,oe took IT..
3. But let US have another example I:
"Grcat and wise and full OF noble deeds,
IL was not strange that all men loved him."
Here the last word in the sentence imme-
diately suggests the omitted first word, and
we know at once that he who was loved Is
the same as he who was great and wise. 1t
would be the mercst grammatical prudery
TO insist on saying. :" He being great" &c.
But this Is not all. We cannot change this
sentence rs we did the one above. In this
case the nominatiye absolute enables us to
say something more than we could say in
the same space by using the regular nomi-
native. Let US change the sentence accord
ing to the rule which DR.. Ryland insists on
applying TO all such eases ''Great and
wise, &C., ne was loved by all men," The
original sentence means more than this,
and is different from this. As corrected,
t1oa M tnnRpr contains "a nnynina-
tive absolute; il no longer implies that
greatness and wisdom aud goodness ma
turally deserve and receive love. 1t is tame
and commonplace; like Bottom, it has been
"translated.o
4. Let me make one point more. The
nominatiye case absolute is very compact,
suggestive mode Of speech. II often ena-
bles us 70 insinrate what we should feel 1T
unlawful or indicate SO express openly.
Using Che n0minatiyc absolute, might say
with perfect delicacy aud politenesS: "The
editor OF the Richmond Dispatch is an al,-
iAority on questions OF grammar; but even
he may sometimes be at fault. Having re-
Gently interiered in certain 'amicable
controversy his usual critical sagacity was
wanting" Hero is case OF the norlina-
tive suppressed; but nevertheless the sem
tence is perfectly clear; Lord Dundreary
himself could not mistake its meaning. IL
would not be made better by saying she
having recently" DC. But suppose we
change the second member Of The sentence
to make the word "haying" agree with the
nominative OF the verb, and say, lie was
not entirely successful" This change
would make me assert categorically fact
which intend only timidly TO suggest-it
makes the editor prominent, when wish
ed TO emphasize the editors critical saga
city; il fails to account for his failure,
which did not arise from his lack of ability
or learning, nut only from a temporary sus-
pension OF his admirable critical faculty.
Any one at all sensitive to the subtle intlu-
ences OF style would here see how DR.. Ry-
lands arbitrary rule would mar what he
intended to mend. My noble and venera-
BILE friend by the Use of rule, good
enough in its way but wholly inapplicable
TO the nominatiye absolute, would put fet-
tiers on the free speech OF England and
America, and Danish from our language a
convenient, forcible mode OF expression
which Everett and Irving do not disdain
TO use.
But what shall say of the numerous ex-
amples which you Guoter There is no ne
cesslty for me to say anything. You have
been imposed upon by common, transpa-
rent iallacy. say that the suppression of
the nominatiye III the case absolute is
sometimes allowable, elegant, iorcble.
You say that it sometimes produces ridiru-
lous combiguity. What you say is true,
but il does not in the least affect my posi-
ton. What you were required to prove is
that it always produces ambiguity. Ii you
should assert that it does / should at once
reiute you by giving cases in which it pro-
duces no such effect.
Whether am "one OF ten" capable Of
the niceties of grammar you and
your readers must judge.
With great respect, j. G. LONG.
Grocer Theological Seminary, March 22d.
Having criticised last Sunday some of
Professor }. c. LoNG's utterances, he is
entitled to be heard in his own defence.
That sentence means OF course that DR..
LoNG criticised his own utterances; yet
rs he maintains that such sentences are
correct. we deem it peculiarly appropriate
thus to begin our review Of his ingenious
article.
We must think that DR.. L0NG wrote his
letter without due deliberation. In our
article the words nominative case abso-
lutte" do not appear at all. We made no
reference to it. The nominative case abso-
Lutte is in no way involved in this discus
sion. sMore: we do not concede that
there is any nominative case absolute
OF independent in which the nomi-
native is not expressed. Therefore, all
that Or. LoNG says in regard to that
case ought TO have been omitted. The
difference between the nominativc case
independent and the true opposition de-
manded by DR.. HODGsON is indicated at
once and always by the expression OF the
nominativc case. Therefore OF the SEN
fences quoted by DIR. LONG none Of those
beginning with a participle are introduced
by nominative case independent. Sem
tenceS beginning with participates and hav-
ing no proper subject are the ones to which
We object. BY supplying the nominative
and thus making nominatiyc case indie
pendent, Or. LONG would convert the SEN
fences to which DR.. RYLAYD took excep.
ton into allowable ones--not elegant. but
admissible. But as soon as the sentences
are thus changed they are taken out Of the
category OF those Of false opposition, and
no longer come under DR.. HoDGsoN's rule
OF condemnation.
We will number our paragraphs as Dr.
LONG does his, so that the text and the
comment may correspond:
|. The CUSTOM or as WEBSTER saws
"ha5itual practice" Of our best writers
and speakers is what the grammqrs profess
to appeal to; but this does not include the
mistakes of such writers. The authorities