"The immense superficies of the public operates two ways in deteriorating from the profundity of writers."-England and the English.

And Parry Gwynne, in the very first sentence of his "Word to the Wise," has a third instance :

"Ay, and where much has been achieved, too, and intellectual laurels have been gathered, is it not a reproach that a slatternly mode of expression should sometimes deteriorate from the eloquence of the scholar ? "

Ay, say we, and where one writer is inveighing against slip-slop, and another against slatternly expressions, is it not amusing to find them making use of language which savours of both?

A correct instance of the use of deteriorate is the following from Chenevix :

"There is not one of them, the loss of which would not now essentially deteriorate the general condition of mankind."Essay on National Character.

Mechanism-Machinery.

"It is not so unwieldy as to make it necessary to have recourse to the complex mechanism of double elections."SYDNEY SMITH. Essays.

In this sentence "mechanism" is misemployed for "machinery."

Application-Applicability.

"For my own part, I doubt the application of the Danish rule to the English language."-LATHAM. English Language.

Here we have "application" incorrectly put for "applicability." What Dr. Latham doubts is that the Danish rule is "applicable," not that it has been actually applied, as his words would leave us to suppose.

Participate-Concur.

"We cannot read a page of Virgil without perceiving what has fascinated the world, without concurring in the fascination."-ALISON. History of Europe.

To concur in the fascination would be to cooperate with Virgil in producing it. It is not to be supposed, however, that the writer would carry his pretensions beyond a simple participation in the thing produced. In this instance, Sir Archibald employs "concur" instead of "participate :" in the following he puts "participate" instead of "concur.'

"The act of accusation abounded in the most severe and cutting invectives against the imperial government, in the justice of which posterity, from the evidence of facts, must almost entirely participate."-Ibid.

Overspread-Pervade.

"The warlike establishments which pervaded the country were admirably calculated to foster the growing enthusiasm." ALISON. Ibid.

"This arises from the number of nomad tribes, who, in almost all Asiatic states, pervade every part of its territory."Ibid.

Who ever heard of "establishments "

or

"tribes" pervading a country? Does the writer mean to say that the establishments and the tribes were underground?

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Curiously enough, the writer who thus employs pervade" instead of "overspread," has, in another place, "overspread " instead of

"pervade:"

"It is hardly credible to what an extent this passion for everything English overspread all classes in the nation."Ibid.

Bind up-Wind up.

"Frederick William was well aware that his political existence was thenceforth wound up with the success of Russia in the German war."-ALISON. Ibid.

a thing is

put for "bound up." To "wind up

to bring it to a close or termination, as when we wind up the affairs of a partnership, or an estate. To "bind up means to unite, to blend. In the phrase above quoted, the writer wished to say that Frederick William's political existence was "inseparably blended "_" interwoven," with the success of Russia; and he should therefore have said "bound up." By using the expression "wound up," he tells us that Frederick William's political existence was put an end to by the success of Russia; which is the contrary of what he intended.

That this is no accidental error in Alison, but

a confirmed blunder, the following further instances will show :

"It is evident, on a dispassionate review of the great debate, and the mighty interests which were wound up with it, that the repeal of the Orders in Council was a necessary measure.” -Ibid.

"Their interests were wound up with the maintenance of pacific relations with this country.”—Ibid.

"When the important questions, now wound up with the policy of the East, are considered."-Ibid.

"Mahmoud, the last of the race of Othman, with which the existence of the empire was thought to be wound up, became the subject of veneration."-Ibid.

"General causes are there too much wound up with personal agency."—Ibid.

"Wound up in his own elevation, yet ever identifying it with the glory of France."-Ibid.

"When great interests are wound up with the maintenance of a particular position, it must be maintained at all hazards.” -Ibid.

“Bernadotte's interests were evidently wound up with the maintenance of the Russian power in the north of Europe." -Ibid.

"A true German in his heart, his whole soul was wound up in the welfare of the Fatherland."-Ibid.

"Though the passions of the people were in favour of France, their interests were indissolubly wound up with those of England."-Ibid.

Numerous instances of this absurdity will also be found in Alison's "Essays," and in his "History of Europe from the Fall of Napoleon."

Observation-Observance.

"There were but two lines to be taken, either to relax and

modify the regulations which gave offence, or to enforce a more punctual observation of them."-HALLAM. Constitutional History of England.

Esteem-Deem.

Of the erroneous employment of "esteem" instead of "deem,"-" consider,"-" regard,"numerous instances are to be found in some of our ablest writers. Examples:

"The latter pronunciation, though a gross deviation from orthography, will still be esteemed the more elegant."WALKER. Preface to Dictionary.

"The question would hardly have been esteemed dubious, if the bishops had been at all times sufficiently studious to maintain a character of political independence."-HALLAM. Constitutional History of England.

The following are from Sir Walter Scott, in whose writings this inaccuracy is of frequent

Occurrence :

"The nobles and clergy might esteem themselves fortunate, if they could maintain an effectual defence."-Life of Napoleon.

"The apprehension neither altered his firmness upon points to which he esteemed his conscience was party, nor changed the general quiet placidity of his temper."—Ibid.

"Through most parts of France the king was esteemed the enemy whom the people had most to dread.”—Ibid.

"Such being the case, he would esteem himself but little indebted to any one who should blot the harbour of refuge out of the chart."—Ibid.

"The true Sans-Culottes were disposed to esteem a taste, which could not generally exist without a previous superior education, as something aristocratic."--Ibid.