Page 44, before first line read, "Here are some examples of the Page 44, line 18, for "the possessive of which," read "a pos- sessive for of which." Page 54, line 2, for "after," read "before." Page 57, line 9, for "Books," read "Life." Page 63, line 12, for "as is connected," read "is connected." Page 115, line 21, for "latter," read "later." Page 138, line 28, for "parentheses," read "of parentheses." COMPOSITION. "Scribendi recte sapere est et principium et fons." HORACE. Quam parvâ sapientiâ regitur mundus!" B OXENSTIERN. COMPOSITION. THE most striking characteristic of English literature in the nineteenth century, is the loose and ungrammatical diction that disfigures every species of prose composition. Learning is now more widely diffused, and the number of writers is greater than at any former period, but not the number of correct writers. We have a hundred Alisons for one Macaulay. Nay, I believe it could be shown that, in proportion as the English language has been improved, the art of composition has been neglected. Let the reader take up any of the publications of the day. A mere glance will satisfy him, that, whatever credit may be due to the author for invention of subject or arrangement of materials, he is sadly deficient in the first requisite of authorship,-the art of communicating his ideas in correct and appropriate language. Everywhere diffuseness and want of method take the place of conciseness and perspicuity; purity of diction and elevation of thought are supplanted by solecisms and common-places; |