In this sentence there is a preposition understood after "them;" but it is not "to," as the writer intended. "To explain a figure of speech," and "to give it an explanation," are not the same thing. Murray should have said "and give some explanation of them."

"Of various natural and acquired excellence it is hard to say whether the British or French soldiers were the most admirable."-ALISON. History of Europe.

Here the word "of" is erroneously put instead of "for." It is probable that when the writer commenced the sentence, he intended to close it thus:

"Of various natural and acquired excellence it is hard to say whether the British or French soldiers afforded the most admirable example."

"Meanwhile the losses sustained by the partisan warfare in his rear, and the frightful progress of famine and disease, rendered it indispensable for the French army to move."—Ibid.

Here the "by" should be "from," or "in consequence of:" otherwise we should have to believe that the partisan warfare sustained the losses, instead of inflicting them.

Hereafter-Henceforth.

Can anything be more clear than the difference of meaning between these two words? And yet, how often do we see them misapplied. Here is an instance from Sir A. Alison :

"It was in this situation of affairs that Sir Arthur Wel

lesley-who shall hereafter be called Wellington-landed at Lisbon."—History of Europe.

"Hereafter" means

means "at some future period," and it is quite true that the title of " Wellington" was not conferred till a future period; but that is not what the historian intended to express. His meaning is that in future, when speaking of Sir A. Wellesley, he will describe him by the title of "Wellington." "Henceforth," therefore, is the word he should have employed.

Whither-Thither.

These words also are often confounded or misapplied. Examples :—

"Nor are the groans of the father altogether without relief; for they are gone whither they came."-WILSON. Recreations of C. North.

"Gone" requires "whither," but "came" requires "whence;" and as "whither" is inapplicable to two terms of such opposite tendency as "go" and "come," the writer should have said:

"They are gone to the place whence they

"From that place the Minden was sent to Gibraltar, and thither the whole fleet arrived on the 9th August."—ALISON. History of Europe.

"Ney marched direct for Lugo, and on the 29th met Marshal Soult at that place, whither he had arrived on his retreat from Portugal."-Ibid.

In these sentences we have "thither," "whither," improperly put for "there," "where." If the word "arrive" presupposes motion, it, at the same time, indicates that the motion is at an end. Hence we say "arrive at," not "arrive to." Now, the preposition contained in such words as "thither," "whither," is to, not at.

Equal as.

We sometimes meet with "equal as," instead of "equal to," the word "same being uppermost in the writer's mind. Here is an example :

"For the history of the Empire no works exist of equal ability or authority as those regarding the Revolution."— ALISON. History of Europe.

Same as-Same with.

These locutions, though of different import, are often confounded.

We say

"the same as,'

when we mean to express complete similarity, as "Nouns are the same as substantives." And we say "the same with," when we wish to express similarity in some particular point or circumstance, as :

"The verb to work' is perfectly regular, for it has ed added to it in order to form the past time. It is the same with the verb to walk,' and many others."-COBBETT. English Grammar.

The meaning of this is, not that the verbs "to work" and "to walk" are identical; but that

they are in the same predicament, having this quality in common, that they end in ed.

The confounding of these expressions has led certain writers to use "same with" where "same as" would have been more correct.

"Wisdom is not the same with understanding, talents, capacity, ability, sagacity, sense, or prudence-not the same with any of these."-TAYLOR. Notes from Books.

Skinner, it is well known, held the same political opinions with his illustrious friend."-MACAULAY. Essay on Milton.

"A rhymed essay, with most people, is the same thing with a rhapsody."-GILFILLAN. Literary Portraits.

"Satan, towering to the sky, was the same with Satan, lurking in the toad."-Ibid.

Adverbs in the wrong place.

"The sublime Longinus, in somewhat a later period, preserved the spirit of ancient Athens."-GIBBON. Decline and Fall.

"It is the repetition of the period in somewhat a different form."-BLAIR. Lectures.

"The French theatre has produced a species of comedy of still a graver turn.”—Ibid.

In these examples the adverbs "somewhat" and "still" should follow, instead of preceding, the article "a."

Double Superlatives.

There are certain adjectives which do not admit of degrees of comparison, such as entire, universal,

and a few others. The following sentences are examples of this inaccuracy:

Money, in a word, is the most universal incitement of human misery."-GIBBON. Decline and Fall.

"The most entirely in his confidence were not aware of what he intended."-ALISON. History of Europe from Fall of Napoleon.

True, we have in Holy Writ the expression "the most highest ;" and Shakspeare, in Julius Cæsar, speaks of "the most unkindest cut of all.” But, while the former expression is remarkable for its vigour, and the latter for its quaintness, there is no reason why we should concede to vulgar prose, without either quaintness or vigour to recommend it, that license which is the privilege of inspiration, whether in the prophet or the poet.

But.

A common error even in the most elegant writers, is the use of "but" instead of " that," in phrases where such verbs as "to question," "to doubt," are employed. Examples:

"I make no doubt but you are now safely lodged in your own habitation."-JOHNSON. Letter to Boswell, 27th May, 1775.

"I make no doubt but you, sir, can help him through his difficulties."-IDEM. Letter to Rev. Dr. Edwards, 2nd Nov.,

1778.

"I do not question but they have done what is usually called the king's business."-JUNIUS. Letters.