or pronoun in relation to time,”—­Course of Reading, p. 24.  Now it is plain, that under this definition too, Cutler’s infinitives, “to he and she” cannot be verbs; and, in my opinion, very small is the number of words that can be.  No verb “describes the state or condition of a noun or pronoun,” except in some form of parsing; nor, even in this sort of exercise, do I find any verb “which describes the state or condition” of such a word “in relation to time.”  Hence, I can make of this definition nothing but nonsense.  Against my definition of a verb, this author urges, that it “excludes neuter verbs, expresses no relation to subject or time, and uses terms in a vague or contradictory sense.”—­Ib., p. 25.  The first and the last of these three allegations do not appear to be well founded; and the second, if infinitives are verbs, indicates an excellence rather than a fault.  The definition assumes that the mind as well as the body may “act” or “be acted upon.”  For this cause, Dr. Mandeville, who cannot conceive that “to be loved” is in any wise “to be acted upon,” pronounces it “fatally defective!” His argument is a little web of sophistry, not worth unweaving here.  One of the best scholars cited in the reverend Doctor’s book says, “Of mental powers we have no conception, but as certain capacities of intellectual action.”  And again, he asks, “Who can be conscious of judgment, memory, and reflection, and doubt that man was made to act!”—­EVERETT:  Course of Reading, p. 320.

[223] Dr. Johnson says, “English verbs are active, as I love; or neuter, as I languish.  The neuters are formed like the actives.  The passive voice is formed by joining the participle preterit to the substantive verb, as I am loved.”  He also observes, “Most verbs signifying action may likewise signify condition or habit, and become neuters; as, I love, I am in love; I strike, I am now striking.”—­Gram. with his Quarto Dict., p. 7.

[224] The doctrine here referred to, appears in both works in the very same words:  to wit, “English Verbs are either Active, Passive, or Neuter.  There are two sorts of Active Verbs, viz. active-transitive and active-intransitive Verbs.”—­British Gram., p. 153; Buchanan’s, 56.  Buchanan was in this case the copyist.

[225] “The distinction between verbs absolutely neuter, as to sleep, and verbs active intransitive, as to walk, though founded in NATURE and TRUTH, is of little use in grammar.  Indeed it would rather perplex than assist the learner; for the difference between verbs active and [verbs] neuter, as transitive and intransitive, is easy and obvious; but the difference between verbs absolutely neuter and [those which are] intransitively active