[427] “Dr. Webster considers the use of then and above as ADNOUNS, [i. e., adjectives,] to be ‘well authorized and very convenient;’ as, the then ministry; the above remarks.”—­Felch’s Comp.  Gram., p. 108.  Dr. Webster’s remark is in the following words:  “Then and above are often used as ATTRIBUTES:  [i. e., adjectives; as,] the then ministry; the above remarks; nor would I prescribe this use.  It is well authorized and very convenient.”—­Philos.  Gram., p. 245; Improved Gram., p. 176.  Of this use of then, Dr. Crombie has expressed a very different opinion:  “Here then,” says he, “the adverb equivalent to at that time, is solecistically employed as an adjective, agreeing with ministry.  This error seems to gain ground; it should therefore be vigilantly opposed, and carefully avoided.”—­On Etym. and Synt., p. 405.

[428] W. Allen supposes, “An adverb sometimes qualifies a whole sentence:  as, Unfortunately for the lovers of antiquity, no remains of Grecian paintings have been preserved.”—­Elements of Eng.  Gram., p. 173.  But this example may be resolved thus:  “It happens unfortunately for the lovers of antiquity, that no remains of Grecian paintings have been preserved.”

[429] This assertion of Churchill’s is very far from the truth.  I am confident that the latter construction occurs, even among reputable authors, ten times as often as the former can be found in any English books.—­G.  BROWN.

[430] Should not the Doctor have said, “are there more,” since “more than one” must needs be plural?  See Obs. 10th on Rule 17th.

[431] This degree of truth is impossible, and therefore not justly supposable.  We have also a late American grammarian who gives a similar interpretation:  “‘Though never so justly deserving of it.’  Comber. Never is here an emphatic adverb; as if it were said, so justly as was never.  Though well authorized, it is disapproved by most grammarians of the present day; and the word ever is used instead of never.”—­Felch’s Comp.  Gram., p. 107.  The text here cited is not necessarily bad English as it stands; but, if the commenter has not mistaken its meaning, as well as its construction, it ought certainly to be, “Though everso justly deserving of it.”—­“So justly as was never,” is a positive degree that is not imaginable; and what is this but an absurdity?

[432] Since this remark was written, I have read an other grammar, (that of the “Rev. Charles Adams,”) in which the author sets down among “the more frequent improprieties committed, in conversation, ‘Ary one’ for either, and ‘nary one’ for neither.”—­Adams’s System of Gram., p. 116.  Eli Gilbert too betrays the same ignorance.  Among his “Improper Pronunciations” he puts down “Nary” and “Ary” and for “Corrections” of them, gives “neither” and “either.”—­Gilbert’s Catechetical Gram., p. 128.  But these latter terms, either and neither, are applicable only to one of two things, and cannot be used where many are spoken of; as,