which this principle of association actually produces.  As language is transmitted from generation to generation, many words become the representatives of ideas with which they were not originally associated; and thus they undergo a change, not only in the mode of their application, but also in their meaning.  Words being the signs of things, their meaning must necessarily change as much, at least, as things themselves change; but this variation in their import more frequently depends on accidental circumstances.  Among the ideas connected with a word that which was once of primary, becomes only of secondary importance; and sometimes, by degrees, it loses altogether its connexion with the word, giving place to others with which, from some accidental causes, it has been associated.

Two or three instances will illustrate the truth of these remarks.  In an ancient English version of the New Testament, we find the following language:  “I, Paul, a rascal of Jesus Christ, unto you Gentiles,” &c.  But who, in the present acceptation of the word, would dare to call “the great apostle of the Gentiles” a rascal?  Rascal formerly meant a servant: one devoted to the interest of another; but now it is nearly synonymous with villain.  Villain once had none of the odium which is now associated with the term; but it signified one who, under the feudal system, rented or held lands of another.  Thus, Henry the VIII. says to a vassal or tenant, “As you are an accomplished villain, I order that you receive L700 out of the public treasury.”  The word villain, then, has given up its original idea, and become the representative of a new one, the word tenant having supplanted it.  To prove that the meaning of words changes, a thousand examples could be adduced; but with the intelligent reader, proof is unnecessary.

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QUESTIONS ON THE PHILOSOPHICAL NOTES.

How are adnouns divided?—­What constitutes the true character of an adjective?—­What are the signification and denotement of the terminations, en, ed, and ig?—­What do left and own signify?—­Name the three ways in which restrictives are applied.—­How was numeration originally performed?—­What is said of twain, twenty, score, and the ordinal numbers?—­What is said of the changes produced in the meaning of words, by the principle of association?

EXERCISES IN FALSE SYNTAX.  NOTE 9, under RULE 18.  Double Comparatives and Superlatives should be avoided; such as, worser, lesser, more deeper, more wickeder, &c.:  chiefest, supremest, perfectest, rightest; or more perfect, most perfect, most supreme, &c.

    Virtue confers the most supreme dignity on man, and it should be his
    chiefest desire.

    He made the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to
    rule the night.