No person of common discernment can fail to observe the absolute falsehood of existing systems in respect to this mood.  It is used by our authors of grammar in the present and past tenses, but never in the future.  Let us give a moment to the consideration of this matter.  Take the following example.  He will prepare himself next week to go to Europe.  Let the school master parse will prepare.  It is a verb, indicative mood, first future tense. Next week is the point in futurity when the preparation will be made.  Now parse to go.  It is a verb, infinitive mood, present tense!  Then he is already on his way to Europe, when he is not to prepare himself till next week!  An army is collected to fight the enemy.  Is the fight already commenced? To fight is present tense, say the books.  We shall study grammar next year, to obtain a knowledge of the principles and use of language.  Is to obtain present tense?  If so there is little need of spending time and money to study for a knowledge we already possess.

    “Hope springs eternal in the human breast;
    Man never is, but always =to be= blest.”
                              Pope.

“Who was, and who is, and who is =to come=.”—­Bible. It is not that a man thinks himself already in possession of a sufficiency, but hopes =to be= qualified, etc.

I am to go in an hour.  He is to go to-morrow.  I am ready to hear you recite your lesson.  He has been waiting a long time to see if some new principles will not be introduced.  He is prepared to appear before you whenever you shall direct.  We are resolved to employ neuter verbs, potential and subjunctive moods, im-perfect, plu-perfect, and second future tenses, no longer.  False grammars are only fit-ted to be laid aside.  We are in duty bound to regard and adopt truth, and reject error; and we are determined to do it in grammar, and every thing else.

We are not surprised that people cannot comprehend grammar, as usually taught, for it is exceedingly difficult to make error appear like truth, or false teaching like sound sentiment.  But I will not stop to moralize.  The hints I have given must suffice.

Much more might be said upon the character and use of verbs; but as these lectures are not designed for a system of grammar to be taught, but to expose the errors of existing systems, and prepare the way for a more rational and consistent exposition of language, I shall leave this department of our subject, presuming you will be able to comprehend our views, and appreciate their importance.  We have been somewhat critical in a part of our remarks, and more brief than we should have been, had we not