import of assertions expressed in our own language, or to prepare him adequately for entering intelligently upon the study of any foreign tongue. It has been the aim of the writer to accomplish both these important objects: how far he has succeeded, must be left for those who may adopt the work to determine. And For convenience, the matters treated in the volume have been distributed under four general divisions. The first part is designed to enable the pupil to select instances, and to invent examples, illustrating the Nature and Use of Words and Propositions. The second part consists of the Nature and Use of Phrases and Sentences. The third embraces the Nature and Use of Arguments, and of Conviction and Persuasion. the last treats of the Nature and Use of Perspicuity, Energy, and Elegance, with the different kinds of Composition required in the daily intercourse and business of life. It will be a subject of sincere gratulation to the author to know that the publication has, in any humble degree, accomplished the end proposed-the promotion of one important branch of education. AYR ACADEMY, Dec. 1857. THE I. Proposition. Terms or Names. II. Distinction of Names according to signification. Sin- gular-general-a class—a collective-a concrete-an abstract -a positive-a negative-a privative. III. Denotation-Connotation, or Import. IV. A Relative Name-a Correlative. V. Univocal-Equivocal-Analogical. VI. General Names, showing Attributes denoted. Genus- VII. History of Words. Casual Connotation-Loss by VIII. Observation - Experiment · Abstraction - Termi- nology-Nomenclature-Classification. B XI. Distinction of Names, according to the words composing them. XII. Import of Propositions. XIII. Division of Propositions. XIV. A Plurality of Propositions. Connective-Disjunctive-Conditional-Modal-Analysis. LOGICAL ANALYSIS. I. PROPOSITION. Proposition-a sentence which affirms or denies. Example: The diamond is transparent. The attribute affirmed is called the predicate; that of which it is affirmed is called the subject; is denotes that there is affirmation. Thus: Lead is not transparent; it is opaque. The negative not denotes that there is denial. ANALYSIS. Analysis is the separation of the words of the proposition. Analyze. The crow is a percher. The lark is not a percher. Knowledge is power. A lobster is not a fish. Bats are not birds. THE TERMS OF A PROPOSITION. An act of belief supposes two objects. We may say "diamond," or "lead," but in such expressions there is nothing to believe or disbelieve. There are consequently, in a proposition, two terms or names. The term "lead" is the name of the subject; "opaque" that of the predicate. II. DISTINCTION OF NAMES ACCORDING TO SIGNIFICATION. A singular name is affirmed, in the same sense, of only one thing. Å general name is affirmed, in the same sense, of a number of things. A class is a number of individuals described by a general name. A collective name is predicated of all taken together. A concrete name is a name of an object. An abstract name is a name of a quality. A positive name is one given to a plurality of things that are particularized. A negative name is one given to all except the things particularized. A privative name implies the absence of certain qualities, and the presence of others. EXAMPLES. A singular name.-John. Peter. James. A general.-John is a man. Peter is a man. James is a man. A class.-An eagle is a bird. A wren is a bird. A sparrow is a bird. A collective.-The 42nd is a regiment. A concrete.-The water is pure; his style is pure; his motives are pure. An abstract. The purity of water; purity of style; purity of motives. A positive.-Residents are liable. A negative.-Non-residents are exempted. A privative.-The man is blind. A concrete name is expressed with reference to the object that furnishes the name; but the abstract has no reference to the objects, which furnish the concrete, from which it is formed. Take the following illustrations, Concrete.-Snow is white; linen is white; the paper is white. Abstract.-Whiteness, the state of being white. We cannot say snow is whiteness. EXERCISE. Distinguish the names in Italics. The crowd is furious. The sun is bright. A bat is a mammal. It was above the brightness of the sun. The chameleon is a lizard. The opponents of James were jurors. The adherents of James were non-jurors. He is deaf. You are idle. A lobster is invertebrated. III. DENOTATION-CONNOTATION. To denote is to indicate or express. Thus: The character denotes multiplication. The term metal denotes forty-three substances-gold, silver, lead, &c. To connote is to imply or infer (besides the denotation) the attributes which the subject denoted possesses; as, Metal is a simple, shining, opaque body, insoluble in water, fusible by heat. A connotative name denotes objects and implies attributes. Reptile denotes the objects-frog, serpent, lizard, tortoise; and implies the attributes-quadruped, biped, apode, cold-blooded, oviparous, ovoviparous, vertebrated, breathing principally by means of lungs. Denotation has been termed extension, and connotation, comprehension. A name of number connotes the manner in which the whole may be made up; as, 1+1+1=3; 1+2=3. A singular name, having no connotation, implies nothing. The attributes of an individual cannot be inferred from his name. "To ascertain the denotation and the connotation of terms is one of the most valuable, but, at the same time, the most neglected, of exercises." The term clear denotes the objects-way, day, water, reason, view, sight, the sun, voice; and implies the attributes-open, serene, pure, evident, unobstructed, sharp, luminous, distinct. The way is clear (open). The day is clear (serene). The water |