narne other notions which require that I should examiné some expressions in the Gothic and old Saxon languages, in order to ascertain precisely every one of the functions you have been allotted to perform. In this examination, I shall point out how the high function of operator might be said to be implied in those expressions of antiquity. Began, in old Saxon, meant what the Latins expressed by OPERARI (to work*), exercere, colere, excolere, incólere, PERAMBULARE (to travel about), FLECTERÉ (to bend, to bow), deflectere, inflectere, curvare, retorquere, DECLINARE (to tend to a different way, to bend one's course to, to avoid, to decline), divertere,recedere, fugere, submittere, servire, procumbere, observare. Instead of this Began, we find the old Saxons used also Beagian, Birgan, Bigan, Bigean, Bugan, Bygan; and the Goths Biugan, Bugan (whence Ga-bugan, and the Anglo-Saxon Gebugan, as well as Ge-bigan). Hence By for Byg may have been formed from bygan, to express a sort of agent, equal to Operator or Co-operator; as Be may have been formed from Beg in Began, as Bi or Big from Bigan, and even Bii; for g, in Anglo Saxon, used to be often pronounced as if it were i ory, and, in the modern languages, was accordingly changed cither into i, j, org.

56. B. But, some will say: As the final an (or suffix an), in verbs, is only a termination which denotes action, that is to say, which intimates that whatever the pre ceding part of the word signifies is put in action; it is possible that those verbs should have been formed from beg, beag, bieg, big, by merely adding the sign of action an; it is possible also that those verbs may have been compound verbs formed from gan (to go, to move) with

* Be☛, in Kalmuck, means I work; and Bed, in Iberno-Celtic, means work.

be or bi prefixed, the real signification of which prefix may be about, around, &c. as contractions from Bab, Beag, Beah, Beg, Beb, Bieb, Big, nouns which pri marily meant form of a circle, a garland, any circle, any ircular thing, ring, &c.-What would you reply?

LVII. S. Whether the latter nouns gave origin to the former Verbs, or the former Verbs gave origin to the latter nouns, is almost immaterial, as to what I have in view-Both sorts of words have existed; one sort, as Verbs; the other, as nouns; and certain it is that By is very often found, as already we have fully proved, to stand as a forerunner (equal to Operator, Operators, or Co-operator, Co-operators) to the name or to the representative of the name of somebody or of something which has caused, or will cause, an event or situation to take place. But there were, in old Saxon, other Verbs whence a word must obviously have existed to convey the idea of maker, contriver, &c. and consequently of Operator: the present By may obviously too be a contraction of that very word, as formed from Bycnàn, which, as well as Becnan, used to convey the meanings of the Latin verbs formare, fingere, simulare, significare &c. See hereafter the LXII. interlocution.

57. B. The Author of the Diversions of Purley has given us nothing, or hardly any thing, to take hold of, as to the several ways in which I am introduced: with him, By is only equal to Be used imperatively!

LVIII. S. True; but, let us turn to Dr. Johnson's Dictionary; and, throwing aside his 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, and 14th divisions, in regard to By, because the passages he has quoted may all be clearly accounted for, by means of Operator or Co-operator, substituted for By,

let

By, says Dr. Johnson, Ist denotes the Agent; 2d, it notes the instrument commonly after a verb neuter; 3d, it notes the cause of any effect; 4th, it notes the means by which any thing is per formed

F

let us reduce his twenty-six other divisions to fewer

heads.

58. B. What! had Dr. Johnson allotted thirty-two divisions to his definitions of me?

LIX. S. Yes, he had; and yet five or six might have been quite sufficient. For the sake of perspicuity, I shall mention fifteen, which will lead my readers through the labyrinth.

59. B. I hope you will take care to exemplify properly each of your divisions.

LX. S. I intend to do so; and, that I may be less exposed to censure on this point, I shall examine every passage quoted by Dr. Johnson in those twenty-six divisions of his which we have not yet touched. Under the number I shall prefix to each passage, the reader will see the number of the division (in Dr. Johnson's Dictionary) in which that passage may be found presented as an example; and the mark added to the latter number will point out a reference wherein the substance of the Doctor's definition will be found.

I. By, for way, considered as equal to OPERATOR, CO-OPERATOR, or the like.

"Bullion will sell BY THE OUNCE (delivered, or 7* to be delivered) FOR SIX SHILLINGS AND FIVE PENCE UNCLIPPED MONEY (paid, or to be paid).” Locke.

In this passage, I discover two OPERATORS in a state of rotation and reciprocity. 1st. SIX SHILLINGS AND FIVE PENCE UNCLIPPED MONEY (paid, or to be paid) CAUSING one ounce to

formed or obtained; 5th, it shows the manner of an action; 14th, it notes Co-operation.

* Dr. Johnson says that By denotes then the quantity had at one time.

be

be sold (and delivered), the whole bullion will in rotation be sold. edly. ONE OUNCE (delivered, or to be delivered) CAUSING Six Shillings and five pence unclipped money (to be paid), the whole bullion will in rotation be sold.

2

"It is lawful, both BY THE LAWS OF NATURE, 9* and BY THE LAW DIVINE, which is the perfection of the other two." Bacon's Holy War. Here, I discover several OPERATORS; namely, both the LAWS OF NATURE, and THE LAW DIVINE, which is the perfection of the other two (being made a sort of CRITERION), CAUSE that it is lawful: hence, It is lawful, OPERATORS (of this state?—they are) both THE LAWS OF NATURE and THE LAW DIVINE, which, &c. See the 5th and 8th examples.

3

"The present, or like, system of the world, can lot not possibly have been eternal, BY THE FIRST PROPOSITION; and, without God, it could not naturally, nor fortuitously, emerge out of chaos, BY THE THIRD PROPOSITION."-Bentley.

It is evident that THE FIRST PROPOSITION (being made a sort of CRITERION) CAUSES that the present, or like, system of the world, cannot possibly have been eternal: it is also evident that THE THIRD PROPOSITION (being made a sort of CRITERION) CAUSES that, without God, it could not naturally, nor fortuitously, emerge out of Chaos. See the 5th and 8th examples.

ΙΟ

The faculty, or desire, being infinite, BY THE PRECEDING PREPOSITION, may contain or receive both these." Cheyne.

i. e. The faculty, or desire, being infinite (THE PRECEDING PROPOSITION, being made a sort of CRITERION, CAUSES that it is infinite), may contain or receive both these.

Dr. Johnson says that By is then for according to, and notes permission.

+ Dr. Johnson says that By is then for according to, and notes proof:

*༣

The

5

"The Gospel gives us such laws AS every man 11* that understands himself, would chuse to live BY."

Tillotson.

There is, in this passage, a peculiarity of construction which it is necessary to remove, so as to bring the pretended preposition BY to the place it should naturally occupy. To do this, let us say : "The Gospel gives us those laws (certain laws), BY WHICH every man that understands himself would chuse to live; and then, "The Gospel gives us those laws (certain laws) WHICH CAUSE that every man who understands himself would chuse to live (i. e. to regulate his manner of living) accordingly; or, The Gospel gives us ccrtain laws; every man that understands himself, would chuse to live BY THOSE LAWS, i. e. would chuse to CAUSE THOSE LAWS TO DIRECT his life or manner of living. In this passage, then, By appears as a forerunner announcing the OPE RATOR, and then CAUSING a thing to become a kind of DIRECTOR, criteriou, rule, guide, &c. Now, By, will contain both those powers whenever it shall be introduced so that according to may take its place.

6

"In the divisions I have made, I have endeavour11 ed, the best I could, to govern myself BY THE DIVERSITY OF MATTER." Locke.

i. e. MAKING THE DIVERSITY OF MATTER (become) A DI

RECTOR.

7

"The ship, BY GOOD LUCK, fell into their hands at last, and served as a model to build others BY." Arbuthnot.

In this passage, I perceive two sorts of BY: the first is simply for OPERATOR; the second, besides announcing OPERATOR makes the thing mentioned become a DIRECTING POWER, a rule, a guide, or the like. And indeed, GOOD LUCK CAUSED that, the ship fell into their hands at last, and served as a model to build others, the said ship OPERATING upon the builders as a DIRECTING POWER OF GUIDE; otherwise, the builders MAKING the said ship or model their GUIDE.

* Dr. Johnson says that By is then for according to, in conformity with, in imitation of.

"Thus