which together make but about 112 [2]; and as those of the third Conjugation are fo various in their form, and incapable of being reduced to one plain Rule; it feemsbetter in practice to confider the firft in ed. as the only Regular form, and the others as deviations from it; after the example of the Saxon and German Grammarians.

To the Irregular Verbs are to be added the Defective; which are not only for the moft part Irregular, but are also wanting in fome of their parts. They are in general words of most frequent and vulgar ufe; in which Custom is apt to get the better of Analogy. Such are the Auxiliary Verbs, most of which are of this number. They are in ufe only in fome of their Times, and

[2] The whole number of Verbs in the English language, Regular and Irregular, Simple and Compounded, taken together, is about 4300. See Dr. Ward's Effays on the English Language; the Catalogue of English Verbs. The whole number of Irregular Verbs, the Defective included, is about 170.

Modes;

Modes; and fome of them are a Compofition of Times of feveral Defective Verbs

having the fame fignification.

There are not in English fo many as a Hundred Verbs, (being only the chief part, but not all, of the Irregulars of the Third Clafs,) which have a distinct and different form for the Paft Time Active and the Participle Perfect or Paffive. The general bent and turn of the language is

towards

towards the other form, which makes the Paft Time and the Participle the fame. This general inclination and tendency of the language, seems to have given occafion to the introducing of a very great Corruption; by which the Form of the Past Time is confounded with that of the Participle in these Verbs, few in proportion, which have them quite different from one another. This confufion prevails greatly in common discourse, and is too much authorised by the example of fome of our best Writers [3]. Thus it is faid, He begun, for he

[3]

"He would have spoke.”

Milton, P. L. x. 517.

"Words interwove with fighs found out their way."

P. L. i. 621.

"And to his faithful fervant hath in place

Bore witnefs gloriously."

Samfon Ag. 1752.

Comus, 195.

"And envious darkness, ere they could return,

Here it is obfervable, that the Author's MS. and the

Had ftole them from me.",

First Edition have it flolne.

"And in triumph bad rode."

P. R. iii. 36.

began

began; he run, for he ran; be drunk, for be drank: the Participle being used instead of

"I have chofe

This perfect man.'

P. R. i. 165.

Dryden, Fables.

"The fragrant brier was wove between."

"I will scarce think you have wam in a Gondola.”

Shakespear, As you like it.

"Then finish what you have began,

But fcribble fafter, if you can.”

Dryden, Poems, Vol. II. p. 172.

"And now the years a numerous train have ran; The blooming boy is ripen'd into man."

Pope's Odyff. xi. 555. "Have Sprang." Atterbury, Vol. I. Serm. IV. "Had pake" had began." Clarendon, Contin. Hift. p. 40, & 120. "The men begun to embellish themselves." Addifon, Spect. N° 434.

66

Rapt into future times the bard begun."

And without the neceffity of rhyme :

Pope, Meffiah.

"A fecond deluge learning thus o'er-run,"

And the Monks finish'd what the Goths begun.”

Effay on Criticifm.

Repeats you verfes wrote on glaffes."

Prior.

"Mr. Miffon has wrote." Addifon, Preface to his Travels. "He could only command his voice, broke

the

the Paft Time. And much more frequently the Past Time inftead of the Participle:

with fighs and fobbings, fo far as to bid her proceed." Addifon, Spect. No 164.

"No civil broils have fince his death arose.”

Dryden, on O. Cromwell. "Illuftrious virtues, who by turns have rofe." Prior.. "Had not arofe." Swift, Tale of a Tub, Sect. x. and Battle of Books: and Bolingbroke, Letter to Wyndham, P. 233. "This nimble operator will have fole it." Tale of a Tub, Sect. x. "Some philofophers bave: mistoak." Ibid. Sect. ix.

Why, all the fouls that were, were forfeit once ;
And He, that might the 'vantage best have took,
Found out the remedy."

Shakespear, Meaf. for Meaf.

"Silence

Was took ere he was ware."

"Into thefe common places look,

Milton, Comus.

Which from great authors I have took.”

Prior, Alma. "A free Conftitution, when it has been hook by the iniquity of former administrations." Lord Bolingbroke, Patriot King, p. 111. "Too strong to be book by his. enemies." Atterbury.

"Ev'n there he fhould have fell."

Prior, Solomon.

as,