to the Indicative, we may denominate it C. VIII. for that reason the MODE OF SCIENCE). Again, as the Potential is only conversant about Contingents, of which we cannot say with certainty that they will happen or not, we may call this Mode THE MODE OF CONJECTURE.Again, as those that are ignorant and would be informed, must ask of those that already know, this being the natural way of becoming Proficients; hence we may call the Interrogative, THE MODE OF PROFICIENCY.

Inter cuncta leges, & PERCONTABERE
doctos,

Quâ ratione queas traducere leniter acum,
Quid purè tranquillet, &c. HOR.

Farther still, as the highest and most
excellent use of the Requisitive Mode is
legis-

(m) Ob nobilitatem præivit INDICATIVUS, solus Modus aptus Scientiis, solus Pater Veritatis. Scal, de Caus. L. Lat. c. 116.

C. VIII. legislative command, we may stile it for this reason THE MODE OF LEGISLATURE. Ad Divos adeunto castè, says Cicero in the character of a Roman lawgiver; Be it therefore enacted, say the laws of England; and in the same Mode speak the laws of every other nation, It is also in this Mode that the geometrician, with the authority of a legislator, orders lines to be bisected, and circles described, as preparatives to that science, which he is about to establish..

in

THERE are other supposed affections of Verbs, such as Number and Person. But these surely cannot be called a part of their essence, nor indeed are they the essence of any other Attribute, being fact the properties, not of Attributes, but of Substances. The most that can be said, is, that Verbs in the more elegant languages are provided with certain terminations, which respect the Number and Person of every Substantive,

that

that we may know with more precision, C. VIII. in a complex sentence, each particular substance, with its attendant verbal Attributes. The same may be said of Sex, with respect to Adjectives. They have terminations which vary, as they respect Beings male or female, tho' Substances past dispute are alone susceptible of sex("). We therefore pass over these matters,

(n) It is somewhat extraordinary, that so acute and rational a Grammarian as Sanctius, should justly deny Genders, or the distinction of Sex to Adjectives, and yet make Persons appertain, not to Substantives, but to Verbs. His commentator Perizonius is much more consistent, who says-At vero si rem rectè consideres, ipsis Nominibus & Pronominibus vel maximè, imò unicè inest ipsa Persona; & Verba se habent in Personarum ratione ad Nomina planè sicuti Adjectiva in ratione Generum ad Substantiva, quibus solis autor (Sanctius scil. L. I. c. 7.) & rectè Genus adscribit, exclusis Adjectivis. Sanct. Minerv. L. I. c. 12. There is indeed an exact Analogy between the Accidents of Sex and Person. There are but two Sexes, that is to say, the Male and the Female ; and but two Persons (or Characters essential to discourse) that is to say, the Speaker, and the Party addressed.The third Sex and third Person are improperly so called, being in fact but Negations of the other two.

C. VIII. matters, and all of like kind, as being ra◄ ther among the elegancies, than the essentials of language, which essentials are the subject of our present inquiry. The principal of these now remaining is THE DIFFERENCE OF VERBS, AS TO THEIR SEVERAL SPECIES, which we. endeavour to explain in the following

manner.

(o Whoever would see more upon a subject of importance, referred to in many parts of this treatise, and particularly in note (h) of this chapter, may consult Letters concerning Mind, an Octavo Volume published 1750, the Author Mr. John Petvin, Vicar of Ilsington in Devon, a person who, though from his retired situation little known, was deeply skilled in the Philosophy both of the Antients and Moderns, and, more than this, was valued by all that knew him for his virtue and worth.

CHAP.

CHAP. IX.

Concerning the Species of Verbs, and their other remaining Properties.

ALL Verbs, that are strictly so called Ch. IX. denote (a) Energies. Now as all Energies are Attributes, they have reference of course to certain energizing Substances. Thus it is impossible there should be such Energies, as To love, to fly, to wound, &c. if there were not such beings as Men, Birds, Swords, &c. Farther, every Energy doth not only require an Energizer, but is necessarily conversant about some Subject. For example, if we say, Brutus loves—we must needs supplyloves

(a) We use this word ENERGY, rather than Motion, from its more comprehensive meaning; it being a sort of Genus, which includes within it both Motion and its Pri vation. See before, p. 94, 95.