For the fame reason, a Neuter Verb cannot become a Passive. In a Neuter Verb the Agent and Object are the fame, and cannot be separated even in imagination; as in the examples, to fleер to walk: but when the Verb is Paffive, one thing is acted upon by another really, or by supposition, different from it [1].

[1] That some Neuter Verbs take a Passive Form, but without a Passive Signification, has been observed above; see p. 69. Here I speak of their becoming both in Form and Signification Passive: and shall endeavour further to illustrate the rule by example. To fplit, like many other English Verbs, hath both an Active and a Neuter Signification: according to the former we fay, "the force of gun-powder split the rock;" according to the latter, " the shipsplit upon the rock;" and converting the Verb Active into a Pafsive, we may say, "the rock was split by the force of gun-powder;" or, "the ship was split upon the rock." But we cannot say with any propriety, turning the Verb Neuter into a Paffive by inversion of the sentence, "the rock was split upon by the ship:" as in the pafsage following: "What success these labours of mine have had, He knows best, for whose glory they were designed. It will be one sure and comfortable sign to me, that they have had some; if it shall appear, that the words I have spoken to you to-day are not in vain : if they shall prevail with you in any measure to avoid those rocks, which are usually split upon in Elections, where multitudes of different inclinations, capacities, and judgements, are interested." Atterbury, Sermons, IV. 12.

A Noun

A Noun of Multitude [2], or signifying many, may have the Verb and Pronoun agreeing with it either in the Singular or Plural Number; yet not without regard to the import of the word, as conveying unity or plurality of idea: as, “My people is foolish, they have not known me." Jer. iv.

22.

"The assembly of the wicked have inclosed me." Pfalm. xxii. 16. perhaps more properly than "hath inclosed me." "The affembly was very numerous :" much more properly than, "were very numerous."

Two or more Nouns in the Singular Number, joined together by one or more Copulative

[2] " And restores to his Island that tranquillity and repose, to which they had been strangers during his absence." Pope, Differtation prefixed to the Odyffey. Island is not a Noun of Multitude: It ought to be, his people; or, it had been a Aranger. "What reason have the Church of Rome to talk of modesty in this case?" Tillotson, Serm. I. 49. "There is indeed no Conftitution so tame and careless of their own defence, where any person dares to give the least sign or intimation of being a traytor in his heart." Addifon, Freeholder, N° 52. "All the virtues of mankind are to be counted upon a few fingers, but his follies and vices are innumerable." Swift, Preface to Tale of a Tub. Is not mankind in this place a Noun of Multitude, and such as requires the Pronoun referring to it to be in the Plural Number, their ?

Conjunctions [3], have Verbs, Nouns, and Pronouns, agreeing with them in the Plural Number: as, " Socrates and Plato were wife; they were the most eminent Philosophers of Greece." But sometimes, after an enumeration of particulars thus connected, the Verb follows in the Singular Number; and is understood as applied to each of the preceding terms: as,"The glorious Inhabitants of those facred palaces, where nothing but light and blessed immortality, no shadow of matter for tears, difcontentments, griefs, and uncomfortable passions to work upon; but all joy, tranquillity, and peace, even for ever and ever doth dwell." Hooker, B. i. 4. “Sand and Salt, and a mass of iron, is eafier to bear, than a man without understanding." Eccluf. xxii. 15 [4].

If

[3] The Conjunction Disjunctive hath a contrary effect; and, as the Verb, Noun, or Pronoun, is referred to the preceding terms taken separately, it must be in the fingular Number. The following Sentences are faulty in this refpect; "A man may fee a metaphor, or an allegory, in a picture, as well as read them [it] in a description." Addison, Dial. I. on Medals. "It must indeed be confefsed, that a lampoon, or a fatyr, do not carry in them robbery or murder." Id. Spect. N° 23.

[4]

" And fo was also James and John the fons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon." Luke, v.

2

If the Singulars so joined together are of several Persons, in making the Plural Pronoun agree with them in Person, the second Person takes place of the third, and the first of both: "He and You and I won it at the hazard of our lives: You and He shared it between you.

The Neuter Pronoun it is fometimes employed to exprefs, I. the subject of any discourse or inquiry: 2. the state or condition of any thing or perfon: 3. the thing, whatever it be, that is the cause of any effect or event; or any person or perfons confidered merely as a Caufe. Examples:

1. "'Twas at the royal feast for Perfia won Dryden.

By Philip's godlike fon."

" It happen'd on a summer's holiday,
That to the greenwood shade he took his
way."
Ibid.

"Who is it in the press that calls on me ?"

Shakespear, Jul. Cæf.

2. "H. How is it with you, Lady?
Alas! how is it with you?"

Shakespear, Hamlet.

10. Here the two Nouns are not only joined together by the Conjunction Copulative, but are moreover closely connected in sense by the part of the sentence immediately following, in which the correspondent Nouns and Verbs are Plural: the Verb therefore preceding in the Singular Number is highly improper.,

3. "You heard her say herself, it was not I.'Twas I that kill'd her." Shakespear,, Othello. "'Tis these, that early taint the female foul." Pope.

"It rains; it shines; it thunders." From which last examples it plainly appears, that there is no fuch thing in English, nor indeed in any language, as a fort of Verbs, which are really Imperfonal.. The Agent or Person in English is expressed by the Neuter Pronoun; in some other languages it is omitted, but understood [5].

The Neuter Pronoun it is sometimes omitted, and understood: thus we say, "as appears; as, follows;" for, " as it appears; as it follows:"" and, " may be," for, " it may be.""

The Verb to be has always a Nominative Case after it; as, "It was I, and not He, that did it :"" unless it be in the Infinitive Mode: "though you thought it to be Him [6],"

The

[5] An example of impropriety, in the use of the Neuter Pronoun, see below, p. 126. note 2.

[6] "Whom do men say, that Lam?-But whom fay ye, that I am;" Matt. xvi. 13. 15. So likewise Mark,. viii. 27. 29. Luke, ix. 18. 20. "Whom think ye, that I am?" Acts, xiii. 25, It ought in all these places to be who; which is not governed by the Verb fay or think, but by the Verb am: or agrees in Case with the Pronoun I. If the Verb were in the Infinitive Mode, it would require the Objective Case of the Relative,,