And
should you proceed further, and, by a labored and metaphysical
investigation and development of the laws of motion, attempt to
prove to him that "every portion of matter is influenced by
different, active principles, tending to produce change," and,
therefore, every thing in universal nature is _always_ acting, it is
not at all probable, that you could convince his _understanding_, in
opposition to the dearer testimony of his senses. Of what avail to
learners is a theory which they cannot comprehend?
Among the various theorists and speculative writers on philosophical
grammar, the ingenious Horne Tooke stands pre-eminent; but,
unfortunately, his principal speculations on the verb, have never
met the public eye. William S. Cardell has also rendered himself
conspicuous in the philological field, by taking a bolder stand than
any of his predecessors. His view of the verb is novel, and
ingeniously supported. The following is the substance of his theory
OF THE VERB.
A verb is a word which expresses _action;_ as, Man _exists_; Trees
_grow_; Waters_flow_; Mountains _stand_; I _am_.
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