Speaking of priests in general, we may
say, "They _have_, in all ages, _claimed_ great powers;" because the
general order of the priesthood still exists; but we cannot properly
say, "The Druid priests _have claimed_ great powers;" because that order
is now extinct. We ought, therefore, to say, "The Druid priests
_claimed_ great powers."
The following examples may serve still farther to illustrate the proper
use and application of the tenses. "My brother has recently been to
Philadelphia." It should be, "_was_ recently at Philadelphia;" because
the adverb _recently_ refers to a time completely past, without any
allusion to the present time. "Charles is grown considerably since I
have seen him the last time." Corrected, "Charles _has_ grown, since I
_saw_ him," &c. "Payment was at length made, but no reason assigned for
its being so long postponed." Corrected, "for its _having been_ so long
postponed." "They were arrived an hour before we reached the
city:"--"They _had_ arrived."
"The workmen will complete the building at the time I take possession of
it." It should be, "will _have completed_ the building," &c.
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