122 On the Engli/h Conjunflion TOO, 



ed adverfative, whofe fignification can be afcertained, are figni- 

 ficant, not of oppofition, but of union, or fomething that is equi- 

 valent: Of this kind are the Greek, "put, accented on the pe- 

 nult, and it ; the Latin, etji, verum, vero, tamen, verum tamen ; 

 the French, cependant, and perhaps encore ; the Englifli, yet, ne- 

 verlbclefs, notivithftanding, &c. It might, however, be reckoned 

 tedious, were I to attempt to ftate the precife import of each of 

 thefe, and to fhow, that their effect, in a fentence, is confonant 

 to their fignification, and arifes out of it. 



3. THE adverfative appearance of AT feems to have arifen 

 from the circumftance of its raifing an expectation, that fome- 

 thing feemingly oppofite, or incongruous, is to follow. Thus, 

 when it is faid, " CJESAR fuit vir fortis, pmdens, clemens ; 

 "AT ," the word AT is no fooner heard, than an ex- 

 pectation is raifed, that fomething oppofite to the qualities pre- 

 vioufly mentioned fomething difadvantageous to the character 

 of CJESAR, is to follow. And hence, from its raifing this ex- 

 pectation, it has been concluded, that AT itfelf is fignificant of 

 oppofition : But that this conclusion is by no means necejjary, 

 will appear from the following obfervations. 



WHEN objects or qualities, confidered as in their own nature 

 oppofite or incongruous, are obferved to co exift, it feems more 

 necefTary to intimate their co-exi/lence, than if no fuch oppofition 

 were felt. The perception of their natural incongruity leads 

 to the giving a marked intimation of their union, when they 

 happen to be united. " GESAR fuit vir fortis, prudens, cle- 

 " mens ; AT ambitiofus, patriae proditor," &c. It might have 

 been imagined, that fuch oppofite qualities could not unite in 

 the fame perfon; and, therefore, it appeared neceflary, that 

 pointed intimation fhould be given of their union ; and, for 

 that purpofe, the word AT is employed. The fame circum- 

 ftance, viz. the perception of the incongruity, alfo leads the 

 hearer to interpret the fymbol of union in the fame emphatic 

 manner , that is, to give to AT the force, not of TO limply, 



but 



