MOODS of VERB S. - 195 



But though I make many remarks on his docflrine, and 

 often refer to it, my Eflay is by no means intended to cavil at 

 it, but, on the contrary, to make ufe of it, as being, on the 

 whole, the beft difquifition on the fubjedt that I have feen ; to 

 corredl what is erroneous, and to fupply what is wanting, in 

 his treatife, and to carry the inveftigation farther than he had 

 done. 



I AGREE perfedlly with this learned author in thinking that 

 the infinitive is moft improperly called a mood : and I think the 

 obfervation a very important one ; for, on this account, it is to 

 the infinitive, exclufivefy, that we fhould turn our thoughts, when 

 we endeavour to Inveftigate the general import of the Verb, 

 with a view to afcertain the accident which it denotes, and be 

 led, itep by ftep, to form a diftindl notion of what is common 

 in the accidents of all verbs, and of what is peculiar in the ac- 

 cidents of the feveral clafTes of them, and thereby be enabled 

 to give good definitions, fpecifying the effence of a Verb, and 

 the charadteriftic import of the different clalTes of verbs, fuch 

 as fubftantive, neuter, adlive intranfitive, adlive tranfitive, paf- 

 five, and refleded verbs. The infinitive, I own, does not ex- 

 prefs the pvire general meaning of the verb ; for it compre- 

 hends likewife the circumftances of time, and in fome lan- 

 guages thofe of perfon, and of courfe of number, and perhaps 

 of gender. Scribere. Scripfijje. Scripturum ejfe. Scripturas 



But the infinitive (fo far as I can perceive) denotes no 

 energy or modification of thought (fuch as, affirming, com- 

 manding, afking or wifhing) that is pectiUar to itfelf, as the 

 other moods do ; but only that kind of thought, or combi- 

 nation of thoughts, which is common to all the others. Now, 

 fome peculiarity of that kind I take to be the very effence of 

 a mood. 



B b 2 Yet 



