302 
steps.” { cannot for a moment suppose 
otherwise than that every one of your 
rexders will immediately see, froin the 
employment and the connexion, that 
the word man here has the application 
which I call appellative; and that the 
word here signifies all the human spe- 
cies, disregarding alike the idea of 
definite number, and of either sex. 
But Iet us suppose the contrary, and 
imagine that man here has tlie applica- 
tion above called common, and that the 
prophet, in employing the words, had 
regarded either or both of the acci- 
dents of number and sex, we shall 
quickly observe not merely ambiguity, 
but absurdity, consequent. ‘The ways 
of men are notin themselves: this does 
not necessarily negative the proposi- 
tion, or supersede the idea, that the 
ways of women (the other sex) are in 
themselves; nor that the ways of a man 
(numerically distinguished) are in 
himself. ‘It is not in men that walk,” 
&c. does not contradict—it is in women 
that walk, itis in men that ride, can- 
not walk, &c. or any way the opposite 
of the description. Whereas, by al- 
lowing that the word man is used to 
signify mankind altogether, the de- 
scription is extended, and the pecu- 
liar distinctive accidents of number 
and sexuality being regarded in their 
full extent, particular application 
thereof nced not be attempted. 
These remarks will show the indefi- 
niteness of the present translation of 
Acts xvii. 30, 31. which might have 
been the work of a disciple of the 
Arabian impostor, or of some man 
who considered women as mere ani- 
mal machines, devoid of souls, and not 
any way affected by the important 
subject stated by the Apostles. 
Gecause of this peculiarity, we say, 
—the horse is useful, the fox is crafty, 
the hare is timid, &c. Were we to 
call a lady “ the best poet in the king- 
dom,” the phrase would assign to a 
female superiority over the whole 
class; but, when we call her ‘“ the best 
poetess in the kingdom,” the distine- 
tion of sex restricts the application of 
the word to a female belonging to a 
described class of females. Hence it 
may mostly be found, that, when a 
noun has the application I cail com- 
mon, some word to class and restrict 
the object, a definitive or article is 
associated; as, Job 37. 7. “He seal- 
eth up the hand of every man, that all 
men may know his work.” (See 
Dr. Shaw on some Peculiaritics of English Nouns. 
[Nov. A 
Stewart’s Philosophy of Mind, i. pp- 
195 and 200.) 
Professor Barron, lect. ii. Logic, 
p. 885, says, “All the appellative 
nouns of language are significant only 
of abstract ideas.” This assertion 
appears to me very questionable; for, 
though all intellective nouns are cer- 
tainly appellative, it does not neces- 
sarily follow that we are without other 
appellatives ; and I hope [ have above 
proved that we have a numerous class 
of appellatives. 
I regard the before-mentioned dis- 
tinctions, in the application of our 
nouns, as peculiarly calculated to ad- 
vantage language, by superseding 
ambiguous phraseology and construc- 
tion. But you will not find any thing 
on the subject in any grammar; nor 
does it appear that even a glimpse on 
the subject has affected any gramma- 
rian, except perhaps Dr. Crombie. 
(See Etym. and Syntax, p. 23.) 
I hope that the above propositions 
will be examined, and fairly tried; as 
it is very possible that some of your 
correspondents may have made re- 
marks on the same subject, different 
from what I have stated. It is too 
often the case, that, when we have 
diligently endeavoured to accomplish 
any purpose, we persuade ourselves 
we have succeeded; supposing, be- 
cause we have done something, we 
have done all needed by the fact: but, 
to be satisfied that our opinions are 
accurate, we must submit them for 
public examination. If any of your 
readers can point out similar pecu- 
liarities in nouns of other languages, 
their observations will benefit your 
inquisitive readers, as well as your 
respectful servant, 
Lane End, 
Staffordshire. 
SIMEON SHAw. 
—a—— 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
On the EGYPTIAN TAU, or CRUX ANSATA. 
(Concluded from page 24.) 
HEN transferred from Egypt to 
the alphabet of the surrounding 
nations, the Taw preserved its sacred 
character. In the Hebrew it retains 
its name (Thav) and its meaning (a 
terminus or cross); and, though the 
figure has at present undergone a 
change, it is curious that originally it 
was written as the Greek T, and in 
the Samaritan alphabet as an actual 
cross (++); which is another stumbling- 
block 
