COMPREHENSION OF TERMS. 15 
the limited sense in which we commonly speak 
of life. Animals are beings, living beings, 
and sentient, or conscious, or feeling beings ; 
but all being is /ife ; all life is existence ; and 
even stones, in that comprehensive use of the 
term, live, because they exist. However, 
though it is essential to all accurate know- 
ledge, and to all soundness of thinking, that 
we should have precise notions of the original 
and strict meaning of words, we must often 
be content with their accepted meanings ; 
for, without these, there could be no lan- 
guage sufficiently full for the expression of 
our ideas. Words, when traced to their 
roots and substantial forms, are very few in . 
number; and we are enabled to express our- 
selves only by giving to each, upon this or 
upon that occasion, a great variety of capri- 
cious forms, and of arbitrary meanings.” 
All the young persons had sufficient edu- 
cation and understanding to be instructed 
by their Uncle’s remarks; and Mrs. Aston 
thanked her brother for this additional ex- 
ample of the efforts which he often made to 
accomplish them, not so much in the posses- 
sion of clear ideas upon particular subjects— 
* 
