MOODS of VERBS. 195 



But though I make many remarks on his doctrine, and 

 often refer to it, my EfTay 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 fubject that I have feen ; to 

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

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

 done. 



I agree perfectly with this learned author in thinking that 

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

 obfervation a very important one 5 for, on this account, it is to 

 the infinitive, exclujivefy, that we mould 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, ftep by ftep, to form a diftinct notion of what is common 

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

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

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

 the characteriftic import of the different claffes of verbs, fuch 

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

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

 prefs the pure 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. Scripjijfe. Scripturum ejje. Scripturas 

 effe. 



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 peculiar 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 



