Edward Claypole, The Scientist—Comstock. 19 
“My Dear Sir:— 
Your card has arrived and I suppose ere now, you -have my 
proof. What you say has much surprised me. I thought the dif- 
ference between us was merely one of taste, and am quite at a loss to 
understand your calling my expression ‘found it was’ not English. 
If -you object merely to the omission of ‘that,’ the difference is unim- 
portant and you may insert the word. Good writers and grammar- 
ians use both forms and allow both. If you object to ‘found, you 
may substitute ‘discovered’ or ‘learned.’ This difference is quite im- 
material. I think ‘found’ as good as either. But, I take it, your ob- 
jection is to the use of the word ‘was,’ instead of ‘to be;’ otherwise 
you would not have marked the proof at that word. Taking this 
ground, I must dispute the accuracy of your condemnation of my 
word. You do not name your authority. I wish you had done so. 
I am not now engaged in teaching and many of my books are not 
accessible, but I wish to ask your consideration of the following four 
points: 
First. This form is used in scores of expressions in every day life, 
which can hardly be condemned, and condemnation of which would 
be useless in the face of Horace’s line, ““Usus quem penes arbitrium est 
et jus et norma loquendi.” Ex.—I found it was raining. I saw it 
was he. We found—saw—felt—knew it was impossible to go farther. 
Second. I have not access to grammarians or their works to any 
great extent, but G. P. Marsh says: “We have in English a remark- 
able construction, borrowed probably from the Latin, by which, in a 
dependent proposition, the objective with the infinitive is put for the 
nominative with the finite verb. Thus: ‘I think him to be a man of 
talents,’ instead of ‘I think he is a man of talents... Now, awkward 
as this is, its meaning is unequivocal. 
Third. The expression is used by classic English writers. 
‘I think our work is well begun, 
I think ’t will prove a Warden raw?”—Scott. 
‘As we made our way through the crowd I perceived we brought 
good humor with us’—Goldsmith. 
‘Tell him he hath made a match.’—Henry V. 
‘Eve, now I see thou art exact of taste.’-—Milton. 
Fourth. The difficulty of-avoiding the construction is shown by ~ 
the following sentence, extracted from your card of this evening: 
“We cannot consent to the use of ‘found jit was,’ which I find * * * 
is not English.’ 
i oe a oe ee a, ee a ee 
“T am always glad’to be informed of errors in what I write. I am 
as sdiable to them as others, but I want satisfactory evidence of them, 
which you must admit is reasonable. 
“With kind regards, Yours very truly, 
“E, W. CLAYPOLE.” 
