61 
AS APPLIED TO “PROVINCIAL TRANSACTIONS.” 
ports of Provincial Transactions too often present a dreary level of monotony. 
But since, fortunately, one is not compelled to read them, and since not one 
man in a thousand (out of their own district) probably does read them, there is 
not much harm done ;—only a waste of so much paper and printers’ ink. But, 
wnfortunatety, neither my friends, in conclave assembled, nor myself, acting as 
secretary for them, feel quite able to comprehend this learned paper ;—still less 
do we find ourselves capable of divining its precise object. For, since, (as we 
are informed,) it requires two years’ practice to acquire the art of precis-writing, 
it is not probable that many of us struggling provincials will be able to devote 
the requisite time to the purpose ; or, even if we could secure the time, many 
among us may be wilful enough to fancy (so perverse is human nature) that it 
might be employed in some pursuit more interesting, or more useful, than even 
the acquisition of “precis” We are all agreed that it was very kind of our 
well-meaning adviser to take so much trouble about us poor provincials, and we 
are far from wishing to appear ungracious ; but we ask ourselves blankly, Cui 
bono? of what possible use to us is this good advice? since not one man in a 
hundred will ever be able to avail himself of it. 
Sighing, then, regretfully, at the little chance that any one of us will have of 
ever attaining to the glories of precis-writing, we proceed to inquire why, and 
whose fault it is that, we should be so puzzled over this learned paper. Here 
one of our number exclaims exultingly, “Eureka!” and puts forward a sug¬ 
gestion,—a suggestion for the sagacity of which we, each of us, secretly envy 
him,—that, most probably, this paper upon “ precis ’’ practises what it preaches, 
and is itself a “precis;” and that this circumstance accounts for its incompre¬ 
hensibility ! I myself, however, do not altogether acquiesce in this view. 
Being naturally somewhat humble-minded, I am inclined to attribute our want 
of comprehension rather to our own defective training, than to any over¬ 
shooting the mark by our didactic teacher. Still, I certainly do wish that he 
would descend from his pedestal, and condescend to address us, his humbler 
brethren, on our own level, and in our own vernacular ; and, if it would not 
make any very great difference to him, and would not derogate too much from 
his dignity, that,—just for this once,—he would not mind calling a sj^ade a 
spade. 
Here, again, my sagacious friend interposes :—“ You mean to wish that he 
would call an abstract an abstract, instead of calling it a ‘precis just as you 
and I would call an extract an extract, rather than call it a quintessence.” 
Now, it so happens, that I did not really mean anything of the kind ; but my 
too perspicacious friend, measuring other men’s chaff in his own corn-bushel, 
gives me credit for greater acumen than I, who am generally reckoned a rather 
dull man, ever presumed to lay claim to. But, with a mild disclaimer, I let it 
pass. 
A third (and last) time, our irrepressible friend comes forward with a sug¬ 
gestion ; viz. that perhaps, after all, the writer did not really mean “ precis 
but that this diplomatic, official, and (may I venture to say it ?) rather priggish- 
looking little word has, like a will o’ the wisp, somehow led him astray. And 
our friend supports his opinion by calling our attention to the author’s refe¬ 
rences to such topics as * wording,’ ‘ sentences,’ ‘ paragraphs,’ ‘ style,’ etc., none 
of which, as he assures us, have anything whatever to do with “precis” which 
concerns itself with the matter only, and not at all with the language, or style,— 
good or indifferent,—in which this matter happens to be conveyed. For my 
part, I do not pretend to understand these high subjects. When Doctors dis¬ 
agree, I stand respectfully aside, and await the issue. 
It is true that, hitherto, I had always believed that “ precis ” applied to sub¬ 
jects which, either formally or virtually, were of an argumentative character. 
But, “ Live and Learn.” I am now instructed that it is equally applicable to 
