For beaux and jolis are nearly synonymous terms: but logic, which is more obligatory than the rules of grammar, would reprove this construction; and, though the two epithets be nearly synonymous, yet, as the matter does not relate to objects altogether beaux and jolis, but to some that are exclusively beaux, and some that are exclusively jolis, it requires that the article be repeated. Our rule, being founded on a distinction of objects (which distinction precludes any error,) must, of consequence, be more correct than theirs, which is founded only on the vague, and oftentimes fanciful, comparison of opposite or synonymous meanings of adjectives. RULE VIII. Whenever a noun is preceded by an adjective in the superlative, the article is used but once. EXAMPLES WITHOUT THE REPETITION OF THE ARTICLE. Les plus habiles gens font quelque- | fois les plus grandes fautes. Il parle d'un des plus savans ho mmes. Les plus profondes pensées et les plus brillantes idées sont toujours les fruits du génie. The most skilful men sometimes commit the greatest blunders. He speaks of one of the most learned men. The most profound thoughts and most brilliant ideas, are always the fruits of genius. RULE IX. But, should the adjective be placed after the noun, the article is repeated immediately before the adjective. EXAMPLES WITH THE REPETITION OF THE ARTICLE. Les gens les plus habiles font quelquefois les fautes les plus grandes. Il parle d'un des hommes les plus savans. Les pensées les plus profondes et les idées les plus brillantes sont toujours les fruits du génie. M. Though it must appear to you that the French delight in using the article where it might often be dispensed with, as in English, in correspondent cases, yet they suppress it in several cases where, in English, it must be expressed. Your attention to the following, concerning the suppression of the indicative or definite article, will serve to secure you effectually, in such cases, from Anglicisms. RULE X.-The indicative or definite article, le, &c. is not expressed, in French, 1st, before ordinal numbers, and cardinal numbers used in the same sense as the ordinal numbers, when the preceding noun is mentioned with a view of quoting it; 2dly, when they are annexed to proper names, to distinguish the same proper names from one another; 3dly, in some cases before the title of a book.EXAMPLES: Livre premier, chapitre second, | Book the first, chapter the se paragraphe trois, section six. George premier, second, trois. cond, paragraph the third, sec. tion the sixth. George the first, the second, the third. as-Louis the sixteenth, king of France, was murdered by insurgents, on the twenty-first of January, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three. Louis seize roi de France, fut sassiné par des factieux, le vmgt-& un Janvier, mil sept cent quatrevingt-treize. Histoire d'Angleterre, par Hume. The history of England, by Hume. RULE XI.-The indicative or definite article is also suppressed in the following modes of expression, and the like.-EXAMPLES: RULE XII.-Before a noun common, modifying and immediately following one preceding it, the indicative or definite, and declarative or indefinite, articles, are suppressed.-EXAMPLES: Voltaire est né à Paris, ville capi- | Voltaire was born at Paris, the catale de la France. Jean Howard, célèbre philantrope Télémaque, fils d'Ulysse, roi Marie-Thérèse, impératrice d'Allemagne. Le Duc d'York, prince du sang royal d'Angleterre. pital of France. John Howard, a celebrated Eng- Maria-Theresa, the empress of The duke of York, a prince of the RULE XIII.-Nouns common stand without articles, when an appeal is made, or an exclamation used.-EXAMPLES: O héros de la France! c'est à toi | O hero of France! it belongs to de rétablir la religion de nos pères. Rois! soyez attentifs. Peuples! prêtez l'oreille. thee to restore the religion of our fathers. Kings! be attentive. Nations! listen. Courage! matelots, à l'abordage. [ Courage! sailors, let us board - RULE XIV. The article may also be omitted in the enumeration of objects, in the most general sense, or for the purpose of rendering the diction more lively.-EXAMPLES: Femmes, enfans, vieillards, trou- | Women, children, old men, flocks. peaux, cabanes, maisons, palais, tout fut englouti par les flots de la mer. Cet homme n'a ni vice ni vertu ; ni talens ni défauts; ni passions d'aucune espèce. huts, houses, palaces, every thing, was swallowed up by the waves of the sea. This man has neither vices nor virtues; neither talents nor defects; nor passions of any kind. RULE XV. No article is used after the preposition en, and other prepositions, when they, with the following noun, have the sense of an adjective, or of an adverb.-EXAMPLES: Il regarde tout le monde en pitié. | He looks on every body with con Il me reçut avec amitié. Il est sans amis. tempt. He received me kindly (or with kindness). He is without friends, Note.-Many French verbs will admit of no article between them and the following noun, which is their complement. A list of such of them as occur most frequently in conversation, is subjoined to this lesson. RULE XVI. The declarative or indefinite article, used in English after the verb to be, before a noun expressing title, profession, trade, country, or other attribute of the preceding noun, is omitted, in French; but, should être be preceded by ce, then the declarative or indefinite article must be used.-EXAMPLES: Il est marchand ou c'est un mar- | He is a shopkeeper. chand. On m'a dit qu'il était négociant, I was told that he was a merchant. ou que c'était un négociant. Il se vante que son père est noble, et moi, je crois qu'il est roturier, ou que c'est un roturier. VOL. II. He boasts of his father being a nobleman, and I believe that he is a plebeian. Il est ou Français, ou Italien, ou Espagnol; ou, c'est ou un Français, ou un Italien, ou un Espagnol. He is either a Frenchman, an Ita lian, or a Spaniard. RULE XVII. In the following cases, the declarative or indefinite article is not expressed in French: 1st. Before a noun beginning an incidental phrase, which is an observation on what has before been said.-EXAMPLES: Cet artiste a obtenu cinq cents | This artist has obtained five hunguinées récompense qu'il mé- dred guineas; a reward which he well deserved. ritait bien. Fontenelle était membre de l'Aca- Fontenelle was a member of the démie Française, et de celle des French Academy, and of that Sciences: preuve de l'universa- of the Sciences: a proof of the universality of his talents. lité de ses talens. 2d. Before the title of a book, or any other performance. EXAMPLES: Dictionnaire Critique de la Lan- | A Critical Dictionary of the gue Française. Plan de la ville de Londres. Catalogue de livres. French language. A Plan of the city of London. A Catalogue of books. 3d. After the word quel, (what!) &c. when used to express sur prise.-EXAMPLES: Quel homme vous êtes! Quelle nouvelle vous m'apprenez! What a man you are! What a thundering noise you make! What a piece of news you tell me! M. Your particular attention is now required to a mode of expression, which is truly idiomatical. The following rules will explain it. RULE XVIII. Whenever two nouns are joined together, in English, if the first adjectively modify the second, and, without trespassing on the sense, may be placed after the second, by placing the preposition with, or such an equivalent as having, containing, &c. before it; then, in French, the first noun is put last, and is joined to the second by the preposition and articles, au, à l', à la, aux, ac. cording to circumstances of gender and number.-EXAMPLES: Appelez l'homme au beurre; aux huîtres; à la volaille; aux paniers; aux vieux habits; aux marionettes; la femme aux fleurs; aux pommes; aur allumettes. Je préfère la sauce aux câpres à celle au vinaigre, aux œufs, ou à l'oignon. On nous servit de la soupe au vermicelle, au riz, aux pois, aux choux, et une tourte à l'anguille. Il demeure au marché au foin, ou à celui au blé. Il a cassé le pot à l'eau et la bouteille à l'encre. Elle vend dans sa boutique de la poudre à l'œillet, à la rose, et du chocolat à la vanille. 195 Note, that, in French, the prepositon and article are sometimes rendered by the preposition à alone, instead of au, à la, &c.-Ex AMPLES: Sa boîte à mouches est dans la Her patch-box is in the powder boîte à poudre. On servit sur la table à dix couverts une cafetière à vingt ta sses. box. RULE XIX.-An English adjective, expressing the idea of pattern or resemblance, is rendered, in French, in the same manner as the first noun in the preceding rule; it then becomes feminine in the singular, and is substantively taken.-EXAMPLES: Les habits à la Française sont à | French coats are now fashionable, 1 J'ai troqué ma selle à l'Anglaise I bartered my English saddle for pour une à la Prussienne. Il porte un manteau à l'Espagnole | et des bottes à l'Américaine. a Prussian one. |