MODERN ENGLISH LITERATURE: ITS Blemishes & Defects. BY HENRY H. BREEN, ESQ. F.S.A. "La vérité qui blâme est plus honorable que la vérité qui loue." J. J. ROUSSEAU. LONDON: LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMANS, PATERNOSTER ROW. of the 1 PREFACE. THE few introductory remarks, which I have to offer, have reference chiefly to the Chapters on "Composition," "Blunders," and "Mannerism." Being persuaded that imaginary examples of errors seldom make any impression on the reader, I have, in every instance, cited the name of the author, together with the title of the work from which the quotation is made. When practicable or convenient, I have given several examples, and from different writers. The more the reader is convinced of the prevalence of any error, the more likely he will be to guard against the occurrence of it in his own writings. In no case, however, does this prevalence amount to what Quintilian calls the consensus eruditorum. It is admitted that a mode of speech, however faulty when first introduced, ceases to have that |