_,
and perhaps every other collective noun, may sometimes convey the idea of
unity, and sometimes that of plurality; but an "_opinion_" or a voluntary
"_withdrawing_" is a _personal_ act or quality; _wherefore_ it is here more
consistent to adopt the plural sense and construction, in which alone we
take the collection as individuals, or persons.

OBS. 7.--Although a uniformity of number is generally preferable to
diversity, in the construction of words that refer to the same collective
noun: and although many grammarians deny that any departure from such
uniformity is allowable; yet, if the singular be put first, a plural
pronoun may sometimes follow without obvious impropriety: as, "So Judah
_was_ carried away out of _their_ land."--_2 Kings_, xxv, 21. "Israel is
reproved and threatened for _their_ impiety and idolatry."--_Friends'
Bible, Hosea_, x. "There _is_ the enemy _who wait_ to give us
battle."--_Murray's Introductory Reader_, p. 36. When the idea of plurality
predominates in the author's mind, a plural verb is sometimes used _before_
a collective noun that has the singular article _an_ or _a_; as, "There
_are a sort_ of authors, _who seem_ to take up with appearances."--
_Addison_. "Here _are a number_ of facts or incidents leading to the end in
view."--_Kames, El. of Crit._, ii, 296. "There _are a great number_ of
exceedingly good writers among the French."--_Maunder's Gram._, p. 11.

"There in the forum _swarm a numerous train_,
The subject of debate a townsman slain."
--_Pope, Iliad_, B. xviii, l. 578.

OBS. 8.--Collective nouns, when they are merely _partitive_ of the plural,
like the words _sort_ and _number_ above, are usually connected with a
plural verb, even though they have a singular definitive; as, "And _this
sort of_ adverbs commonly _admit_ of Comparison."--_Buchanan's English
Syntax_, p. 64. Here, perhaps, it would be better to say, "_Adverbs of this
sort_ commonly admit of comparison." "_A part_ of the exports _consist_ of
raw silk."--_Webster's Improved Gram._, p. 100. This construction is
censured by Murray, in his octavo Gram., p. 148; where we are told, that
the verb should agree with the first noun only. Dr. Webster alludes to this
circumstance, in _improving_ his grammar, and admits that, "A part of the
exports _consists_, seems to be more correct."--_Improved Gram._, p. 100.
Yet he retains his original text, and obviously thinks it a light thing,
that, "in some cases," hi