n of Dr. Ash, that what is _not a part
of the verb_, may yet be included _in the mood_. There is no need of either
of these false suppositions; or of the suggestion, doubly false, that _to_
"in _every other_ situation, is a preposition." What does _preposition_
mean? Is _to_ a preposition when it is placed _after_ a verb, and _not_ a
preposition when it is placed _before_ it? For example: "I rise _to shut
to_ the door."--See _Luke_, xiii, 25.

OBS. 14.--In his syntax, this author further says, "When two verbs come
together, the latter _must be in the infinitive mood, when it denotes the
object_ of the former; as, 'Study _to improve_.'" This is his _Rule_. Now
look at his _Notes_. "1. When the latter verb _does not express_ the
object, _but the end_, or something remote, the word _for_, or the words
_in order to_, are understood; as, 'I read _to learn_;' that is, 'I read
_for_ to learn,' or, '_in order_ [TO] _to_ learn.' The word _for_, however,
is never, in such instances, expressed in good language. 2. The infinitive
is _frequently governed_ by adjectives, substantives, and participles; but
in _this instance_ also, a preposition is understood, though _never
expressed_; as, 'Eager _to learn_;' that is, 'eager _for_ to learn;' or,
'_for_ learning;' 'A desire _to improve_;' that is, '_for to
improve_.'"--_Hiley's Gram._, p. 89. Here we see the origin of some of
Bullions's blunders. _To_ is so small a word, it slips through the fingers
of these gentlemen. Words utterly needless, and worse than needless, they
foist into our language, in instances beyond number, to explain infinitives
that occur at almost every breath. Their students must see that, "_I read
to learn_," and, "_I study to improve_," with countless other examples of
either sort, are very _different constructions_, and not to be parsed by
the same rule! And here the only government of the infinitive which Hiley
affirms, is immediately contradicted by the supposition of a needless _for_
"understood."

OBS. 15.--In all such examples as, "I _read_ to _learn_,"--"I _strive_ to
_learn_"--"Some _eat_ to _live_,"--"Some _live_ to _eat_,"--"She _sings_ to
_cheer_ him,"--"I _come_ to _aid_ you,"--"I _go_ to _prepare_ a place for
you,"--_the action_ and _its purpose_ are connected by the word _to_; and
if, in the countless instances of this kind, the former verbs _do not
govern_ the latter, it is not because the phraseology is elliptical, or
ever was elliptical,[405] but