tration of this. "Slow and obscure," "inadequate
ideas," "small circle," and the numerous phrases which repeat the
thought, though not the words, are firm words binding the sentences
together indissolubly.

Use of Pronouns.

Not all sentences permit such clear reference as this. Still it must
be said that where the thought is logical and clear, the reference is
never missed: the binding words are important words and they occupy
prominent positions. There is, however, a whole group of words whose
function is to make the references sure. They are pronouns. Pronouns
refer back, and they point forward. Their careful use is the commonest
method of making sure of references, and so of binding sentences
together. The ones in common use are _this, that, the former, the
latter;_ the relatives _who, which,_ and _that;_ and the personal
pronouns _he, she, it._ To these may be added some adverbs: _here,
there, hence, whence, now, then, when,_ and _while._ The binding force
of these words is manifest in every paragraph of composition.

The following paragraph, from Burke's speech on "Conciliation with the
Colonies," illustrates the use of pronouns as words referring back,
and binding the whole into one inseparable unit.

"As to the wealth which the colonies have drawn from the sea
by their fisheries, you had all that matter fully opened at
your bar. You surely thought _those_ acquisitions of value,
for _they_ seemed even to excite your envy; and yet the
spirit by which _that_ enterprising employment has been
exercised ought rather, in my opinion, to have raised your
esteem and admiration. And pray, Sir, what in the world is
equal to _it?_ Pass by the other parts, and look at the
manner in which the people of New England have of late
carried on the whale fishery. Whilst we follow _them_ among
the tumbling mountains of ice, and behold _them_ penetrating
into the deepest frozen recesses of Hudson's Bay and Davis's
Straits, whilst we are looking for _them_ beneath the arctic
circle, we hear that _they_ have pierced into the opposite
region of polar cold, that _they_ are at the antipodes, and
engaged under the frozen Serpent of the south. Falkland
Island, which seemed too remote and romantic an object for
the grasp of national ambition, is but a stage and
resting-place in the progress of _their_ victorious
industry. Nor is the equi