presented nouns and
active-intransitive verbs.

"My _flock increases_ yearly."

_Flock_ is a noun, a name denoting animals--a noun of multitude, it
signifies many in one collective body--masculine and feminine gender,
denoting both sexes--third person, spoken of--singular number, it
denotes but one flock--and in the nominative case, it is the active
agent of the verb "increases," and governs it, according to RULE 3, _The
nominative case governs the verb_. (Decline it.)

_Increases_ is a verb, a word that signifies to do--active, it expresses
action--intransitive, the action does not pass over to an object--of the
third person, singular number, because its nominative "flock" conveys
_unity_ of idea, and it agrees with "flock" agreeably to

RULE 10. _A noun of multitude conveying_ unity _of idea, must have a
verb or pronoun agreeing with it in the singular_.

"The divided _multitude_ hastily _disperse_."

_Multitude_ is a noun, a name that denotes persons--a collective noun,
or noun of multitude, it signifies many--masculine and feminine gender,
it implies both sexes--third person, spoken of--singular number, it
represents but one multitude, or collective body; (but in another sense,
it is plural, as it conveys plurality of idea, and, also, implies more
_individuals_ than one;)--and in the nominative case, it is the actor
and subject of the verb "disperse," which it governs, according to RULE
3. _The nom. case governs the verb_.--Declined.--Sing. nom. multitude,
poss. multitude's, obj. multitude--Plur. nom. multitudes, poss.
multitudes', obj. multitudes.

_Disperse_ is a verb, a word that signifies to do--active, it expresses
action--intransitive, the action does not terminate on an object--third
person, plural number, because its nominative "multitude" conveys
plurality of idea; and it agrees with "multitude" agreeably to RULE 11.
_A noun of multitude conveying plurality of idea, must have a verb or
pronoun agreeing with it in the plural._

Rules 10, and 11, rest on a sandy foundation. They appear not to be
based on the principles of the language; and, therefore, it might,
perhaps, be better to reject than to retain them. Their application is
quite limited. In many instances, they will not apply to nouns of
multitude. The existence of such a thing as "unity or plurality of
idea," as applicable to nouns of this class, is _doubtful_. It is just
as correct to say, "The _meeting was_ divided in _its_ sentiments,