The common marks of patriotism having been examined, and shown to be such as artifice may counterfeit, or folly misapply, it cannot be improper to consider, whether there are not some characteristical modes of speaking or acting, which may prove a man to be not a patriot.

'An authour's language, Sir, (said he,) is a characteristical part of his composition, and is also characteristical of the age in which he writes.

'An authour's language, Sir, (said he,) is a characteristical part of his composition, and is also characteristical of the age in which he writes.

The report, however, gave occasion to a poem, not without characteristical merit, entitled, 'Ode to Mrs. Thrale, by Samuel Johnson, LL.D. on their supposed approaching Nuptials; printed for Mr. Faulder in Bond-street.'

And his son LORD SIMON, to shew to posterity his great affection for his mother's kindred, the brave MAC LEODS, chooses rather to leave his father's bones with them, than carry them to his own burial-place, near Lovat.' I have preserved this inscription, though of no great value, thinking it characteristical of a man who has made some noise in the world.

When he visited it, a circumstance occurred which was truly characteristical of our great Lexicographer.

Dr. Hickes has preserved a curious Saxon bond of this kind, which he calls a SODALITIUM, and which contains many particulars characteristical of the manners and customs of the times [m].

Mr. Daniel lived respected by men of worth and fashion, he passed through life without tasting many of the vicissitudes of fortune; he seems to have been a second rate genius, and a tolerable versifier; his poetry in some places is tender, but want of fire is his characteristical fault.

Of sensible substances there are two sorts: one of organized bodies, which are propagated by seed; and in these the SHAPE is that which to us is the leading quality, and most characteristical part, that determines the species.

In our ideas of substances we have not the liberty, as in mixed modes, to frame what combinations we think fit, to be the characteristical notes to rank and denominate things by.

These leading or characteristical (as I may call them) ideas, in the sorts of animals and vegetables, are (as has been before remarked, ch vi.

The manner in which he began this sort of correspondence was sufficiently characteristical.

The grounds of scorn and esteem, the topicks of praise and satire, are varied according to the several virtues or vices which the course of life has disposed men to admire or abhor; but he who is solicitous for his own improvement, must not be limited by local reputation, but select from every tribe of mortals their characteristical virtues, and constellate in himself the scattered graces which shine single in other men.

But for the immediate origin of the peculiar characteristical differences which distinguish the various languages now known, we are not able with much certainty to account.

4.The chief characteristical difference between the indicative and the subjunctive mood, is, that in the latter the verb is not inflected at all, in the different persons: IND.

These have a certain resemblance to one another, so far as they are all of them connectives; yet there are also characteristical differences by which they may in general be easily distinguished.

"This appears indeed to form the characteristical difference between the ancient poets, orators, and historians, compared with the modern."Ib., p. 350.

"Some characteristical circumstance being generally invented or seized upon.

"This appears indeed to form the characteristical difference between the ancient poets, orators, and historians, and the modern.

Chief characteristical diff.

In perusing the controversy, we may admire two circumstances, eminently characteristical of the candour with which such controversies are usually maintained: First, the anxiety with which the critics labour to fix upon Dryden a disrespectful parallel between Charles II.

language characteristical, iv. 315; lie, whether ever allowed to, iv.

401; characteristical manner shows itself, iv.

I will not say, with Pope, that every speech may be assigned to the proper speaker, because many speeches there are which have nothing characteristical; but, perhaps, though some may be equally adapted to every person, it will be difficult to find any that can be properly transferred from the present possessor to another claimant.

Whenever the musical or the fanciful preponderates, the characteristical necessarily falls into the background.