26 DECEMBER 1863, Page 21

An English Grammar. By Alexander Bain, M.A., Professor of Logic

in the University of Aberdeen. (Longman and Co.)—An admirable little book, intended by the author for his own class of students of English composition, but well worth perusal by that numerous band of Britons who have some knowledge of the grammar of almost every language except their own. There is nothing better in this grammar than the portion which treats of the arrangement of words—the real crux of English composition; nor do we at all dissent from the system of attaching great weight to usage ; but we cannot think that any usage can justify such expressions as, "it was him," "it was not me," "he is taller than me." If usage will justify bad grammar, surely it may be allowed to legalize the use of who and which as relatives of restriction —a practice which at least gets rid of the awkward use of the preposi- tion at the end of the sentence.