The same author disapproves of _to_ after _averse_; another example of his hasty decision. The practice of good writers and speakers is almost wholly in favor of _to_, and this is good authority; the propriety of the English particles depending almost solely on their use, without any reference to Latin rules. _Averse_ is an adjective, describing a certain state or quality of the mind, without regard to motion, and therefore _averse from_ is as improper as _contrary from_, _opposed from_, or _reluctant from_. Indeed in the original sense of _from_, explained by Mr. Horne Tooke, as denoting _beginning_, _averse from_ appears to be nonsense. The following phrases are said to be faulty; _previous to_, _antecedent to_, with others of a similar nature. The criticism on these expressions must have been made on a very superficial view of the subject. In this sentence, "previous to the establishment of the new government, the resolutions of Congress could not be enforced by legal compulsory penalties;" _previous_ refers to the word _time_ or something equivalent implied, _at the time previous_, or _during the time or period, previous_ to the establishment of the new government. This is the strict grammatical resolution of the phrase; and the usual correction, _previously_, is glaringly absurd; _during the time previously to the establishment_; into such wild errors are men led by a slight view of things, or by applying the principles of one language to the construction of another.[124] "_Agreeable to his promise_, he sent me the papers;" here _agreeable_ is correct; for it refers to the fact done; he sent me the papers, which sending was agreeable to his promise. In such cases, practice has often a better foundation than the criticisms which are designed to change it. _According_ is usually numbered among the prepositions; but most absurdly; it is always a participle, and has always a reference to some noun or member of a sentence. "_According to his promise_, he called on me last evening." Here _according_ refers to the whole subsequent member of the sentence; "he called on me last evening, which (the whole of which facts) was _according_ to his promise." No person pretends that "_accordingly_ to his promise" is good English; yet the phrase is not more incorrect than "_agreeably_ to his promise," or "_previously_ to this event," which the modern critics and refiners of our language have recommended.