Writers upon the subject of propriety in our language, have objected to the use of _means_, with the article _a_ and the definitive pronouns singular, _this_ and _that_. The objection made is, that as this word ends in _s_, it must be plural, and cannot be joined in construction with words in the singular. This objection supposes that all nouns ending with _s_ are plural; but this would perhaps prove too much, and make it necessary to consider all nouns, _not_ ending in _s_, as singular, which cannot be true, even on the principles of those who bring the objection. The supposition in both cases would be equally well founded. It appears to me however, that the sense of the word, and particularly the universal practice of the English nation, ought to have induced the critical grammarian, who wished to reduce the language to some certainty, to suppress the objection. The word _means_, applied to a single instrument of action, or cause, conveys a _single_ idea; and I presume, was generally used for this purpose, till Bishop Lowth questioned the propriety of the practice; at least _mean_ is scarcely used as a noun, in any author from Chaucer to Lowth. On the contrary, the best writers have used _means_ either in the singular or plural number, according as they had occasion to express by it an idea of one cause or more. "By _this means_, it became every man's interest, as well as his duty to prevent all crimes."----Temple, Works, vol. 3. p. 133. "And by _this means_ I should not doubt," &c.---- Wilkins Real Character, book 1. "And finding themselves by _this means_ to be safe."----Sidney on Gov. chap. 3. sect. 36. "For he hopeth by _this means_ to acquit himself."----Rawley's Sylva Sylvarum. "And by _that means_ they lost their barrier."----Moyle on the Lacedem. Gov. "Clodius was now quæstor and by _that means_ a senator."----Middleton L. of Cic. vol. 1. p. 261. "By _this means_ however, there was nothing left to the Parliament of Ireland."----Blackstone's Com. vol. 1. p. 102. In this manner was the word used by the elegant writers in Queen Anne's reign.