On the other hand, there are many words, which, without ever taking the plural termination, often belong to the plural. _Sheep_, _deer_ and _hose_, are often mentioned as belonging to this description. To these we may add many names of fish; as _trout_, _salmon_, _carp_, _tench_ and others, which are in fact names of species; but which apply equally to the individuals of the species. We say _a trout_, or _five trout_; but never _five trouts_. POSSESSIVE CASE. In many instances we find two or three words used to describe or designate a particular person or thing; in which case they are to be considered as a single noun or name, and the sign of the possessive annexed to the last; as, "the _King of France's_ army." "_Fletcher of Salton's plan_ of a militia differs little from that of Harrington."[101]---- Home, Sketch 9. ARTICLE. Most grammarians have given the article the first rank among the parts of speech. To me this arrangement appears very incorrect; for the article is a mere appendage of the noun, and without it cannot even be defined. The _noun_ is the primary and principal part of speech, of which the _article_, _pronoun_ and _adjective_ are mere adjuncts, attendants, or substitutes, and the latter therefore should follow the former in grammatical order and definition. Under this head I will introduce a few observations on the use of _a_. Grammarians have supposed that _a_, in the phrases _a going_, _a hunting_, is a corruption of the preposition _on_; a supposition, which, if we attend to the sense of the phrases, appears highly absurd, but which etymology, in a great measure, overthrows. In the first place, the preposition is not among the original parts of language; its use, and consequently its formation, are not necessary among rude nations; it is a part of speech of a late date in the progress of language, and is itself a derivative from other words. I have, in another place,[102] given some reasons to prove _on_ to be an abbreviation of the numeral _one_, or _top one_. It is very evident that _on_ is a contraction of _upon_, which was formerly written _uppone_; and there are good reasons for believing the latter to be derived from _top one_. In addition to the authorities quoted in the Institute, an example or two from Chaucer will almost place the question beyond a doubt. "There lith on--up myn hed." Cant. Tales, 4288. That is, there lieth one upon my head; where _up_ is used for _upon_, as it is in other places. "No more, _up paine_ of losing of your hed." Ibm. 1709. That is, _upon pain of losing your head_.