E. G. Ballard.
Footnote 3:[(return)]
I say modern, for the ancient arms of France were Azure, semée of fleurs-de-lis, as they are represented in old glass, when quartered with those of England by our Henries and Edwards.
Pray request Senex to withdraw every word he has said about me. I do not recollect that I ever said or wrote a word about the Seal of William D'Albini; and I cannot find that my name occurs in Dr. Barrett's volume.
Edw. Hawkins.
"WILL" AND "SHALL."
(Vol. vii., p. 356.)
The difficulty as to the proper use of the auxiliaries shall and will, will be found to arise from the fact, that while these particles respectively convey a different idea in the first person singular and plural, from that which they imply in the second and third persons singular and plural, the distinction has been lost sight of in the amalgamation of both; as if they were interchangeable, in one tense, according to the old grammatical formula I shall or will. With a view of giving my own views on the subject, and attempting to supply what appears to me a grammatical deficiency, I shall proceed to make a few remarks; from which I trust your Hong Kong correspondent W. T. M. may be able to form "a clear and definite rule," and students of English assisted in their attempts to overcome this formidable conversational "shibboleth."
The fact is simply thus:—Will is volitive in the first persons singular and plural; and simply declarative or promissory in the second and third persons singular and plural. Shall, on the other hand, is declaratory or promissory in the first person singular and plural; volitive in the second and third singular and plural. Thus, the so-called future is properly divisible into two tenses: the first implying influence or volition; the second (or future proper) intention or promise. Thus: