Birmingham.
Brightland's rule is,—
"In the first person simply shall foretells;
In will a threat or else a promise dwells:
Shall in the second and the third does threat;
Will simply then foretells the coming feat."
(See T. K. Arnold's Eng. Gram. for Classical Schools, 3rd edit., p. 41.; Mitford, Harmony of Language; and note 5. in Rev. R. Twopeny's Dissertations on the Old and New Testament.)
The inconsistency in the use of shall and will is best explained by a doctrine of Mr. Hare's (J. C. H.), the usus ethicus of the future. (See Cambridge Philological Museum, vol. ii. p. 203., where the subject is mentioned incidentally, and in illustration; and Latham's English Language, 2nd edit., p. 498., where Mr. Hare's hypothesis is given at length. Indeed, from Latham and T. K. Arnold my Note has been framed.)
F. S., B. A.
Lee.