for pleaded. It has been correctly remarked, that there is no such word as pled in the English language. It is true that the preterite and past part. of the verb to read is pronounced red; but there is no analogy between the two verbs, except their accidental similarity of sound. The former is the Anglo-Saxon verb rædan, and is conjugated accordingly; whereas the latter is the old French plaider, and therefore cannot admit what philologists call the "strong inflexion." This vulgar mistake is often met with in our reports of legal proceedings and elsewhere. But it is not of recent origin, nor is it exclusively American; as is shown by the following example from Spenser, furnished by Richardson:
With him ..... came
Many grave persons that against her pled.--Spenser, Fairy Queen.
An old offender was caught last night in a warehouse, with a dark lantern and all the other implements of his profession, and next morning innocently plead "somnambulism" when brought before the magistrate--having no recollection of the doings of the night since he went to early in the evening, and found himself in the watch-house in the morning.--New York Paper.