split infinitive with "not" (1862)

[Jonathan Lighter]

1862 in Bell I. Wiley _The Life of Johnny Reb_ (Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1943) 127: I still advise you and as strongly as ever to not come to the war. I tell you you will repent it if you do I do believe.

  Perhaps the feature originated as an emphatic form.  This letter-writer was fom Alabama.

  JL


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