A noun or pronoun in the possessive case, is governed by the noun it
possesses; as, "_Man's_ happiness;" "_Its_ value is great."
NOTE 1. When the possessor is described by a circumlocution, the
possessive sign should generally be applied to the last term only;
as, "The _duke of Bridgewater's_ canal; The _bishop of Landaff's_
excellent book; The _captain of the guard's_ house." This usage,
however, ought generally to be avoided. The words do not literally
convey the ideas intended. What nonsense to say, "This is _the
governor of Ohio's_ house!"
2. When nouns in the possessive case are in apposition, and follow
each other in quick succession, the possessive sign is generally
annexed to the last only; as, "For _David_ my _servant's_ sake;
_John_ the _Baptist's_ head; The canal was built in consequence of
_De Witt Clinton_ the _governor's_ advice."
But when a pause is proper, and the governing noun not expressed,
the sign should be applied to the first possessive only, and
understood to the rest; as, "I reside at Lord _Stormont's_, my old
_patron_ and _benefactor_."
3. _Its_, the possessive case of _it_, is often improperly used for
_'tis_, or, _it is_; as, "_Its_ my book: _Its_ his," &c.; instead
of, _"It is_ my book; or, _'Tis_ my book; _It is_ his; or, _'Tis_
his."
4. Participles frequently govern nouns and pronouns in the
possessive case, as, "In case of his _majesty's dying_ without
issue, &c.; Upon _God's having ended_ all his works, &c.; I remember
_its being reckoned_ a great exploit; At _my coming_ in he said,"
&c. But in such instances, the participle with its adjuncts may be
considered a substantive phrase, according to Note 2, Rule 28.
5. Phrases like these, "A work of _Washington Irving's_; A brother
of _Joseph's_; A friend of _mine_; A neighbor of _yours_," do not,
as some have supposed, each contain a double possessive, or two
possessive cases, but they may be thus construed; "A work of (_out
of_, or, _among the number of) Washington Irving's works_; that is,
One of the works of _Washington Irving_; One of the brothers _of
Joseph_; One friend _of my friends_; One neighbor of _your
neighbors_."