STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES.

Exercises, p. 94. Grammar, p. 161, 162.

Questions.-How are sentences divided? Define a period-a loose sentence. Give an instance of each kind State the advantages of each. How is tediousness of style to be avoided? What does Perspicuity in the structure of sentences require?

CLEARNESS.

Questions. Define Clearness in the structure of sentences. Repeat the rules for clearness. Repeat the rule for the position of relatives, &c. Words expressing things connected in thought;-Clauses expressing circumstances of time and place;-circumstances of action. Repeat the rule for not crowding circumstances together;-for the position of things having an obvious relation to each other. Adduce and explain the examples given to each of these rules.

Exercises, p. 94 to 97,

point. Not to exasperate The works of art receive

RULE 1. The Position of Relatives, Adverbs, &c.-This kind of wit was, about an age or two ago, very much in vogue among our countrymen, who did not practise it for any oblique reason, but purely for the sake of being witty. Hence appears the impossibility, that an undertaking so managed, should prove unsuccessful. May we not say here with the poet, "that virtue is its own reward ?" Had he died before, would not this art have then been wholly unknown? They attacked the house of Northumberland, whom they put to death. He laboured to involve in ruin his minister, who had been the author of it. What he says is true, but it is not applicable to the him, I spoke only a very few words. a great advantage, from the resemblance which they have to those of nature; because here, not only the similitude is pleasant, but the pattern is perfect. It may be proper to give some account of those practices, anciently used on such occasions, and discontinued only through the neglect and degeneracy of later times. If Louis XIV. was not the greatest king, he was, at least, the best actor of majesty, that ever filled a throne. By greatness, I mean not only the bulk of any single object, but the largeness of a whole view; or, not only the bulk, &c., but also the largeness, &c. There will be found, throughout this kingdom, a million of creatures in human figure, whose whole subsistence, &c.-Thus I have fairly given you my own opinion, relative to this weighty affair, as well as that of a great majority of both houses here, upon which I am confident you may securely reckon.

2. Words expressing things connected in thought.-The embarrassments of the artificers, render the progress of the work very slow. He found the place replete with wonders, with the contemplation of which, he proposed to solace himself, if he should never be able to accomplish his flight. They are now engaged in a study, the usefulness of which they have long wished to know. This was an undertaking, which, in the execution, proved as impracticable, as every other of their pernicious, yet abortive schemes had turned out. Sir Francis Bacon, in his Essay upon Health, in which he particularly dissuades the reader from knotty and subtle disquisitions, has not thought it improper to prescribe to him a poem, or a prospect; and he advises him to pursue studies that fill the mind with splendid and illustrious objects, as history, poetry, and contemplations of nature. Fields of corn form a pleasant prospect; and if a little care were bestowed on the walks that lie between them, they would display neatness, regularity, and elegance.

3. a. Clauses expressing the circumstances of time and place.— This morning, when, with great care and diligence, one of the gay females was looking over some hoods and ribands, brought by her tirewoman, I employed no less in examining the box, which contained them. In the night, however, the miserable remains were taken down. He was at a window in Lichfield, taking a view of the Cathedral, where a party of the royalists had fortified themselves. At last, in the Pyrenean treaty, Philip IV. was obliged to conclude a peace on terms repugnant to his inclination; to that of his people, to the interest of Spain, and to that of all Europe.

b. Circumstances respecting the action.—I have confined myself to those methods for the advancement of piety, which, by a strict execution of the laws, are in the power of a prince, limited like ours. A monarchy, limited like ours, may, for aught I know, be placed, as it has often been represented, just in the middle point, from which a deviation leads, on the one hand, to tyranny, and, on the other, to anarchy.

4. a. Circumstantial clauses must never be placed between two principal members of a period.-Let the virtue of a definition be what it may, it seems, in the order of things, rather to follow than to precede our inquiry, of which it ought to be considered as the result.

Seeing his habitation reduced to so small a compass, and himself in a manner shut out of his own house, the knight, upon the death of his mother, ordered all the apartments to be flung open, and exorcised by his chaplain.

Being now afflicted with an asthma, and finding the powers of life gradually declining, he had no longer courage to undertake this work in its full extent.

Since it is necessary that there should be a perpetual intercourse of buying and selling, and dealing upon credit, the consequence is, that where fraud is permitted or connived at, or hath no law to punish it, the honest dealer is always undone, and the knave gets the advantage.

The minister who, like a little statue placed on a mighty pedestal, grows less by his elevation, will always have his jealousy strong about him.

b. Clauses expressing circumstances, must not be crowded together. -Though religion will indeed bring us under some restraints, they are not only tolerable, but, on the whole, desirable. This is what we mean by the original contract of society; which, though perhaps, at the first institution of a state, it has, in no instance, ever been formally expressed, yet, in nature and reason, should always be understood and implied in every act of associating together. I have, in this paper, by way of introduction, settled the meaning of those pleasures of the imagination, which are the subject of my present undertaking; and endeavoured, by several considerations, to recommend to my readers, the pursuit of those pleasures: I shall in my next paper, examine the several sources whence these pleasures are derived.

5. When different things have an obvious relation.—Let but one brave, great, active, disinterested man arise, and he will be received, followed, and venerated.-Ambition creates hatred, shyness, discord, sedition, and wars.—' s.-The scribes made it their profession to study and to teach the law of Moses.-Sloth saps the foundation of every virtue, and pours upon us a deluge of crimes and evils.The ancient laws of Rome were so far from suffering a Roman citizen to be put to death, that they would not allow him to be whipped, or even to be bound.

The comfort annexed to goodness is the pious man's strength: it attaches his heart to religion: it inspires his zeal: it supports his constancy; and accelerates his progress.

Promiscuous Examples under Clearness.

We no where meet with a more splendid or pleasing show in nature, than what is formed in the heavens at the rising and setting of the sun, by the different stains of light, which show themselves in clouds in different situations.-It is the custom of the Mahometans, if they see upon the ground, any printed or written

paper, to take it up, and lay it aside carefully, as not knowing but it may contain some piece of their Alcoran.-It has not a sentiment in it, says Pope, that the author does not religiously believe. Many act so directly contrary to this method, that from a habit, which they acquired at the university, of saving time and paper, they write in so diminutive a manner, that they can hardly read what they have written.

Sixtus the fourth was, if I mistake not, a great collector at least of books.-These forms of conversation, multiplied, by degrees, and grew troublesome.-Nor does this false modesty expose us to such actions only as are indiscreet, but very often to such as are highly criminal.—I was formerly engaged in that business, but I shall never be concerned in it again.-We frequently do those things, of which we afterwards repent.-By often doing the same thing, it becomes habitual.-Frederic, seeing it was impossible, with safety, to trust his life in their hands, was obliged to take the Mahometans for his guard. The emperor refused to convert the truce at once into a definitive treaty.

The English reader, if he would see the notion explained at large, may find it in Locke's Essay on the Human Understanding. He had a grateful sense of the benefits received, and did every thing in his power to serve his benefactor.-Many persons give evident proof, that either they do not believe the principles of religion, or that they do not feel their power.—As the guilt of an officer, if he prove negligent, will be greater than that of a common servant; so the reward of his fidelity, will be proportionably greater. His labours to acquire knowledge have been productive of great success and satisfaction.

He was a man of the greatest prudence, justice, modesty, and virtue. His favour or disapprobation was governed by the suc cess or the failure of an enterprize.-If, from the earliest periods of life, we trace a youth who has been well educated, we shall perceive the wisdom of the maxims here recommended.-Though energetic brevity is not adapted alike to every subject, we ought, on every occasion, to avoid its contrary, a languid redundancy of words. It is proper sometimes to be copious, but never to be verbose.-Christ suffered, died, and rose for us.

UNITY.

Exercises, p. 97, 98, 99. Grammar, p. 163.

1. Questions. What is Unity of a sentence? Repeat and illustrate the first rule. What rule is given with regard to the length of sentences? When long sentences are necessary, how should they be constructed? Illustrate this. Why should there be a proper mixture of sentences? Repeat and illustrate rules third, fourth, and fifth.

2. Exercises. 1. a. We must avoid uniting in the same sentence, thoughts and statements which are distinct ;—

The sun approaching melts the snow, and breaks the icy fetters of the main. Here, vast sea-monsters pierce through floating islands, with arms which can withstand the crystal rock; whilst others, that of themselves seem great as islands, are, by their bulk alone, armed against all but man. The superiority which he possesses over creatures of a size and force so stupendo us, should make him mindful of his privilege of reason; and force him humbly to adore the great Creator of these wondrous frames, and the Author of his own superior wisdom.

Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. For the same reason, despair not of to-morrow; it may bring forth good as well as evil. Vex not thyself with imaginary fears. The impending black cloud, which is regarded with so much dread, may pass by harmless; or, though it should discharge the storm, yet before it breaks, thou mayst be lodged in that lowly mansion which no storms ever touch.

b. Sentences must not be extended beyond their natural close ;— Two pieces that have lately pleased me, are, one in English verse, on the antediluvian world, and the other in French, on the plurality of worlds; the one written by a divine, the other by a gentleman. Both of them are very fine in their several kinds, and on their several subjects.

2. The Examples given under Rule 1, may be rendered applicable to this.

3. During the course of the sentence, the scene should be changed as little as possible ;

A short time after this injury, he recovered; and the next day was put on board a ship, and conveyed first to Corinth, and thence to the island of Ægina.

The Britons, daily harassed by cruel inroads from the Picts, were forced to call in the Saxons for their defence. These people reduced the greater part of the island to their own power; and drove the Britons into the most remote and mountainous parts. The rest of the country, in customs, religion, and language, became wholly Saxon.

This prostitution of praise affects not only the gross of mankind, who take their notion of characters from the learned; but also the better sort of people, who, by this means, lose some part, at least, of their desire of fame, when they find it promiscuously