He would neither feparate from, nor act against them.

I give notice to the reader, that I am now rea dy to enter on the rules of arrangement; beginning with a natural ftyle, and proceeding gradually to what is the most inverted. And in the arrangement of a period, as well as in a right choice of words, the firft and great object being perfpicuity, the rule above laid down, that perfpicuity ought not to be facrificed to any other beauty, holds equally in both. Ambiguities occafioned by a wrong arrangement are of two forts; one where the arrangement leads to a wrong fenfe, and one where the sense is left doubtful. The firft, being the more culpable, shall take the lead, beginning with examples of words put in a wrong place.

How much the imagination of fuch a prefence must exalt a genius, we may obferve merely from the influence which an ordinary presence has over men.

Characteristicks, vol. 1. p. 7.

This arrangement leads to a wrong sense: the adverb merely seems by its pofition to affect the preceding word; whereas it is intended to affect the following words, an ordinary presence; and therefore the arrangement ought to be thus:

How much the imagination of fuch a prefence must exalt a genius, we may observe from the influence which an ordinary presence merely has over men. [Or, better],-which even an ordinary prefence has over men.

The

The time of the election of a poet-laureat being now at hand, it may be proper to give fome account of the rites and ceremonies anciently used at that folemnity, and only discontinued through the neglect and degeneracy of later times.

Guardian.

The term only is intended to qualify the noun degeneracy, and not the participle difcontinued; and therefore the arrangement ought to be as follows:

and discontinued through the neglect

and degeneracy only of later times.

Sixtus the Fourth was, if I mistake not, a great collector of books at least.

Letters on Hiftory, vol. 1. let. 6. Bolingbroke.

The expreffion here leads evidently to a wrong fense; the adverb at least, ought not to be connected with the fubftantive books, but with collector thus:

Sixtus the Fourth was a great collector at least of books.

Speaking of Lewis XIV.

If he was not the greatest king, he was the best actor of majesty at least, that ever filled a throne.

Ibid. letter 7.

Better

Better thus:

If he was not the greatest king, he was at least the best actor of majesty, &c

This arrangement removes the wrong fenfe occafioned by the juxtaposition of majesty and at least.

The following examples are of a wrong arrangement of members.

I have confined myself to those methods for the advancement of piety, which are in the power of a prince limited like ours by a ftrict execution of the laws.

A project for the advancement of religion. Swift.

The ftructure of this period leads to a meaning which is not the author's, viz. power limited by a strict execution of the laws. That wrong fenfe is removed by the following arrangement :

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.

This morning, when one of Lady Lizard's daughters was looking over some hoods and ribands brought by her tirewoman, with great care and diligence, I employ'd no lefs in examining the box which contained them.

Guardian, N° 4.

The

The wrong fenfe occafioned by this arrangement, may be easily prevented by varying it thus:

This morning when, with great care and diligencé, one of Lady Lizard's daughters was looking over fome hoods and ribands, &c..

A great ftone that I happened to find after a long fearch by the fea-fhore, ferved me for an anchor.

Gulliver's Travels, part 1. chap. 8.

One would think that the search was confined to the fea-fhore; but as the meaning is, that the great ftone was found by the fea-fhore, the period ought to be arranged thus:

A great ftone, that, after a long fearch, I happened to find by the fea-fhore, served me for an anchor.

Next of a wrong arrangement where the fenfe is left doubtful; beginning, as in the former fort, with examples of wrong arrangement of words in a member:

Thefe forms of converfation by degrees multiplied and grew troublefome. Spectator, No 119.

Here it is left doubtful whether the modification by degrees relates to the preceding member or to what follows: it fhould be,

Thefe forms of converfation multiplied by degrees.

VOL. II.

E

Nor

Nor does this falfe modefty expofe us only to fuch actions as are indiscreet, but very often to fuch as are highly criminal.

Spectator, N° 458.

The ambiguity is removed by the following arrangement:

Nor does this falfe modesty expose us to fuch actions only as are indifcreet, &c.

The empire of Blefufcu is an island fituated to the north-east fide of Lilliput, from whence it is parted only by a channel of 800 yards wide.

Gulliver's Travels, part 1. chap. 5.

The ambiguity may be removed thus:

from whence it is parted by a channel of

800 yards wide only.

In the following examples the sense is left doubtful by wrong arrangement of members.

The minifter who grows lefs by his elevation, like a little ftatue placed on a mighty pedestal, will always have his jealousy ftrong about him.

Differtation upon parties, Dedication. Bolingbroke.

Here, as far as can be gathered from the arrangement, it is doubtful, whether the object introduced by way of fimile, relate to what goes before or

to