upon what is faid in the first chapter about order, we find rules laid down to our hand, which leave us no task but that of applying them to the prefent question. And, firft, with refpect to the enumerating particulars of equal rank, it is laid down in the place quoted, that as there is no caufe for preferring any one before the reft, it is indifferent to the mind in what order they be viewed. And it is only neceffary to be added here, that for the fame reason, it is indifferent in what order they be named. 2dly, If a number of objects of the fame kind, differing only in fize, are to be ranged along a straight line, the most agreeable order to the eye is that of an increasing feries. In furveying a number of fuch objects, beginning at the leaft, and proceeding to greater and greater, the mind fwells gradually with the fucceffive objects, and in its progrefs has a very fenfible pleasure. Precisely for the fame reason, words expreffive of fuch objects ought to be placed in the fame order. The beauty of this figure, which may be termed a climax in fenfe, has efcaped lord Bolingbroke in the first member of the following period.

Let but one great, brave, difinterested, active man `arife, and he will be received, followed, and almost adored.

The following arrangement has fenfibly a better effect:

Let

Let but one brave, great, active, difinterested man arife, &c.

Whether the fame rule ought to be followed in enumerating men of different ranks, seems doubtful: on the one hand, a number of perfons presented to the eye in form of an increafing feries, is undoubtedly the most agreeable order: on the other hand, in every lift of names, we fet the perfon of the greatest dignity at the top, and descend gradually through his inferiors. Where the purpofe is to honour the perfons named according to their rank, the latter order ought to be followed; but every one who regards himself only, or his reader, will choose the former order. 3dly, As the sense of order directs the eye to defcend from the principal to its greatest acceffory, and from the whole to its greatest part, and in the fame order through all the parts and acceffories till we arrive at the minuteft; the fame order ought to be followed in the enumeration of fuch particulars. I shall give one familiar example. Talking of the parts of a column, the base, the shaft, the capital, these are capable of fix different arrangements, and the question is, Which is the beft? When we have in view the erecting a column, we are naturally led to exprefs the parts in the order above mentioned; which at the fame time is agreeable by afcending. But confidering the column as it stands, without reference to its erec

tion, the sense of order, as obferved above, requires the chief part to be named firft: for that reason we begin with the shaft; and the base comes next in order, that we may afcend from it to the capital. Laftly, In tracing the particulars of any natural operation, order requires that we follow the course of nature: hiftorical facts are related in the order of time: we begin at the founder of a family, and proceed from him to his defcendants: but in defcribing a lofty oak, we begin with the trunk, and ascend to the branches.

When force and liveliness of expreffion are demanded, the rule is, to fufpend the thought as long as poffible, and to bring it out full and entire at the close: which cannot be done but by inverting the natural arrangement. By introducing a word or member before its time, curiofity is raised about what is to follow; and it is agreeable to have our curiofity gratified at the clofe of the period: the pleasure we feel resembles that of feeing a ftroke exerted upon a body by the whole collected force of the agent. On the other hand, where a period is fo conftructed as to admit more than one complete clofe in the sense, the curiofity of the reader is exhaufted at the firft close, and what follows appears languid or fuperfluous: his difappointment contributes alfo to that appearance, when he finds, contrary to expectation, that the period is not yet finished. Cicero, and after him Quintilian, recommend the verb to the last place.

This method evidently tends to fufpend the sense till the close of the period; for without the verb the sense cannot be complete: and when the verb happens to be the capital word, which it frequently is, it ought at any rate to be the last, according to another rule, above laid down. I proceed as usual to illuftrate this rule by examples. The following period is placed in its natural order.

Were instruction an effential circumftance in epic poetry, I doubt whether a fingle inftance could be given of this fpecies of compofition, in any language.

The period thus arranged admits a full clofe upon the word compofition; after which it goes on languidly, and clofes without force. This blemish will be avoided by the following arrangement:

Were inftruction an effential circumstance in epic poetry, I doubt whether, in any language, a fingle instance could be given of this species of compofition.

Some of our most eminent divines have made ufe of this Platonic notion, as far as it regards the fubfiftence of our paffions after death, with great beauty and strength of reafon.

Spectator, N° 90.

Better thus:

Some of our most eminent divines have, with great beauty and ftrength of reason, made ufe of this Platonic notion, &c.

Men of the best sense have been touched, more or less, with these groundless horrors and prefages of futurity, upon surveying the most indifferent works of

nature.

Spectator, N° 505.

Better,

Upon furveying the most indifferent works of nature, men of the best sense, &c.

She foon informed him of the place he was in, which, notwithstanding all its horrors, appeared to him more fweet than the bower of Mahomet, in the company of his Balfora.

Guardian, No 167.

Better,

She foon, &c. appeared to him, in the company of his Balfora, more sweet, &c.

The Emperor was fo intent on the establishment of his abfolute power in Hungary, that he exposed the Empire doubly to defolation and ruin for the fake of it, Letters on hiftory, vol. 1. let. 7. Bolingbroke.

Better,

-that for the fake of it he exposed the empire doubly to defolation and ruin.

None of the rules for the compofition of periods are more liable to be abused, than those last mentioned; witness many Latin writers, among the moderns