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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 fenfe is beft doubtful. The firft, being the more culpable, fhall 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 iufluence which an ordinary prefence has over men.

Characteristics. val. 1. p. 7.

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

How much the imagination of fuch a prefence muft exalt a genius, we may obferve from the influence which an ordinary prefence merely has over men. Or, better,] which even an ordinary prefence has over men.

The time of the election of a poet-lauret being now at hand, it may be proper to give fome account of the rites and ceremonies anciently ufed at that folemnity, and only difcontinued 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 difcontinued through the negle&tand degeneracy only of later times...

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

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

The expreffion here leads evidently to a wrong fenfe;
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 majefty at leaf, that ever filled a throne.

Better thus:

1bid. letter 7.

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 juxtapofition of majesty and at least.

The following examples are of a wrong arrangement of members.

I have confined myfelf to thofe 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 ftrict execution of the laws. That wrong fenfe is removed by the following arrangement:

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 fome hoods and ribands brought by her tirewoman, with great care and diligence, I employed no lefs in examining the box which contained them.

Guardian, No. 4.

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

This morning when, with great care and diligence, 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 search by the fea-fhore, ferved me for an anchor.

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

One would think that the fearch 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, ferved 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 troublesome.

Spectator, No. 119.

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

Thefe forms of converfation multiplied by degrees:

Nor

Nor does this false modesty expose us only to fuch actions as are indifcreet, but very often to fuch as are highly criminal.

Spectator, No. 458.

The ambiguity is removed by the following arrange

ment:

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

The empire of Blefufcu is an island fituated to the north"eaft fide of Lilliput, from whence it is parted only by a channel of Soo 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 fenfe is left doubtful by wrong arrangement of members.

The minifter who grows lefs by his elevation, like a little ftatue placed on a mighty pedeftal, will always have his jealoufy 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 what follows the ambiguity is removed by the following

arrangement:

The minifter, who, like a little fatue placed on a mighty pedeftal, grows lefs by his elevation, will always, &c.

1

Since this is too much to afk of freemen, nay of flaves, if his expectation be not answered, fhall he form a lafling divifica upon fuch tranfient motives?

Better thus:

Ibid.

Since this is too much to afk of freemen, nay of flaves, fhall he, if his expectations be not anfwered, form, &c.

Speaking of the fuperftitious practice of locking up the room where a perfon of diftinction dies.

The knight fecing his habitation reduced to fo fmall a compafs, and himself in a manner fhut out of his own houfe, upon the death of his mother, ordered all the apartments to be flung open, and exercifed by his chaplain. Spectator, No. 110.

Better thus:

The knight, feeing his habitation reduced to fo small a compafs, and himself in a manner fhut out of his own houfe, ordered, upon the death of his mother, all the apartments to be flung open.

Speaking of fome indecencies in converfation:

As it is impoffible for fuch an irrational way of converfation to last long among a people that make any profes fion of religion, or fhow of modefty, if the country gentlemen get into it, they will certainly be left in the lurch.

Spectator, No. 119.

The ambiguity vanishes in the following arrange

ment.

the country gentlemen, if they get into it, will certainly be left in the lurch.

Speaking of a difcovery in natural philofophy, that colour is not a quality of matter :

As

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