and difcontinued 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 biftory, vol. 1. let. 6. Bolingbroke,

The expreffion here leads evidently to a

wrong fenfe.

The averb 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.

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

This arrangement removes the wrong fense occafioned by the juxtapofition of majesty

and at least.

Pp. 2

The

The following examples are of the wrong arrangement of members.

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

A project for the advancement of religion, Swift.

The structure of this period leads to a meaning which is not the author's, viz. power limited by a strict execution of the Jaws. This 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 daugh ters 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, N° 4.

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

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

A great stone 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 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 hap pened to find by the fea-fhore, ferved me for anchor,

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

These forms of converfation by degrees multitiplied and grew troublesome.

Spectator, No 119,

Here

Here it is left doubtful whether the modification by degrees relate to the preceding member or to what follows. It should be,

These forms of converfation multiplied by degrees.

Nor does this falfe modefty expofe us only to fuch actions as are indiscreet, but very often to such as are highly criminal. Spectator, No 458.

The ambiguity is removed by the following arrangement.

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

The empire of Blefuscu 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. 5a

The ambiguity may be removed thus:

from whence it is parted by a chan

nel of 800 yards wide only.

In the following examples the sense is left

doubtful

doubtful by a wrong arrangement of members.

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

Differtation upon parties, dedication. Bolingbroke.

Here, fo 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 minister who, like a little ftatue placed on a mighty pedestal, grows lefs by his elevation, will always, &c.

Since this is too much to ask of freemen, nay of flaves, if his expectation be not answered, fhall he form a lafting divifion upon fuch tranfient motives? Ibid.

Better thus:

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

Speaking