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juft the punishment fhould be general. Of this kind, in our own unfortunate country, was that deftructive peftilence, whofe mortality was fo fatal as to fweep away, if Sir William Petty may be believed, five millions of Chriftian fouls, befides women and Jews.

God's revenge against punning. Arbuthnot.

Such alfo was that dreadful conflagration enfuing in this famous metropolis of London, which confumed, according to the computation of Sir Samuel Morland, 100,000 houfes, not to mention churchés and stables.

Ibid.

But on condition it might pafs into a law, I would gladly exempt both lawyers of all ages, fubaltern and field officers, young heirs, dancing-mafters, pickpockets, and players.

An infallible fcheme to pay the public debts. Swift.

Circumftances in a period refemble small ftones in a building employ'd to fill up vacancies among thofe of a larger fize. In the arrangement of a period, fuch underparts crowded together make a poor figure; and never are graceful but when interfperfed among the capital parts. I fhall illustrate this rule by the following example.

It is likewife urged, that there are, by computa tion, in this kingdom, above 10,000 parfons, whofe revenues, added to those of my Lords the bishops, would fuffice to maintain, &c.

Argument against abolishing Christianity. Swift.

Here two circumftances, viz. by computation and in this kingdom, are crowded together unneceffarily. They make a better appearance separated in the following manner.

It is likewife urged, that in this kingdom there are, by computation, above 10,000 parfons, &c.

.

If there be room for a choice, the fooner a circumftance be introduced, the better. Circumftances are proper for that coolness of mind, with which a period as well as a work is commenced. In the progress, the mind warms, and has a greater relish for matters of importance. When a circumstance is placed at the beginning or near the beginning of the period, the transition from it to the principal fubject is agreeable: it is like ascending or mounting upward. On the other hand, to place it late in the period has a bad effect; for after being engaged in Rr 2 the

the principal fubject, one is with reluctance brought down to give attention to a circumftance. Hence evidently the preference of the following arrangement,

Whether in any country a choice altogether une exceptionable has been made, feems doubtful,

before this other,

Whether a choice altogether unexceptionable has in any country been made, &c.

For this reafon the following period is exceptionable in point of arrangement:

I have confidered formerly, with a good deal of attention, the subject upon which you command me to communicate my thoughts to you.

Bolingbroke of the study of history, letter 1.

which, with a flight alteration, may be improved thus:

I have formerly, with a good deal of attention, confidered the subject, &c.

The bad effect of placing a circumstance

laft

laft or late in a period, will appear from the following examples,

Let us endeavour to establish to ourselves an intereft in him who holds the reins of the whole cretion in his hand.. Spectator, No 12,

Better thus:

Let us endeavour to establish to ourselves an intereft in him, who, in his hand, holds the reins of the whole creation.

Virgil, who has caft the whole system of Platonic philofophy, fo far as it relates to the foul of man, into beautiful allegories, in the fixth book of his Eneid, gives us the punishment, &c.

Better thus:

Spectator, No 90,

Virgil, who in the fixth book of his Æneid has caft, &c.

And Philip the Fourth was obliged at laft to con clude a peace, on terms repugnant to his inclina tion, to that of his people, to the intereft of Spain, and to that of all Europe, in the Pyrenean treaty. Letters on hiftory, vol. 1, letter 6. Bolingbroke,

Better

3

Better thus:

And at last, in the Pyrenean treaty, Philip the Fourth was obliged to conclude a peace, Sc.

In arranging a period, it is of importance to determine in what part of it a word makes the greatest figure, whether in the beginning, during the currency, or at the close. The breaking filence roufes the attention to what is faid; and therefore deeper impreffion is made at the beginning than during the currency. The beginning, however, muft yield to the clofe; which being fueceeded by a pause, affords time for a word to make its deepeft impreffion. Hence the following rule, That to give the utmost force to a period, it ought if poffible to be closed with that word which makes the greateft figure. The opportunity of a pause fhould not be thrown away upon acceffories, but referved for the principal object, in order that it may make a full impreffion. This is an additional reafon against closing a period with a circumftance. There are however periods that admit not this structure;

and

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