This form of connecting by prepofitions, is not confined to fubftantives. Qualities, attributes, manner of existing or acting, and all other circumftances, may in the fame manner be connected with the fubftantives to which they relate. This is done artificially by converting the circumftance into a fubftantive, in which condition it is qualified to be connected with the principal fubject by a prepofition, in the manner above defcribed. For example, the adjective wife being converted into the fubftantive wisdom, gives opportunity for the expreffion a man of wisdom," inftead of the more fimple expreffion, a wife man. This variety in the expreffion, enriches language. I obferve befide, that the using a prepofition in this cafe, is not always a matter of choice. It is indispensable with refpect to every circumftance, that cannot be expreffed by a fingle adjective or adverb.

Το pave the way for the rules of arrangement,. one other preliminary must be difcuffed, which is, to explain the difference betwixt a natural ftyle, and that where tranfpofition or inverfion prevails. There are, it is true, no precife boundaries betwixt thefe two; for they run into each other, like the fhades of different colours. No perfon. however is at a lofs to diftinguish them in their extremes; and it is neceffary to make the diftinction; because though fome of the rules I shall have occafion to mention are common to both, yet each has rules peculiar to itself. In a natural ftyle, relative words are by juxtapofition connected with thofe to which they relate, going before or after, according to the peculiar genius of the language. Again, a circumftance connected by a preposition, follows naturally the word with which it is connected. But this arrangement may be varied, when a different order is more beautiful. A circumftance may be placed before the word with

which it is connected by a prepofition; and may interjected even betwixt a relative word and that to which it relates. When fuch liberties are frequently taken, the ftyle becomes inverted or tranfpofed.

But as the liberty of inverfion is a capital point in handling the present fubject, it will be necessary to examine it more narrowly, and in particular to trace the feveral degrees in which an inverted style recedes more and more from that which is natural. And first, as to the placing a circumftance before the word with which it is connected, I obferve, that it is the easiest of all inverfion, even fo eafy as to be confiftent with a style that is properly termed natural. Witnefs the following examples.

In the fincerity of my heart, I profefs, &c. By our own ill management, we are brought to fo low an ebb of wealth and credit, that, &c.

On Thursday morning there was little or nothing tranfacted in Change-alley.

At St. Bride's church in Fleetftreet, Mr. Woolfton, (who writ against the miracles of our Saviour), in the utmoit terrors of confcience made a public recantation.

The interjecting a circumftance betwixt a relative word and that to which it relates, is more properly termed inverfion; because, by a violent disjunction of words intimately connected, it recedes farther from a natural style. But this liberty has alfo degrees; for the disjunction is more violent in fome cafes than in others. This I must also explain and to give a just notion of the difference, I must crave liberty of my reader to enter a little more into an abftract fubject, than would otherwife be my choice.

Such

In nature, though a fubftance cannot exist with-out its qualities, nor a quality without a substance; yet in our conception of these, a material difference may be remarked. I cannot conceive a quality but as belonging to fome fubject: it makes indeed a part of the idea which is formed of the subject.. But the opposite holds not. Though I cannot form a conception of a subject devoid of all qualities, a partial conception may however be formed of it, laying afide or abstracting from any particular quality. I can, for example, form the Idea of a fine. Arabian horfe without regard to his colour, or of a white horfe without regard to his fize. partial conception of a subject, is still more easy with refpect to action or motion; which is an occafional attribute only, and has not the fame per-manency with colour or figure. I cannot form an idea of motion independent of a body; but there is nothing more eafy than to form an idea of a body at reft. Hence it appears, that the degree of inverfion depends greatly on the order in which the related words are placed. When a fubftantive occupies the first place, we cannot foresee what is to be faid of it. The idea therefore which this word. fuggests, must fubfift in the mind at least for a moment, independent of the relative words afterward introduced; and if it can fo fubfift, that moment may without difficulty be prolonged by interjecting a circumstance betwixt the fubftantive and its connections. Examples therefore of this kind, will fcarce alone be fufficient to denominate a ftyle inverted. The cafe is very different, where the word that occupies the first place, denotes a quality or an action; for as thefe cannot be conceived without a subject, they cannot without greater violence be separated from the fubject that follows. And for that reafon, every fuch feparation by means of an interjected circumftance belongs to an inverted style.

Το

To illuftrate this doctrine examples being neceffary, I fhall begin with those where the word firft introduced does not imply a relation..

Nor Eve to iterate

Her former trefpafs fear'd.

Hunger and thirst at once,

Powerful perfuaders, quicken'd at the fcent
Of that alluring fruit, urg'd me fo keen.
Moon, that now meet'ft the orient fun, now fli'st
With the fix'd stars, fix'd in their orb that flies,
And ye five other wand'ring fires that move

In myftic dance not without fong, refound.

His praife.

In the following examples, where the word firft introduced imports a relation, the disjunction will be found more violent.

Of man's first difobedience, and the fruit
Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste
Brought death into the world, and all our wo,
With lofs of Eden, till one greater man
Restore us, and regain the blissful seat,
Sing heav'nly mufe.

Upon the firm opacous globe

Of this round world, whofe firft convex divides

The luminous inferior orbs, inclos'd

From chaos and th' inroad of darkness old

Satan alighted walks..

On a fudden open fly,

With impetuous recoil and jarring found,
Th' infernal doors..

Wherein remain'd,

For what could elfe? to our almighty foe
Clear victory, to our part lofs and rout.

Forth rufh'd with whirlwind found

The chariot of paternal Deity.

Language

Language would have no great power, were it confined to the natural order of ideas. A thousand beauties may be compaffed by inverfion, that must be relinquished in a natural arrangement. I fhall foon have an opportunity to make this evident. In the mean time, it ought not to escape obfervation, that the mind of man is happily fo conftituted as to relish inversion, though in one refpe&t unnatural; and to relish it so much, as in many cases to admit a violent disjunction of words that by the fenfe are intimately connected. I fcarce can fay that inverfion has any limits; though I may venture to pronounce, that the disjunction of articles, conjunctions, or prepofitions, from the words to which they belong, never has a good effect. The following example with relation to a prepofition, is perhaps as tolerable as any of the kind.

He would neither separate from, nor act against them.

I give notice to the reader, that I am now ready to enter upon 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 first and great object being perfpicuity, it is above laid down as a rule, That perfpicuity ought not to be facrificed to any other beauty whatever. 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 left doubtful. The first 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 influence which an ordinary presence has over Characteristics, vol. 1. p. 7.

men.