Tom is a lively impudent clown, and has wit enough to have made him a pleasant companion, had been polished and rectified by good manners. Guardian, No 162.

It is the custom of the Mahometans, if they fee any printed or written paper upon the ground, to take it up, and lay it afide carefully, as not knowing but it may contain fome piece of their Alcoran. Spectator, N° 85.

The arrangement here leads to a wrong fenfe, as if the ground were taken up, not paper. Better thus:

the

It is the cuftom of the Mahometans, if they fee upon the ground any printed or written paper, to take it up, &c.

The following rule depends on the communication of emotions or feelings to related objects, a principle in human nature we have had more than one occafion to mention. We find this operation, even where the objects are not otherwise related than by the juxtapofition of the words that exprefs them. Hence to elevate or depress an object, one method is, to join it in the arrangement

rangement to another that is naturally high or low. Witness the following fpeech of Eumenes to the Roman fenate.

Caufam veniendi fibi Romam fuiffe, præter cupiditatem visendi deos hominefque, quorum benefició in ea fortuna effet, fupra quam ne optare quidem auderet, etiam ut coram moneret fenatum ut Perfei conatus obviam iret. Livy, 1. 42. cap. 11.

To join the Romans with the gods in the fame enunciation, is an artful ftroke of flattery, because it tacitly puts them on a le vel. On the other hand, when the purpofe is to degrade or vilify an object, this is done fuccessfully by ranking it with one that is really low:

I hope to have this entertainment in a readiness for the next winter; and doubt not but it will please more than the opera or puppet-show.

Spectator, No 28.

Manifold have been the judgments which Hea ven from time to time, for the chastisement of a finful people, has inflicted upon whole nations. For when the degeneracy becomes common, 'tis but VOL. II.

Rr

just

just the punishment fhould be general. Of this kind, in our own unfortunate country, was that deftructive peftilence, whofe mortality was fo fatal as to sweep 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 houses, not to mention churches and ftables.

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.

Circumstances 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, whose 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 pearance feparated in the following manner.

ap

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 circumstance 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 afcending 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 circum ftance. Hence evidently the preference of the following arrangement,

Whether in any country a choice altogether un 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 fubject 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 fubje&t, &c.

4

The bad effect of placing a circumstance

laft