A pronoun, which faves the naming a perfon or thing a fecond time, ought to be placed as near as poffible to the name of that perfon or thing. This is a branch of the foregoing rule; and with the reafon there given, another concurs, viz. That if other ideas intervene, it is difficult to recal the perfon or thing by reference:

If I had leave to print the Latin letters tranfmitted to me from foreign parts, they would fill a volume, and be a full defence against all that Mr Partridge, or his accomplices of the Portugal inquifition, will be ever able to - object; who, by the way, are the only enemies my predictions have ever met with at home or abroad.

Better thus ::

and be a full defence againft all that can be objected by Mr Partridge, or his accomplices of the Portugal inquifition; who, by the way, are, &c.

There being a round million of creatures in human figure, throughout this kingdom, whose whole fubfiitence, &c. [A modeft propofal, &c.. Swift.

Better,

There being, throughout this kingdom, a round million of creatures in human figure, whofe whole fubfiftence, &c.

Tom is a lively impudent clown, and has wit enough to have made him a pleafant companion, had it been polished and rectified by good manners.

Guardian, No 162.

It is the cuftoin 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, No 85.

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

Better thus:

It is the custom 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

or

of emotions to related objects; a principle in human nature that hath an extenfive operation: and we find this operation, even where the objects are not otherwise related than by juxtapofition of the words that exprefs them. Hence, to elevate or deprefs an object, one method is, to join it in the expreffion with another that is naturally high or low: witness the following speech of Eumenes to the Roman fenate.

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

Livy, l. 42 cap. 11.

To join the Romans with the gods in the fame enunciation, is an artful stroke of flattery, because it tacitly puts them on a level. On the other hand, when the purpofe is to degrade or vilify an object, this is done fuccefsfully 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, N° 28.

Manifold have been the judgements which Heaven from time to time, for the chaftitement of a finful people, has inflicted upon whole nations. For when the degeneracy becomes common, 'tis but juft the punishment Thould 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 Moreland, 100,000 houfes, not to mention churches 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-masters, pickpockets, and players

An infallible fcheme to pay the public debts. Swift.

Sooner

Sooner let earth, air, fea, to chaos fall,
Men, monkeys, lap-dogs, parrots, perish all.

Rape of the Lock. Circumstances in a period resemble fmall flones in a building, employ'd to fill up vacuities among thofe of a larger fize. In the arrangement of a period, fuch under-parts crowded together make a poor figure; and never are graceful but when interfperfed among the capital parts. I illuftrate this rule by the following examples.

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

Argument againft abolishing Christianity. Swift. Here two circumstances, viz. by computation and in this kingdom, are crowded together unneceffarily: they make a better appearance feparated 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 is introduced, the better; because circumftances are proper for that coolness of mind, with which we begin a period as well as a volume: in the progrefs, the mind warms, and has a greater relish for matters of importance. When a circumftance is placed at the beginning of the period, or near the beginning, the trandition 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 the principal subject, 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 unexceptionable 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, con~ fidered the fubject, c.

Swift, fpeaking of a virtuous and learned education :

And although they may be, and too often are drawn. by the temptations of youth, and the opportunities of a large fortune, into fome irregularities, when they come forward into the great world; it is ever with reluctance and compunction of mind, because their bias to virtue fill continues. [The Intelligencer, No 9.

Better,

And although, when they come forward into the great world, they may be, and too often, &c.

The bad effect of placing a circunftance laft or late in a period, will appear from the following examples.

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

Better thus:

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

Virgil, who has caft the whole fyftem of Platonic philofophy, fo far as it relates to the foul of man, into beautiful allegories, in the fixth book of his Æneid, gives us the punishment, &c. [Spectator, No 90.

Better thus:

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

And Philip the Fourth was obliged at last to conclude a peace, on terms repugnant to his inclination, to that

of

of his people, to the interest of Spain, and to that of all Europe, in the Pyrenean treaty.

Letters on hiftory, vol. 1. letter 6. Bolingbroke. Better thus:

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

In arranging a period, it is of importance to determine in what part of it a word makes the greatest figure, whether at the beginning, during the courfe, or at the clofe. The breaking filence routes the attention, and prepares for a deep impreflion at the beginning: the beginning, however, muft yield to the clofe; which being fucceeded by a paufe, affords time for a word to make its deepett impreffion*. Hence the following rule, That to give the utmoft force to a period, it ought if poffible to be closed with that word which makes the greateft figure. The opportunity of a paufe fhould not be thrown away upon acceffories, but referved for the principal object, in order that it may make a full impreffion: which is an additional reason against closing a period with a circumftance. There are however periods that admit not this ftructure; and in that cafe, the capital word ought, if poffible, to be placed in the front, which next to the clofe is the most advantageous for making an impreffion. Hence, in directing our difcourse to a man of figure, we ought to begin with his name; and one will be fenfible-of a degradation, when this rule is neglected, as it frequently is for the fake of verfe. I give the following examples.

Integer vitæ, fcelerifque purus,

Non eget Mauri jaculis, neque arcu,
Nec venenatis gravidâ fagittis,

Fufce, pharetra. [Horat. Carm 1, 1. ode 22. Je crains Dieu, cher Abner, et n'ai point d'autre crainte.

In

*To give force or elevation to a period, it ought to begin and end with a long fyllable. For a long fyllable makes naturally the ftrongeft impreffion; and of all the fyllables in a period, we are chiefly moved with the first and lait. [Demetrius Phales eus of Elocution, fed. 39.