sign of others; but merely in consequence of some of those cross incidents of life which could not be foreseen), and sometimes to the wisest and best concerted plans.

2. It was an ancient tradition, that when the Capitol was founded by 'one of the Roman kings, the god Terminus (who presided over boundaries and was represented, according to the fashion of that age, by a large stone, alone, among all the inferior deities, refused to yield his place to Jupiter himself.

CHAPTER XVIII.

OF STRENGTH.

Q. What do you mean by the Strength of a sentence? A. The power which it possesses of making a deep impression upon the mind.

Q. What is the first requisite for obtaining strength?

A. It is, to avoid all tautology, and admit into a sen tence no words and members but such as the sense absolutely requires.

Q. What am I to understand by tautology?

A. The application of several words to express the same idea a practice which has, at all times, an enfeebling effect.

Q. Can you give an example of tautology?

A. 66

They returned back again to the same city from whence they came forth."

Q. What words are here redundant?

A. Back, again, same, from, and forth, the meaning of all which is implied in the other words of the sen

tence.

Q. What is the next rule for promoting the strength of a sen

tence?

A. To dispose of the principal words and members in such a manner that they will produce the greatest possible effect upon the mind of the reader or hearer. Q. What must we often do to accomplish this?

A. We must frequently give the words an arrangement different from that which they usually have; as, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians," which gives much more spirit to the sentiment than, "Diana of the Ephesians is great." See chapter xv.

Q. What do you call the placing of words out of their natural order?

A. Inversion or. transposition, which, when judi

ciously made, contributes both to the strength and elegance of a sentence.

Q. What is your next remark on the subject of strength?

A. It is, that a weaker assertion should never fol low a stronger; nor a shorter member one of greater length.

Q. Can you give an illustration of this principle

A. "When our passions have forsaken us, we fiat ter ourselves with the belief that we have forsaken them," is a better arrangement than, "We flatter ourselves with the belief that we have forsaken our passions, when they have forsaken us.

Q. What is your next observation on the strength of senten ces?

A. It is, to avoid, if possible, concluding them with any short, trifling, or unemphatic word.

Q. What are the words which you would include in this class? A. Some of the pronouns, several of the adverbs, and most of the prepositions.

Q. Will you exemplify what you have stated?

A. "Avarice is a crime, which wise men are often guilty of," is less forcible and dignified than “Avarice is a crime, of which wise men are often guilty."

Q. What have you farther to observe on this topic?

A. When two things are contrasted with one an other for the purpose of expressing either resemblance or opposition, a similar resemblance or opposition should be observed in the structure of the sentence. Q. Upon what principle is this rule founded?

A. Upon the principle that, when we find a corre spondence among objects, we naturally expect a similar correspondence among the words by which they are denoted.

Q. Will you give an example of this?

A. 66 The idle never make so much improvement as diligent persons," should be, "The idle never make so much improvement as the diligent.

Q. Can you correct the following sentences? It is six years ago since I paid a visit to my relations. The reason why he acted in the manner he did, was not fully and completely explained. It I mistake not, I think he is improved both in knowledge and be havior These two boys appear to be both equal in capacity.

A. It is six years since I paid a visit to my rela

tions. The reason he acted in the manner he did was never fully explained. If I mistake not, he is im proved both in knowledge and behavior. These two boys appear equal in capacity.

EXERCISES.

I. Divest the following sentences of all redundan words and members:

1. Suspend your censure so long, till your judgment on the subject car be wisely formed.

2. How many are there by whom these tidings of good news were never heard!

3. He says nothing of it himself, and I am not disposed to travel into the regions of conjecture, but to relate a narrative of facts.

4. Never did Atticus succeed better in gaining the universal love and es teem of all men.

5. These points have been illustrated in so plain and evident a manner that the perusal of the book has given me pleasure and satisfaction.

6. I was much moved on this occasion, and went home full of a grea many serious reflections.

7. This measure may afford some profit, and furnish some amusement. 8. Less capacity is required for this business, but more time is necessary 9. Thought and language act and react upon each other mutually.

II. Correct such errors, in the following passages, as arise from the improper use of copulatives, relatives, and particles employed in transition and connection:

1. The enemy said, I will pursue, and I will overtake, and I will divide the spoil.

2. There is nothing which promotes knowledge more than steady appli cation, and a habit of observation.

3. The faith he professed, and which he became an apostle of, was not nis invention.

4. Their idleness, and their luxury and pleasures, their criminal deeds, and their immoderate passions, and their timidity and baseness of mind, bave dejected them to such a degree, as to make them weary of life.

III. Correct such errors, in the following sentences, as arise from the improper position of the most im portant words:

1. I have considered the subject with a good deal of attention, upon which I was desired to communicate my thoughts.

2. Whether a choice, altogether unexceptionable, has in any country been made, seems doubtful.

3. The praise of judgment Virgil has justly contested with Homer, but his invention remains yet unrivaled.

4. Ambition creates seditions, wars, discord, and hatred.

5. Sloth pours upon us a deluge of crimes and evils, and saps the foun dation of every virtue.

6. The ancient laws of Rome were so far from suffering a Roman citize to be put to death, that they would not allow him to be bound, or even to be whipped

7. Every one who puts on the appearance of goodness, is not good. 8. Let us employ our criticism on ourselves, instead of being critics on others.

9. How will that nobleman be able to conduct himself, when reduced to poverty, who was educated only to magnificence and pleasure?

IV. Correct such errors, in the following sentences as arise from placing weaker assertions or propositions after stronger ones:

1. Charity breathes long-suffering to enemies, courtesy to strangers, and habitual kindness to friends.

2 Gentleness ought to diffuse itself over our whole behavior, to form our address, and to regulate our speech.

3. The propensity to look forward into life, is too often grossly abused, and immoderately indulged.

4. The regular tenor of a virtuous and pious life will prove the best preparation for immortality, old age, and death.

5. In this state of mind, every employment of life becomes an oppressive burden, and every object appears gloomy.

V. Correct such errors, in the following passages, as arise from concluding the sentences with inconsiderable words:

1. May the happy message be applied to us, in all the virtue, strength, and comfort of it!

2. This agreement of mankind is not confined to taste solely.

3. Such a system may be established, but it will not be supported long. 4. The doctrine of the Trinity is a mystery which we firmly believe the truth of, and humbly adore the depth of.

VI. Correct such errors, in the following sentences, as arise from not preserving some resemblance in the language and construction of the members, in which two objects are either compared or contrasted:

1. I have observed of late the style of some great ministers very much to exceed that of any other productions.

2. The old may inform the young; and the young may animate those who are advanced in life.

3. Force was resisted by force, valor opposed by valor, and art encoun tered or eluded by similar address

4 A friend exaggerates a man's virtues; an enemy inflames his crimes

CHAPTER XIX.

OF HARMONY.

Q. Can you mention any thing besides perspicuity, that gives peculiar grace to composition?

A. A smooth and easy flow of the words and members of sentences, and a freedom from all harshness of sound

ts. The reason he acted in the manner he did was never fally expiamed If I mistake not, he is im poved boc knowledge and behavior. These tw

boys appear equal in capacity.

I Dress the following sentences of all redundant wiris and members:

: Suorat wir custee so long, your judgment on the subject cat

how many are there by whom these tidings of good news were never 1 cap of homself, and I am not disposed to travel into the triste a narrative of facts.

4

numurus succeed beer in gaming the universal love and es

ans have been lustrated in so plain and evident a manner for the pers of the book has given me pleasure and satisfaction. was wat on this occasion, and went home full of a grea

The measure mer affed sume profit, and furnish some amusement. 8L COURCET I cared for this business, but more time is necessary & Thongs and anguage act and react upon each other mutually.

IL Correct such errors, in the following passages, as anse from the improper use of copulatives, relaEres, and particles employed in transition and con

pection:

1. The enemy sud, I will purste, and I will overtake, and I will divide the spal

There is nothing which remotes knowledge more than steady appli catum, and a hat of observation.

3 The fuch he professed, and which he became an apostle of, was not

4. Their adeness, and their luxury and pleasures, their criminal deeds, and their immoderate passions, and their timodity

have dejected them to such a degree, as to mak

III Correct such error

as arise from the impr portant words:

1. I have considered the n I was desired to communi 3 Whether a choice, been made, seems doub 3. The praise of jo his invention remains 4. Ambition create 5. Sloth pours T dation of every vir 6. The ancient to be put to dea be whipped