The time of the election of a poet-laureat being now at hand, it may be proper to give fome account of the rites and ceremonies anciently used at that folemnity, and only discontinued through the neglect and degeneracy of later times.

Guardian.

The term only is intended to qualify the noun degeneracy, and not the participle discontinued; and therefore the arrangement ought to be as follows:

and difcontinued through the neglect and degeneracy only, of later times.

Sixtus the Fourth was, if I mistake not, a great collector of books at least.

Letters on hiftory, vol. 1. let. 6. Bolingbroke.

The expreffion here leads evidently to a wrong fense the adverb at least, ought not to be connected with the fubftantive books, but with col lector, thus:

Sixtus the Fourth was a great collector at least, of books.

Speaking of Lewis XIV.

If he was not the greatest king, he was the best actos of majesty at least, that ever filled a throne.

Better thus:

If he was not the greatest king, he was at leaft the best actor of majesty, &c.

This arrangement removes the wrong fenfe occafioned by the juxtaposition of majesty and at leaft.

The following examples are of a wrong arrangement of members.

I have confined myself to those methods for the advancement of piety, which are in the power of a prince limited like ours by a strict execution of the laws.

A project for the advancement of religion. Swift,

The structure of this period leads to a meaning which is not the author's, viz. power limited by a ftrict execution of the laws. This wrong fenfe is removed by the following arrangement:

I have confined myself to those methods for the advancement of piety, which, by a strict execution of the laws, are in the power of a prince limited like ours.

This morning when one of Lady Lizard's daughters was looking over fome hoods and ribands brought by her tirewoman, with great care and diligence, I employed no lefs in examining the box which contained them.

Guardian, N° 4.

The

The wrong fenfe occafioned by this arrangement, may be easily prevented by varying it thus:

This morning when, with great care and diligence, one of Lady Lizard's daughters was looking over fome hoods and ribands, &c.

A great ftone that I happened to find after a long fearch by the fea-fhore, ferved me for an anchor.

Gulliver's Travels, part 1. chap. 8.

One would think that the fearch was confined to the fea-fhore; but as the meaning is, that the great stone was found by the fea-shore, the period ought to be arranged thus:

A great stone, that, after a long search, I happened to find by the fea-shore, ferved me for an anchor.

Next of a wrong arrangement where the fenfe is left doubtful; beginning, as in the former fort, with examples of the wrong arrangement of words in a member :

Thefe forms of converfation by degrees multiplied and grew troublesome, Spectator, No 119.

Here it is left doubtful whether the modification by degrees relate to the preceding member or to what follows: it should be,

Thefe forms of converfation multiplied by degrees.

Nor does this falfe modefty expofe us only to fuch ac

tions as are indifcreet, but very often to fuch as are highly criminal. Spectator, No 458.

The ambiguity is removed by the following arrangement:

Nor does this falfe modefty expofe us to fuch actions only as are indiscreet, &c.

The empire of Blefufcu is an ifland fituated to the north-eaft fide of Lilliput, from whence it is parted only by a channel of 800 yards wide.

Gulliver's Travels, part 1. chap. 5,

The ambiguity may be removed thus:

from whence it is parted by a channel of

800 yards wide only.

In the following examples the fense is left doubtful by a wrong arrangement of members.

The minifter who grows less by his elevation, like a little ftatue placed on a mighty pedestal, will always have his jealousy ftrong about him.

Differtation upon parties, dedication. Bolingbroke.

Here, fo far as can be gathered from the arrangement, it is doubtful, whether the object introduced by way of fimile, relate to what goes before or to what follows: the ambiguity is removed by the following arrangement:

The minifter who, like a little ftatue placed on a mighty pedestal, grows lefs by his elevation, will always, ¿c.

Since this is too much to afk of freemen, nay of flaves, if his expectation be not answered, fhall he form a lasting divifion upon fuch tranfient motives?

Better thus ;

Ibid.

Since this is too much to ask of freemen, nay of flaves, fhall he, if his expectations be not anfwered, form, &c.

Speaking of the fuperftitious practice of locking up the room where a perfon of diftinction dies:

The knight, feeing his habitation reduced to fo fmall a compass, and himself in a manner fhut out of his own houfe, upon the death of his mother, ordered all the apartments to be flung open, and exorcised by his chaplain. Spectator, N° 110,

Better thus:

The knight, feeing his habitation reduced to fo small a compass, and himself in a manner fhut out of his own houfe, ordered, upon the death of his mother, all the apartments to be flung open,

Speaking of fome indecencies in converfation:

As it is impoffible for fuch an irrational way of con. verfation to laft long among a people that make any profeffion of religion, or fhow of modefty, if the countrygentlemen get into it, they will certainly be left in the lurch, Spectator, No 119.

The ambiguity vanishes in the following arrange

ment;

the