and animating the expression; but when used unsparingly, they only overburden the sentence, without adding to its meaning, and show an affectation and a pedantic straining after effect. Such relative and general terms as 'great,'' good,' &c., ought not to be used too lavishly. A 'great' argument would be often better a 'forcible' or 'striking' argument; in a 'great' degree, better in a 'high' degree; 'good' measure may be 'full' measure, and a 'good' hand a skilful' hand, &c.

The same remark is applicable to adverbs. Very' would be often better expressed by truly,' or 'really' -beautifully' and nicely' by 'admirably' and 'neatly.' These remarks do not exhaust the subject, but it is hoped they may prove useful in drawing the learner's attention to this point. Adjectives and adverbs are the words which colour and give tone to language; they paint the picture, and characterise expression. Hence much of the vigour and power of writing depends upon their judicious appli

cation.

Connectives.

3. One of the most difficult points in constructing sentences is the management of connectives; for both the grace and the strength of a period will, in a great measure, depend on the skill with which its clauses are joined together. Connective particles are used in a variety of ways, and no positive rules can be laid down for their application. In this matter we must study the practice of the best writers. We shall here

show some cases in which the connection of the clauses

has been ungracefully or awkwardly managed.

When one term is governed by two different prepositions, it has always a harsh as well as an enfeebling effect; as, 'Socrates was invited to, and Euripides entertained at, his court.' Here we have both an ellipsis and a suspension of the sense, so that the effect is doubly disagreeable.

The copulative conjunction 'and' is often unnecessarily repeated, as in the following passage from one of Tillotson's sermons:

'And then those who are of an inferior condition, that they labour and be diligent in the work of an honest calling, for this is privately good and profitable unto men and to their families; and to those who are above this necessity, and are in better capacity to maintain good works properly so called, works of piety and charity and justice, that they be careful to promote and advance them, according to their power and opportunity, because these things are publicly good and beneficial to mankind.'

In this sentence the conjunction 'and' is introduced eleven times.

The omission of the relative pronoun, where it does not affect the perspicuity, is favourable to the strength of a sentence; as, 'The faith he professed, and of which he became an apostle, was not his invention.'

The omission of the relative here makes the sentence more compact, and also avoids an unnecessary repetition. Again: The officers and soldiers were prepared for the part they were to act.' 'The sole evidence we can have of the veracity of an historian consists in such collateral documents as are palpable to all, and can admit of no falsification.'

Important Words.

4. Important words should occupy a conspicuous place in a sentence. But the place to be assigned to them must depend chiefly on the construction. Though we should adopt the order most favourable to perspicuity, the most important words are in general placed at the beginning; for example:

'Age, that lessens life, increases our desire of living.'

Most of the trades, professions, and ways of living among mankind take their origin either from the love of pleasure or the fear of want."

'The wise and virtuous man is at all times willing that his own private interest should be sacrificed to the public interest of his own particular society.'

On the other hand, it is sometimes advisable to reserve the more emphatic terms for the end of the sentence, especially where the author wishes that such words should make a deep impression. In this case the sense is suspended, and the whole meaning is developed at the close of the period; for example:

'Why their knowledge is more tham ours, I know not what reason can be given but the unsearchable will of the Supreme Being.'

It is clear that if this order were inverted, the sentence would lose much of its strength and effect. Again :

'On whatever side we contemplate Homer, what principally strikes us is his wonderful invention.'

But in whatever part of the sentence we place the principal idea, it is always of the highest importance that it be clearly perceived. It should stand forth prominently; and any circumstances of time, place,

be necessary

manner, &c., which may to add, should be so disposed as not to interfere with the leading thought of the period. This rule has been disregarded in the following sentence :

'And that it was not peculiar to the gift of language or tongues only, to be given at the moment of its exertion, but common likewise to all the rest, will be shown probably, on some other occasion, more at large, in a particular treatise, which is already prepared by me, on that subject.'

Insignificant Words.

5. We should avoid closing a sentence with com

paratively insignificant words. Adverbs and prepositions, though useful as qualifiers or connectives, ought not to be placed at the close of a period, where the mind would naturally dwell on their meaning, and would thus be distracted from the more significant parts of the sentence. Sometimes, however, to mark an emphasis, or to express a strong contrast, such a disposition of words is properly adopted, as in the case of the following :—

'In their prosperity, my friends shall never hear of me; in their adversity, always.'

Here the antithesis is well managed, and the two adverbs, being emphatic, are so placed as to make a deeper impression.

But in other instances we find such words unskilfully placed; as, 'The other species of motion are incidentally blended also,' 'This agreement of mankind is not confined to the taste solely,' &c.

Some writers on Style are of opinion that we should avoid finishing a sentence with a preposition governing

a previous noun or pronoun. This rule will apply to the higher subjects of composition; but the form is idiomatic and admissible in lighter writings, such as dialogues, letters, &c. Such verbs as 'to carry on,' 'to look into,'' to escape from,' &c., are those to which the above remark will apply. There is no objection to such forms as, 'The trade which the inhabitants carried on,' 'This is not what I object to,' &c., at the close of a sentence in a familiar style. But it is better to avoid such endings when writing on more elevated or more serious subjects, and in this view the following sentences are open to criticism :—

'I therefore thought it necessary to fix and determine the notion of these two words, as I intend to make use of them in the thread of my following speculations, that the reader may conceive rightly what is the subject which I proceed upon.'

• There need no more than to make such a registry only voluntary to avoid all the difficulties that can be raised, and which are too captious, or too trivial, to take notice of.'

'It is absurd to think of judging either Ariosto or Spenser by precepts which they did not attend to.'

ON ANTITHESIS.

A period, when well-constructed, has more strength than a loose sentence, because the energy is diffused throughout the latter; whereas, in the former, it is concentrated into one point. Generally, a period should consist of but four members, but it is not necessary to adhere strictly to this rule. Good sense and cultivated taste are the best guides to direct us to avoid both prolixity and intricacy.