Besides particles and pronouns, any phrase which expresses à circumstance only, always appears badly in the rear of a sentence. We may judge of this by the following passage: " Let me therefore conclude by repeating, that division has caused all the mischief we lament; that union alone can retrieve it; and that a great advance towards this union, was the coalition of parties, so happily begun, so successfully carried on, and of late so unaccountably neglected; to say no worse." This last phrase,

to say no worse," occasions a falling off at the end. The proper disposition of such circumstances in a sentence, requires attention, in order to adjust them so as shall consist equally with the perspicuity and the strength of the period. Though necessary parts, they are, however, like irregular stones in a building, which try the skill of an artist, where to place them with the least offence. But it must be remembered, that the close is always an unsuitable place for them. Notwithstanding what has been said against concluding a period with an adverb, &c. this must not be understood to refer to such words, when the stress and significancy of the sentence rest chiefly upon them. In this case they are not to be considered as circumstances, but as the principal objects: as in the following sentence. "In their prosperity, my friends shall never hear of me, in their adversity, always." Here, "never" and "always" being emphatical words, were to be so placed as to make a strong impression.

The sixth rule relating to the strength of a sentence, is, that, in the members of a sentence, where two things are compared or contrasted with one another; where either a resemblance or an opposition is intended to be expressed; some resemblance, in the language and construction should be preserved. For when the things themselves correspond to each other, we naturally expect to find a similar correspondence in the words.

Thus, when it is said, "The wise man is happy when he gains his own approbation; the fool, when he recom mends himself to the applause of those about him;" the opposition would have been more complete if it had been expressed thus: "The wise man is happy when he gains his own approbation; the fool, when he gains that of others." "A friend exaggerates a man's virtues; an enemy inflames his crimes." Better thus: "A friend exaggerates a man's virtues; an enemy, his crimes."

The following passage from Pope's Preface to his Homer, fully exemplifies the rule just given: "Homer was the greater genius; Virgil, the better artist: in the one, we must admire the man, in the other, the work. Homer hurries us with a commanding impetuosity; Virgil leads us with an attractive majesty. Homer scatters with a generous profusion; Virgil bestows with a careful magnificence. Homer, like the Nile, pours out his riches with a sudden overflow; Virgil, like a river in its banks, with a constant stream.”—Periods thus constructed, when introduced with propriety, and not returning too often, have a sensible beauty. But we must beware of carrying our attention to this beauty too far. It ought only to be occasionally studied, when comparison or opposition of objects naturally leads to it. If such a construction as this be aimed at, in all our sentences, it leads to a disagreeable uniformity; produces a regularly returning clink in the period, which tires the ear; and plainly discovers affectation.

The seventh rule for promoting the strength and effect of sentences, is, to attend to the harmony and easy flow of the words and members.

Sound is a quality much inferior to sense; yet such as must not be disregarded. For, as long as sounds are the vehicle or conveyance for our ideas, there will be a very considerable connexion between the idea which is conveyed, and the nature of the sound which conveys it. Pleasing ideas, and forcible reasoning, can hardly be transmitted to the mind, by means of harsh and disagreeable sounds. The mind revolts at such sounds, and the impression of the sentiment must consequently be weakened. The observations which we have to make on this subject, respect the choice of words; their arrangement; the order and disposition of the members; and the cadence or close of sentences..

We begin with the choice of words. It is evident, that words are most agreeable to the ear, when they are composed of smooth and liquid sounds, in which there is a proper intermixture of vowels and consonants; without too many harsh consonants rubbing against each other; or too many open vowels in succession, to cause a hiatus, or disagreeable aperture of the mouth.

It may always be assumed as a principle, that whatever sounds are difficult in pronunciation, are, in the same proportion, harsh and painful to the ear. Vowels give soft.

ness; consonants, strength, to the sound of words. The melody of language requires a just proportion of each; and the construction will be hurt, will be rendered either grating or effeminate by an excess of either. Long words are commonly more agreeable to the ear than monosyllables. They please it by the composition or succession of sounds which they present to it; and accordingly, the most harmonious languages abound most in them. Among words of any length, those are the most melodious, which do not run wholly either upon long or short syllables, but are composed of an intermixture of them: such as repent, produce, wonderful, velocity, celerity, independent, impetuosity.

If we would speak forcibly and effectually, we must avoid the use of such words as the following: 1. Such as are composed of words already compounded, the several parts of which are not easily, and therefore not closely united : as, "Unsuccessfulness, wrongheadedness, tenderheartedness?" 2. Such as have the syllables which immediately follow the accented syllable, crowded with consonants that do not easily coalesce; as, “ Questionless, chroniclers, conventiclers" 3. Such as have too many syllables following the accented syllable: as, "Primarily, cursorily, summarily, peremptoriness:" 4. Such as have a short or unaccented syllable repeated, or followed by another short or unaccented syllable very much resembling: as, Holily, sillily, lowlily, farriery." A little harshness, by the collision of consonants, which nevertheless our organs find no diffi. culty in articulating, and which do not suggest to the hearer the disagreeable idea either of precipitation or of stammering, is by no means a sufficient reason for suppressing a usual term. The words hedg'd, fledg'd, wedg'd, drudg'd, grudg'd, adjudg'd, which some have thought very offensive, are not exposed to the objections which lie against the words above mentioned. We should not do well to introduce such hard and strong sounds too frequently; but when they are used sparingly and properly, they have even a good effect. They contribute to that variety in sound which is advantageous to language.

The next head, respecting the harmony which results from a proper arrangement of words, is a point of greater nicety. For, let the words themselves be ever so well chosen, and well sounding, yet, if they be ill disposed, the melody of the sentence is utterly lost, or greatly impaired, That this is the case, the learners will perceive by the fol

lowing examples. "Pleasures simple and moderate always are the best;" it would be better to say, "Simple and moderate pleasures are always the best." "Office or rank may be the recompense of intrigue, versatility, or flattery;" better thus, "Rank or office may be the recompense of flattery, versatility, or intrigue." "A great recommendation of the guidance offered by integrity to us, is, that it is by all men easily understood;" better in this form; "It is a great recommendation of the guidance offered to us by integrity, that it is easily understood by all men. " In the following examples, the words are neither selected nor arranged, so as to produce the most agreeable effect." If we make the best of our life, it is but as a pilgrimage, with dangers surrounding it:" better thus, Our life, at the best, is a pilgrimage, and dangers surround it." "We see that we are encumbered with difficulties which we cannot prevent:" better, "We perceive ourselves involved in difficulties that cannot be avoided." "It is plain to any one who views the subject, even slightly, that there is nothing here that is without allay and pure :" improved by this form; "It is evident to the slightest inspection, that nothing here is unallayed and pure."

We may take, for an instance of a sentence remarkably harmonious, the following from Milton's Treatise on Education: "We shall conduct you to a hill side, laborious indeed, at the first assent; but else so smooth, so green, so full of goodly prospects, and melodious sounds on every side, that the harp of Orpheus was not more charming." Every thing in this sentence conspires to promote the harmony. The words are well chosen; full of liquids, and soft sounds; laborious, smooth, green, goodly, melodious, charming; and these words so artfully arranged, that, were we to alter the situation of any one of them, we should, presently, be sensible of the melody's suffering.

To promote this harmonious arrangement of words, the Wing general directions will be found of some use, 1st. When the preceding word ends with a vowel, let the subsequent one begin with a consonant; and vice versa. A true friend, a cruel enemy, are smoother and easier to the voice, than a true union, a cruel destroyer. But when it is more perspicuous or convenient, for vowels or consonants to end one word and begin the next, it is proper that the vowels be a long and short one; and that the consonants be either liquid and a mute, or liquids of different sorts: thus,.

lovely offspring; a purer design; a calm retreat; are more fluent than a happy union, a brief petition, a cheap triumph, a putrid distemper, a calm matron, a clean nurse. From these examples, the student will perceive the importance of accurately understanding the nature of vowels and consonants, liquids and mutes; with the connexion and influence which subsist amongst them. 2d, In general, a considerable number of long or short words near one another should be avoided. 66 Disappointment in our expectations is wretchedness" better thus; "Disappointed hope is misery." "No course of joy can please us long :" better, "No course of enjoyment can delight us long." A succes`sion of words having the same accent on their syllables, whether it be long or short, should also be avoided. "James was needy, feeble, and fearful:" improved thus, "James was timid, feeble, and destitute." "They could not be happy; for he was silly, pettish, and sullen :" better thus ; "They could not be happy; for he was simple, peevish, and gloomy." 3d, Words which begin alike, or end alike, must not come together; and the last syllable of the preceding word, should not be the same as the first syllable of the subsequent one. It is not so pleasing and harmonious to say, "This is a convenient contrivance;" "He is an indulgent parent;" "She behaves with uniform formality;" as, "This is a useful contrivance ;" "He is a kind parent;""She behaves with unvaried formality."

We proceed to consider the members of a sentence with regard to harmony. They should not be too long, nor disproportionate to each other. When they have a regular and proportional division, they are much easier to the voice, are more clearly understood, and better remembered, than when this rule is not attended to: for whatever tires the voice, and offends the ear, is apt to mar the strength of the expression, and to degrade the sense of the author. And this is a sufficient ground for paying attention to the order and proportion of sentences, and the different parts of which they consist. The following passage exhibits sentences, wherein the different members are proportionally arranged.

Temple, speaking sarcastically of man, says, "But his pride is greater than his ignorance, and what he wants in knowledge he supplies by sufficiency. When he has looked about him as far as he can, he concludes there is no more to be seen; when he is at the end of his line he is at the bottom of the ocean; when he has shot his best, he is sure