The treasury of knowledge and library of reference / [Samuel Maunder].

  • Maunder, Samuel, 1785-1849
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The treasury of knowledge and library of reference / [Samuel Maunder]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    49/976
    WHO IS WOUTIIY TO OPKN TUB HOOK, AND TO LOOSE THE SEALS EX. — BUT WHOM SAY YE THAT I AM ? ^ C0mpnttftou^ (Srammar. ^5 Europeans.” The unity of this sentence is destroyed by the misplaced description ] haring intimate connection, sliould not followinsr is a violation of this rule : — 1 and private life, Cicero was oppressed by a I new and cmel affliction, the death of Iiis beloved daughter Tullia; which happened I soon after her divorce from Dolabella, ■ disagreeable to her. tence, the scene should be changed as I little as possible.” In the following ex- I ample, the frequent change of scene forms ' a jumble of objects, which it is very diffi- ; cult to comprehend imder one view : — j “ This vast and gloomy landscape, I scarcely animated by a grave and taci- ! turn population, is relieved, but at long intervals, by the clusters of oaks, which surround the scattered habitations, where the peasant and his family live, pell-mell, with a part of the domestic animals, which I are fattened on the fruit of the trees I planted roimd their dwellings ; flocks of sheep wandering among the furze under the care of shepherds covered with their fleece, mounted on high stilts ; and who niight be taken at a distance for the Les- trigons, whom some learned men place in this country: such is tlie aspect of the Upper Landes.” Rule 4. — “ One principal agent should lead the sentence, and one species of construction generally preyail in it; an unnecessary mixture of active, passive, and neuter phraseologies being carefully avoided.” “ The sultan being dangerously wound- they carried him to Ills tent; and, upon hearing of the defeat of his troops, he was l>ut into a litter, which transported him to ! a place of safety.” “ It should be an in- ' dispensable rule in life, to contract ourde- sires to our present condition ; and,what- eyer may be our expectations, we should lice within the compass of what we actu- ally possess.” These sentences might be Improved thus : — “ The sultan, being dangerously wounded, was carried to his lent; and, on the defeat of his troops, was transported in a litter to aplace of safety. It should be an indispensable rule in hfe, b> contract our desires to our present condition, and, whatever are our expecta- tions, to line within the compass of what we actually possess.” Rideh—“ Unnecessary parentheses are especially to lie avoided.” ‘ Aware of the dangers which an Im- mense influx of strangers. Irritated by ttic inflammatory appeals of their factious leaders, (who, under the pretence of pro- 1 motuig parliamentary reform, have been | for a length of time past agitating the '■ minds of the labouring classes of society,) \ portended, the conservators of the public i tranquillity took every precaution adc- 1 'Plate to the occasion.’ ‘After hanging! me usual time, the IxKly was cut down, j and sold to a surgeon (fonncrly in Franco the bodies of criminals, after execution, werenpart of the hangman’s perquisites, moved to his house for dissection.’ these examples, be so long as to disturb sentiment, or oblige him to review what precedes; nor should they, as in the latter, be interjected between words in- timately conneeted : but should arise na- unconnected with it, that the sentiment inclosed might be removed without de- stroying the general sense of the period.” Rule 6 “ Sentences should never be extended beyond what seems to be their natural close. Inattention to this rule is destruetive both of strength and unity.” “ Reason is the glory of human nature, and the chief eminence by wliich we are raised above our-fellow creatures the brutes, in this loiver world.” Here the word brutes forms the natural close; what follows, only enervates the thought. OF STRENGTH. ‘‘ The strength of a sentence consists in such a selection and position of the words, and arrangement of the members, as are the most conducive to the full and explicit expression of the intended meaning.’’ Rule I. — “ A sentenee should be divested of all redundant words and members ; and the relation of uunecessary circum- stances, and such as are imimportaut, or already implied, is to be avoided.” In the following sentences the words in Italics are superfluous :—“ A great part of the population consists of small erratic hordes, luho live in a minatory state, ami have no permanent habitation.” The view of the river is intercepted hy an inter- vening hill.” “ This building contains, besides the theatre itself, which wants re- pair, a concert-room, and many vast apartments.” “ Particular care is requisite in the use of copulatives, relatives, and all the words employed either in connection or tran- sition. These have been named the joints and hinges of language. Its CToccfulncss and strength, therefore, depend, in a great measure, on the manner in which they arc employed ; and the less conspicuous this is, the closer will be the union of the various parts, and the more easily will the reader glide from one word, clause, or member, to another.” Rule 2 “ What is termed splitting of particles, that is, the separation of a pre- position, or other jiart of speech, from its regimen, ought to be os mucli os possible avoided: — “ Above all, cultivate your mind; supply it with those rich materials orkiiowlcagc, which no earthly power can licrcave you of. The clistuiioc and strcngtli of Russia prevented hlm/roni, for the present, nns/i- \ng Ills complaints to extremity. ” It has (/ic (in such a mailer) valuable sanction of Josciihus.” KEY nur WHO SAY YK THAT I AM?