nexion between thofe parts upon which fuch divifion of it depends. To begin with the leaft of thefe principal constructive parts, the Comma. In order the more clearly to determine the proper application of the Point which marks it, we mult diftinguish between an imperfect phrase, a fimple fentence, and a compounded fentence. An imperfect phrafe contains no affertion, or does not amount to a propofition or fentence. A fimple fentence has but one fubject, and one finite verb. A compounded fentence has more than one fubject, or one finite verb, either expreffed or understood: or it confits of two or more fimple fentences connected together. In a fentence, the fubject and the verb may be each of them accompanied with feveral adjuncts; as the object, the end, the circumstances of time, place, manner, and the like; and the subject or verb may be either immediately connected with them, or mediately; that is, by being connected with fome thing, which is connected with fome other; and so on. If the feveral adjuncts affect the fabject or the verb in a different manner, they are only fo many imperfect phrafes; and the fentence is fimple. A fimple fentence admits of no point, by which it may be divided, or diftinguifhed into parts. If the feveral adjuncts affect the subject or the verb in the fame mani er, they may be refolved into fo many fimple fentences; the fentence then becomes compounded, and it must be divided into its parts by Points. For, if there are feveral subjects belonging in the fame manner to one verb, or feveral verbs belonging in the fame manner to one fubject, the fubjects and verbs are ftill to be accounted equal in number: for every verb must have its fubject, and every fubject its verb; and every one of the fubjects, or verbs, fhould or may have its Foint or diftinction. mined by its adjunct of specification, as we may call it; the paffion for praise. So likewife the verb is immediately connected with its object, excellent effects; and mediately, that is, by the intervention of the word effects, with women, the fubject in which these effects are produced; which again is connected with its adjunct of ípecification; for it is not meaned of women in general, but of women of fenfe only. Laftly, it is to be observed, that the verb is connected with each of these several adjuncts in a different manner; namely with effects, as the object; with women, as the fubject of them; with fenfe, as the quality or characteristic of those women. The adjuncts therefore are only fo many imperfect phrafes; the fentence is a fimple fentence, and admits of no point, by which it may be diftinguished into parts. "The paffion for praife, which is fo very vehement in the fair fex, produces excellent effects in women of fenie." Here a new verb is introduced, accompanied with adjuncts of its own; and the fubject is repeated by the relative pronoun whi.b. It now becomes a compounded sentence, made up of two fimple fentences, one of which is inferted in the middle of the other; it must therefore be diftinguished into its component parts by a point placed on each fide of the additional fentence. "How many inftances have we [in the fair fex] of chaflity, fidelity, devotion! How many ladies diftinguish themselves by the education of their children, care of their families, and love of their husbands; which are the great qualities and atchievements of women kind; as the making of war, the carrying on of traffic, the adminiftration of juftice, are those by which men grow famous, and get themselves a name!" Ibid. In the first of these two fentences, the adjuncts chastity, fidelity, devotion, are connected with the verb by the word infances in the fame manner, and in effect make fo many diftinct fentences: "how many inftances have we of chastity! how many instances have we of fidelity! how many inftances have we of devotion!" They must therefore be feparated from one another by a point. The fame may be faid of the adjuncts, " education of their children, &c." in the former part of the next fentence: as likewife of the several subjects, "the making of war, &c." in the latter part; which have in effect each their verb; for for each of thefe" is an atchievement by which men grow famous." As fentences themselves are divided into fimple and compounded, fo the members. of fentences may be divided likewife into fimple and compounded members: for whole fentences, whether fimple or compounded, may become members of other fentences by means of fome additional connexion. Simple members of fentences clofely connected together in one compounded member, or fentence, are diftinguithed or feparated by a Comma: as in the foregoing examples. So likewife, the cafe abfolute; nouns in oppofition, when confifting of many terms; the participle with fomething depending on it; are to be diftinguished by the Comma: for they may be refolved into fimple members. When an addrefs is made to a person, the noun, anfwering to the vocative cafe in Latin, is distinguished by a Comma. Examples: This faid, He form'd thee, Adam; thee, O man, Duft of the ground." "Now morn, her rofy fteps in th' eaftern clime Advancing, fow'd the earth with orient pearl." Milton. Two nouns, or two adjectives, connected by a fingle Copulative or Dif junctive, are not feparated by a point: but when there are more than two, or where the conjunction is understood, they must be diftinguished by a Comma. Simple members connected by relatives, and comparatives, are for the most part, diftinguished by a Comma: but when the members are thort in comparative fentences; and when two members are closely connected by a relative, restraining the general notion of the antecedent to a particular fenfe; the paufe becomes almost infenfible, and the Comma is better omitted. Examples: "Raptures, tranfports, and extafies, are the rewards which they confer: fighs and tears, prayers and broken hearts, are the offerings which are paid to them." Addifon, ibid. "Gods partial, changeful, paffionate, unjust, Whole attributes were rage, revenge, or luft." Pope. may be employed, though the fentence be incomplete. The Colon is also commonly used, when an example, or a fpeech, is introduced. When a fentence is fo far perfectly finished, as not to be connected in construction with the following fentence, it is marked with a Period. In all cafes, the proportion of the feveral points in respect to one another is rather to be regarded, than their fuppofed precife quantity, or proper office, when taken separately. Befides the points which mark the paufes in discourse, there are others which denote a different modulation of the voice in correspondence with the fenfe. These are Points are fufficiently explained by their The Interrogation and Exclamation names: they are indeterminate as to their quantity or time, and may be equivalent in that refpect to a Semicolon, a Colon, or a Period, as the fenfe requires. They mark an elevation of the voice. The Parenthefis inclofes in the body of a fentence a member inferted into it, which is neither neceffary to the fenfe, nor at all affects the conftruction. It marks a mo derate depreffion of the voice, with a pause greater than a Comma. Louth, END OF THE SECOND BOOK. ELEGANT fubjects, but of his fucceffor. With this view, he called Philip out of England, where the peevith temper of his queen, which increafed with her defpair of having iffue, rendered him extremely unhappy; and the jealoufy of the English left him no hopes of obtaining the direction of their affairs. Having aflembled the fates of the Low Countries, at Bruffels, on the twenty14th of Odober, one thousand five hundred and fifty-five, Charles feated nimfelf, for the last time, in the chair of flate; on one fide of which was placed his fon, and on the other his fifter, the queen of Hungary, re. gent of the Netherlands; with a fplendid retinue of the grandees of Spain. and princes of the empire, ftanding behind him, The prefident of the council of Flanders, by his command, explained, in a few words, his intention in calling this extraordinary meeting of the fates. He then read the inftrument of refignation, by which Charles furrendered to his fon Philip all his territories, jurifdiction, and authority in the Low Countries; abfolving his fubjects there from their oath of allegiance to him, which he required them to transfer to Philip, his lawful heir, and to ferve him with the fame loyalty and zeal which they had manifefted, during fo long a courfe of years, in fupport of his government. now, when his health was broken, and his vigour exhausted by the rage of an incur able diftemper, his growing infirmities admonifhed him to retire; nor was he fo fond of reigning, as to retain the fceptre in an impotent hand, which was no longer able to protect his fubjects, or to render them happy: that, inftead of a fovereign worn out with difeafes, and fcarcely half alive, he gave them one in the prime of life, accustomed already to govern, and who added to the vigour of youth, all the attention and fagacity of maturer years: that if, during the courfe of a long administration, he had committed any material error in government; or if, under the preflure of fo many and great affairs, and amidst the attention which he had been obliged to give to them, he had either neglected, or injured any of his fubjects, he now implored their forgiveness: that, for his part, he fhould ever retain a grateful fenfe of their fidelity and attachment, and would carry the remembrance of it along with him to the place of his retreat, as his fweeteft confo lation, as well as the beit reward for all his fervices; and, in his laft prayers to Almighty God, would pour forth his ardent withes for their welfare. Then, turning towards Philip, who fell on his knees, and kiffed his father's hand, "If," fays he, "I had left you by my "death, this rich inheritance, to which I "have made fuch large additions, fome regard would have been justly due to my memory on that account: but now, when "I voluntarily refign to you what I might fill have retained, I may well expect "the warmest expreffions of thanks on your part. With thefe, however, I dif"penfe; and fhail confider your concern "for the welfare of your fubjects, and your "love of them, as the best and most ac"ceptable teftimony of your gratitude to Charles then rofe from his feat, and leaning on the fhoulder of the prince of Orange, because he was unable to ftand without fupport, he addrefied himself to the audience, and, from a paper which he held in his hand, in order to affift his memory, he recounted with dignity, but without oftentation, all the great things which he had undertaken and performed fince the commencement of his administration. He obferved, that, from the feventeenth year of his age, he had dedicated all his thoughts and attention to public objects; referving no portion of his time for the indulgence of his eafe, and very little for the enjoyment of private pleafure: that, either in a pacific or hoftile manner, he had vifited give of my paternal affection; and to Germany nine times, Spain fix times, France "demonftrate, that you are worthy of the four times, Italy feven times, the Low Coun- "confidence which I repofe in you. Pretries ten times, England twice, Africa as "ferve an inviolable regard for religion; often, and had made cleven voyages by "maintain the Catholic faith in its purity; fea: that, while his health permitted him "let the laws of your country be facred in to difcharge his duty, and the vigour of " your eyes; encroach not on the rights his conftitution was equal, in any degree," and privileges of your people: and, if to the arduous office of governing fuch ex- "the time thall ever come, when you fhall tenfive dominions, he had never fhunned "wish to enjoy the tranquillity of private labour, nor repined under fatigue: that life, may you have a fon endowed with me. It is in your power, by a wife and "virtuous administration, to justify the "extraordinary proof which I this day 64 " fuch |