In the following sentence, there is an inversion of the common order of arrangement; the first compound phrase, beginning with how, being the object of the active verbs of the two last phrases.

It will be observed also, that in subdividing the compound phrase, the second line is the object of vindicate in the preceding one. The three lines within an inner bracket, are a compound circumstance, having the division of subj. and pred. for the last two lines.

any man
-

can rationally - vindicate

the publication of such a book as Paine's Age of Reason,

in a country

where the Christian religion,

is the very foundation - of the law of the land,

Another common principle is that of apposition. This also will often be indicated by that as a conjunction.

In the second phrase of the following example, we have the word affidavit as an object of the verb made. In apposition with it, we find the third, fourth and fifth compound phrases each beginning with that.

Three of the jurors

made solemn affidavit, in court,

that liquor had been conveyed into their box;\

and that, under the impression of those threats,
and worn down by watching and intoxication,

they had given a verdict of guilty against him,
though they believed him
in their conscience,
to be innocent.

CURRAN.

In a rhetorical style, however, one of the most common modes of putting clauses in apposition, is that of repeating the same word and following it with a similar construction; as is exemplified by the repetition of all in the first two phrases of the following passage.

The second phrase is subdivided by the two qualifications of the noun minds. The third, fourth and fifth phrases are qualifications of all, &c., in the first phrase. The last two lines make separate phrases, for the sake of impressiveness in winding off the period.

Thus you find all that is great, or wise, or splendid, or il[lustrious, amongst created beings,

all the minds gifted beyond ordinary nature,

if not inspired, by their Universal Author, for the advance

A parallel construction, which is generally indicated in punctuation by a dash, is occasionally a principle of phrases.

The grammatical arrangement may be that of apposition, either of subject or object; or it may exhibit an ellipsis. Vide pp. 56, 57.

The following shows an ellipsis in the last two phrases.

The infidel has no conscience

The next illustrates apposition.

Upon this, and this only,

that he believes

an intelligent

there is a just and omnipotent Godsupreme Existence.

In this example, the second phrase is in apposition with the first, and the third with the second. Vide pp. 56, 57.

It will be noticed that many of our examples are from Erskine, the most magnificent orator of the English bar. His style is an admirable illustration of the most natural construction of periods, in glowing extemporaneous delivery. It is a total

mistake to imagine that free extemporaneous speaking naturally runs in short periods. We will conclude the chapter with a splendid passage, which consists of a single sentence built up by successive phrases perpetually varying in length, and united by the simplest and most obvious constructions.

At a time

when the charges - against Mr. Hastings

1 were, by the implied consent of the Commons,

2

in every hand, and on every table ;

when, by their managers, the lightning - of eloquence

was incessantly consuming him,

and flashing in the eyes of the public;—

when every man was, with perfect impunity,

saying, and writing,

and publishing,

3

just what he pleased,

4{

of the supposed plunderer - and devastator of nations;—

would it have been criminal in Mr. Hastings - himself?

to have reminded - the public

that he was a native of this free land,

7 entitled to the common protection - of her justice,

3 {

and that he had a defence, in his turn, to offer to them,\

he implored them, in the meantime, to receive,

In the above, the commencement of each of the first three phrases is indicated by the word when—at the beginning of the fourth, we instantly notice the discontinuance of the repetition of when, and commence the interrogation-the relation of the fifth clause to the fourth is indicated by the infinitive moodthe relation of the sixth is shown by the conj. that-the seventh is in a construction of parallelism with the sixth; entitled agreeing with native-the relation of the eighth is indicated by its two conjunctions-the ninth is connected by a relative-the tenth by a conjunction.

Guided by such connecting words and constructions at the beginning of each clause, the mind of a reader instinctively divides periods of every description into their constituent phrases of utterance.

CHAPTER II.

INFLEXIONS.

IN analyzing the mental acts which take place in utterance, we have found that after conceiving words, and employing them in groups, the next step is to proceed by phrases; each of which forms the whole, or a constituent division of a grammatical clause.

These phrases are the actual weapons, so to speak, by which, in delivery, we operate on the minds of auditors. Each conveys a combination of ideas, or a brief course of thought, which possesses a true unity, and makes but a single impression on the mind.