This morning when one of Lady Lizard’s daughters was looking over some hoods and ribands brought by her tirewoman, with great care and diligence, I employed no less in examining the box which contained them.
The wrong sense occasioned by this arrangement, may be easily prevented by varying it thus:
This morning when, with great care and diligence, one of Lady Lizard’s daughters was looking over some hoods and ribands, _&c._
A great stone that I happened to find after a long search by the sea-shore, served me for an anchor.
One would think that the search was confined to the sea-shore; but as the meaning is, that the great stone was found by the sea-shore, the period ought to be arranged thus:
A great stone, that, after a long search, I happened to find by the sea-shore, served me for anchor.
Next of a wrong arrangement where the sense is left doubtful; beginning, as in the former sort, with examples of the wrong arrangement of words in a member.
These forms of conversation _by degrees_ multiplied and grew troublesome.
Here it is left doubtful whether the modification _by degrees_ relate to the preceding member or to what follows. It should be,
These forms of conversation multiplied by degrees.
Nor does this false modesty expose us _only_ to such actions as are indiscreet, but very often to such as are highly criminal.
The ambiguity is removed by the following arrangement.
Nor does this false modesty expose us to such actions only as are indiscreet, _&c._
The empire of Blefuscu is an island situated to the north-east side of Lilliput, from whence it is parted _only_ by a channel of 800 yards wide.
---- from whence it is parted by a channel of 800 yards wide only.
In the following examples the sense is left doubtful by a wrong arrangement of members.
The minister who grows less by his elevation, _like a little statue placed on a mighty pedestal_, will always have his jealousy strong about him.
_Dissertation upon parties, dedication._ _Bolingbroke._
Here, so far as can be gathered from the arrangement, it is doubtful, whether the object introduced by way of simile, relate to what goes before or to what follows. The ambiguity is removed by the following arrangement.
The minister who, like a little statue placed on a mighty pedestal, grows less by his elevation, will always, _&c._