How much the imagination of such a presence must exalt a genius, we may observe _merely_ from the influence which an ordinary presence has over men.
This arrangement leads to a wrong sense: The adverb _merely_ seems by its position to affect the preceding word; whereas it is intended to affect the following words _an ordinary presence_; and therefore the arrangement ought to be thus.
How much the imagination of such a presence must exalt a genius, we may observe from the influence which an ordinary presence merely has over men.
The time of the election of a poet-laureat being now at hand, it may be proper to give some account of the rites and ceremonies anciently used at that solemnity, and only discontinued through the neglect and degeneracy of later times.
The term _only_ is intended to qualify the noun _degeneracy_, and not the participle _discontinued_; and therefore the arrangement ought to be as follows.
---- and discontinued through the neglect and degeneracy only, of later times.
Sixtus the Fourth was, if I mistake not, a great collector of books at least.
_Letters on history, vol. 1. let. 6._ _Bolingbroke._
The expression here leads evidently to a wrong sense. The adverb _at least_, ought not to be connected with the substantive _books_, but with _collector_, thus:
Sixtus the Fourth was a great collector at least, of books.
If he was not the greatest king, he was the best actor of majesty at least, that ever filled a throne.
If he was not the greatest king, he was at least the best actor of majesty, _&c._
This arrangement removes the wrong sense occasioned by the juxtaposition of _majesty_ and _at least_.
The following examples are of the wrong arrangement of members.
I have confined myself to those methods for the advancement of piety, which are in the power of a prince limited like ours by a strict execution of the laws.
_A project for the advancement of religion._ _Swift._
The structure of this period leads to a meaning which is not the author’s, _viz._ power limited by a strict execution of the laws. This wrong sense is removed by the following arrangement.
I have confined myself to those methods for the advancement of piety, which, by a strict execution of the laws, are in the power of a prince limited like ours.