of expressing pauses of different quantity by the same points.

So that the doctrine of punctuation must needs be very imperfect: few precise rules can be given which will hold without exception in all cases; but much must be left to the judgment and taste of the writer.

On the other hand, if a greater number of marks were invented to express all the possible different pauses of pronunciation, the doctrine of them would be very perplexed and difficult, and the use of them would rather embarrass than assist the reader.

It remains, therefore, that we be content with the rules of punctuation, laid down with as much exactness as the nature of the subject will admit : such as may serve for a general direction, to be accommodated to different occasions; and to be supplied, where deficient, by the writer's judg

ment.

The several degrees of connection between sentences, and between their principal constructive parts, rhetoricians have considered under the following distinctions, as the most obvious and remarkable: the period, colon, semicolon, and

comma.

The period is the whole sentence, complete in itself, wanting nothing to make a full and perfect sense, and not connected in construction with a subsequent sentence.

The colon, or member, is a chief constructive part, or greater division, of a sentence.

The semicolon or half-member, is a less con

structive part, or subdivision, of a sentence or member.

A sentence or member is again subdivided into commas, or segments; which are the least constructive parts of a sentence or member, in this way of considering it; for the next subdivision would be the resolution of it into phrases and words.

The grammarians have followed this division of the rhetoricians, and have appropriated to each of these distinctions its mark, or point; which takes its name from the part of the sentence which it is employed to distinguish: as follows:

The period

The colon

The semicolon

The comma

is thus marked

The proportional quantity, or time, of the points, with respect to one another, is determined by the following general rule: the period is a pause in quantity or duration double of the colon: the colon is double of the semicolon; and the semicolon double of the comma. So that they are in the same proportion to one another, as the semibref, the minim, the crotchet, and the quaver, in music. The precise quantity, or duration, of each pause or note cannot be defined; for that varies with the time: and both in discourse and music the same composition may be rehearsed in a quicker or a slower time: but in music the proportion between the notes remains ever the same; and in discourse, if the doctrine of punctuation were exact, the proportion between the pauses would be ever invariable.

The points then being designed to express the pauses which depend on the different degrees of connection between sentences, and between their principal constructive parts; in order to understand the meaning of the points, and to know how to apply them properly, we must consider the nature of a sentence, as divided into its principal constructive parts, and the degrees of connection between those parts upon which such division of it depends.

To begin with the least of these principal constructive parts, the comma. In order the more clearly to determine the proper application of the point which marks it, we must distinguish between an imperfect phrase, a simple sentence, and a compounded sentence.

An imperfect phrase contains no assertion, or does not amount to a proposition or sentence. A simple sentence has but one subject, and one finite verb.

.

A compounded sentence has more than one subject, or one finite verb, either expressed or understood: or it consists of two or more simple sentences connected together.

In a sentence, the subject and the verb may be each of them accompanied with several 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 some thing, which is connected with some other; and so on.

If the several adjuncts affect the subject or the verb in a different manner, they are only so

many imperfect phrases; and the sentence is simple.

A simple sentence admits of no point, by which it may be divided, or distinguished into parts.

If the several adjuncts affect the subject or the verb in the same manner, they may be resolved into so many simple sentences; the sentence then becomes compounded, and it must be divided into its parts by points.

For, if there are several subjects belonging in the same manner to one verb, or several verbs belonging in the same manner to one subject, the subjects and verbs are still to be accounted equal in number: for every verb must have its subject, and every subject its verb; and every one of the subjects, or verbs, should or may have its point or distinction.

Examples:

The passion for praise produces excellent effects in women of sense.' Addison, Spect. N°. 73. In this sentence passion is the subject, and produces the verb; each of which is accompanied and connected with its adjuncts. The subject is not passion in general, but a particular passion determined by its adjunct of specification, as we may call it; the passion for praise. So likewise the verb is immediately connected with its object, excellent effects; and mediately, that is by the intervention of the word effects with women, the subject in which these effects are produced; which again is connected with its adjunct of spe

cification; for it is not meaned of women in general, but of women of sense only. Lastly, 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 subject of them; with sense, as the quality or characteristic of those women. The adjuncts therefore are only so many imperfect phrases; the sentence is a simple sentence, and admits of no point, by which it may be distinguished into parts.

‹ The passion for praise, which is so very vehement in the fair sex, produces excellent effects in women of sense.' Here a new verb is introduced, accompanied with adjuncts of its own; and the subject is repeated by the relative pronoun which. It now becomes a compounded sentence, made up of two simple sentences, one of which is inserted in the middle of the other; it must therefore be distinguished into its component parts by a point placed on each side of the additional sentence.

How many instances have we [in the fair sex] of chastity, fidelity, devotion! How many ladies distinguish themselves by the education of their children, care of their families, and love of their husbands; which are the great qualities and achievements of women-kind; as the making of war, the carrying on of traffic, the administration of justice, are those by which men grow famous and get themselves a name.' Ibid.

In the first of these two sentences, the adjuncts chastity, fidelity, devotion, are connected with the