STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES.

L l c t. it! A VING begun to treat of Style, in theXI. Jafl Lecture I conlidered its fundamental quality,Perfpicuity. What I have faid of this, relateschiefly to the choice of Words. From wordsI proceed to Sentences; and as, in all writingand difeourfe , the proper compofition and ftruc-ture of Sentences is of the higheft importance , Ifhall treat of this fully. Though Perfpicuity bethe general head under which I, at prefent, con-fider Language, I fhall not confine myfelf to this'quality alone, in Sentences, but fhall enquirealfo, what is requifite for their Grace and Beau,ty: that I may bring together, under one view,all that feems neceffary to be attended to in theeonflru&ion and arrangement of words in aSentence.

Ir is not eafy to give an exact definition ofa Sentence, or Period, farther, than as it al-ways implies fome one complete propofition orenunciation of thought. Ariftotle’s definition is,