RULE XXI.

EXPLANATORY RELATIVE CLAUSES.

A comma is put before a relative pronoun, when the antecedent belongs to a clause which forms sense in itself, and when the relative is explanatory, not restrictive; as, Behold the emblem of thy state in flowers, which bloom and die.

RULE XXII.

RESTRICTIVE RELATIVE CLAUSES.

The comma should be omitted before a relative which restricts the general notion of the antecedent to a particular sense; as,

In the female sex, there is no charm which can supply the place of virtue. Self-denial is the sacrifice which virtue must make. A man who is of a detracting spirit will misconstrue the most innocent words that can be put together.

REMARK.

Here the assertion is not of man in general, but of a man who is of a detracting spirit; not of all innocent words, though this may be implied, but of the most innocent words that can be put together. A similar remark may be made in relation to the other examples.

Exception.-When, in such restrictive sentences, more than one word occurs between the antecedent and the relative, the clauses are separated by a comma; as,

He preaches sublimely, who lives a righteous and pious life. There is no charm in the female sex, which can supply the place of virtue.

REMARK 1. The two last rules, and the exception, may likewise be applied to sentences in which a relative is preceded by preposition, or by the adverb than; with this exception, that, when required, the comma is put before the particle; as, "I met Henry, than whom I never saw a more excellent youth." "Compassion is an emotion of which you ought never to be ashamed."-"No thought can be just, of which good sense is not the ground

work."

REMARK 2. There are many sentences in which the relative is understood, not expressed; as, "The book of Job is a poem, full of the noblest and most majestic figures." In these cases, a comma is usually put after the antecedent to the implied relative.

EXERCISES.

Write separately the sentences which require a comma before the relative, or before the preposition and relative, and those which do not admit the comma; pointing the former as you proceed:—

The mind of man should not be left without something on which to feed. -No man ever attained lasting fame who did not contradict the prejudices of popular applause.-Man that is born of a woman, is of few days. The rewards which are promised shall be given, when the works that are required will be finished. The first beauty of style is propriety without which all ornament is puerile and superfluous. There are witnesses of the fact which I have mentioned. The man who is faithfully attached to religion may be relied on with confidence. He only deserves the name of man who performs the duties of humanity. — He whom I loved is dead. — Candour is a quality which all admire. —No man continues long to respect his benefactors who allows himself freely to talk of their faults. It is barbarous to injure those from whom we have received a kindness. Those who raise envy will easily incur censure.

RULE XXIII.

THE CONCLUDING PART OF A SENTENCE, REFERRING TO PRECEDING EXPRESSIONS.

When the concluding part of a sentence refers to two or more preceding expressions, it is separated from the last expression, and the expressions from each other, by means of commas; as,

Prudence, as well as courage, was necessary. He was composed, both under the threatening, and at the approach, of a cruel and lingering death. Good men are not always found in union with, but sometimes in opposition to, the views and conduct of one another. — The New Testament consists of facts, and expositions of, comments upon, or inferences from, those facts.

Exception. When the concluding part of the sentence consists of only one word, the comma should be omitted before it; as,

Newton was not only a wise, but a good man. — - Many states were in alliance with, and under the protection of Rome.

REMARK. The latter example is more complicated in its texture, and less easy to punctuate, than if thus constructed:"Many states were in alliance with Rome, and under its protection." The truth is, that the harsher and the more ungrammatical the construction, the more difficult is it to point sentences. Yet the performance of this task shows to the greatest advantage the utility of punctuation, as it is only by its aid that the sense of such passages can be well brought out.

EXERCISES.

Write the following sentences, and point them in accordance with the preceding rule, and its exception:—

A good man will love himself too well to lose and his neighbour too well to win an estate by gaming. — Alfred the Great was not only the king but the father of his people. - I speak, not of a temporal but of an eternal interest. No one ought unnecessarily to wound the feelings or to insult the religious prepossessions of his neighbours. — Though unavoidable calamities make a part yet they make not the chief part of the vexations and sorrows that distress human life. - An inquisitive and meddling spirit often interrupts the good order and breaks the peace of society. The duty of a soldier is to obey not to direct his officer. We have taken up arms, not to betray but to defend our country. - George read as correctly spoke as fluently and behaved as well as Charles. It is grateful to perceive how widely yet chastely nature hath mixed her colours, and painted her robe. - Punishments often shock instead of harmonising with the common feeling and sense of justice. The vigilance that disinterestedly guards the firmness that at any sacrifice maintains the institutions of a free country can be found only in the enlightenment of the people. There are cheap means of conveying the articles to and of bringing them back from the premises. The buildings belong to and are in the occupation of your landlord. Not only the soldiers but the officers were disconnected. -The duration as well as the severity of the attack varies in different instances. Endeavour to alter or rather prevent the introduction of such a fashion. The British premier acted in concert with and received the cordial co-operation of the minister of France. It is from untamed passions not from wild beasts that the greatest evils arise to human society. This property belongs to unorganised as well as to organised bodies. Many things have been done as religious ceremonies which originated in and in turn cherished the meanest, vilest, and basest passions of which our nature is capable.

RULE XXIV.

THE INVERTED ORDER.

When the natural order of sentences is inverted, com

mas are used; as,

Virtue must be formed and supported, not by unfrequent acts, but by daily and repeated exertions. - Vices, like shadows, towards the evening of life, grow great and monstrous. By threads innumerable, our interests are interwoven."

REMARK. When these sentences, or others similarly constructed, are put in the natural order, the comma is omitted; as, "Virtue must be formed and supported by daily and repeated exertions, not by unfrequent acts." "Vices, like shadows, grow great and monstrous towards the evening of life." "Our interests are interwoven by threads innumerable."

Exception.

When there are only two or three short words in the inverted portion of a sentence, the comma may be omitted; as,

In youth the habits of industry are most easily acquired.God nothing is impossible.- Silver and gold have I none.

REMARK. sified Examples.

To

This exception will apply also to Rule XX. No. 3 of the Clas

EXERCISES.

Write and punctuate the following sentences; and afterwards put them in the natural order, omitting the commas, and also words when necessary:

I ask not for myself but for him. — Him that is weak in the faith receive ye. What is the right path few take the trouble of inquiring.

-It is to the unaccountable oblivion of our mortality that the world owes all its fascination.

His prætorship in Sicily what did it

produce? Hope's rainbow visions how they fade!

-

Here rests his head upon the lap of earth
A youth to fortune and to fame unknown.

He that planted the ear shall he not hear? He that formed the eye shall he not see? - In a very lucid manner the orator expressed his ideas. From the promotion of this important object the greatest benefits have been derived. Were instruction an essential circumstance in epic poetry, I doubt whether in any language a single instance could be given of this species of composition.

RULE XXV.

NUMERAL FIGURES.

With the exception of dates, figures which consist of four or more characters are pointed with a comma before every three from the end, or between each class of hundreds; as,

The tradesman owes me £1,563. 8,000,000 inhabitants in Ireland.

There are upwards of

REMARK.-Properly speaking, the point here employed is neither a grammatical nor a rhetorical point; but, for the easy understanding of the value of sums, it is exceedingly useful. The rule is inserted in this place, merely because a more appropriate situation could scarcely be found for it in the book.

EXERCISES.

Write the following sentences, and point the figures, with the exception mentioned in the rule:

Dr. Paley was born at Peterborough, in July, 1743; and expired at Bishop Wearmouth, on the 25th of May, 1805.-The sun is 883210 miles in diameter, about 2774692 miles in circumference, and distant from the earth about 95000000 of miles. Saturn revolves round the sun in an orbit, the mean distance of which from the sun is about 900 millions of miles: his whole magnitude is about 1000 times that of the earth.-Edward II. in obedience to his father's will, invaded Scotland with 100000 men. King Robert Bruce met this immense force with 30000 at Bannockburn, and defeated them with prodigious slaughter, June 25, 1314.- Add the following sums: £7963, £2865244, £23, £445, £53249070, £2320, £506978210000, £4, £489326466, £948035489009975421, £2435, £489325088, £87843680171, £3680000000000000.

REMARK,

In several works on Punctuation, another rule under this head is given; namely, that, when any form of the verb to be is followed by an infinitive, the former should be separated from the latter by a comma; as, "It was his pride, to assist the distressed.". "The highest art of the mind of man is, to possess itself with tranquillity in the hour of danger." But the propriety of this rule seems to be more than doubtful; the pause being made rather for the sake of the pronunciation, than on account of the grammatical construction of such sentences, the portions of which are very closely connected.