But the following Sentence cannot possibly be understood without a careful recollection of circumstances through some pages preceding.
“All which, with the King’s and Queen’s so ample promises to him [the Treasurer] so few hours before the conferring the place on another, and the Duke of York’s manner of receiving him [the Treasurer,] after he [the Chancellor] had been shut up with him [the Duke,] as he [the Treasurer] was informed, might very well excuse him [the Treasurer] for thinking he [the Chancellor] had some share in the affront he [the Treasurer] had undergone.” Clarendon, Cont. p. 296.
“Breaking a Constitution by the very same errors, that so many have been broke before.” Swift, Contests and Dissensions, &c. Chap. 5. Here the Relative is employed not only to represent the Antecedent Noun the errors, but likewise the Preposition by prefixed to it. It ought to be, “the same errors, by which so many have been broken before.”
Again: “⸺An Undertaking; which, although it has failed, (partly &c, and partly &c,) is no objection at all to an Enterprize so well concerted, and with such fair probability of success.” Swift, Conduct of the Allies. That is, “Which Undertaking is no objection to an Enterprize so well concerted;” that is, “to itself:” he means, “the failing of which is no objection at all to it.”
[74] In the following instances the Conjunction that seems to be improperly accompanied with the Subjunctive Mode: “I cannot but bewail, that no famous modern have ever yet attempted⸺.” Swift, Tale of a Tub, Sect. v.
“So much she fears for William’s life,
That Mary’s fate she dare not mourn.”
Prior.
[75] “You are a much greater loser than me by his death.” Swift to Pope, Letter 63.
“And tho’ by heav’n’s severe decree