unless we may supply the subject of 'seek', &c. ('some writers').
The arguments by which the abolition was attempted to be supported were founded on the rights of man.–Times.
Some mystery in regard to her birth, which, she was well informed, was assiduously, though vainly, endeavoured to be discovered.–Fanny Burney.
The close darkness of the shut-up house (forgotten to be opened, though it was long since day) yielded to the unexpected glare.—Dickens.
Those whose hours of employment are proposed to be limited.–Times.
The insignificant duties proposed to be placed on food.–Times.
The anti-liberal principles which it was long ago attempted to embody in the Holy Alliance.–Times.
Considerable support was managed to be raised for Waldemar.–Carlyle.
We may notice here a curious blunder that is sometimes made with the reflexive verb 'I avail myself of'. The passive of this is never used, because there is no occasion for it: 'I was availed of this by myself' would mean exactly the same as the active, and would be intolerably clumsy. The impossible passives quoted below imply that it and staff would be the direct objects of the active verb.
Watt and Fulton bethought themselves that, where was power was not devil, but was God; that it must be availed of, and not by any means let off and wasted.–Emerson.
Used or employed, and so in the next :
No salvage appliances or staff could have been availed of in time to save the lives of the men.–Times.
27. Confusion with Negatives
This is extraordinarily common. The instances are arranged in order of obviousness.
Yezd is not only the refuge of the most ancient of Persian religions, but it is one of the headquarters of the modern Babi propaganda, the far-reaching effects of which it is probably difficult to underestimate.–Spectator.
Not a whit undeterred by the disaster which overtook them at Cavendish-square last week...the suffragettes again made themselves prominent.–Daily Mail.
