were is in sense plural, but in grammar singular (finding, verbal noun):
Finding Miss Vernon in a place so solitary, engaged in a journey so dangerous, and under the protection of one gentleman only, were circumstances to excite every feeling of jealousy.—Scott.
2. Mistakes in the number of verbs are extremely common when a singular noun intervenes between a plural subject (or a plural noun between a singular subject) and its verb. It is worth while to illustrate the point abundantly; for it appears that real doubt can exist on the subject:—' "No one but schoolmasters and schoolboys knows" is exceedingly poor English, if it is not absolutely bad grammar' (from a review of this book, 1st ed.).
And do we wonder, when the foundation of politics are in the letter only, that many evils should arise?—Jowett.
There is much in these ceremonial accretions and teachings of the Church which tend to confuse and distract, and which hinder us...—Daily Telegraph.
This sentence, strictly taken as it stands, would mean something that the writer by no means intends it to, viz., 'Though the ceremonies are confusing, there is a great deal in them'.
An immense amount of confusion and indifference prevail in these days.—Daily Telegraph.
They produced various medicaments, the lethal power of which were extolled at large.—Times.
The partition which the two ministers made of the powers of government were singularly happy.—Macaulay.
One at least of the qualities which fit it for training ordinary men unfit it for training an extraordinary man.—Bagehot.
I failed to pass in the small amount of classics which are still held to be necessary.—Times.
The Tibetans have engaged to exclude from their country those dangerous influences whose appearance were the chief cause of our action.—Times.
Sundry other reputable persons, I know not whom, whose joint virtue still keep the law in good odour.—Emerson.
The practical results of the recognition of this truth is as follows.–W. H. Mallock.
