and detracts from roundness of period, and dignity of composition; but it certainly contributes so materially to perspicuity, that every reader must be pleased with the change. The preceding remarks have chiefly been confined to the English as a written language; but books have a much more extensive use than merely to direct the practice of writers, for they are fitted to correct the errors of conversation, and to communicate both accuracy and purity to social intercourse. Less variation, and less vulgarity of speech, will always be found among the natives of different provinces, in proportion as well written books are circulated and perused: but the standard ought always to continue the same; it should consist in a compliance with general rules, and the practice of the polished ranks of society. Such regulations rescue the standard of propriety from the caprice of individuals, and establish a barrier against the encroachments of commercial idioms, professional phraseology, vulgarity, ignorance, and pedantry. The court speaker rejects local and provincial forms of expression, for those which are general: he converses neither in the dialect of Somersetshire, nor of Norfolk, of Northumberland, nor of Cornwall, but in that elegant phraseology which has received the sanction of the best company. He neither countenances by his approbation, nor authorises by his example, new fashioned phrases or upstart words, having nothing but novelty to recommend them, whether introduced by the great or the little vulgar, the learned, or the ignorant. Upon such occasions as these, a good taste is the surest guide. The correct speaker conforms to idiom and analogy, and at the same time that he confesses his obligation to learned men, for their labours in attempting to reduce bis native language to a fixed standard, he remembers what an Englishman should never forget, that the genius of the British language, like the spirit of the British people, disdains to be encroached upon by arbitrary and fo reign reign innovations. Those who write only for the present day, labour to adorn their style with modish phrases: a popular speaker, and in particular a member of the house of commons, enjoys, or at least assumes, a sort of privilege of coining words at pleasure, which no sooner receive his sanction, than they intrude upon us from every quarter, in letters, plays, and periodical publications. Such words, however, in general resemble certain insects, which are seen to flutter for a day, and then entirely disappear. It is impossible not to join in the complaint made by foreigners, that our language in pronunciation is much at variance with its orthography. The practice of the court and the stage has multiplied these variations, which have been but too eagerly adopted in the higher classes of society. One reason assigned for this practice is agreeableness of sound but in opposition to this, two consonants are frequently sounded where only one is written, which surely can never contribute to the melody of specch; besides, that the irregularities of the English are already abundantly numerous, without making any such additions. It is fortunate, however, that the great body of the people are not much influenced by these fashionable changes, but steadily adhere to ancient established customs: it is, therefore, among them that we are to look for that regularity of writing and speaking, which some among the higher ranks, would sacrifice to caprice and a love of novelty and distinction. But it is time to close these remarks on the English language, which by the conquests, the colonies, and the commerce of this empire, is now well known in all quarters of the globe. Its reputation is every day increasing, and of late years the study of English is become indispensible, among those foreigners who wish to complete a liberal education: and without partiality or exaggeration, this language may well be said to deserve their attention, as in it are contained some of the richest treasures of the human mind; which for intellectual vigour, vigour, energy of thought, depth of erudition, warmth of imagination, and philosophical research, yield to none of any other country. For this is the language which has conveyed to the world the sublime productions of Shakespeare and Milton, the philosophical discoveries of Boyle, the profound disquisitions of Locke, the elegant essays of Addison, the polished numbers of Dryden and Pope, the nervous eloquence of Barrow, Tillotson, and Clarke, the entertaining novels of Fielding and Richardson, and the historical excellence of Clarendon, Hume, Robertson, and Henry. These eminent writers have secured the stability, as well as extended the reputation of the English tongue; and while literary curiosity retains its hold on the mind, the studious of all countries will ardently desire to enjoy such admirable productions of genius and learning, in their original dress. The prevalence and the flourishing state of our language, do not depend solely upon the inhabitants of the British Isles; in many parts of the West Indies, it is diligently cultivated; our extensive and increasing settlements in the East, promise to insure its preservation, and open a wide field for its farther diffusion. The United States of America must perpetuate the language of their parent country; and the spirit of literary and scientific inquiry, disseminating among them, cannot fail to contribute to the same end; since it will encourage the study of those celebrated productions, from which the Americans have drawn their knowledge of the best system of legislation, and the most correct principles of liberty. It is impossible, however, when we reflect on the uncertainty of all human affairs, and particularly on the mutability of language, not to give way to the melancholy ap prehension, that the period may arrive, when the English tongue, at present in appearance so durable, will become obsolete. From the caprice of fashion, the wide extent of our commercial commercial relations with the natives of all quarters of the world, our general intercourse with foreigners, and above all, from the predominancy of the French language, as much from affectation, as from any real utility; from these and other causes, great and material changes in our language, may and must take place; and Hume and Johnson, Pope, and Goldsmith, may become what Speed, and Ascham, Chaucer and Phaer, are at this day. It is, nevertheless, to be hoped, that, for the honour of true taste, and the good sense of mankind, the volumes of English literature will never sink into oblivion; that the language in which they are written, embalmed in the choicest productions of human ingenuity and labour, and fit to be ranked with the classical tongues of Greece and Rome, will be preserved for the improvement and pleasure of mankind; and will convey these master-pieces of genitis, learning, and philosophy, to the most distant generations. Having already stated some of the many advantages to be reaped from an acquaintance with the Latin and Greek languages; it will be sufficient in this place to add only a few remarks on each. A knowledge of the Latin introduces the student to many works, deservedly esteemed amongst the most elegant productions of human nature, as well as the most perfect models of literary excellence. In comparing its worth and usefulness, we are compelled to assign to this language, a place next to our own, both because the ancient Roman writers have employed it to convey to us their ideas and sentiments, on the most important subjects; and also, that Latin has been used by many of the most eminent modern authors on various occasions. The utility of Latin will be still more apparent, if we consider how much the English owes to it, for terms of art and science, and even for most of our polysyllables. So much is this the case that, without the intervention of Latin, it is almost impossible to write or speak a sentence of elegant English: hence, the student of Latin is, in fact, making great progress in the knowledge of his own language, at the same time that he is laying the foundation for the future acquirement of the French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese languages, of all which, the ancient Latin constitutes by far the greatest portion. Whilst the Romans were masters of the world, and even since the restoration of literature, the Latin has had the best pretensions to be considered as an universal tongue; and as such it has been cultivated by every enlightened nation. There is no branch of learning, no discovery of art, no system of science, nay, we may say, no topic of liberal inquiry, which has not owed its expression, illustration, and ornament, to this language. It has at all times served to carry on communication between men of letters, of whom many, instead of their native tongues, as being either imperfect in themselves, or little known to foreign. ers, have adopted the language of ancient Rome, to publish to the world their most valuable productions :-in this language were composed the admirable works of Erasmus, Grotius, Puffendorf, Boerhaave, Bacon, Newton and Gravina. These éminent men considered that modern languages are in a state of continual fluctuation, and subject to the caprices of fashion and novelty; whilst the Latin is fixed and permanent. The language once used by the conquerors of the world, is also used at this day to express the feelings of affection, gratitude, honour, and veneration; it is inscribed on public edifices, it distinguishes the monuments and the medals of every country in Europe; and transmits to future ages the memory of scholars, philosophers, patriots, and heroes, in terms which, for precision and dignity, can be equalled by ne modern tongue. VOL, I. I Over |