the whole lump, we must allow that to fucceed in this way, muft have been the highest effort of human nature. Such indeed it was confidered, and therefore proportional pains were taken to qualify all fuch as had talents in that way, for the arduous tafk; as it was the fole object in view in their whole courfe of education, the knowlege of the military art only excepted. And what nobler object could there have been in view, than that which required, that all the faculties of man should be improved to the highest pitch of perfection? Or what happier constitution of a state, than that, which conferred power only on fuch as had a natural right to it, by pre-eminence of faculties, and abilities to serve the state? Nor was this left to opinion, nor could cunning and art avail in obtaining this preference; no, the several candidates were obliged to display their abilities before judges of the most exquifite difcernment, who gave them credit for nothing in point of talents, which they were not able to manifest. Outward appearances and shew of wisdom availed not there; a man was obliged to produce all the wealth of his mind to view, and he was rated according to the fum he produced. No one could therefore pass for rich, who was not fo. Hence their avidity of knowledge was unbounded, and confequently of power to communicate that knowlege in the readiest, clearest, and most forcible manner. For without knowlege, fpeech would have but little weight; without power of speech, knowlege would have but little value. The neceffary union of these in their highest perfection, which are the great ornaments of man, and which are the strong characteriftics that distinguish the human from the animal fpecies, naturally brought about that golden period,' to use the words of a learned and ingenious writer, which seemed a providential event, in honour of human nature, to shew to what perfection the species might ⚫ ascend.' How far the communication by the living voice, and the

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the confequential, ufe and improvement of the language of nature, as well as that of art, contributed to produce this perfection, every one may determine for himself from what has been laid before him. on that fubject.

DISSERTATION

DISSERTATION II.*

On the State of Language in other Countries, but more particularly in our own, and its Confequences.

Μ'

Y laft courfe concluded with an account of the rise and progrefs of Elocution in Greece, and the confequential improvement of the Greek language to the utmost state of perfection whereof it was capable. I shall introduce the prefent course, by taking a view of the state of language in other countries, beginning first with the most favage.

As language is nothing else but a collection of fymbols of ideas, and emotions, which pass in the mind of man, it is evident that it must correspond to the state of the mind. In countries where people have but few ideas, they will of course have but few words. Where they have but few exertions of the intellect or fancy, they will have as few marks of thofe exertions. Amongst favages therefore the language belonging to the operations of the understanding, or fancy, is scarcely known. Their ideas extend but little beyond the neceffaries of life, and their words are circumfcribed by their

* This Differtation was intended as an introduction to a Course of Lectures, not yet delivered, on the English language, and is now first offered to the public.

ideas. Accordingly we read of nations who have no terms for number beyond three. As the natives of fuch countries, are little more than mere animals, fo have they scarcely the ufe of any other but their animal faculties; and they have little more benefit from the ufe of fpeech, than what animals have in the natural language of the passions, which they enjoy in common with them, and in equal perfection. The cause of the low state of human nature in such countries, is in general the difficulty that the inhabitants find in providing daily fubfiftence, which, thro' want of the useful arts, generally employs the chief part of their time, and leaves no room for the exertion, or improvement of their nobler faculties. As they also generally live in a state of danger, the guarding against that, and taking care of self-preservation, employs whatever intervals of time there may be, not filled up with the providing of food.

AMONGST Barbarians born under lefs unhappy circumstances, who being fupplied more liberally with the neceffaries of life by the bounty of nature, and living in a state of greater security, there is leifure for the exertion of other faculties. In this time of leifure, when the animal appetites are satisfied, the mind being unrestrained by fear, and the understanding unenlightened by knowlege, fancy of courfe exerts itself, and difplays the rude powers of the imagination, in their public fports, and feftivities.

BUT as the fallies of fancy, when not under the direction of the intellect, are wild and extravagant, their language, or expreffions, must be so too; and however ufe may make them pleafing to the natives, to all of other countries they appear abfurd and ridiculous. Of this our writers of voyages and travels, have furnished us with inftances in abundance. The customs of these countries, not being founded in general, either on neceffity or reason, but chiefly on

caprice, from the fancy's bearing chief fway in forming them, are much more numerous and irregular than in the countries before defcribed; and conformable to their cuftoms is their language, more copious, more fantastical.

In states where the introduction of the arts produces trade and commerce, the ideas of the people multiply in proportion to the number of objects about which their minds are converfant; and their words, or language of ideas, increase in the fame degree. If trade be carried no farther than to fupply the conveniencies of life in a moderate degree, and it should require the exertion of constant industry to effect this, there will be little room in such states, for the improvement and exercise of the nobler faculties of the intellect and imagination, and their language, will be proportionally defective. If thro' the extenfiveness of trade and commerce, much wealth should be pour'd into fuch countries, and the fuperfluity of wealth should be converted to the purposes of the groffer kind of luxury, in gratifying chiefly the fenfual appetites, there also the improvements of the understanding and fancy will be neglected, and the language of the inhabitants accordingly circumfcribed by their fordid ideas. Such was the case of the Carthaginians of old, of whofe language, as not worth preserving, no trace remains; and amongst whom we never heard of any famous philofopher, poet, or orator; nor of any celebrated masters in the polite arts. Very fimilar to the ancient Carthaginians are the modern Dutch.

BESIDE thefe feveral ftates, there have been enormous empires in the world, fubject to defpotic rule. In governing the fubjects of fuch empires, their reason is not to be applied to, nor confequently their intellectual faculties cultivated. All their paffions alfo, but that of fear, must be kept under; they are therefore not to be go-.