The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-11-11
NEW WORK.

of Horne Tooke's Diyerfons of Prrley''
which formed new sera in the fcience OF
Grammar. A fecond volume was promied in
continuation ofthe fuhject but contrary to
the wiihcs of the whole literary world, it was
delayed tor comfortable time. At length
however It has appeared, to add new lufre
to the reputation of its difinguiihed Author.
This volume has not yet reached our city; but
we have fsen very elaborate critique upon
it inthe Critical Review for 1906, ACCOMPANIED
by copous extracts. The review does not pre-.
TENT US with general hetch of its con-
tents; but in the extracts which it EMPLOYS,
we Zee the fame active refearches into the
Etymo'ogy of words, the fame ingenuity
In hunting their original meaning through all
their various applications, which diNingufh-
ed the preceding volume.
The following paffaee which clofes the cad
volume, sa complete fummary of the pro-
fefied views of it's author:
Now in regard to all thefe which have mention.
cd, and many other authorizations which have not
yet mentioned; modern Engliih authors mot be-
ing aware OF what the language had ganed) have
been much divided in their opinions: whether we
ihoaid praife or cenlure thoie who, by adopting a
greatnun'ber of foreign words and Incorporating them
into the old Angloia1on language, have by degrees
produced the modern Engli!h. While fome have cal
led this Enriebizg, others have called it Determine
the original language of our auceitors which theie
latter affirm to have been efficiently adaptedto compo
h'ion to have exprefed with equal advantage propre
ty, & precon, by words from its own fource all that
we can now do by cur foreign helps But in rher de-
Carnations (or they cannot be called arguments) on
this iubec, it is evident that, both fdes, they
eoniined theni.ive the confederation merely Of
e'mbtx terms and never dreamed of the abbreyia.;-
ons in the maHnty efEsnjfeofi0a of words. Which
latter has however been much more abundant csuf.
OF borrowing foreign words than the former And
indeed 1t is true that alnoG all the t.nskx term,
(nerely asfuch) which we have adopted from other
languages might be, and many OF them WERE better
expreied IN the Anglofaxon 81 mean, better for an
AnSloiaxon becauie mere Ineligible to him. and
more homogenso1nYith tn. reG of his language
Yet am of Of Dat on different ground from
any taken by tke disclaimers on either de) tia, thoe
who by thus borrowing have produced our prefer,
EnS!ih ipeeeh, deiervc from u.s. but in yerv differ
ent degree, both thanks and ceniure, Graf thanks
III that they have introduced into the EngliG fome
moit ueful HbIrtViafisnI in Of fertilization
which the Angofaxon, well all the other North
ern languages wanted: and re cenfure in that ,bev
nave done tins ineompetely, & in Improper man.
ner The fac certainly is, that orr predeceors did
not thenie!ves know what they were doing any more
than their iucceors feen have known hitherto the
real importance and benefit of what has been done.
And OF this the Gramniars and Philofophy both of
ancients and moderns fuficient proof AN over
light much to be deplored for an, Hronply perGpa
ded land think have good realon to be fo) that
had the Greek and Latin Grammarians known & ex
planned the nature and nrinc value of the riches Of
their own language neither would their defendants
have loit any ofhoie advantages, nor would the lam
guages OF Europe have been this day in the corrupt
and deficient fate in which we, more and efs find
them For thoie languages which have borrowed
thee abbrevaous, would have avoided the partialitv
and patchwork, welas the corruptons & inproprie
ties with which theyuow abound & thoie LIVING lam
gnage' of Europe which fill want thefe ADVANTAGES
wholly, would long this have entirely lupped their
defects. f''~- '''N''
+. 1t Teens TO me that you rather ezaggerate the
importance ofhefe Authorizations. Can it be of fuch
mighty coniequence to gain i;r time in com;nun-
cation
H. Even that isimportant. But it reftsrio. there
a mort, clote, and compact method of fpeech, an
wer' the purpoie OF map upon reduced fcale: II
a'iiit' greatly the comprehension ofour unleriand
ng and,i general reckoning, frequently enables Us,
at one glance, to take in very numerous and d;nant
important relations and conclufions, which would o.
lher"he totally eiesPe US. But this objection comes
70 me with an i'll grace from you who have expreH.
20 iuch frequent naufca and dguR at the any-lepo
han Lord with hiSnumerous nrings, that excellent
political iwimu'er, whole tedious reafors you have
'iten complained, are as" two grains Of wheat hid
N two buiiels of chaGe."
And here il you pesfe we will conclude our diff
,aiIiOn for the prefent.
F. No. If you inih THIS, you will leave me
much uniatiified; nor ihs think mylelf fairly trea
ted by you
You have told me that a Ye,b is las every word
'inoit muir bc) Nun but you added that It j. sC
oneibgg and that the title Of p,L was given 70
i, on account of that di1inguihing H1etJiSr mar,
than the mere nouns convey. You have .hen pro-
reeded to the !imple Fry6 adct7yed, and to the diff
erevt SJetvd Afosds, and to the different od;>;7,J
Teeet Of the verb. But you have not all the while
explained to me what you mean by the naked Snlple
= erb @aS9isSiU'd Nor have you uttered Jingle fyl
liable concerning that 6wcfi7g which the naked verb
unattended by Mosd, Ttejt, Perrin, Np,g6,y and
6cH3sr (Which laC ALTO loms iangusges add to III fig
5iGes Moyeor BeGdss the mere Noun.
What is the HcyL1 What is that peen,iar diff
rental creumAance which, added to the definition Of
q Noun, conatutes the P,sy51
II. We will leave off here for the prefent. r. is
true that my evening snow fully come and the n;gh,
att approaching; yet IL we mall have tolsrablv
cngthened twilight, we may nil perhaps find time
enough FOR farther conversation on this fnbiea
nd inay Gf the times will bear it) to apply hi,
yiten OF language to all the different fynems Of Me-
,aPhyiieal q. e. vetbaD ImpoGue'
letter from Holland Of the 2o,h Augun a,..,
thst all the bark imported there from tie rIn;,.J
states is bad, and NOT the real Peruvian The co..
;!enan who communicated the abov. !. Of ,b. or;n;
ou, FROM a number of circumstances which h,v. g.
Cured that the bark in general ufe in this country i
only not 'he genuine Peruvian, bu, an sbfoIu,e