The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-10-25

tanlcal gardens, and collections OF the birds,
beasts, and fishes, as well us trees and plants,
which are peculiar 10 that country, in order.
to natural history Fit. An ample field this.
Is Il net wondcrful, that il does not occur
TO the fricuds OF England in the United Prov
inces, that the best means they can use to
shew their friendship to her, is to convince
her OF her crrour. She is rushing like a
mailman down prccipice. is it humanity
or friendship to spur her op!
II is amazing that avarice itself does not
stimulate the misers who lend her money, to
stop their hands. The only chance English
credit has for salvation Is to stop short, ac-
knowledge American independcncc--mak
peace, and secure as great a share as they
can OF Anne ricsn commerce, before il be-
comes established in other channels.
Can 1t be friendship 70 England to Eli the
universe with most a5ominable lies, in order
to keep up false idea of her power and the
weakness of America3 Am 81. y..
September S, wrote to Mr.. Luxack, IN
closed is is an abridg OF "a phamplct pub
iished in London, last winter. ~ beg your
perusal Of it,and your candid opinion whether
it would be of service to our cause, which is
the cause of mankind, and especially Of Eu-
rope, to publish it. nl
This was Gqvernour Pownaps Memorial
to the Sovcreigns Of Europe, which had
procured to be translated, by mastery hand,
into very good French Mr.. Luzack publish
ed it, and it was much read and admired. II
was thought to be highly favourable to the
American cause. asl
Though the idle sport of imagination in
my next letter was as little to my. purpose
then, as il now is, yet whimical ms It is, will
not suppress it.
September $, 1880, wrote to Congress,
" AS eloquence is cultivated with more care
infrce Republickstha in other governments,
1t has been found by constant experience,
that such Republcks have produced the geat-
estpurity, copiousness, and perfection OF Ian
guage. 1t is not to be disputed, that the.
form OF government has an influehcc upon
language, and language in its turn influences
not only the form of government, but the tenn
per, the sentiments, and the manners Of the
people. The admirable models which have
been transmitted through the world and con.
tinued down to these days, SO as to form an
essential part OF the education of mankind,
from generation to generation, by those two
ancient towns, Athens and Rome, would be
sufficient, without any other argument, 10
shcwtlse the United States the importance
to their liberty, prosperity, and glory, Of an
early attention to the subject Of cIoqucncc
and language.
Most of the nations of Europe have.
thought it necessary to establish, by publick
authority, institutions for fixing and improv-
: ing their proper languages. need not mem
tion the academies in France, Spain, and Ita-
ly, their learped labours nor their great sue
cess. But IL is very remarkable, that, al-
though many learned and ingenious MN in
England, have from age TO age, projected
similar institutions for correcting and impro-
wing the English tongue, yet the government
have never found time 10 interpose in any
manncr--so that, to this day, there is no
grammar nor dictionary extant, OF the Eng.
Iish language, which has the least publick au-
thority, and it is only very lately, that toler-
able dictionary has been published even by
private person, and there is not vet a pessa-
bic grammar entcrprizcd by any indiyid-,
ual. 80
The honour Of forming IN first publick
institution for refining, correcting, ascertain
ing, and improving the English language,
hope, is reserved for Congress. They have
every motive that can possibly influence a
publick assembly to undertake it.
Il will have happy effect upon the union
OF the States, to haze pubIick landard to
which all persons ~ o|I parts Of the Continent
may appeal both for sIgnification and pronun-
citation of all words in the most predominant
language. ~ ~,
The constitutions Of all the States In the
|. Union are SO democratical, that cloqucncc
will become an instrument for recommcndinG
men to their fellow citizens, and q principal
mcan Of advancement, through the various
gradations and Offices of society.
In the last century, Latin was the uhiycr-
sal language of Europe. Correspondence a.
mons the leaned, and indeed between mcr-
chants and men Of business, and conversation
Of strangers and travellers, was generally
held in that dead language. In the present