Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1809-10-09
FOR THE GAZETTE.
LITERARY.
NOAH WEBSTER, JUN. ESQ

Few men, it 10 believed, have . greater
Claim on the gratitude and patronage Of his
coantymen, than this gentleman As lit
erary character, he has distinguished him.
seH in an eminent degree Particularly in
his genealogical Investigations and deduc.
tions of languages, tracing Of words to their
origin, and exhibiting their roots, structure,
true import, and pronunciation, it is candid
ly believed he has excelicd every other au.
thor of modern times, either European or
American.
Mr.. Webster has been popular author,
far perhaps more than twenty years, and
his fame has probably not exceeded his use-
fulness. Since the first publication Of his
numerous school books, he has manifested q
laudabls desire Of fixing standayd Of vonun-
citation for the American youth, and the en-
enlargement which these works have met
from the public, has been very liberal and
ample. Great and numerous impressions
have issued from different presses in the
northern states and their simplified and
improved method, and intelligible-and easy
arrangement, which all can understand,
have becn generally approved (even from
necessity, and his productions have deserv-
eddy had the decided preference to all 9th.
ers Of the kind, BY great majority of the
public.
His viiieisms on the Engiish language, pub.
lished some years since, together with his
"Compendious Dictionary Of the English
Language" more recently published, tho
IN them he manifests much curious re.
search and ingenuity, seem not, as yet, to
have met the undivided support of literary
men, nor Of his fellow citizens at large.
The originality Of the author, and the at
tempts at innovation which he has discover
&c, are a sufficient foundation, in the minds
OF many, for raising obje ctions and cavils.
This was doubtless anticipated by the au-
thor. The multitude or general mass of the
people, are by no means able to decide on
the merits Of improvements of this kind and
the litersti, too often actuated by = Jealous,
cnyious, and unworthy spirit, are generally
unwilling TO license authors, however meri-
torious they may be, in departure from.
or opposition to long established authorities.
They look upon innovations, however sup
ported BY reason, as the products Of visioll-
aries and experimen,4lists. These are the
true reasons, why Mr.. Webster, and other
great original authors, in all ages, have not
only failed to meet the encourage ment
which they have merited. but have even
been opposed. Time has ever been found
necessary to effect any considerable & per.
manent change, in any long established sys-
TEN, however erroneous. Of these facts,
the history Of all ages, and common obser-
walton will abundantly testify.
That our language is susceptible Of i'm
provement, little doubt caN be entertained /;
considering that every living language, like
every living thing, (and on the same princi.
ples) is always fuctuating. 1t will occa-
sionslly need purging Of redundant words,
new cnes added, &c. as the one become OBJ
solete, and the others (both changes grow
ing out Of necessity necessarily fabricated,
to suit the convenience of time and place.
Words may also be pruned from supertlu.
Gus letters, where they are evidently Ct no
real use, but rather AN embarrassment, in
the formation OF their true sound. In short,
not only the photography, but the whole sys-
TEN OF Language, may doubtless undergo ne
cessary changes, and receive Improvement,
in the hands OF persons thoroughly acquain-
ted with its elements, origin, and prinei-
pies to which end. nothing. perhaps, viii
contribute more, than an extensive knowl-
edge Of ctymology.
On this ground, has Mr. Webster under
taken thorough revision ani correction Of
Tee Esslish language us9 particularly So