Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1815-09-20
FOR THE ENQUIRER.

Pr@he@tera Lectio, {trGhrofera Praris.
LID. COKE.
A writer in the Analectic Magazine of
last year, under the Title of .4aie1fcani8ms,
has treated very important subject with
unsuitable levity, aad in style of Irony,
not the most deXterous
l shall pass over the evidences of the
Importance of language, as they are dedu-
chile from the Abstract Relations of words
to the things they are used to signify, from
the high value of correct instrument for
investigating truth, and from the great
practical evils to the welfare of mankind,
which have resulted from the abuse and
want Of precision, in the applications of
words and phrases.
These evidences are to be found in the
works Of the most illustrious writer's, from
remote age, to the present time, and are
enforced with signal strength and convic-
ton, i'll several pass gees Of Mr.. Locke's Els
say on the Human Understanding.
1t is my intention only to make some OBJ
servations, on the proper standard, by
Ueuet changes in the words already estab-
lishyA, or the introduction of new words,
may he tried, and their use adopted or re-
jected.
The English language is certainly We
~ line one-other languages in Europe,
may be more capable of expressing certain
classes of thought, sentiment, or passion,
but none is probably so we'll fitted, as the
English, to the expression of every Glass;
We may consider, as one proof of this, the
felicity, with which ShakeSpear has e5l-
pressed a vast variety OF thought, sentiment,
or passion, III almost every character, from
the Prince to the Clown, during an ERA
of the language far less perfect than the
present.
We are taught by the history of the in
fancy and progress of all the known polish
ed languages, that. independent of Political
Institution, which certainly have a great I'M
fluence, the advanced cultivation of the
sciences, of the fine arts, Of criticism and
polite literature, is essential to giving Ian
guage certain degree of perfection. Those
therefore who are alone qualified to adj
vance and perfect language, and of Course
to fix its proper standard, will be found in
the public dcliberative Assemblies of ma
tion, in the Pulpit, where the clergy arc
learned and polite, on the Stage, and a
mong men OF Letters and poi.te converse
tlon and among these persons, they who
reside, or are most conversant in the Capt.
tai of single nation, or in one or more of
the Capitals of Federal Nation, will take
the lead in forming the language, and fix
ing its Just standard. Such has been the
fact, in Athens, in ancient & modern Rome,
in Florence, in Paris, in London, and, in
later times, in some of the capitals of the
German Confederacy.
AmOsg all these People, the language Of
the great mass was more or less awkward
and incorrect. In France and England.
the people in some parts Of each country,
speak barbarous, provincial jargon, near
Iy unintelligible TO those, who only use tie
common dialect Of their respective nations
Nay, SO strictly is the formation and use OF
good language. dependent GA the literary
and polished portion of society, tbas, in the
City of London, properly so called, which
till the last age, had little TO do with the
learned world, d Cockney dialect generally