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


number Of its population that, while few
are continually laboring to improve its prcci-
sion and beauty, the mass of the people are
rs constantly tending to vitiate these quail
ties that, when distant and independent
nations have common language, the just
standard oft use, should be looked for, by
general consent, among that people, who O.
r'ginally formed it, and who are possessed
of the greatest stock OF the essential requi-
S tes for its Polish and Improvement that,
# the people having inferior qualifications
for accomplishing this great end, will arbi-
,rarily use the power OF coming new words
az will, Of pronouncing and combining
words ia new and uneStabliSled FORMS they
may CRAFTY an ill-tcunded variety and ca
price, but Their language will be continual
ly degenerating, and they must in the cad,
abide tn augment of the great literary
world, which will certainly be very unfa-
vorable TO their candor, good sense and
taste.
We, in America, derive our origin and
language from England. and whatever
claims We may have To competition with
her, as it regards moral habits ard political
institutions, it must BE- confessed, TINT we
foi!ow at pretty humble distance, in the
sciences and fine arts, in erudite and polite
literature.
Under the colonial plan of Government,
the state ut society and manners, the
equality of rights. tenures, and ito a con-
derable degree, OF property, produced a
tTee intercourse among the inhabitants,
and must have contributed 20 give greater
uniformity, and perhaps correctness to the
language, than the people of England col
lectiveiy exhibits. But our scanty means
OF polished education, as it respects ac-
compiished teachers. numerous and well
endowed SeTnmaricS and Libraries, models
or the fine arts, the want of frequent and
extensive conversation with the learned
and polite at home, Of the advantages e.
ven OF foreign travel, aud of the various in
centives to the pursuits of literature and
the arts which Europe affords, left us des-
titute OF that important class in European
society, The Men of LETTERS, and formed
barrier to our advancing one step, in i'm
proving the elegance and correctness of
the Language.
Since We became an independent people,
the same causes, with some abatement,
Continue to obstruct our advancement, and
are likely to operate for length OF time,
to which It would be very rash to assign q
definite period. We have not a work of e.
rudition. taste, or poetry, that can main
tain comparison, with the better kind of
models, in similar departments of writing,
afforded by the English Press.
TO produce examples of the comparative
literary merits of the two countries, is
much beyond my present purpose.
shall advert only, to some examples of
vitious pronunciation, or of words adopted
IN America, which are quite unauthorized
by the best English usage in speaking and
writaes--and these too are to be found, not
exclusively in the mass of the people, who
may be said to speak the Vulgar Tongue,
but in studied compositions, in public ora
tons and debates, and i'll select circles of
conversation.
NtiOHs Pronunciation. Obliged, pro-
nounccd Obleeged.-Erigency, EFFICIENCY.
Legislature, Legfslature.-Menace, Me
nace-Danger, Daqnger.-Does, Dooze.
--.Hngel, Anngell--
Inifiroher zvords.-Infuential, which the
labors of Johnson have alone found in one
antiquated author.-Grade, US d for Rank,
serles.-14VaHs, for the Issues or profits of
any ubject.-LozeI-Leng Reluct,
CokEde, for the act Of reluctance and
collisions To these may from the DO
puiar poems of Walter Scott, be add
ded the late introduction of Scotticisms,
and OF the terms and Idioms of Spencer,
uNSu ny some 1dVofite E.nglI Sh Poets /; the
pleasing associations which these impart to
the natives Of the different parts of Britain,
are quite lost to US, and that style of Ian
guage in our hands assumes nothing, but its
foreign, uncouth, or antquated charac-
ter.
But the most ungoverned licence of In
novatlon in the language, is to be found
III Mr.. Barlow's Columbiad. When we
reflect upon the comprehensive views, the
manly and liberal sentiments contained in
the few political tracts of Mr.. Barlow, we
cannot but regret that the fruitless time
and pains he spent in poetry, had been be-
slowed on subjects, that would have pla-
ced him in the foremost ranks of Political
philosophers.
o him, who would avoid the ril;eulc of pe-
,antry " aflcctaton, II not sufficient that word
has classical origin, be found in dictionary cs-
pecnily JOlinsons Ii must also have passed the
Judgment, and be- employed in tie general use of
those vito have the right, because they possess The
best means of settling tue Just standard Of Tie En-
glish Tongue.
ROBERT GOODLOE HARPER.
There are some things Of 80 gro,s s. outrageous
nature, AS o. make much comment unnecessary OF
TINS descriptions 70 The very precious LefierOf r. g.
harper, which has been lately submitted 20 the
People OF Mary land, TO the utter confusion and
shame OF it, Aathor. In reading it, one isat loss
whether 10 be most astonished at the imuudence
m indignant at the lalsehood of its assertions. How
hodIy does lac take sides with the enemies of his
country, and how tame does his language become.
when lac begins 10 speak of America When be
If fb. 81. q q.