New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-11-13
PRINCE LOUIS LCLIEN BONAFAR1E'S
VISIT TO TIE BASQUE PROVINCES.

We are indebted to the kindness of literary
gentleman of this city, for the following account Of
Prince Lucien Bonapartes linguistic researches in
France aud Spain. 1t is derived from materials
furnished BY the Prince bimsel aud has not before
appeared in print.
A great deal has lately been said in English as well
as Continental papers on the visit Of Prince LOUIS Lit
Glen Bonaparte TO the Basque Provinces OF SPAN ana
Of France and all motives have been assigned 70 e1-
cpt the right one Leaving the political sages to their
profound discoveries the reconstruction OF the an
ciopt Kingdom of Navarro and kindred subjects trust
] NAV be permitted to trespass upon your valuable
space for the purpose Of showing that the object of the
tour was specifically scientific and that very important
results though ncn-poitical ones, likely 10 ensue
from it.
Scholars Feed not he told, but the generality Of your
readers nav DC interested 20 know, that languages
lcastng of no literature and spoken by unknown
to historical fame may stin enjoy the considera
ton in the eyes OF the ngris the great cultural
languages which have ruled the fate of the world and
leA, in their literature mpcrshable monuments
Meeting the modern mind with that of remote antiquity
in an upbroken chain. Fer, 10 borrow the words of
DISTINGUISHED German scholar mat science whose
obi, ct is language, hut which primarily regards 1t only
as means through which to enter into the very es-
"
ogy and il appertans to the province OF history. ts
or ycste is Lsnerisics which has for its object Ian
puale itself and has no direct concern with the histr-
ICE lie of tie nations speaking the anRuagee-orming
in TACT part IL the natural history OF man. PHI
lolocy T. cnly where there is lterature laL-
eusee to II is but convenient tool with which to
Srssp tie intellectual life of certain yeople The
peuist ON the other hand, may be interested In the
hn6uac. Of nation hot having even the reno test
notion of the art OF writing. To him literature Is but
A welcome means for Q more close investigation Of
linguistic CONDITIONS The business OF phlology with
history which commences where the Iree Will OF man
beers: while the object of lipgulsiics Is language,
The eserce Of which il A. much beyond the control Of
the Individual for instance II Is Impossible Tor the
nch.ir gne 10 exchange its note for that OF the ARK
But what mons free Will can organicduy change as
e his boz ilv constitution belongs not 10 the prov
inc of the mind but 20 that OF nature. The bearing
Of thef RENAL upon the OF tne subject OF tins
memoir will presently be seen The ilius'li9us Prince
is ingust in the true serse Of the WORD tue range OF
his studies i, enormous extending over all the great
European families OF languages In all their "a mica
TO, 81 the isostinr Languages &c down 10 the mi.
nutest varieties. But among them he mas true
parental affection for the ptTahs OF pohte European
cotie socetv for the rugged languages OF Wild noun
tain masses ard Of isolated districts. One day we hear
of him ASTONISHING the delighted ears Of Welsh ferry
man; the next be is presiding over an Intellectual
banquet attended BY representatives. oil Inc SIX que
dialeots between whom he acts a. The Interpreter.
Even the lowy Lowand Scotch can bear testimony 70
Lis munfcence.
But 10 return 70 our more immediate object the
visit Of the Prince the Basque Provinces. II has
been well said of the Basque, that alone II remains
solitary and unknown, by the side OF the three grea,
and Powerful families of languages that divide the
kingdoms of Europe among themselves. Formerly a.
ii presuned having been spoken all over the PENN
sula it is now driven back 10 the mountain gorses Of
Biscay, and there it lives, still cherished by noble
race but unclaimed by relative friend among all the
languages Of the earth-alone snons the European
tongues bearing no keness to- and showing no atm
ity with those OF their common fatherland.'
This singular language which has hitherto bafied