Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-07-27
Literary Notices

49,; Words aud Phrases usually regarded NJ pecu
liar to the United States. BY JonS Rrs.rLl
The Ars. edition Of this valuable GLOSSARY ap.
psa,ed in 184s. and was then received with deci-
dsd Indications Of popular favor. The author
hsa since that time been more or less occupied in
preparing for its republication 80 that it now
comes TO us greatly emeuded and enlarged The
mechanical execution of the work is in the very
. bes. style Of the enterpri-iug Boston frw. from
whose establishment, it issues this is saying all
that sauid be said tor 1t in this particular.
Aithoaxh entitled IA Dictionary Of American
ism.." it is not strictly such. Many of tho words
and phrases in current use. which bear this desig-
nasioa. are Of European origin. In par. Of
sookccuntry do rrovincialsms and dialcc.c recu-
IiSrities more general bound than in the New
Eagland Siatses md yet may be safely affirmed
tina, rine- tenths cf these have been derived from
Great Britsin--chisAy fr,'m Norfolk. SafoIk, and
those other English counties that contribute most
largely to the British emigration. The foreign
element in our population has been the means If
introducing among US many expressions borrow
ed IRON tue languages of Continental Europe ;
though il is rather remarkable that We have not
received a larger addition tn our current tongue
from this souroe. We make these remarks be-
cause we have been charged us people with cor
rup,ng our veracular--by adding useless and
clumsy words, and rerverting others from their
original meaning. To some extent we must plead
guilty to the accusation hut not to tho extent
charged. Nowhere is the English language spok.
en- with greater purity than among the people ge-
perally of tho United States indeed, we may
add, nowhere is it spoken with equal purity.
This il the admission of all candid English trav.
elers.
There are, however. genuine. unadulterated
Americdnisms-- certain forms of expression that
have sprung up among US, and which are strictly
SUI gene,is; suggested by the recnlar nature Of
our institutions. the customs aud manners of the
people in different sections OF the country. physi-
cal peculiarties. the usages vi on;icr life. DC.
MANY. Of these it must be admitted. display no
great amount Of classical taste, and it were moro
TO our credit had they assumed II las permanent
form; but they are adopted in collJquial inter.
course, have found their way into newspaper and
periodical literature, ind have thus become incor
purated with the language. 1t is therefore mat.
ter VI desirable information to be sblo TO trace
tion aud import. In these respects the work uf
Mr.. Bartlett is an admirable guide; and we cor.
daily commend it to our readers as "a valuable
contribution to American lexicology.
CITATIONS AND SPEECHES oN VARIOUS Occasions.
BY EnwARp EVERETT. Ia Thrce Volumes
Boston: Little Brown Go, 1889
We are indebted To the enterprising publishers
for a copy Of this work. which is gotten up in the
elegant style for which all their publications are
justly distinguished The orations and speeches
found in those three volumes, were delivered at
various dates. beginning with the year 1924. and
coming down to 1859. OF these productions. Mr..
Everett himself says: The author. beng desi-
rous, in submitting this collection to the public,
to make a contribution tn the literature of the
country which, however humble. might at least
possess the negative merit Of beng iuotfensivc.
the speeches delivered by him on political COCA.
sions have been excluded, and nothing of party
character has been knowing admitted" The ora.
tions On Mr.. Choate, Webster's Statue, on Wash
ington. and few others, are reserved for future
publication, hut there is much in Iho volumes be.
fore us. apart from any interest in the themes dis
cussed by the eloquent orator, that will deligh,
the lovers Of pure classic literature, aud live
long ~ the English language shall be read or
spoken. As examples Of a style OF ornate md
polished oratory, in which Mr.. Everett is wthou,
. peer, We produce the following; the frs, extract
being from an address delivered before the Amer
lean Colonization Society in 1853. whilst Mr.
Everett held the offce of Secretary of STATE tho
others from his celebrated address The Uses
Of Astronomy, delivered on the occasion Of the
inauguration Of Dudley Observatory These ex
tracts, though lengthy, will repay careful peru
sal.
Sir, you cannot civilize Africa,-You Cauca
sian. YOU proud white man. you a!l-bpasting al
daring Angio-Saxon.-you cannot do this work
Y"u have suljugated Europe; the native Of
this country are melting before you, as the un
timely SHOWS Of April beneath vernal sun; you
have posseared yourselves Of India; you threaten
China and japan; the far,hest isles Of the Paci6,
are NOT distant enough to escape your grasp, OF
Insignificant enough to elude your notice; but th'
great Central Africa lies at your DOORS and defe
Jour pewer. Your war steamers and your squad
rons may range along the coast; but neither OF
the errands OF praee. nor on the errands Of war
4 can you penetrate into and long keep the interior
The Sod oi nature, Tor purposes Unsuitable, bu
: no doubt TO be reconciled with his wisdom ant
goodness has drawn u Gordon across the chief in
lets thai yvu cannotpass You may hover OF
the coast, bus wse to y"a if you attempt to make
permanent 1sdgmSnt IN the interior. Their poo
y mud-tuilt silisges will oppose resistance Il
Il your sr1s but dsatb sitr pnrtress ut their unde
. eesaedgstss.s Yellow levers, and blue plaques
and intefuittent fp0isDns, thRf you can o
sell 40 treL. newer in the mir. II you attempt y
b up che river. pe~tiience shoots from the man
groves that fringe ti,rir noble hanks and The all
einfi0us eausthat kiadlcs ererything else into lit
md p0wsr.iSfts down disease and death into you
langaid frame. Nh. no. Anglo-Saxun. this 10 m
- &c. ~.