ment, in observance of that respect, which all men owe to truth, and consistently, he hopes, with that deference, which is confessedly due to transcendant talents. The Treatise, he believes, contains some original observations. That all of these de serve to be honoured with a favourable verdict in the court of Criticism, he has neither the presumption to insinuate, nor the vanity to suppose. If they be found subservient to the elucidation of any controverted point, be the ultimate decision what it may, the author will attain his aim. The work having been composed amidst the solicitudes and distractions of a laborious profession, the author has reason to apprehend, that some verbal inaccuracies may have escaped his attention. But, in whatever other respects the diction may be faulty, he trusts at least, that it is not chargeable with obscurity; and that he may be able to say, in the humble language of the Poet, "Ergo, fungar vice cotis, acutum "Reddere quæ ferrum valet exsors ipsa secandi." GREENWICH, 3d July, 1809. HOR. Art. Poet. INTRODUCTION. LANGUAGE consists of intelligible signs, and is the medium, by which the mind communicates its thoughts. It is either articulate, or inarticulate; artificial, or natural. The former is peculiar to man; the latter is common to all animals. By inarticulate language, we mean those instinctive sounds, or cries, by which the several tribes of inferior creatures are enabled to express their sensations and desires. By articulate language is understood a system of expression, composed of simple sounds, differently modified by the organs of speech, and variously combined. Man, like every other animal, has a natural language intelligible to all of his own species. This language, however, is extremely defective, being confined entirely to the general expression of joy, grief, fear, and the other passions, or emotions of the mind; it is, therefore, wholly inadequate to the purposes of rational intercourse, and the infinitely diversified ideas of an intelligent being. Hence arises the necessity of an artificial, or articulate language; a necessity coeval with the ex B T |