286 On Proper Names ^ 



presented themselves. But the case is now very different, not 

 only from the causes just mentioned, but from the more gene- 

 ral diffusion of education, and the more liberal elevation of 

 merit wherever it is found. Thus we have had, of late yeard, 

 the sirnames of Smithy Johnson, Robinson^ Jenkinson, and 

 many other plebeian names, raised to the rank of nobility. 



Thirdly. It is remarkable that no trace can be found of the 

 period when the apposition of sirnames ceased in this country^ 

 For some reasons already hinted at, I am induced to believe, 

 that the practice has not existed (except accidentally) for two 

 or three centuries at least. It may be remarked, however, that 

 from the vast increase of population, the extinction of some 

 names, and the'creation of none others in their place, certain sir- 

 names have become so cgmmgn, that, to avoid confusion, anew 

 coinage will, in no long period, be found necessary. It is cer- 

 tainly a perverse incident in the history of modern nations, that 

 during the periods of scanty and stationary population, new 

 names were bestowed in profusion, and at present, when popu- 

 lation is rapidly on the increase, and the list of names conti- 

 nually diminishing by the extinction of families, no means are 

 thought of for supplying the deficiency. 



Perhaps the easiest remedy would be to authorize every in- 

 dividual of a certain prescribed list of names, such as Smithl 

 PFright, Robinsont Jones^ Johnson, Wilson, and about one 

 hundred others, to take a new name on their marriage, out of 

 a certain prescribed list prepared for that purpose. Any con- 

 fusion as respects property, rights, or liabilities, arising frona 

 this proceeding, might easily be obviated by a public registry 

 of the change, which could be accessible to all. 



These inquiries might have been pursued much further; but 

 I am apprehensive that most persons will imagine I have 

 already taken more pains than the subject deserves, and thai 

 the time devoted to it might have been much better employed. 

 To those who think thus, I can only say, that, in my opinion, 

 these detached and insulated portions of science ; these small 

 offsets (if the expression may be allowed) from the great tree 

 of knowledge, are peculiarly adapted to the purposes of a 

 Literary and Philosophical Society. The broad highways 

 of science and letters are already so much occupied by the 



