On the Hijtory of a Ph'ihjophical Language, 34iS'^ 



together in an orchellra, perfectly unacquainted with each other, let the parts of the' 

 fame fymphony be diftributed among them, and they will, by performing the mufical compo- 

 fition, afford a convi6lion, that, in fpite of the difference of language, the mufical pafigraphy 

 reprefents the fame ideas to them all. — But in thefe feveral cafes of arithmetic, algebra^ 

 mufic, &c. it is evident, that nothing more has happened, than that all the profeflbrs 

 have been previoufly induced to learn one common language. This confideration caufes 

 the miracle to vanifh. 



As an univerfal language, the pafigraphy is therefore a mere pretenfion : but there is 

 another point of view under which it may be confidered ; as a philofophical language, 

 better conflruifled than all our ancient languages, which are the produ6ls of chance, ca- 

 price, and frequently of ignorance. There is no doubt but a profound metaphyfician, medi- 

 tating at leifure in his clofet, and modeliing all his exprefllons from the type of the original 

 ideas, might fucceed in forming a language more fimple, and in every refpedl fuperior to 

 that which we fpeak. This would be the language which we might then advife all nations 

 to adopt, if they would confent to abandon their mother^ tongue and acquire a language 

 common to all men : but this- language, perfeft as it might be, would not, in its own 

 nature, be an univerfal language. We fhould always fpeak erroneoufly, if we were to affert, 

 that the Portuguefe and the Indian, each writing his own language but with other cha- 

 racSlers, might underftand each other. On the contrary, we ought to fay, that if both 

 acquire the philofophical language, or pafigraphy, they will underftand each other. 



The whole edifice of this pretended difcovery is therefore reduced to the propofal of a 

 new language more fimple, more accurately eftabliflied upon the generation of our ideas, 

 and which, on that account, is better adapted than any other to become the univerfallan- 

 guage, admitting it to be poffible to introduce fuch a general medium. 



But this propofition is not at all new, and cannot therefore be called a difcovery. It has 

 already been made by feveral men of the firft rank in point of ability, who have acquired 

 nothing more than the name of ingenious inventors, without prevailing on other perfons to 

 fecond their efforts. 



A good hiftory of pafigraphy would not be an ufelefs work ; neither would it be very 

 eafy to write fuch a treatife. The materials are fcattered through a multitude of fcarce 

 books not eafy to be colleded. 



In this hiftory we fhould fee what efforts have formerly been employed to confine 

 human language within general and determinate rules ; what principles have already been 

 laid down, and the progrefs which this art has made in a few philofophical minds. We 

 fhould judge to what extent the modern pafigraph has availed himfelf of, or departed from, 

 the ideas of his predeceffors. We can only prefent a few unconnected portions of this 

 hiftory*. 



It is known, that lord Bacon of V'erulam comprehended nearly the whole of human 

 knowledge ; that he difcerned almoft every thing which was wanting In the entire fyftem, 

 and forefaw moft of the difcoveries which have fince been made. He laid the foundations 

 of an Encyclopaedia, and was very near difcovering various important philofophical refults 



• In the Geniusder Zeit, i. 108, for the prerent year, an article is found, to which rccourfe has been had in 

 drawing up the prefent memoir. Note of the Author. 



Yya •£ 



