106 Dr. Hodgkin on Philological Ethnography. 



in one important particular at least from that which is exhi- 

 bited in the performance of mathematical calculation to which 

 I have compared it. Number in the abstract is present to 

 every one as a material with which he may work ; it is not so 

 with language. The extraordinary genius whose talent lies in 

 the direction of language is at the mercy of accidental circum- 

 stances for the development of his powers. Yet we may judge 

 how strong is the passion which actuates such an individual 

 when we see how much has been done with a stray leaf which 

 has been torn off from some foreign work. Even those who 

 are placed under ordinarily favourable circumstances have their 

 attention limited to a comparatively few languages, and those 

 with which they commence, being generally dead languages, 

 are perhaps in the first instance more calculated to damp than 

 to encourage their zeal. When this difficulty is surmounted, 

 they find so vast an amount of intellectual treasure, to which 

 the acquisition of those languages has opened the way, that they 

 may feel little inducement to desist from their attention to these 

 languages in favour of others of less promising appearance. 

 Nevertheless, the greatly increased extent which has been given 

 to the study of the Oriental languages, the renewed atten- 

 tion which is paid to Anglo-Saxon, and the occasional ap- 

 pearance of works connected even with the languages of unci- 

 vilized nations, are amply sufficient to prove the possibility of 

 increasing the extent of philological inquiry, and of procuring 

 a host of zealous students, who, if they should not find their 

 labours rewarded with classical treasures to be compared with 

 those of Greece which tell 



w ...of Thebes or Pelops' line, 

 Or the tale of Troy divine," 

 may yet enjoy the consciousness that they open the way to a 

 clearer and more comprehensive view of our species as a whole; 

 that they are substituting fact for visionary speculation on a 

 most important subject; and that in calling increased attention 

 to the feeble, the abused, and perishing branches of the hu- 

 man family, they may be the means of arousing a powerful 

 influence in their behalf, whereby they may be rescued from 

 annihilation, and given to participate in the highest attributes 

 and choicest privileges of our nature. Such, Gentlemen, is 

 the prospect which, with perhaps too sanguine eyes, I have 

 imagined that I see before us in the quarter to which Thave ven- 

 tured to direct your attention this evening ; I have only to add, 

 that if you think with me that there is anything feasible in the 

 suggestions which I have offered, I would earnestly solicit your 

 cooperation in endeavouring to carry them into execution*. 



* The Philological Society has appointed a committee to draw up a set of 

 queries in conformity with the suggestion contained in the preceding paper. 

 When completed, they will be published in a future number of this journal. 



