[ 3' ] 



difdaining an aflbciation with the natives, and threatening the 

 final dcftrudion of our language. The reader, at his firft 

 perufal of the Rambler, finds himfelf bewildered in a labyrinth 

 of long and learned words, diftraded with foreign founds, and 

 exiled from his native fpeech, in perpetual want of an inter- 

 preter: difgufted at the intrufion of fo many phrafes to which 

 he has been hitherto a ftranger, he labours out a paffage through 

 the palpable obfcure, and, when he has at laft gained the golden 

 prize, laments that fo much time iTiould have been wafted, in 

 over-coming the unneceffary obftacles to its approach. 



Though this reprefentation may appear fomewhat extravagant, 

 yet a few fentences feledled from this author may fhew that it 

 does not mifreprefent the feelings of ordinary readers, or exag- 

 gerate the difficulties of his ftile. " What then can enfue but 

 '♦ a continual exacerbation of hatred, an unextinguifhable feud, 

 " and an inceffant reciprocation . of mifchief?" " When the 

 " radical idea fhoots out into parallel ramifications, how can a 

 " confecutive feries be formed of fenfes in their nature collateral." 

 " Thefe burfts of hght and involutions of darknefs, thefe 

 " tranfient and involuntary excurfions and retroceffions of inven- 

 " tion." « Experiencequicklyfhevvs the tortuofities of imaginary 

 •' redlitude, the complications of fimplicity, and the afperities 

 " of fmoothnefs." Who could underftand the meaning of the 

 word NET-WORK, by reading its definition in a diclionary as " a 

 " thing reticulated, or decuffated, with interftices between the 

 " interfetlionsi"' Or who could know, that " the pradice of 

 " appending to the narratives of pubhc tranfaflions, more minute 

 " and domeftic intelligence," meant " filling the news-papers. 



"■ with 



