[ ^21 J 



tinguifhes iron, copper, fteel, &c.*; and the charader ufed for 

 a precious flone, with certain variations, means different kinds of 

 gems or pearls. Independently of his general fyftem his remarks 

 upon conjundlions and particles are excellent for his time, though 

 a late ingenious publication f has fhewn the miftaken principles 

 upon which he and all former grammarians had reafoned upon 

 the fubjed. Doctor Wilkins's charaders for irony, and to give 

 warning that a word is ufed in a figurative or rhetorical fenfe, 

 might be ufed with as great advantage as the common notes of 

 interrogation and admiration. The warning note might not be 

 approved of by poets, wits and orators, becaufe it would leffen 

 the effedl of repartee, declamation, and perhaps of the fublime, 

 which requires fome degree of obfcurity to captivate the ima- 

 gination, or of furprize to aftonifh the underftanding : But where 

 accurate knowledge, rather than amufement, is required, fuch aa 

 afliftance would be agreeable. Thofe who have turned their thoughts 

 towards education will immediately perceive its utility in another 

 point of view . By the help of this note children would underftand 

 part of the poetry which they are obliged to learn by heart. 



It is not poffible to explain Wilkins's fyftem in a few words : 

 Allowing for the phrafeology of his time his copious folio is 

 fcarcely too large to do juftice to his ideas. 



Vol. VI. * Q^ When 



* See an ingenious ElTay on Symbols and on Charaflers ufed by Chemifts ; by 

 Dr. M. Wall— Mem. of PhU. Soc. Manchefter, ift vol. 



t EOEA nTEPOENTA. 



