143 



this number to exist in the Sclavonic, and in other Ori- 

 ental tongues. In the Swedish it certainly exists, and in 

 languages derived from it; as the Anglo-Saxon and Islan- 

 dic: but the Swedes borrowed it from the Goths, who 

 long resided in Thrace, and derived it from the neigh- 

 bouring Macedonians, who certainly sjioke a Gi'eek dia- 

 lect, though corrupt. In the Anglo-Saxon, and Islandic, 

 the dual is retained only in the pronouns; as the great 

 Swedish antiquarian, Ihre, assures us'. He denies it to be 

 found in the Sclavonic, or any other Oriental dialect, with 

 which he was acquainted. 



The plural number of nouns of the neuter gender, being 

 originally considered, from their similarity to each other, 

 as one object, admitted a construction with verbs in th6 

 singular number: a mode of construction, which Avas af- 

 terwards unwarrantably abused. Even animated beings, 

 considered merely as things, were often expressed by neu- 

 tral nouns. 



Again, if we examine the degree of perfection, which 

 the Greek attained, and still exhibits, we shall find it ac- 

 knowledged, by the best judges, to exceed that which 

 any Qther known language has ever reached. In proof of 

 H. fact, so well known, it is needless to accumulate au- 

 thorities; one alone, of perhaps the ablest judge of the 

 delicacies of expression, that has appear^ in the last cen- 

 tury, will be sufficient. It may easily be perceived I 

 mean the celebrated Voltaire. Of the Greek, he thus 

 speaks ; 



• " The 



