266 An Essay on the Signs of Ideas. 
ina compound state, how are such words to 
excite ideas in the minds of any, except those 
who understand the primitives? Hence one 
advantage of the study of Janguages: for, most 
assuredly, if we would not be deceived by 
sounds, we shall have frequent occasion. to 
recur to the touch-stone of etymology. | 
~ Mr. Dugald Stewart, however, has asserted 
that, “he has hardly met with any individual: 
habitually addicted to etymological studies, 
who wrote his own language with, ease and 
elegance.’ Yet, (whatever we may think of 
this opinion,) we may venture to affirm, that, 
without much etymological knowledge, no 
one can write in a modern language with cor- 
rectness. And whois there, gifted with com- 
mon sense, that would ‘not prefer a precise,’ 
unequivocal, and, if I may use the expression, 
transparent. stvle, before a string of /harmo- 
nious and smoothly flowing words, which, 
being the types of no precise ideas in the: 
mind of the writer, are not likely to excite. 
any in the mind of the reader.. This species. 
of unmeaning eloquence, has. been but: too 
much and too long in vogue, and those who 
feel an interest in defending it, would do well 
to consider. whether the ear will not be still 
more agreeably affected by music, properly 
so ealled, and the mind almost as much in- 
