179^* °'' '^'•' ^"^'^^ly^J academy. 63 



it is not necefsary always to trace it in the most 

 antient writings, nor to afect to recall words an- 

 tiquated and out of use. It is not in our power 

 to create another language than the one used by 

 the people quern penes arhitrium est^ ^tjus, et norma 

 loquendi. We can only regulate and improve it. 

 All languages soften along with the manners, di- 

 vesting themselves by degrees of their original and 

 savage harshnefs, without deviating much frojai 

 the original import. of the words. 



" If one of the principal endowments of the 

 mind consists in facility of invention, that of the 

 heart consists of lively sensations, imparting fiie, 

 and quicknefs to the productions of thought. 

 Whoever is not endowed with this last quality 

 wonld do well to study the language of the ladies. 

 From their delicacy arise all those fliades of ex- 

 prefsiou which ai'e peculiar to them, all those live- 

 ly and brilliant images which depend on their ex- 

 quisite sensibility." * 



Extract from that speech of the Count of Herjnan- 

 son, senator of Sweden. 

 " If the sciences and polite literature have not 

 in Sweden an sera so remote as in some other coun- 

 tries, they have, in lefs time, made a more rapid 

 progrefs. Our country is at this day in poLes- 

 ^ion of several pieces of eloquence, that would 

 have done honour to Athen and Rome. The pre- 

 sence of their authors prevents me from saying 

 more. TJiis institution enjoys a worthy patro- 

 nagfc ; tliat of a king, who unites tlie hearts of 

 aJI his subjects, as he unites the voices in this so- 



