Classic Literature. 4% 



hf instruction on this subject, to be derived from 

 etymological inquiries, depends on such an ac- 

 quaintance, and must be commensurate with its 

 extent. Hence it is supposed, by some of the 

 most judicious literary historians, that the high es- 

 timate set on classical literature, and the enthusi- 

 astic attention paid to it, until within a few years 

 past, may be considered among the principal 

 causes of that rapid improvement in several Eu- 

 ropean languages, which distinguishes the seven- 

 teenth and eighteenth centuries. By diligently 

 studying the ancient models of composition, and 

 habitually referring to them as standards, the lite- 

 rati of those days were enabled to transfuse their 

 beauties into the living languages; to give the 

 latter a large portion of the copiousness, regularity, 

 and numerous excellences of the former; and to 

 convert them from that miserably defective and 

 barbarous state in which they were found, to a de- 

 gree of richness and refinement bordering on rival- 

 ship with their admired patterns. 



If these facts and reasonings be admitted, it 

 would seem to follow, that the same course of 

 studies which contributed so much to raise modem 

 languages to their present refined and improved 

 state, must also be considered as useful, if not in- 

 dispensably necessary to the preservation and sup- 

 port of those excellences which they have attained. 

 The tendency of living languages to fluctuate and 

 change is universally known. The intercourse of 

 different nations; the ignorance, presumption, and 

 affectation of authors; the gradual introduction of 

 provincial barbarisms, and many other causes, are 

 frequently found to debase the purity, and, in no 

 small degree, to affect the regularity of modern 

 tongues. Of the mischief which has been often 

 done, in these respects, even by a single popular 

 writer, the annals of literature" furnish numerous 

 vol. ii, a 



