94 Modern Languages. 



though perhaps inferior to the exquisite refinements 

 produced by Grecian and Roman taste, is essen- 

 tially superior to that which was employed by the 

 most correct models of the preceding age. Modern 

 languages now exhibit more grammatical accuracy, 

 more precision, energy, and polish, and a more 

 graceful, luminous, and philosophic construction, 

 than they could boast at that period. We have 

 thrown off " the useless load of words which in- 

 cumbered our predecessors, ,, and discarded their 

 circuitous and tedious routes to a meaning, which 

 formerly disgusted the literary traveller. In short, 

 the first class of writers of the eighteenth century 

 display a smoothness and force of manner, a taste 

 in the selection of words, and a scientific perspi- 

 cuity of arrangement, which are no where to be 

 found so admirably united in those who went be- 

 fore them. 



These remarks do not apply, with unqualified 

 propriety, to all the living languages of Europe. 

 The Italian language, it is believed, was consider- 

 ably before any of the rest, in attaining its highest 

 point of refinement. This was chiefly accom- 

 plished before the commencement of the last age, 

 since which time it is not known that any radical 

 or important improvements have taken place in 

 that language. The French language also, if the 

 writer does not mistake, had received by far the 

 greater part of that cultivation which it now ex- 

 hibits, before the period of this retrospect. Still, 

 however, it is supposed that both these languages, 

 and especially the latter, may with truth be repre- 

 sented as partaking in some degree of the large 

 mass of improvement which has accrued to many 

 others within the last age. 



But not to content ourselves with these gene- 

 ral remarks, let us descend to the particular consi- 

 deration of some of those living Eurooean Ian- 



