Modern Languages. Ill 



men of that country as had then devoted them- 

 selves to philology, chiefly studied the ancient lan- 

 guages, to the neglect of their own. Most of 

 their scientific publications then made were in 

 Latin. Since that time more has been done to 

 promote the interests of German literature, and 

 especially to cultivate the German language, than 

 had been done for several centuries before. One 

 of the first steps in this course of cultivation was 

 the publication of the Messiah, by Klopstock. 

 "When that celebrated poem made its appearance, 

 the many new combinations of words, and the va- 

 rious licences of language with which it abounded, 

 excited much complaint among the countrymen of 

 the author; but these innovations soon became fa- 

 miliar, gradually gained admirers, and at no great 

 distance of time were generally adopted, by the 

 best German writers. Klopstock was particularly 

 successful in improving the versification of his na- 

 tive language. He introduced a new style of poe- 

 try into his country; and has been generally fol- 

 lowed as one of the best authorities in polite lite- 

 rature. This celebrated poet has also done much 

 to improve the orthography of his language. He 

 first suggested, and by his own example enforced, 

 the propriety and necessity of reform in this de- 

 partment of the German tongue. His proposals, 

 indeed, were not adopted in their full extent; but 

 they led others to direct their attention towards 

 this object; and to him therefore is due a large 

 share of the credit arising from the improvements 

 which have since taken place/ 



Next to the radical reform introduced by Klop- 

 stock, the writings of many others of the literati 

 of that country have had a considerable influence 

 in promoting the same object, Among these the 



/> Monthly Magazine, Londos, vol. V. p. %Zo% 



