Modern Languages. 119 



This Comparative Vocabulary* may justly be 

 ranked among the wonders of the century. Soe- 

 cimens of so great a number of languages were 

 certainly never before brought together by human 

 diligence. And the work, while it reflects great 

 honour on the illustrious editor, and his learned 

 coadjutors, and on the public spirit of their em- 

 ployer and patron, the Empress, furnishes most 

 instructive documents, not only towards the for- 

 mation of an enlightened theory of language, but 

 also for investigating the history of man. 



The Celtic or Gaelic language was the object of 

 much inquiry, by a number of learned men of the 

 last century. Grammars and dictionaries of its 

 different dialects were formed, and new lio-Jit 

 thrown on the structure and probable history of the 

 language. In these inquiries Pelloutier, Bul- 

 let, Jones, Mallet, and Shaw were much and 

 honourably distinguished. The Gothic, in several 

 of its most important dialects, was also diligently 

 and successfully investigated, during the last age, 

 byWACHTER, Schilter, Ihre, Lye, and several 

 other learned philologists. 



Much valuable information was obtained, dur- 

 ing the same period, concerning the languages of 

 the aboriginal nations residing on the American 

 continent. For collecting this information, and 

 communicating it to the public, we are indebted to 

 Charlevoix, Carver, Adair, Long, Clavigero, 

 Reverend Mr. Zeisberger/ Reverend Dr. Ed- 



y Ltnguarum totius Orlis Vocabularia Comparatha ; Augustiss'ima cura col- 

 beta. Lectionis Prima, Linguas Europe et Asie complex*, pars prior. Pe- 

 tropol. 1786. 4to. et Pars Secunda. Fetropol. 1 7 89. 4to. 



z Mr, Zejsbkrger was a respectable missionary, sent by the United 

 Brethren to preach the gospel among the Indians. His work referred to 

 IS an Essay of a Delaivare-Indian, and English Spelling-Book, printed at Phi- 

 ladelphia in 1776. Besides this gentleman, several other persons, belong- 

 ing to the same religious communion, have contributed much to the eluci- 

 dation of Indian languages. Among these, Mr. Pvrljeus, many vears 



