^IS Classic Literature. [Chap. XIIL 



to the neglect of studies more important and im- 

 mediately practical. 



This erroiir began to be corrected about the 

 beginning of the seventeeth century. At this 

 period brilliant discoveries in natural philosophy 

 began to arrest the attention of the learned world^ 

 and the physical sciences in general became more 

 objects of regard. But this dechne of classic li- 

 terature was gradual. One errour was not imme- 

 diately exchanged for its opposite. The Latin 

 language was now generally employed as a me- 

 dium of publication in science ; and although it 

 bad come to be generally considered in its proper 

 liglit, as a means rather than an end; yet both this 

 and the Greek were generally and deeply studied 

 by all who had a taste for letters, or aspired to 

 distinction in knowledge. 



At the beginning of the eighteenth century the 

 study of the ancient languages was still esteemed 

 an essential part of liberal education. It was then 

 the habit of the learned not only to write and speak 

 the Latin tongue with the greatest facility, but 

 they also still employed it as a medium for con- 

 veying the result of their philosophical labours 

 throughout the literary world ; and most of those 

 ■\vho laid claim to the character of scholars had 

 an extensive and accurate acquaintance with Gre- 

 cian literature. Li both these respects the eigh- 

 teenth century produced a singular revolution. 

 The J.atin language has in a great measure ceased 

 to be that familar medium of conversation and of 

 writing among the learned that it once was ; and 

 the Greek, though nominally retained as a branch 

 of study in modern- seminaries of learning, has be- 



