Chap. XV.] Modeim Languages, 291 



The increased intercourse of men, durinf^ X\\c 

 last century, led to important revolutions and im- 

 provements in the living languages. By moans of 

 this intercourse the learned of different nations have 

 become more acquainted with the idioms and beau- 

 ties of many other languages than their own; and 

 this acquaintance has caused the respective trea- 

 sures of each language to become in some degree 

 the common property of all. Hence the more cul- 

 tivated tongues of Europe have been very percepti- 

 bly enriched, within a few years, by the adoption 

 of many significant words and phrases from each 

 other, as well as from those which are in general 

 less worthy of imitation. 



The effects of this extended intercourse have 

 been aided by the great number of translations, by 

 which modern times are peculiarly distinguished. 

 There never was an age in which the most esteem- 

 ed literary productions of different nations were so 

 extensively circulated, or exhibited to the world 

 in so many different languages. Tlie unexampled 

 prevalence of this practice has rendered the cha- 

 racteristic peculiarities of various tongues better 

 known, and produced the insensible incorporation 

 of them with others. This is the great source of 

 those '' imported" words and phrases, which Jiavc 

 sometimes received the approbation of philologists, 

 but of which they have, perhaps, more frequently 

 and justly complained. 



The numerous discoveries in science and the 

 arts, during the period under review, also led to 

 the introduction and familiar use of many terms 

 of which the learned of the preceding age were en- 

 tirelv ignorant. Almost the whole dialect of phi- 



U 'J 



