Chap. XV.] Modern Languages. 293 



ments produced by Grecian and Roman taste, is 

 essentially superior to that which was employed by 

 the most correct models of the preceding age. 

 Modern languages now exhibit more grammatical 

 accnracy, more precision, energy, and polish, and 

 a more graceful, luminous, and philosophic con- 

 struction, than they could boast at that period. 

 We have thrown otf *' the useless load of words 

 which incumbered our predecessors," and discard- 

 ed their circuitous and tedious routes to a mean- 

 ing, which formerly disgusted the literary travel- 

 ler. 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 perspicuity of arrangement, which 

 are no where to be found so admirably united in 

 those who went before them. 



These remarks do not apply, with unqualified 

 propriety, to all the living languages of Europe, 

 The Italian language, it is believed, was considera- 

 bly 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 do 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 rc])re- 

 sented as partaking in some degree of the large 

 mass of improvement Avhich has accrued to many 

 othersi within the last age. 



