Sect. I.] English Language. ^99 



isms, licentious idioms, and irregular combina- 

 tions ; to add something to the elegance of its con- 

 struction, and something to the harmony of its 

 cadence*." Nor did he labour in vain. He ef- 

 fected important improv^ements in English style. 

 He improved the form of its phrases, tlic construcr 

 tion of its sentences, and the precision and ajv 

 propriateness of its diction. He introduced a 

 strength and solidity of expression ; a dignity, not 

 to say pomp, of manner, which, though becoming 

 in him, can scarcely be imitated without danger; 

 and in the happy art of exhibiting a number of 

 adjunct ideas in the same sentence with perspicuity 

 and vigour, he has rarely if ever been cc^u ailed. 

 He enriched the language, also, with many words, 

 adopted from the Greek and Latin. In this, in- 

 deed, he has beerf censured by some, and perhaps 

 with justice, as having gone too far, and resorted 

 to foreign aid without necessity. But though it 

 be admitted that he has, in some instances, trans- 

 gressed his own rules, yet he certainly added 

 largely to the stores of English diction, and may, 

 on the whole, be considered one of the greatest 

 benefactors to English literature that the age pro- 



duced. 



But signal as the improvements in style which 

 Dr. Johnson either introduced, or contributed to 

 promote, yet it cannot be denied that, in some re- 

 spects, he gave countenance to a false taste iii 

 writing. He brought into vogue a style which is, 

 perhaps, too far rem.oved from the ease and sim- 

 plicity of colloquial discourse; which too nuicli 



• Rambler, vol. iv, No. 208. 



