^10 Modern Lajiguages, [Chap, XV. 



in time, to flourish ; it is an undoubted fact^ that 

 the language in which he wrote is incomparably 

 more read and spoken on the continent of Europe^ 

 since his day, than ever before. 



SECTION II. 

 FRENCH LANGUAGE. 



The French language, during the last century, 

 received modifications and improvements in a con- 

 siderable degree similar to those which have al- 

 ready been noticed as belonging to the English. It 

 was before remarked that this lano-uap-e was some 

 time before the EngHsh in the progress of improve-* 

 ment. The reign of Lewis XIV has been common- 

 ly called the golden age of French literature^ and 

 the period of perfection in French style. It is pro« 

 bable that this opinion is rather better founded 

 than that which assigns the reign of queen Anne 

 as furnishing the highest degree of refinement in 

 English composition. The publication of the fa- 

 mous Dictionnaire de rAcademie Frangaise, a great 

 and splendid work in its day, formed an important 

 aera in the history of the French language. The 

 grand object of the association which compiled this 

 dictionary, and presented it to the world, was to 

 improve and fix their language ; and there can be 

 no doubt that the publication was, in a considera- 

 ble degree, subservient to these purposes. 



But to expect a living language to be absolutely 

 stationary, is to expect that which borders on the 

 region of impossibility. Accordingly, since the 



