Sect. IV,] German Language. 315 



ineii of that country as had then devoted them- 

 selves to philology, chiefly studied the ancient 

 languages, to the neglect of their own. Most of 

 their scientific publications then written were ia 

 Latin. Since that time more has been done to 

 promote the interests of German literature, and 

 especially to cultivate the German language, than 

 had been done for several centuries before. 



About the year 1720, the practice of employ, 

 ing the vernacular tongue in important scientific 

 pubhcations was commenced in Germany. For 

 the introduction of this improvlement the honour 

 is chiefly due to Thomasius, an eminent metaphy- 

 sical and moral writer of that country; and t» 

 Wolf, distinguished for his labours in the same 

 department of science. Their example was soon 

 followed by others. From that period, tlierefore, 

 it became necessary for authors to cultivate their 

 own language with o;reater care ; the influence of 

 which soon became visible in their writings. A 

 few years afterward, that is to say, about the 

 middle of the century, the practice of translating 

 the best French and English books commenced in 

 Germany, and produced very sensible effects in 

 meliorating the style of writing among the Ger- 

 man literati. > These events were succeeded by the 

 Avorks of several authors, who wrote with a par- 

 ticular view to the introduction of new idioms and 

 graces of language, and whose exertions were pro-» 

 ductive of the most useful eflects *. 



* See the progress of the German style more minutely traced 

 \j\ the 26th chapter of this book. 



