Sect, v.] Swedish Language, 319 



as nearly of equal importance M'ith tliat of the 

 French or English, which have, heretofore, en- 

 gaged such preeminent attention. 



[SECTION V. 



SWEDISH LANGUAGE, 



The Swedish language, in the course of a few 

 years past, has also undergone great improvements. 

 Previous to the middle of the century, it had heea 

 much neglected, and, like its kindred dialects, 

 the German and the Danish, was but little esteemed 

 in Europe. About that time John Ihre, Pro- 

 fessor of Belles Lettres in the university of U[)sal, 

 was commissioned, by queen Ulrica Eleonora, 

 to translate into Swedish The Ladies' Library, 

 by sir Richard Steele. In obeying this com- 

 mand, he was naturally led not only to study his 

 native language, but also to compare it with the 

 more polished tongue from which the translation 

 was to be made. The result of these inquiries 

 was an attempt to place the language of his coun- 

 try on a more respectable footing than it had be- 

 fore held. With this view he pubHshed his Glos^ 

 sarium Sueo^Gothicum, which displays great eru- 

 dition, the talents of a master in criticism, and un- 

 common sagacity in detecting both the faults and 

 the beauties which he wished to make known. In 

 this work the author exhibits, with great skill, the 

 analogy and etymology of the Swedish language; 

 and may be regarded as standing with the highest 



