Chap. XVI. ] Phllo.sophij of Language, 335 



rive the whole Greek language from a few .short 

 primitives, on a plan entirely original. His spe- 

 culations were carried further, and reecived new 

 light, by means of the incjuirics of his pupils Vale- 

 kenaer, Lennep, and others. Though the labours 

 of these great philologists were chRlly eonfined 

 to the Greek language, yet they were intended 

 to throw light on universal Grammar, and to 

 educe principles applicable to all languages. 

 To give even a brief account of the various opi- 

 nions which they taught would require a more 

 intimate acquaintance with them than the writer 

 of this retrospect possesses, and would lead to a 

 detail inconveniently and disproportionably ex- 

 tended. It is sufficient to say, that though they 

 failed to form a fair, consistent, and regular fa- 

 bric, yet they furnished many insulated facts, and 

 useful materials, and analysed many words and 

 classes of terms, in a manner which did them 

 great honour, and rendered important aid to the 

 philosophical grammarian * 



The Dutch etymologists were followed by lord 



was born in l635. In \'J\'J he was appointed Greek professor at 

 Franeker, and in ] 740 was chosen to the same office at Lcydcn. 

 He died in 1/66, 



* For some further information concerning the celebrated 

 Dutch etymologists above-mentioned, see Obsci-rations on the Na- 

 ture of Demonst rathe £i7(/c«ce, by Thomas Beddoes, 8vo, 1793. 

 No man can look into the writings of Dr. Beddoes without disco- 

 vering marks of a vigorous, original, and active mind. But are 

 the precipitancy and decision with which he j)ronounces on some 

 of the most important and ditlicult quesiions that occur to the 

 human mind, and the satirical coiiteniptuous severity which he 

 indulges toward some of the greatest benefactors to science, con- 

 sistent with the cautious and candid spirit of philc>sopliy '. 



