Chap. XVI.] Philosophy of Language. 3J7 



brace the discoveries of the sagacious Briton, 

 whose work forms so important an cura in the hi- 

 story of pliiiosoj)liical grammar. 



Beside the great theorists above-mentioned, tlic 

 philosophy of language has been treated with great 

 learning and ingenuity during the period under 

 consideration, by Drs. Campbell* and Eeattic -f, 

 of Edinburgh; and by president de Brosses j, 

 ]M. Beauzee§, the abbe Girard, the abb6 Condil- 

 lac II, and M. Court de Gebelin f , of France. 

 The opinions taught by the celebrated Scottish 

 professors are too generally known to render a 

 detailed view of tliem here either requisite or pro- 

 per; v/hile, with respect to the doctrines of the 

 learned French philologists, the author has too lit- 

 tle information to attempt even a general sketch. 



These inquiries into the philosophy of grammar 

 have liad, it is believed, a useful effect on many 

 modern Avritings, and, with respect to their proba- 

 ble influence hereafter, may be regarded as of 

 great value. Every investigation which has for 

 its object the structure, the analysis, and the real 

 improvement of language, doubtless tends, in pro- 

 portion to its success, to advance the interests of 

 education, to promote every department of science, 

 especially the science of the human mind, and, in 

 general, to increase the happiness of man. 



* Vh'dosophy ofTlhctoric, 2 vols, 8vo, 



t Theory of Language, publislied in liis Dissertations, 1 vols, 

 6vo, 1/83. 



I Formation Mkaniquc des haugues. 



§ Grammaire Gentralc, 1 torn. 8vo, \yQ7- 



II See the first volume of his Coins d'EliuU, in \6 vols. Paris, 



^\ Hist, de la Varole^ and Grammaire Univcrsalr. 



Vol. 1 1. Z 



