Sect. II. ] Germany. 167 



literary merit. For this reason, the greater part 

 of German procKictions, prior to the period under 

 review, were proverbially tedious and dull, and 

 were seldom sought after by the learned of other 

 nations j insomuch, that it was often and seriously 

 questioned, whether genius could grow in a Ger- 

 man soil. 



The first conspicuous writer who emplo3'ed the 

 German language in important scientific publi- 

 cations was Christopher Thomasius, the celebrated 

 metaphysician and moral philosopher, who died 

 in 1728. After him Wolf was the next wlio made 

 use of the vulgar tongue, in treating of philoso- 

 phical subjects. This example was soon followed 

 by Mosheim, Schlegel, and others, of distinguished 

 reputation in various species of composition *. 



But though the employment of the German 

 language in philosophical works began thus early 

 in the last century, yet it must be confessed, that 

 in the former part of it this language was ex- 

 tremely rude, harsh, and disgusting; exhibiting 

 a motley mixture of Latin, French, and Italian 

 words and idioms, incorporated without judge- 

 ment or taste with the original Gothic stores f . 



* For a knowledge of many of the facts and names contained 

 in the following pages, the author acknowledges himself to be 

 indebted to the Historical Account, S^c, before quoted, and 

 ascribed to the rev. Mr. Will, now of New York. 



f In the sixteenth century some specimens of German style 

 were given to the public, much superior to any that appeared 

 in the seventeenth. The works of Martin Luther, the great re- 

 former, exhibit, we are told, a correctness, variety, and energy 

 of diction, not to be met with in the works of any writer that 

 preceded him, nor indeed of any that immediately followed him. 

 Through the greater j/art of the seventeenth century this language 



