402 M. A. cle Candolle on the Advantage 



the construction very regular. Speaking truly, what natura- 

 lists have preserved is the Latin of Linnaeus, a language in 

 which every word is precise in meaning, every sentence 

 arranged logically, clearly, and in a way employed by no 

 Roman author. Linnjeus was not a linguist : he knew but 

 little even of modern languages ; and it is evident that he 

 struggled against many difficulties when he wrote in Latin. 

 With a very limited vocabulary and a turn of mind which 

 revolted equally from the periods of Cicero and the reticence 

 of Tacitus, he knew how to create a language precise in its 

 terms, appropriate to the description of forms, and intelligible 

 to students. He never made use of a term without first 

 defining it. To renounce this special language of the learned 

 Swede would be to render descriptions less clear and less 

 accessible to the savans of all nations. If we attempt to 

 translate into the Latin of Linnffius certain sentences in modern 

 Floras, written in English or German, we quickly perceive a 

 want of clearness. In English the word smooth applies equally 

 to glaher and loivis *. In Gennan the construction of sentences 

 indicating generic or other characters is sometimes so obscure 

 that I have found it impossible, in certain cases, to have them 

 put into Latin by a German, a good botanist, who was better 

 acquainted than myself with both languages. It would be still 

 worse if authors had not introduced many Avords, purely Latin, 

 into their language. But, exclusive of paragraphs relative to 

 characters, and wherever successive phenomena or theories are 

 in question, the superiority of modern languages is unquestion- 

 able; it is on this account that, even in natural history, Latin 

 is every day less employed. 



The loss, however, of the link formerly established between 

 scientific men of all countries has made itself felt. From this 

 has arisen a very chimerical proposal to form some artificial 

 language, whicli should be to all nations what writing is to 

 the Chinese. It was to be based on ideas, not words. The 

 problem has remained quite devoid of solution ; and even were 

 it possible, it would be so complicated an aifair, so impracti- 

 cable and inflexible, that it would quickly drop into disuse. 



The wants and the circumstances of each epoch have brought 

 about a preference for one or other of the principal European 

 languages as a means of communication between enlightened 

 men of all countries. French rendered this service during 

 two centuries. At present various causes have modified the 



[* The word c/Iaber in botany means bald, or not hairy, whicli is applied 

 to other parts as well as the head ; and kciis smooth, not rough ; but I 

 know they have both been carelessly translated "smooth," as M. de 

 Candolle implies. — J. E. G.] 



