of a Dominant Language for Science. 403 



use of this language in other countries, and the habit has been 

 ahnost everywhere introduced that each nation should employ 

 its own tongue. We have therefore entered upon a period of 

 confusion. What is thought to be new in one country is not 

 so to those who read books in other languages. It is vain to 

 study living languages more and more ; you are always behind- 

 hand in the complete knowledge of what is being published in 

 other countries. Few persons are acquainted with more than 

 two languages ; and if we try to pass beyond a certain limit in 

 this respect, we rob ourselves of time for other things ; for 

 there is a point at which the study of the means of knowledge 

 hinders our learning. Polyglott discussions and conversations 

 do not answer the intentions of those who attempt them. I 

 am persuaded that the inconvenience of such a state of things 

 will be more and more felt. I also believe, judging by the 

 example of Greek as used by the Romans, and French in 

 modern times, that the need of a prevailing language is almost 

 always recognized ; it'is returned to from necessity after each 

 period of anarchy. To understand this we must consider the 

 causes which make a language preferable, and those which 

 spread its employment in spite of any defects it may possess. 



Thus in the 17th and 18th centuries motives existed for the 

 employment of French in preference to Latin throughout 

 Europe. It was a language spoken by the greater part of the 

 educated men of the period, a language tolerably simple and 

 very clear. It had an advantage in its resemblance to Latin, 

 which was then widely known. An Englishman, a German, 

 was already half acquainted with French through his know- 

 ledge of Latin ; a Spaniard, an Italian, was three parts 

 advanced in his study of the language. If a discussion were 

 sustained in French, if books were written or translations made 

 in the language, all the world understood. 



In the present century civilization has much extended north 

 of France, and population has increased tliere more than to 

 the south. The use of the Englisli tongue has been doubled 

 by its extension into America. The sciences are more and more 

 cultivated in Germany, in England, in the Scandinavian 

 countries, and Russia. The scientific centre of gravity has 

 advanced from the south towards the north. 



Under the influence of these new conditions a language can 

 only become predominant by presenting two characters : 1st, it 

 must possess sufficient German and Latin words or forms to 

 be within reach at once of the Germans and of the people who 

 make use of Latin tongues ; 2nd, it must be spoken by a con- 

 siderable majority of civilized people. In addition to these 

 two essential conditions it would be well for the definitive 



26* 



