of a Dominant Language for Science. 405 



Thus the three principal languages spoken at the present 

 time will be spoken a century hence with the following 

 progression : — 



millions. 

 The English tongue will have increased from 77 to 860 

 The German „ „ from 62 to 124 



The French „ „ from 40^ to 69^ 



The individuals speaking German will form a seventh 

 ]:)art, and those speaking French a twelfth or thirteenth part 

 of those of English tongue ; and both together will not form 

 a quarter of the individuals speaking English. The German 

 or French countries will then stand towards those of English 

 speech as Holland or Sweden do at jJi'esent with regard to 

 themselves. I am far from having exaggerated the growth 

 of the Anglo-Australian-American populations. Judging by 

 tlie surface of the countries they occupy, they will long continue 

 to multiply in large proportion. The English language is, 

 besides, more diffused than any other throughout Africa and 

 Southern Asia. America and Australia are not, I confess, 

 countries in Avhich the culture of letters and sciences is so 

 much advanced as in Europe ; and it is probable that, for a 

 length of time, agriculture, commerce, and industry will absorb 

 all the most active energies. I acknowledge this. But it is 

 no less a fact that so considerable a mass of intelligent and 

 educated men will weigh decisively on the world in general. 

 These new peoples, English in origin, are mingled with a 

 German element, which, in regard to intellectual inclinations, 

 counterbalances the Irish. They have generally a great 

 eagerness for learning and for the application of discoveries. 

 Tliey read much. Works written in English or translated into 

 that tongue would, in a vast population, have a very large 

 sale. This would be an encouragement for authors antl trans- 

 lators that is offered by neither the French nor the German 

 language. We know in Europe to what degree difficulties 

 exist in the publication of books on serious subjects ; but open 

 an immense mart to publishers, and works on the most special 

 subjects will have a sale. When translations are read by 

 ten times as many people as at present, it is evident that a 

 greater number of books will be translated ; and this will con- 

 tribute in no small degree towards the preponderance of the 

 English language. Many French people already buy English 

 translations of German books, just as Italians buy translations 

 in French. If English or American publishers would adopt 

 the idea of having translations made into their janguage of the 

 best works that appear in Russian, Swedish, Danish, Dutch, 



