of a Dominant Language for Science. 411 



educated people and the perusal of the same books which, little 

 by little, is causing the disappearance of Scotch words and 

 accent. A few years more, and the language will be uniform 

 throughout Great Britain. The principal newspapers, edited 

 by able men, also exercise a happy influence in preserving 

 unity. Whole columns of ' The Times ' are written in the 

 language of Macaulay and Bulwer, and are read by millions 

 of people : the result is an impression which maintains the 

 public mind in a proper literary attitude. 



In America the newspaper articles are not so Avell written ; 

 but the schools are accessible to all classes, and the universi- 

 ties count amongst their professors men especially accomplished 

 in their use of the English tongue. If ever there should arise 

 a doubt in the opinions of the two countries as to the advisa- 

 bility of modifying the orthography, or even making changes 

 in the language, it would be an excellent plan to organize a 

 meeting of delegates from the principal universities of the 

 Three Kingdoms, of America, and Australia, to propose and 

 discuss such changes. Doubtless they would have the good 

 sense to make as few innovations as possible ; and, thanks to 

 common consent, the advice would probably be followed. A 

 few modifications in the orthography alone would render the 

 English language more easy to strangers, and would contri- 

 bute towards the maintenance of unity in pronunciation 

 throughout Anglo-American countries. 



Notes hy Dr. J. E. Gray. 



It may be observed, in addition, that the people who use 

 the English language in different parts of the world are a 

 reading and book-buying people, and especially given to the 

 study of scientific or quasi-scientific books, as is proved by 

 the fact of the extensive sale which they command. 



In support of this assertion I may quote the Baron Ferus- 

 sac's review of Wood's ' Index Testaceologicus,' in the Bull. 

 Sci. Nat. Paris, 1829, p. 375. He remarks : — 



" We observe with interest the number of subscribers that 

 exist in England for an octavo volume on shells, cost- 

 ing 186 francs. It is a curious fact, which booksellers and 

 authors will appreciate, as it will afford them the means of 

 seeing how a return is obtained for their outlay on such works 

 in England, compared with other countries. The number of 

 subscribers is 280, of which 34 are females and 6 foreigners. 

 Certainly all the rest of Europe could not produce as many, 

 nor perhaps even the half of that number." 



