489 
LIV. 
MEMOIR ON THE PRESENT STATE OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN THE 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; WITH A 
VOCABULARY, 
containing various words and phrases which have been supposed to 
be peculiar to this country. 
By JOHN PICKERING, a. 4.5. 
; — @ 
THE preservation of the English language in its purity 
throughout the United States is an object deserving the attention of 
every American, who isa friend to the literature and science of his 
country. It is in a particular manner entitled to the consideration of 
the Academy ; for, though subjects, which are usually ranked under 
the head of the physical sciences, were doubtless chiefly in view. with 
the founders of the Academy, yet, as our /anguage is to be the in- 
strument of communicating to the world the speculations and discov- 
eries of our country™ - Ta See a i aaa tall NECES-_ 
sarily “ to fall within the design of the institution 5” because, unless 
that language is well settled, and can be read with ease and sutisfac- 
tion by all to. whom it is addressed, our authors will write and pub- 
erinvain. + sont: oo si 
It is true, indeed, that our countrymen may speak and write in a 
dialect of English, which will be generally understood in the United 
States ; butif they are ambitious of having their works read by Eng- 
lishmen as well.as Americans, they must write in a, language that 
Englishmen. can read. with facility and. pleasure. And if for some- 
_ time to come it should,not be the lot. of many -Americans. to publish 
any thing which shall be read out of their own country, yet all, who 
