488 Mr. Pickering on the present state of the English language 
ular errors several of our states are continually falling into with respect to 
both. Give me leaye to mention some of them, though possibly they may 
already have occurred to you. I wish, however, that in some future pub- 
lication of yours, you would set a discountenancing mark upon them. The 
first I remember is the word improved. When I left New England in the 
year 1723, this word had never been used among us, as far as I know, but. 
in the sense of ameliorated or made better, except once, in a very old book 
of Dr. Mather’s, entitled Remarkable Providences. As that man wrote a 
very obscure hand, I remember that when I read that word in his book, 
used instead of the word emfiloyed, I conjectured that it was an error of 
the printer, who had mistaken a short / in the writing for an 7, and a y with 
too short a tail fora v, whereby employed was converted into improved ; 
but when I returned to Boston in 1733, I found this change had obtained 
favor, and was then become common; for I met with it often in perusing . 
the newspapers, where it frequently made an appearance rather ridiculous. 
Such, for instance, as the advertisement of a country house to be sold, which 
had been many years improved as a tavern; and ina character of a deceased 
coupty gentleman, that he had been for more than thirty Fae improved 
ice of the peace, This use of the word improve is peculiar to New 
England, and net to be met with among any other speakers. of English, 
either on this or the other side of the water.”’* 
Notwithstanding Dr. Franklin thus amuses himself at the expense of 
Dr. Mather, the word agama to have been used, at least in the éawe of his 
e Aapeeasrascessare eee “ae 
| * Dr. Franklin then has the following remarks on some other words: “ During 
my: late absence in France, F find that several other new words have been introduced 
inte-our parliamentary language. For example, I find a verb formed: from the sub- , 
stantive notice—I should not have notieed this, were it not that the gentleman, &C. Also 
another verb from the substantive. advocate ; the gentleman who adyocates ar who has 
advocated that motion, &c. Another from the substantive progress, the most awkward 
and abominable of the three ; the committee, having progressed, resolved to adjourn. The 
word opposed, though not a new word, I find used in a new manner, as, the gentlemen who 
are opposed to this measure, to which I have alvo myself been ieee If you: should 
happen to be of my opinion with respect to these innevati will use your au- 
thority in reprobating them.” Franklin’s Essays, vol. ii. p- 79. oo eat. * 
