246 JOSEPH JOHN MURPHY 
on the one hand, mental intelligence; and on the other, habit 
acting in memory, whereby the knowledge of words and 
grammatical forms is preserved. 
The present essay is partly controversial, and I have been 
compelled to dwell on those parts of the subject where I 
cannot agree with Prof. Max Miller. But I wish to conclude 
with a tribute of gratitude for the great ability and wonderful 
knowledge with which, in this as well as in his former works, 
he has expounded the new and most interesting science of 
Language. Like all science, it is certain to make progress ; 
and I hope and believe that he, or his successors, will here- 
after not confine their researches to comparative etymology, 
or the origin and derivation of words, but go on to lay the 
foundation of a science of comparative syntax, giving the origin 
and rationale of grammatical forms, and showing how the prin- 
ciples of the logical intelligence have embodied themselves 
in the grammatical structure of different languages. It is, 
perhaps, too much to hope that we shall ever know anything 
with certainty about the origin either of language or of life ; 
but this does not prevent the study of language, like that of 
life, from having the profoundest interest and charm of its 
own ; though I cannot agree with Prof. Max Miiller that it will 
ever absorb or supersede either Psychology or Philosophy. 
But I am convinced that the science of Language, in so far 
as it bears at all on the nature of Thought, will tend to con- 
firm the fundamental truth which Prof. Max Miiller has 
learned from Kant, and which I regard as of the very 
highest importance,—that Intelligence is an independent 
endowment, not resolvable into any unintelligent element 
whatever. 
The Prusipent (Sir G. G. Stokes, Bart., P.R.S.).—I will now ask 
you to return thanks to the author of the paper. 
Captain F'. Perris, ¥.G.S. (Hon. Sec.).—In regard to this paper 
the following communication has been received from Professor Max 
Miller, who says :—‘“ I have read Mr. Murphy’s remarks with great 
interest ; they are thoughtful and useful.” 
Communication :—I. The author says, page 240, half-way down,— 
“To deny this power of thought to be partly independent of lan- 
guage, appears no less untrue to fact than it would be, on the 
other hand, to deny that language is necessary to any elaborate 
train of thought.” : 
