THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. 1 49 



It is the natural gift to man as an attendant upon thought, which 

 would be of little use without it. 



II. A study of the English language shews that it is a tongue* 

 which has been carefully improved and enriched by time. Alfred 

 the Great and Queen Elizabeth could not have understood one 

 another, and Queen Victoria would find great difficulty in convers- 

 ing with Elizabeth. 



III. After some illustrations drawn from comparative philology 

 in favor of all languages having had a common origin, a hasty sketch 

 of the English language was given, beginning with the Celtic which was 

 the most ancient element. Then came the Roman period. The dis- 

 advantages of the Latin language were clearly pointed out. Then the 

 Saxon reigned supreme, and much of its beautiful simplicity was des- 

 cribed. A slight influence came from the Danes, — and a great change 

 from the Norman conquest when Norman-French became the lan- 

 guage of the upper class while Saxon was spoken by the conquered 

 and enslaved people to whom it belonged. 



IV. This gradually led to a new tongue which might be called 

 Norman-English, which grew steadily in the direction of simplicity 

 in structure and grammar. 



V. The clumsiness of inflection first began to give way, the 

 only instance of which now exists is our possessive case. 



VI. A specimen of English by William Caxton was given, show, 

 ing the progress made up to his time, A.D., 1470, the time of the 

 invention of printing. From this the language gradually took the 

 form of grandeur found in Shakespere and Milton. 



VII. The future of the English language was painted in bright 

 colors, hopes for its final triumphs being founded en its extreme 

 simplicity of structure, its absolute freedom in the way of grammer 

 from all difficulties and its known power in absorbing other 

 tongues into itself. It may be said that there are no difficulties 

 in the language except the spelling. Simplify this and the pronun- 

 ciation becomes easier, and the language beautiful and practical 

 alike, fit for what will undoubtedly last and become a universal tongue. 



The following papers read through the year, will appear in the 

 next report. 



1. " Commercial Transactions in Prehistoric Times." By Wm. 

 Kennedy. 



2. " Hon. T. D. McGee." By G. W. Fields, M. A. 



4. " Meteorological Cycles." By Geo. Dickson, M. A. 



