226 THEORY of the 



" terefting of them)" is felf- evident, when we compare them 

 with the circumlocutions into which it is thought they may be 

 refolved. But it will be illuftrated more fully than is neceffary 

 here, in confidering the two laft conclusions. 



IV. As to the fourth conclufion, it muft be very plain to us 

 all, from the experience we have had of different languages, 

 that none of them are in every refpecl, nay hardly in any re- 

 fpecl, abfolutely perfect ; and correfponding, either by the va- 

 riety of words which they afford, or by the modifications, 

 inflections, and arrangements of thofe words, to all the varie- 

 ties and niceties of human thought. It is only the molt com- 

 mon and familiar thoughts or notions that have particular 

 words in all common languages to denote them, and only the 

 familiar and frequent combinations of thoughts that have ap- 

 propriated phrafes to exprefs them. New notions require new 

 words to denote them, as new combinations of thoughts, of 

 which the variety is endlefs, require new phrafes and fentences. 

 In this way, languages gradually improve, at lead in point of 

 richnefs, copioufnefs, and precifion. 



But it is only the moft frequent of all combinations of 

 thought with that which is the general meaning of a verb, fuch 

 as affirmation, interrogation, command, wifh, &c. that are 

 exprefled by fuch infleclions or variations of the primary verb, 

 as may be called grammatical moods. Thefe are the combina- 

 tions of thought, in the expreffing of which, circumlocution, 

 or tedioufnefs of any kind, would be the mod difagreeable and 

 inconvenient ; and for which, therefore, a quick and fimple 

 mode of communication is moft requifite. Many other com- 

 binations of thoughts may be exprefTed by the combination of 

 different verbs with fufficient quicknefs, and without inconve- 

 nience or difagreeablenefs of any kind. The number of gram- 

 matical moods cannot be infinite. It is plainly limited, partly 

 by the difficulty of contriving a great number of diftinct in- 

 flections;. 



