proper—the revival of obsolete ones, or the remodelling, of pre- 

 sent ones. With my present object, it is not necessary to go 

 largely into this ; but an assertion may be hazarded, that it is 

 apprehended deserves at least some consideration. The warrant 

 to lead in making these changes should be committed to but few, 

 It is not given to many among the host of writers either in this or 

 any other country, fully and completely to understand the multi- 

 plied meanings of words ; and particularly those which are either 

 foreign or little in use. One of the characteristics of the English 

 Language is its copiousness ; and it may be as prudent as it is 

 certainly advisable, first to ascertain the point where its phrases 

 are incapable of expressing the ideas intended to be communicat- 

 ed. Fashion, or the superiority of some great name, sometimes 

 exercises a pernicious influence in this respect. In the days of 

 Dr. Johnson, he sanctioned the introduction of many words from 

 the Latin— In our own time, French words and phrases are thickly 

 strown through the pages of our general literature. 



These remarks are only intended as a glance at some of the 

 causes which influence alterations in a language, and as prelimi- 

 nary to a notice of some of the charges which have been made 

 against the citizens of this country, of fostering and increasing 

 innovations in the English Language, as at present in use among 

 the leading writers of Great Britain. By English writers, these 

 are styled Americanisms, and they have been noticed with the spir- 

 it that characterizes most of the literati of Great Britain when 

 speaking of this country. Overwhelming ridicule and contempt 

 are the elements which form the staple of their criticism, and al- 

 though in many instances their accusation of coining new words 

 has been found incorrect, by proof that their origin is to be found 

 in some provincial dialect, or some antiquated author, they have 

 seldom had the magnanimity to acknowledge their mistake. This 

 however is merely an objection to the manner. The matter of their 

 animadversions deserves more serious consideration. Just and 

 necessary, and indeed indispensable, as it is, for us to cultivate all 

 the feelings of an independent nation, yet it behooves us to recol- 

 lect, that our language is a derived one— that our literature is, in 

 one sense, a foreign one— and, above all, a living literature, as- 

 siduously cultivated in the parent state. The question is, will we 

 conform to it, as it respects language, and thus preserve its harmo- 

 ny and purity, or, allow freedom of innovation, If we permit the 



