248 The Study of Living Languages, [no. 4, new series, 
be the same gentleman that called here a month ago and could not 
speak a word of French." 
This case has no reference to the principles here proposed, so 
far as the use of a restricted vocabulary is concerned, but it shows 
how perfectly ineffectual the knowledge of book language and the 
exercise of the eye was, for colloquial pi^.rposes, and how complete 
the success was both in respect of time and effect, when the means 
here proposed were used, viz., the thorough appropriation of a good 
stock of simple familiar sentences, ani^l the diligent exercise of the 
tar and tongue. 
He was totally without the colloquial use of the language, so that 
he could neither understand a word spoken nor speak one intelli- 
gibly when he began to adopt the means he did, and in one month 
he found himself perfectly at liberty in conversation. 
In the same memoir it is afterwards related; — " Having had a 
lesson in France on the inconvenience of not being able to speak 
the language of a country in which one is travelling and studying. 
Dr. Hope guarded against a similar inconvenience in Italy. Before 
leaving Paris he improved his pronunciation of Italian by taking 
twelve lessons, as he had formerly done in French, and he provid- 
ed himself with a brief practical Italian Grammar, with Exercises 
referring to the rules, and a key to them. 
" During a tour in Switzerland it was agreed that he should walk 
in advance of his friend for an hour daily, to give him an opportu- 
nity of practising these exercises viva voce. This plan answered per- 
fectly \ at the end of the time he spoke Italian fluently." 
It may perhaps help to show yet more distinctly how far the 
principles here advocated differ from or agree with some of the 
commonly received notions on the subject, if I place my views side 
by side with those lately advanced in an elementary book for help- 
ing the student of an Indian language. 
The 1st principle laid down is, " Do not proceed too quickly. 
An entirely new language requires great accuracy in the mastering 
of its elements." In this I agree, but I consider the book itself 
implies a progress in the learner immeasurably beyond the reality. 
