248 The Study of Licwg Languages, [no. 4, new scries, 



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 purposes, 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, and the diligent exercise of the 

 ear 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 mean3 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 praciising these exercises viva voce. This plan answered per-^ 

 fectly j 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. 



