and fork, which, in their disgusting state, he was fain prisoner at the establishment of Diaper and Sarsenet, to put up with, the table cloth on which he might in Tottenham-court Road, as Titmouse at Messrs. have wiped them having been removed. A hunch of Dowlas's, of which said establishment he was as bread that seemed to have been tossing about in the great an ornament as Titmouse of that of Messrs. pan for days, and half-a-pint of flat-looking and sour-Dowlas. They were about the same height, and smelling table-beer, completed the fare set before equals in puppyism of manners, dress, and appearhim; opposite which he sate for some minutes, too ance; but Titmouse was much the better-looking. much occupied with his reflections to commence his With equal conceit in their faces, that of Huckaback, repast. He was in the act of scooping out of the basin square, and flat, and sallow, had an expression of some of its inviting contents, when" Titmouse!" ineffable impudence, that made a lady shudder, and exclaimed the voice of one of his shopmates, peering a gentleman feel a tingling sensation in his right toe. in at him through the half-opened door, "Mr. Tag- About his small black eyes there was a glimmer rag wants you! He says you've had plenty of time of low cunning;-but I have not patience to paint to finish your dinner!" the fellow any further. When Titmouse left the shop Oh, tell him, then, I'm only just beginning my that night, a little after nine, he hurried to his lodgdinner-eugh! such as it is," replied Titmouse, ings, to make himself as imposing in his appearance masticating the first mouthful with an appearance of before Messrs. Quirk, Gammon, and Snap, as his no particular felish, for to the like of it he had time and means would admit of. Behold, on the never before sate down since he had been in the table lay a letter from Huckaback. It was written honoured house he was then serving. in a flourishing mercantile hand; and here is a copy of it:

66

In a few minutes' time Mr. Tag-rag himself entered the room, stuttering" How much longer, sir, is it your pleasure to spend over your dinner, eh?".

Not another moment, sir," answered Titmouse, looking with ill-concealed disgust at the savoury victuals before him; "if you'll only allow me a few minutes to go home and buy a penny roll instead of

all this".

us ?"

"Dear Tit,

I

"I hope you are well, which is what I can only middling say in respect of me. Such a row with my governors as I have had to-day! I thought that, as had been in the House near upon eighteen months at L. 25 per annum, I might naturally ask for L. 30 "Ve-ry good, sir! Ve-ry particularly a-year (which is what my Predecessor had,) when, good, Mr. Titmouse," replied Tag-rag, with ill-would you believe it. Mr. Sharpeye (who is going to subdued fury; "any thing else that I can make a be taken in as a Partner,) to whom I named the leetle memorandum of against the day of your leaving thing, ris up in rage against me, and I were had up into the counting-house, where both the governors This hint of two-fold terror, i. e. of withholding was, and they gave it me in such a way that you the wretched balance of salary that might be due to never saw nor heard of; but it wasn't all on their him, on the ground of misconduct, and of also giving would have thought I had been a going to rob the own side, as you know me too well to think of. You him a damning character, dispelled the small remains of Titmouse's appetite, and he rose to return to the house. They said I was most oudacious, and all shop, involuntarily clutching his fist as he brushed that, and ungrateful, and what would I have next? close past the tyrant Tag-rag on the stairs, whom he Mr. Diaper said times was come to such a pitch!! would have been delighted to pitch down head-fore- since he was first in the business, for salaries is most; and if he had done so, none of his fellow-risen to double, and not half the work done that was, slaves below, in spite of their present sycophaney said if I left them just now, I might whistle for a and no gratitude-(cursed old curmudgeon!) He towards Tag-rag, would have shown any particular character, except what I would not like; but if he alacrity in picking up their common oppressor. Poor Tittlebat resumed his old situation behind the don't mind I'll give him a trick of law about thatwhich brings me to what happened to-day with our counter; but how different his present from his former air and manner! With his pen occasionally I would call in on to-day, being near the neighbourlawyers, the people at Saffron Hill, whom I thought peeping pertly out of his bushy hair over his right ear, and his yard measure in his hand, no one, till hood with some light goods, to see how affairs was Monday morning, had been more cheerful, smirking, getting on, and stir them up a bit”.

and nimble, than Tittlebat Titmouse: Alas, how This almost took Titmouse's breath awaycrestfallen now! None of his companions could-"feeling most interested on your account, as you make him out, or guess what was in the wind; so know, dear Tit, I do. 1 said I wanted to speak to they very justly concluded that he had been doing one of the gentlemen on business of wital importance; something dreadfully disgraceful, the extent of which whereat I was quickly shown into a room where two was known to Tag-rag and himself alone. Their gents was sitting. Having put down my parcel for jeers and banters were giving place to cold distrust-a minute on the table, I said I was a very intimate ful looks, that were much more trying to bear. How friend of yours, and had called in to see how things he longed to be able to burst upon their astounded went on about the advertisement; whereat you never minds with the pent-up intelligence that was silently saw in your life how struck they looked, and stared racking and splitting his little bosom! But if he did at one another in speechless silence, till they said to -the terrible firm of Quirk, Gammon, and Snap-me, what concerned me about the business? or someOh! the very thought of them glued his lips together. thing of that nature, but in such a way that ris a rage But then there was one whom he might surely make in me directly, all for your sake (for I did not like a confidant-the excellent Huckaback, with whom the looks of things); and says I, I said, we would he had had no opportunity of communicating since let them know we were not to be gammoned; whereSunday night. That gentleman was as close alat up rose the youngest of the two, and ringing the

sell, he says to a tight laced young gentleman with not again foolishly to attempt fine writing, which I ▲ pen behind his ear, Show him to the door,' which now perceive to be entirely out of my line. In lanI was at once; but, in doing so, let out a little of my guage more befitting me and my subject, I may be mind to them. They're no better than they should allowed to say that there is no getting a quart into a be, you see if they are; but when we Trick the pro- pint pot; that Titmouse's mind was a half-pint-and perty, we'll show them who is their masters, which it was brimful. All the while that I have him going consoles me. Good-bye, keep your sperrits up, and on thus, however, Titmouse was hurrying down HolI will call and tell you more about it on Sunday. So born at a rattling rate. When at length he had farewell (I write this at Mr. Sharpeye's desk, who is reached Saffron Hill, he was in a bath of perspiration. coming down from dinner directly). Your true His face was quite red; he breathed hard; his heart friend, R. HUCKABACK. beat violently; he had got a stitch in his side; and "P. S.-Met a young Jew last night with a lot of he could not get his gloves on his hot and swollen prime cigars, and (knowing he must have stole them, hands. He stood for a moment with his hat off, them looked so good at the price) I bought one shil- wiping his reeking forehead, and endeavouring to reling's worth for me, and two shilling's worth for cover himself a little, before entering the dreaded you, your salary being higher, and to say nothing of presence to which he had been hastening. He even fancied for a moment, that his eyes gave out sparks your chances." of light! While thus pausing, St. Andrew's Church All that part of the foregoing letter which related struck ten, half electrifying Titmouse, who bolted up to its amiable writer's interview with Messrs. Quirk, the hill, and was soon standing opposite the door. Gammon, and Snap, Titmouse read in a kind of How the sight of it smote him, as it reminded him spasm-he could not draw a breath, and felt a chok- of the way in which, on the preceding night, he had ing sensation coming over him. After a while, "Ibounded out of it! But that could not now be helped; may spare myself," thought he, "the trouble of rig- so ring went the bell, as softly, however, as he could; ging out-Huckaback has done my business for me for he recollected that it was a very loud bell, and he with Messrs. Quirk, Gammon, and Snap-mine will did not wish to offend. He waited some time, and only be a walk in vain!" After what had occurred nobody answered. He waited for nearly two minlast night between him and them!!-and so urgent-utes, and trembled, assailed by a thousand vague ly as he had been enjoined to keep the matter to him- fears. He might not, however, have rung loudly self! Of course Huckaback would seem to have enough-so-again, a little louder, did he venture to been sent by him; seeing he appeared to have as-ring. Again he waited. There seemed something sumed the hectoring tone which Titmouse had tried threatening in the great brass plate on the door, out so vainly over-night, and now so bitterly repented of, of which "Quirk, Gammon, and Snap" appeared to and he had no doubt grossly insulted the arbiters of look at him ominously. While he thought of it, by Titmouse's destiny, (for he knew Huckaback's im-the way, there was something very serious and stern pudence,) he had even said that he (Titmouse) in all their faces-he wondered that he had not nowould not be GAMMONED by them. But time was ticed it before. What a drunken beast he had been pressing with a beating heart he scrambled into a to go on in their presence as he had!-thought he; change of clothes-bottling up his wrath against the then Huckaback's image flitted across his disturbed unconscious Huckaback till he should see that wor-fancy-"Ah!" thought he "that's the thing! thy. In a miserable state of mind he set off soon That's it, depend upon it; this door will never be after for Saffron Hill at a quick pace, which soon be- opened to me again-he's done for me!" He breathcame a trot, and often sharpened into a downright ed faster, clenched his fist, and involuntarily raised He saw, heard, and thought of nothing, as he it in a menacing way, when he heard himself adhurried along Oxford Street and Holborn, but Quirk, dressed-"Oh! dear me, sir, I hope I haven't kept Gammon, Snap, and Huckaback, and the reception you waiting." said the old woman whom he had bewhich the latter had secured for him-if, indeed, he fore seen, fumbling in her pocket for the door-key. was to be received at all. The magical words, Ten She had been evidently out shopping, having a plate Thousand a-Year, had not disappeared from the field in her left hand, over which her apron was thrown. of his troubled vision; but how faintly and dimly" Hope you've not been ringing long, sir!" they shone-like the Pleiades coldly glistening "Oh, dear! no, ma'am," replied Titmouse with through intervening mists far off-oh! at what a anxious civility, and a truly miserable smilestupendous, immeasurable, and hopeless distance!" Afraid 1 may have kept them waiting," he added, Imagine those stars gazed at by the anguished and almost dreading to hear the answer. despairing eyes of the bereaved lover, madly believ- "Oh no, sir, not at all-they've all been gone since ing one of them to contain HER who has just departed a little after nine; but there's a letter I was to give from his arms, and from this world, and you may you!" She opened the door; Titmouse nearly dropform a notion of the agonizing feelings-the absorbed ping. "I'll get it for you, sir-let me see, where contemplation of one dear, dazzling, but distant ob- did I put it?-Oh, in the clerk's room, I think." ject, experienced on this occasion by Mr. Titmouse. Titmouse followed her in. "Dear me-where can No, no; I don't mean seriously to pretend that so it be?" she continued, peering about, and then snufgrand a thought as this could be entertained by his fing the long wick of the candle which she had left little optics intellectual; you might as well suppose burning for the last quarter of an hour, during her abthe tiny eye of a black beetle to be scanning the sence. "I hope none of the clerks has put it away in vague, fanciful, and mysterious figure and propor mistake! Well, it isn't here, any how." tions of Orion, or a chimpanzee to be perusing and "Perhaps, ma'am, it's in their own room"-sugpondering over the immortal Principia. I repeat, gested Titmouse, in a faint tone. that I have no desire of the sort, and am determined "Oh, pr'aps it is!" she replied. "We'll go and

run.

parables of the New; perhaps the only compositions language was made not for the few but the many, in the world which can be translated without losing and that that portion of it which enables the bulk of much in the process, and which, into whatever a nation to express their wants and transact their aflanguage translated, at once assume a most idiomatic fairs, must be considered of at least as much importdress. The same remark holds good to a certain ance to general happiness as that which serves the extent of Robinson Crusoe," The Vicar of Wake-purposes of philosophical science. field,' Gulliver's Travels,' and other works, in Sixthly, Nearly all our national proverbs, in which which the bulk of the words are pure Saxon. it is truly said so much of the practical wisdom of a

Thirdly. It is from this language we derive the nation resides, and which constitute the manual and words which are expressive of the earliest and vade-mecum of 'hobnailed' philosophy, are almost dearest connexions, and the strongest and most wholly Anglo-Saxon.

powerful feelings of our nature; and which are Seventhly, A very large proportion (and that alconsequently invested with our oldest and most ways the strongest) of the language of invective, hucomplicated associations. Their very sound is often mour, satire, and colloquial pleasantry, is Angloa spell for the orator and the poet to conjure withal.' Saxon. As to invective, the language of passion is It is this language which has given us names for always very ancient; for men were angry and out of father, mother, husband, wife, brother, sister, son, temper long before they were philosophers, or even daughter, child, home, kindred, friends. It is this merchants. The vocabulary of abuse amongst most which has furnished us with the greater part of those nations is not only very copious, but always singumetonymies, and other figurative expressions, by larly hearty and idiomatic. Almost all the terms and which we represent to the imagination, and that in a phrases by which we most energetically express ansingle word, the reciprocal duties and enjoyments of ger, contempt, and indignation, are of Anglo-Saxon hospitality, friendship, or love. Such are hearth, origin. Nearly all the obnoxious words and phrases roof, fireside. The chief emotions, too, of which we which cause duels and sudden pugilistic contests, are are susceptible, are expressed in the same language, from this language; and a very large proportion of the as love, hope, fear, sorrow, shume; and what is of prosecutions for assault and battery' ought in all more consequence to the orator and the poet, as well fairness to be charged on the inconvenient strength of as in common life, the outward signs by which the vernacular. The Latin, we apprehend, much to emotion is indicated are almost all Anglo-Saxon; its credit, is very rarely implicated in these unpleasuch are tear, smile, blush, to laugh, to weep, to sigh, sant broils; although it often has a sly way of insinuto groan. In short, the words generally expressive ating the very same things without giving such deadof the strongest emotions or their outward signs, as ly offence. Again; in giving expression to invecwell as of almost all the objects and events calculated tive, we naturally seek the most energetic terms we to call forth either, in all the most stirring scenes of can employ. These, as already said, are those which human life from the cradle to the grave, are of Saxon are most special in their meaning, and the bulk of origin. This class of words, therefore, both from such words are Anglo-Saxon, particularly those the frequency with which they are used, and from which denote the outward modes of action, and the the depth of meaning attached to them, must neces- personal peculiarities, indicative of the qualities sarily form one of the most important and energetic which serve either to excite or express our contempt portions of the language. and indignation. Once more; the passions often seek Fourthly, The words which have been earliest a more energetic expression in metaphors and other used, and which are 'consequently invested with the tropes; but then such figures are always sought (and strongest associations, are almost all of a similar necessarily, considering the purpose,) in mean and origin. This, indeed, follows from what has been vulgar objects; and the majority of the terms which already said; for if the words descriptive of the most denote such objects are Anglo-Saxon. The dialect ordinary objects of sense, and of the principal varie- of the scullery and the kitchen alone furnish our ties and signs of emotion, are Anglo-Saxon, such, newspaper writers with a large portion of their figurfrom the course of development which the human ative vituperation; and it is hard to say what they mind takes, must necessarily be the terms which would do without scum, dregs,' 'offscouring,' first fall upon the ear of childhood. Still, the fact filth,' and the thousand other varieties supplied from that they are the earliest gives them additional such sources. Similar observations apply to the lanpower over the mind-a power quite independent of the guage of satire and humour. The little weaknesses, meaning they convey. They are the words which the foibles, the petty vices, the meannesses, the lufell from the lips most dear to us, and carry back the dicrous peculiarities of character, with which these mind to the home of childhood and to the sports of are chiefly concerned, as well as the modes of speech, youth. That vocabulary was scanty; but every dress, action, habit, &c., by which such peculiarities word, from the earliest moment to which memory are externally indicated, are for the most part Anglocan turn back, has been the established sign of Saxon. Here, too, as in giving expression to invecwhatever has been most familiar or most precious to tive, the speaker or writer is anxious, for the sake of energy, to secure the utmost speciality of terms; Fifthly, most of those objects about which the while the metaphors and other forms of figurative practical reason of man is employed in common life, expression, to which he is prompted by the very receive their names from the Anglo-Saxon. It is the same reasons, are necessarily drawn from the most language for the most part of business; of the count- familiar, ordinary, and often vulgar objects. As to ing-house, the shop, the market, the street, the farm, the language of familiar dialogue and colloquial pleaand however miserable the man who is fond of phi-santry, we know it is always in a high degree idiolosophy or abstract science might be, if he had no matic, both in the terms and phrases employed, and other vocabulary but this, we must recollect that in the construction; and this is a principal reason

us.

why the comic drama in every language (and we come capable, by a long-established and intimate may say the same of satire) is so difficult to a fo- connexion, (we had almost said identity,) with the reigner. thoughts they convey, of rousing the strongest and Lastly, it may be stated as a general truth, that liveliest feeling. And thus it is, that of two synonywhile our most abstract and general terms are de- mes derived respectively from Latin and the Anglorived from the Latin, those which denote the special Saxon, both equally well understood, the one shall varieties of objects, qualities, and modes of action, impart the most vivid, and the other the most frigid are derived from the Anglo-Saxon. Thus move and conception of the meaning. It is for precisely the motion are very general terms, and of Latin origin; same reasons that the feelings with which we read but all those terms for expressing nice varieties of beautiful passages in foreign poets are so faint and bodily motion, enumerated some time since, as well languid, compared with those which are excited by as ten times the number which might be added to parallel passages in Shakspeare or Milton; this at them, are Anglo-Saxon. Sound is perhaps Latin, all events is the case unless the language be exceedthough it may also be Anglo-Saxon; but to buzz, to ingly familiar to us, and is invested moreover with hum, to clash, to hiss, to rattle, and innumerable others, certain adventitious sources of interest. We may are Anglo-Saxon. Colour is Latin; but white, black, perfectly understand the meaning of all the terms in green, yellow, blue, red, brown, are Anglo-Saxon. both cases, but the degree of vividness in the impresCrime is Latin; but murder, theft, robbery-to lie, to sion is by no means the same. The difference is as steal, are Anglo-Saxon; member and organ, as applied that between the winter's and the summer's sun. The to the body, are Latin and Greek; but ear, eye, hand, light of the former may be as clear and dazzling as foot, lip, mouth, teeth, hair, finger, nostril, are Anglo- that of the latter, but the genial warmth is gone. Saxon. Animal is Latin; but man, cow, sheep, caif, That portion of the language which we have cat, are Anglo-Saxon. Number is immediately derived from Latin and Greek (more especially from French, remotely Latin; but all our cardinal and or- the former,) is very large; and fulfils purposes for dinal numbers, as far as a million, are Anglo-Saxon; which the Anglo-Saxon elements of the language, as and that would have been so too, if it had ever enter- they at present exist, would by no means suffice. ed the heads of our barbarous ancestors to form a con- The Anglo-Saxon, indeed, as it was spoken by our ception of such a number. Saxon ancestors, was not only copious in relation to

We are far, from saying that, under all these the wants of those who used it; but, like the modern heads, there are not many exceptions to the rule. As German, possessed in its system of inflections and to the last, for example, there are a great number of terminations, and the ease with which it formed new words of foreign origin which are most special in compounds from its then perfectly homogeneous their meaning and use, and a great many of Anglo- elements, a power of expansion and self-development Saxon origin which are very general. All we mean fully equal to all the demands of advancing knowis, that amongst the aforesaid classes of words, we ledge and science. But when the Anglo-Saxon shall generally find that the greater number, and all became English, partly from the great change in its that are most energetic or most frequently employed, grammatical structure and its consequent loss of are Anglo-Saxon. inflections-partly from the admixture (though this

If this be the case, it is no wonder that the orator was slight) of foreign words-this power was in a and the poet should be recommended to cultivate great degree lost.

assiduously the Anglo-Saxon portion of the language. How it is that a language, the mass of whose This is generally recommended solely for the sake roots remain the same, should, under such circumof perspicuity. The common people,' it is said, stances, undergo a change of grammatical structure, 'cannot understand a large portion of the words has never been very satisfactorily investigated. It is which are of classical origin." And this no doubt generally found that a conquered nation, unless, like is, to a certain extent, a good reason for the advice. the British, extirpated or expelled from the country, But it is not the only or the chief reason: nor would succeed in fastening their language upon their it always be sound if the only one. The readers of victors. It is with nations as with shrews, it is poetry, for instance, would in general as well under- more easy to fetter their hands than their tongues ; stand a very Latinistic as a very idiomatic diction. and what Cæsar said of himself is true of all conquerThe chief reasons, therefore, are to be sought deeper. ors, that absolute as may be their power, they cannot And if the preceding observations are correct, they at make or unmake a single word. The grammatical once disclose themselves. The great object of the structure, however, is always changed in this transiorator and the poet is not merely to make their tion. Nor does this change seem unnatural. In the meaning understood, but felt ;-to stimulate the intercourse which must take place between the conimagination, and thence excite emotion. They querors and the conquered, the former both from therefore seek the most special terms they can find. indolence and contempt of their bondsmen, would Again, the terms which, cæteris paribus, most learn as little as possible-that is, they would convividly recall the objects or feelings they represent, tent themselves if they could make themselves are those which have been earliest, longest, and most understood; they would acquire the vocabulary and frequently used, which are consequently covered disregard the grammar. The complicated inflections with the strongest associations; the sign and the and variable terminations-those refined expedients thing signified having become so inseparably blended, of a perfectly formed and homogeneous language, that the one is never suggested without the other. would be naturally neglected. Convenience would By that same magic of association by which we dictate the same course to the vanquished, in holding diffuse over external objects, once perhaps wholly intercourse with their conquerors. As the object indifferent to us, that emotion of beauty which pro- would be to be understood, however clumsily, those perly resides only in the mind, arbitrary sounds be- contrivances in which language is perfected, and

which enable us to express ourselves with perspicu- greater part of those abstract and general terms ous brevity-with dispatch which sacrifices nothing which the extension of knowledge and the cultivation of the meaning-would be abandoned. We may see of science and philosophy rendered necessary, were this occasionally exemplified in our own experience. naturally introduced from the Latin.

In attempting to convey our meaning in our own This, again, rendered the formation of new comlanguage to a foreigner who only knows some few pounds both more difficult and less necessary;— of its words, but who is ignorant of its grammar, more difficult, for the materials of the language were we content ourselves, for the most part, with uttering now extremely heterogeneous; less necessary, for the names of objects and the principal modes of foreign words served to denote what the new combiaction, but drop, in a great measure, our inflections-nations or applications of old terms would have abridge the use of our particles, and never venture at expressed. It is true, we have a considerable all on the more refined and elliptical constructions. number of these compounds still-as thunder-storm, Supposing the changes such as we have described, thunder-cloud, kingdom, witchcraft, sword-bearer, earththe conquerors would possess that great power-of quake, handicraft; and, for the reason Sir James setting the fashion, and thus confirm and render Mackintosh has assigned, they are amongst the most permanent what convenience had dictated, and expressive in the language-the separate elements ignorance had for a time necessitated. The light and being significant as well as the whole word of which commodious vehicle fitted for rapid but easy motion, they form a part. These compounds are amongst is found too delicately framed for such a rough road the most ancient terms in the language; new comas this; and with its springs broken, and with two pounds are generally inadmissable, except in poetry. strong wheels put upon its stiff axles, it degenerates Our words must be married by special license, and into a cart; or, if we may change the figure, while even then a divorce is very frequently demanded. the trunk of the language remains the same, the In prose, such new combinations, except very twigs and frailer branches are torn away by the sparingly introduced and very felicitous, are not permitted; when very frequent, they always mark a But whether this explanation be thought satisfac- vicious taste, and usually form one of the most tory or not, certain it is that a great change in the striking peculiarities of what is called an inflated grammatical structure of the Saxon took place, and style.

storm.

that this was nearly the whole change which did Partly from want of inflections and variety of take place; for the infusion of foreign words was terminations-partly from long abandonment of the comparatively slight. The Anglo-Saxon lost its practice of forming new compounds, our words will inflections and terminations, and, consequently, in a not easily coalesce; they come together with a harsh great degree its plastic power-its power of moulding sound-a grating of their unyielding, jagged edges, its elements into new combinations. The tendency in strange contrast with that still and noiseless to drop the terminations has characterised the whole movement with which the elements of Greek comhistory of the English, and some have been lost pounds generally flow into one another-reminding within a comparatively recent period. Thus the one of the intermixture of two homogeneous fluids. distinguishing termination of the second person In this respect our language is greatly inferior to that singular of the present and preterite of the verbs, of the Germans, who have formed out of their though given in all grammars, is generally disused, vernacular roots nearly the whole even of their together with the pronoun appropriated to it. In the scientific technicalities: We cannot now speak, as same manner, certain Teutonic terminations of the did our Saxon ancestors, of lace-craft (leech-craft) for adjectives, met with at no very distant date (as that the art of medicine; nor of scip-craft (ship-craft) for in en,) are now almost entirely disused. Treen, and the art of navigation; nor of earth-tylth (earth-tillage) silvern, and cedaren, would not now be employed at for agriculture; nor of eorth-wela (carth-wealth) for all; and, though we still have golden, and bruzen, fertility; nor of hand-clath (hand-cloth) for towel; nor the tendency is here, in the greater number of of boc-cræft for literature; although the latter half of instances, to dispense with the termination. Thus, the word, in its modern acceptation, would well no one would speak of a brazen nail, but of a brass designate the spirit which too often presides over nail, nor of a golden pin, but a gold pin. Indeed, as the mystery of bookmaking.

some have remarked, we are sadly destitute of Whether we have lost or gained by this change in terminations appropriated to those adjectives which the language, has often been made a question; it is not express the substance of which a thing is made; to be forgotten, however, that the introduction of so being generally obliged to turn the substantive large a portion of foreign derivatives has greatly enitself, unchanged, into an adjective, often with a riched our synonymes and added to the variety if not total sacrifice of euphony. to the strength of expression. Whether this be con

The consequence, as already said, of this change sidered sufficient compensation or not, it is quite cer in the grammatical structure, was a want of facility tain that we cannot revert to the ancient system, in forming new compounds;-of moulding the except to a very limited extent; and for the most elements of the language with the requisite ease into part only in those instances in which a number of new forms. This inflexibility of course increased, similarly formed compounds have been handed down when the study of the Latin actually introduced a to us from Saxon times. Thus, as we have swordlarge number of foreign words into the language; bearer, standard-beurer, tale-bearer, we might readily especially as the new ideas for which expression was tolerate new compounds of a like kind; but we know demanded, already had terms appropriated to them, or something very like them; in the language in which those who had most occasion to express such ideas read and wrote, and almost thought. The

nothing that would be gained but ridicule if we were to substitute bone-knowledge' for 'osteology,' or shell-craft' for 'conchology,' or 'ship-skill' for the art of navigation.' Nor is the disposition volun