SCIENCE OF GRAMMAR. IF for a moment we consider the good and the evil that are done in the world through the medium of speech, we shall with one voice acknowledge, that not only the faculty itself, but al so the manner in which it is used, is of incalculable importance to the welfare of man. In some of its relations, therefore, the general subject to which I invite your attention, appears to be sufficiently interesting. But it is not to language as the vehicle of moral or of immoral sentiment, of good or of evil to mankind, that the attention of the grammarian is particularly directed. A consideration of the subject in these relations, pertains rather to the moral philosopher. Nor are the arts of logic and rhetoric now considered to be properly within the grammarian's province. Modern science assigns to these their separate places, and restricts grammar, which at one period embraced all learning, to the knowledge of language, as respects its fitness to be the vehicle of any particular thought or sentiment which the speaker or writer may wish to convey by it. Grammar, therefore, has long been briefly defined, "ars rectè scribendi, rectèque loquendi," the art of writing and speaking correctly. Despauter and Lily place writing first, as being that with which grammar is primarily concerned. For over any fugitive colloquial dialect, that is yet unfixed by visible signs, grammar has no control; and the speaking which this ancient defi nition embraces, is exclusively that which has reference to a knowledge of letters. Writing evidently improves speech. In proportion as books are multiplied, and the knowledge of written language is diffused, local dialects (which are beneath the dignity of grammar) will always be found to grow fewer, and their differences less. There are, in the various parts of the world, many languages to which the art of grammar has never yet been applied; and to which, therefore, the definition or true idea of grammar, however general, does not properly extend. Ruddiman, in his Institutes of Latin Grammar, reversed the terms writing and speaking, and defined grammar, "ars rectè loquendi scribendique;" and, either from mere imitation, or from the general observation that speech precedes writing, this arrangement has been followed by most modern grammarians. Dr. Lowth embraces both terms in a more general one; and says, “Grammar is the art of rightly expressing our thoughts by words." It is, however, the province of grammar, to guide us not merely in the expression of our own thoughts, but also in our apprehension of the thoughts, and our interpretation of the words, of others. The art of reading, therefore, is virtually embraced in grammar; for it is but the art of understanding and speaking correctly that which we have before us on paper. Such is the peculiar power of language, that there is scarcely any subject so trifling, that it may not be plausibly magnified into something great; nor are there many things which cannot be ingeniously disparaged till they shall seem contemptible. Cicero goes further: "Nihil est tam incredibile quod non dicendo fiat probabile-there is nothing so incredible that it may not, from the manner of telling it, become probable." The study of grammar has been often overrated, and still oftener injuriously decried. I shall neither join with those who would lessen in the public esteem that general system of doctrines, which has been taught as grammar from time immemorial; nor attempt, either by magnifying its practical results, or by decking it out with my own imaginings, to invest it with any artificial or extraneous importance Ishall not follow the footsteps of Neef, wheels you that "Grammar and incongruity are identical things," and scornfully rejects as nonsense every thing that has been taught under that name; because I am convinced that, of all methods of teaching, none goes further than his, to prove the assertion true. Nor shall I imitate the declamation of Cardell; who, in the second page of his Essay, recommends the general study of language on earth, from the consideration that "the faculty of speech is the medium of social bliss for superior intelligences in an eternal world ;" and who, when he has exhausted censure in condemning the practical instructions of others, thus lavishes praise, in both his grammars, upon that formless, void, and incomprehensible theory of his own: "This application of words," says he, “in their endless use, by one plain rule, to all things which nouns can name, instead of being the fit subject of blind cavil, is the most sublime theme presented to the intellect on earth. It is the practical intercourse of the soul, at once with its God, and with all parts of his works!"-12mo. Gram. p. 87.18mo. Gram. p. 49. Here, indeed, a wide prospect opens before us; but he who traces science, must check imagination, and be content with sober truth. "For apt the mind or fancy is to rove MILTON. Restricted within its proper limits, and viewed in its true light, the practical science of grammar has an intrinsic dignity and merit sufficient to throw back upon any man who dares openly assail it, the lasting stigma of folly and self-conceit. For though there be some geniuses who affect to despise the trammels of grammar rules, to whom it must be conceded that many things, which have been unskilfully taught as such, deserve to be despised; yet is it true, as Dr. Adam remarks, that "the study of grammar has been considered an object of great importance by the wisest men in all ages." The great reputation of Dr. Adam leads me to pursue the quotation a little further: "But, like other inces," he proceeds, "it has been involved in mystery, and perplexed with needless difficulties; so that, instead of facilitating the acquisition of languages, which was its original design, it has frequently served to render that more laborious.”—Pref. to Lat. Gram. These are the sentiments of a scholar, practical teacher, and man of sense; the success of whose Latin and English Grammar is a sufficient evidence that many others have coincided with him. And while the citation concedes, that there was ample room for improvement upon the grammars which were then in fashion, the whole scope of the writer goes to sustain that general system of doctrines which long use has rendered venerable, and long experience proved to be useful. Not that any ancient system of instruction, or any grammar of another language, can be entirely applicable to the present state of our tongue; for languages must needs differ greatly from one another, and even that which is called the same, may come in lapse of time to differ greatly from what it once was. But there are many points in which different languages coincide; and every item of grammatical doctrine is the more worthy to be preserved and regarded, as it approaches the nearer to universality. As for those corrections which want of skill or change of fashion may have made necessary, they may surely be adopted without a departure from any of the great principles of universal grammar. A readiness to throw aside the learning of ages, in favor of the unsettled notions and whimsical theories of neoteric guides, who would subvert the fundamental doctrines of grammar, to teach in a few worthless lessons what can never supply their place, is one of the follies of the present day, which every schoolmaster should exert his influence to counteract. The general subject of grammar, even within its strictest limits, so very comprehensive, that I can embrace in this lecture no more than a mere outline of certain views which occur, as the mind surveys its nature and extent. I have no wish to enter into controversy :—no laurels are won upon the dry and dusty arena of verbal dispute. And of the particular details contained in every petty treatise on the subject, I shall have little or nothing to say. But let not those who imagine the elements to be the only practical part of grammar, suppose it irrelevant to speak of the origin, progress, and importance of the study, and of the rise and character of some of the methods and books by means of which it has been pursued. My remarks will probably be more intelligible, if reduced to distinct heads. I. Of the origin and utility of language in general. Revelation informs us that our first progenitor was not only endowed with the faculty of speech, but, as it would appear, actually incited by the Deity to exert that faculty in giving "Out of names to the objects by which he was surrounded. the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam, to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof." Gen. ii. 19. Subsequent to this, is the account of Eve's creation. But, in the preceding chapter, the Deity is represented as speaking unto them both, with reference to dominion over the other creatures, &c.; so that the order of the events cannot be clearly inferred from the order of the narration. The manner of this communication may also be a subject of doubt. Whether it was or was not made by a voice of words, may be questioned. Plato attributes the primitive words of the first language to a divine origin; and Dr. Wilson says, "The transition from silence to speech, implies an effort of the understanding too great for man. Language is either oral or written. Writing is generally considered an artificial invention, and supposed to have been wholly unknown in the early ages of the world. Its antiquity however, is great. Of this I shall presently state what is known, |