known and explained the nature and intrinsic value of the riches of their own language, neither would their descendants have lost any of those advantages, nor would the languages of Europe have been at this day in the corrupt and deficient state in which we, more and less, find them. For those languages which have borrowed these abbreviations, would have avoided the partiality and patchwork, as well as the corruptions and improprieties with which they now abound; and those living languages of Europe which still want these advantages wholly, would long ere this have intirely supplied their defects. F. It seems to me that you rather exaggerate the importance of these abbreviations. Can it be of such mighty consequence to gain a little time in communication? H. Even that is important. But it rests not there. A short, close, and compact method of speech, answers the purpose of a map upon a reduced scale: it assists greatly the comprehension of our understanding: and, in general reasoning, frequently enables us, at one glance, to take in very numerous and distant important relations and conclusions, which would otherwise totally escape us. But this objection comes to me with an ill grace from you, who have expressed such frequent nausea and disgust at the any-lengthian Lord with his numerous strings, that excellent political swimmer; whose tedious reasons, you have often complained, are as "two graines of wheat hid in two bushels of chaffe." And here, if you please, we will conclude our discussion for the present. F. No. If you finish thus, you will leave me much unsatisfied; nor shall I think myself fairly treated by you. You have told me that a Verb is (as every word also must be) a Noun; but you added, that it is also something more: and that the title of Verb was given to it, on account of that distinguishing something more than the mere Nouns convey. You have then proceeded to the simple Verb adjectived, and to the different adjectived Moods, and to the different adjectived Tenses of the verb. But you have not all the while explained to me what you mean by the naked simple Verb unadjectived. Nor have you uttered a single syllable concerning that something which the naked Verb unattended by Mood, Tense, Number, Person, and Gender, (which last also some languages add to it) signifies More or Besides the mere Noun. What is the Verb? What is that peculiar differential circumstance which, added to the definition of a Noun, constitutes the Verb? Is the Verb, 1. "Dictio variabilis, quæ significat actionem aut passionem." Or, 2. "Dictio variabilis per modos." Or, 3. "Quod adsignificat tempus sine casu.' Or, 4. "Quod agere, pati, vel esse, significat." Or, 5. "Nota rei sub tempore." Or, 6. "Pars orationis præcipua sine casu." Or, 8. "Nihil significans, et quasi nexus et copula, ut verba alia quasi animaret." Or, 9. "Un mot declinable indeterminatif." Or, 10. “Un mot qui presente à l'esprit un être indeterminé, designé seulement par l'idée generale de l'existence sous une relation à une modification." Or, 11. H. A truce, a truce.-I know you are not serious in laying this trash before me: for you could never yet for a moment bear a negative or a quasi in a definition. I perceive whither you would lead me; but I am not in the humour at present to discuss with you the meaning of Mr. Harris's "Whatever a thing may Be, it must first of necessity Be, before it can possibly Be any thing ELSE." With which precious jargon he commences his account of the Verb. No, No. We will leave off here for the present. It is true that my evening is now fully come, and the night fast approaching; yet, if we shall have a tolerably lengthened twilight, we may still perhaps find time enough for a further conversation on this subject: And finally, (if the times will bear it) to apply this system of Language to all the different systems of Metaphysical (i. e. verbal) Imposture. THE END. |