origins On words of the fame orthography, Obf. VI. and belonging to the fame origin, but fignifying differently in different dialects - On the use of confonants in the formation of the Greek language; in which will be an endeavour to fhew, that the original fignification of words did not depend on the individual powers of the letters which compofed them, except in words profeffedly imitative of founds, &c : and secondly, that the general Idea was expreffed by the vowels, and that the connjuct use of the confonants served to denote the modifications of the general Idea in all its varieties and combinations; not as fignificant in themselves either as to tone or figure, but used only as arbitrary figns to diverfify particular fignifications in their deflection from the general Idea-On primitive fignifications existing in compound words, but loft in their fimples-On primitive words,

greater and more frequent changes, than the dead, learned languages, as having paffed through a greater fucceffion of time: and confequently, as it fhould feem, muft be, for the most part, of lefs fecure authority in ascertaining the original forms and powers of words.

and

Obf. VI. and fignifications, exifting in the Latin language, but loft in the Greek-On the common origin of the Greek and Latin languages; and how far the Latin may be faid to be derived from the Greek-On the fcience of Etymology as conducted by the Greek and Roman writers, by Philofophers, especially the Stoics, by the Civilians, and Grammarians-On the authority of great poets, hiftorians, orators, &c. who were not at the fame time Grammarians, on questions purely Grammatical-On the defects of antient Etymology, arifing from attachment to one particular language On the advantages, which the moderns have in that refpect over the antients, from the united and grammatical acquifition of the two learned languages, and from the comparison of antient and modern dialects.

He hopes that he is not too fanguine in his expectations and profeffions, when he adds, that he thinks his Syftem will throw much new light on Etymology, and on the Greek language in general; and that the

com

completion of it will very much facilitate Obf. VI. the acquifition of that copious, and difficult language. There are two parts of the language which he will now particularly mention, namely, prepofitions and particles; and the article and pronouns: both of which have been almost universally given up * as of ar

*Mr. Court de GEBELIN, who thinks, that we ought to feek in the power of the radical letter for the original fignification of words (for inftance, he fays that T fignifies perfection, grandeur, highth, &c. and that it gives the fignification of lifting up to the Latin word tollo, and of raising the voice in demanding to postulo; for he derives it from Pho and tol, tul: (See his Dictionaire Etymologique de la langue Latine;) but which by a different analogy may be fhewn to belong to the fame origin as pofco. Proceding thus, Bow, Bon, Boxw wow, pofco, aspirated, pow, wrn' then wow, ποστω, (as κλάω, κλάσω, κλάσης, κλασα ως ατιμάω, ατιμασης &c. pofto, poftulo.) and that the organs of the voice were calculated to exprefs each a particular clafs of ideas; and that all words are but a mere mechanical imitation of the ideas which they express formed by founds analogous to the different objects: When in his Grammaire Univerfelle he came to treat of Prepofitions, found himfelf entirely at a lofs to fhew any connection between the found and the fignification of the Prepofitions. S'il exifte des mots, (he fays, p. 304.) qui durent paroître l'effet du hazard, cè furent fans contredit les Prépofitions: la plupart n'offrent aucun rapport entre lear fon et leur valeur; du moins celles, qui font d'une origine ancienne. He however is perfuaded, that they were not arbitrary and formed at hazard. And has accordingly, in different parts of the Monde Primitif, endeavoured to account for the origin of many Greek and Latin Prepofitions by Etymologies very different from the method of the INQUIRY; in a manner lefs fimple, and as it fhould feem there

fore,

Obf. VI. bitrary formation, the cause of whofe origin it is impoffible to affign. Thus the Prefident de BROSSES: Elles font elles même racines primitives; mais je n'ai pas trouvé qu'il fut poffible d'affigner la cause de leur origine: tellement que j'en crois la formation purement arbitraire. Je penfe de même des particles, des articles, des pronoms, des relatifs, des conjonctions, &c. Traité fur la Formation Méchanique des Langues. Vol. II. p.187,188. Paris, 1765. Our own language indeed, as far as relates to the conjunctions, has lately been ably and fatisfactorily vindicated by Mr. J. HORNE, (in a Letter to JOHN DUNNING, Efq.) from that general charge of barbarism, from which the author of the Inquiry hopes to vindicate the Greek, by endeavouring to explain on one hand the origin of the prepofitions and particles, as

fore, lefs fatisfactory. It feems to be another flattering con-. firmation of the new fyftem propofed in the Inquiry, that by it the Greek and Latin Prepofitions are all eafily reducible to the fame general principles as the other parts of Speech, and may be fhewn to be derived from verbs expreffive of the general Idea of Motion.

deducible

deducible from the general idea of motion; and on the other, to fhew what was the primitive symbol of personal relation, whence adopted, and how gradually resolved and formed into the feveral claffes of pronouns. -AND so much for the prefent by way prolufion to the Inquiry.

of

Obf. VI.

It is hoped that no apology will be thought neceffary for the above remarks, as they seem not to be out of their place, but connected with the study of Antiquities, and indeed a curious part of it, in which, as it seems much yet remains to be difcuffed by diligent Inquirers into the Antiquities of Language. There cannot be greater encouragement to fuch Inquiries, than the very ingenious and happy attempt on one part of our own language by Mr. Horne. In reading which we cannot but regret, that the praises due to the Author's ingenuity and learning are nearly cancelled by the illiberality of his cenfures paffed on fome of the most celebrated

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