1829.] Speculations on Literary Pleasures.-Locke. mind, and matter, religion, and a God!" Indeed! did the writer make this discovery from any of the doctrines advanced in the Essay on Human Understanding; or, like its famous opponent, the Bishop of Worcester, did he take umbrage at some consequences alledged, by implication, as growing out of these doctrines? But we will hear the writer of the Foreign Quarterly again, as every author should explain his own meaning. "The philosophy of Schelling abounds in bold thoughts, and awful generalizations; its tendency is to elevate the mind, whilst the philosophy of Locke, Condillac, and Volney, leave us grovelling in matter, and teach us that the sum of morals consists in providing for the body." And again, in the same article, "The distinguishing trait of the school of Schelling, is spiritualism, which. towers infinitely above the sensualism of Locke, Helvetius, and Condillac." Helvetius, Volney, and Locke! what an association! Is it possible that the writer of the critique in question should have read the writings of the former gentlemen? Every one who has read Helvetius, knows him to be a mere creature of matter. All his hypotheses for the improvement and perfectibility of mind, are limited to the operative influences of its various modifications; but will any one in his senses, who has studied Locke's theories on these subjects, assert that he makes matter the sole operative basis which influences mind? The avowed and nauseating infidelity of Volney is familiar to most people of any reading, perhaps, but is there ought of resemblance between any thing advanced in the "Ruins," and the hypotheses of Locke upon mind, religion, and the existence of a God? If there be, it assuredly was reserved for the penetration of this sapient Reviewer, whose whole critique, indeed, tends to no earthly end, except an eulogy on Schelling, beclouded in a mist of German metaphysics-to make the discovery of it. When, in our hours of abstraction, we read Leibnitz, or Wolff, we are in the habit of admiring their depth of thought, while we enter into their views; but in pursuing the specula, tions of some of their successors, we are sometimes sublimated to regions beyond the verge of any calculated system of reason and its inductions, 119 into the OBSCURE of the Kantian method of philosophizing. thing in common with this, is not, That the system of Locke had noperhaps, disparaging to his character as a philosopher. If his doctrines were not SPIRITUALIZED, they were sought. out with patient and profound inquiry, truth; although, as one of his comfrom the realities of things and from mentators once said of Des Cartes, he after having proved the existence of a was accused of atheism (of scepticism), God better than any of them. But we at once dismiss the subject, difficulty of comprehending brevity and look for our indulgence in the in these matters, (and brevity we distinctness and precision which they have certainly consulted,) with that demand. "Natural science," says Lord BaMetaphysic." con, "is divided into Physic and vision, as here premised by his LordThe metaphysical diship, in the 2d book "De Augmentis Scientiarum," has lately engrossed a considerable portion of attention; but perhaps, as a sequel, still be permitted in the physical the amateur might, to glean a few flowers. From the protracted nature of our present remarks, however, they may probably, Mr. Urban, with more propriety, find a corner in a future Number. imperfect sketch in the present NumUpon a review, at parting, of the ber, it may be thought, that in the course of our remarks, we have dwelt with peculiar frequency upon the name and merits of Locke. It may, be replied, that there are but few sysphysics, in which the character of this tems which relate in any way to metaBut Dr. Jortin, in his very able and eminent man does not stand involved, intelligent "Life of Erasmus," notices a certain writer who published a history of modern metaphysics, and made just as reasonably, no mention of Locke. "He acted pher, "as a man who, professing to says the Biograwrite the lives of the Greek and Roman poets, should only leave out Homer and Virgil." Melksham, Jan. 14. Mr. URBAN, ALCIPHRON. Hull, Jan. 28. the interior of the magnificent Minster 120 Beverley Minster.-Earl Leofric and Countess Godiva. Church of St. John and St. Martin in that town; and will, with your permission, offer a few remarks respecting its present state. Very great improvements have lately taken place. The choir is now fitted up for Divine Service, the nave being formerly appropriated for that purpose. The new altar screen of stone, erected at great expense, is of exquisitely elaborate workmanship, and considered by many equal, if not superior, to that in Westminster Abbey. The situation of the new pulpit of oak, admirably carved, conceals, in some measure, the altar, from great part of the congregation. The stalls for the Clergy, Corporation, and Churchwardens, are provided with crimson velvet cushions; but the rest have not any covering to conceal the oaken surface, as in other Cathedrals. This has a very bare appearance, and presents too great a contrast: crimson cloth cushions, if the funds of the Church will not afford velvet, carried round the choir, would not leave anything wanting to its adornment. The organ screen and marble pavement have long been a source of admiration; especially the latter, on account of its deceptive appearance. The pews and one of the galleries in the nave have been removed, and when a perfect clearance is effected, will present an uninterrupted vista of aisles, equal in beauty, if not in size, to any of our most superb Gothic Cathedrals. The exterior restorations do great credit to the artizans employed; indeed they must be seen to be duly appreciated. The services performed in this Church are peculiarly grand and solemn, much enhanced in effect by a very fine-toned organ. The Clergy belonging to the Minster are, the Rev. J. Coltman, A. M., the Rev. J. Eyre, LL. B., and the Rev. W. Hildyard, A. M. J. S. Mr. URBAN, Coventry, Nov. 20. IN your Magazine for May 1824, I Magazine for May 1824, I observed a letter, signed" A Brother Antiquary," in which the writer states, that he had searched Trinity Church, Coventry, for the painted glass, representing Earl Leofric and his good Countess Godiva*, as mentioned by A short historical sketch of these emi. nent characters will be found in vol. xcvi. ii. 21. [Feb. Sir William Dugdale in his History of Warwickshire; and he regrets that it had fallen a sacrifice to the rage of improvement. Sir William informs us, that in the reign of Richard II. a representation of the Earl and his Countess was to be seen in a south window in Trinity Church. In his right hand the Eart held a charter of freedom, granted to the inhabitants, containing the following inscription, in old English charac ters: I Luriche (Leofric) for the love of thee, Doe make Coventre Tol-free." Antiquary," is certainly erroneous, as lated state, are still remaining; and the figures, although in a very muticopies of which, reduced from tracings, have forwarded to you for insertion. The above statement of a "Brother I The upper figure is supposed to be a representation of the Countess in a yellow dress, on horseback. I am credibly informed that the figures and inscription were in a tolerably perfect state about 50 or 60 years ago, but at that time an eastern window was reglazed by one Jervis of Earl-street, in this city, when the figure of Leofric, flowing yellow hair, and other fragand another of Godiva, with long ments, were placed in a centre compartment in the disjointed state in which we now view them. In its original state, the arms of the Earl, and the Benedictine Monastery which he endowed in Coventry, viz. the Spread Eagle, was placed beneath the figures. Mr. Nichols, in his Illustrations of 1829.] Corruptions of the English Language. THAT the English language, whilst abroad, is daily encountering contempt and insult at home, is a truth which it is equally grievous and imperative to admit. Our Magazines and light publications,-the whole of our periodical literature, in fact, seems devoted to the cause of introducing amongst us, bad French and bad Italian, to the exclusion of all the forcible phrases which our own language can afford. One of our Annuals has inserted, this year, a whole tale in French; and none of the many Reviews which have noticed it, have done so in terms of reprobation, with the single exception of the Gentleman's Magazine, the last strong-hold of good old English feeling, and pure old English idiom. What adds to the absurdity of this is, that the professed author of this tale, though a Frenchman by birth, has long resided in England, is perfectly acquainted with its language, and has even composed in it essays and other light productions; so that he could, if required, have furnished the tale in our mother tongue. Others of this popular class of periodi cals are ornamented with prints, bearing French and Italian titles, and illustrated by tales, written in that despicable gibberish, unfortunately but too prevalent, composed of English sentences, interlarded with French phrases and French idiom. There is no doubt that this miserable affectation, this vulgar parade of superficial learning, is the surest sign of utter ignorance that can be shown. Those who are really and thoroughly acquainted with these languages are aware, that in many, nay, in most particulars, the English language completely surpasses them, that in capabilities it is unrivalled, and that, though all those capabilities have not yet been sufficiently exerted or adeGENT. MAG. February, 1829. 121 quately called into action, they may be safely awakened from their slumber upon occasion, by magicians of no very extraordinary powers. Of the gentlemen who so liberally intersperse their composition with foreign terms, had that knowledge of their native language which they ought to possess, we should not see English books disgraced by the intrusion of the wretched French phrase coup de soleil for the brief and forcible sun-stroke, leger de main for sleight of hand, eclaircissedance of three, vinaigre de quatre voleurs for four thieves' vinegar, &c.; all which it is reasonably expected that every reader shall pronounce aright, according to the French fashion, as if it were a sacred duty incumbent upon every Englishman, to study a language absolutely contemptible when compared with his own. What renders this infatuation still more provoking, is, that it has reached (what I hope may be) its topmost height, at a time when England boasts of authors, second to none in the annals of literature, save a few of the great names of antiquity; and when France is absolutely inferior in this respect, not only to England, but to Germany, Italy, and Spain. If the relative situations of the two nations in regard to literature were exactly the reverse, the phenomenon might be satisfactorily accounted for. It is no very unusual occurrence, for servile imitations of good foreign models to be carried so far, as to cause it to be forgotten, that it should be aimed at to transfer their characteristic excellencies to our own idiom, instead of servilely repeating them in theirs. But our present conduct is to stoop from our own proud pre-eminence, to the level of an acknowledged inferior; we, the imitated, act as if we were the imitators; and by so doing we merit to be sneered at, as we are, by our foreign competitors. It is evident to all those who have devoted any portion of attention to the subject, that the English language would, if proper care were devoted to its advancement, stand an excellent chance of becoming more universally diffused, read, and spoken, than any other now is, or ever has been. In Europe, the study of it seems to be gradually spreading. In Germany, Russia, and Scandinavia it is esteemed an es 122 Corruptions of the English Language. sential, in France a highly useful, branch of education; in Africa it is gradually superseding the Dutch, and becoming the medium of valuable information. In Australasia it is not only widely spoken, as the only European language known on that vast continent, but written and printed in an almost incredible number of news papers, magazines, and reviews. In Asia so great is the desire manifested to learn it, that it was thought by Bishop Heber, that, if proper facilities were afforded, it would, in fifty years, supersede Hindoostanee, and become the court and camp language of India. In America, millions already speak, write, and read it, as their mother tongue; and it is rapidly obliterating the savage languages and French from Canada, and the rest of the north of the Northern Continent. Never before did a language look forward to so bright a prospect as this, and nothing could retard its swift march but our own incredible folly. By stupidly and (I may almost say) wickedly introducing French into our books, we are, as it were, compelling all those who wish to study English literature, to acquire the French language also. That tongue has already acquired an almost inexplicable preponderance in Europe, which certainly possesses at least half a dozen superior in every particular. It is admitted as the language of diplomacy (a distinction which it would become a patriotic English minister peremptorily and decidedly to refuse): it is more often than any other adopted in foreign countries as a medium of conversation: and by this means it has at length become an almost indispensable accomplishment. Still, it is no more than reasonable to suppose, from every fact that can be adduced in evidence, that, were the English to make a resolute stand against it, they would, in twenty years at furthest, topple it from its throne. If the Frenchmen who straggle over here without taking the trouble to learn our language, were informed that French was not the current speech of England, and left to chatter to themselves-if it were discontinued to be taught at Woolwich, at the Mechanics' Institu tions, &c. (a madness which is only equalled by the proposal made at Birmingham, to teach it to the charity boys,) it would pretty soon be banished from general use in England-and that [Feb. once done, we might leave it at leisure to take its departure from the Continent; where our own would be sure to oust it, when placed in full opposition. But I have dilated so long on the corruptions of the English language, occasioned by the introduction of French, that I have scarcely time or room to animadvert at sufficient length on another and almost equally prevalent method, of debasing the sterling metal of our noble tongue, adopted by scientific writers. These gentlemen are remarkable for using a certain kind of jargon, neither Latin nor English, but a compound of both, which would prove as completely unintelligible to an ancient Roman, if resuscitated for the purpose, as it is to a modern Englishman, unacquainted with the tongues of old. Surely these authors can never have perused Michaelis's excellent Treatise upon the influence of language upon ideas, in which it is asserted and proved, that the advantages of familiarizing science to the minds of the many, by adopting a phraseology intelligible to all, are so incalculable, that no advantages supposed to result from the introduction of a scientific nomenclature, can be reasonably placed in the balance. In the teeth of this opinion of one of the most learned men that ever breathed, in the teeth of the practice of the Germans, one of the most enlightened nations of Europe, we call that science which treats of the knowledge of animals, zoology, instead of animal science, or a similar intelligible compound; the knowledge of water-power we term hydrodynamics; a heat-measurer or heat-meler, a thermometer, &c. But perhaps all this gibberish, though absurd and ridiculous enough, is not so bad as the practice of introducing German terms of art into mineralogy. Can mineralogists ever dream of interesting Englishmen by dissertations on feldspath, fletzrocks, and blitzrohien. Such gibberish can merely excite disgust; and the most unqualified disgust it certainly deserves. Half of these errors seem to be committed under the unhappy notion, that every new word dragged into the language enriches it. The French, more judicious than we, have created a new class of words, by prefixing the Greek preposition para to some of their substantives, and construing this compound to imply a sort of protection against the last half of the word; as parapluie, paragrele, parachute, &c. Those who wished to enrich the English language with these words, instead of transferring them whole and undefiled, should have translated them pararain, parahail, parafall. It is introductions of this nature, by which whole classes of new words are created, that benefit a language, not the transplantation of some solitary unmeaning phrase. Of late years it has been the fashion to patronize the affix less, and we have, consequently, introduced into the language hundreds of words, such as windless, waterless, &c. at once expressive and untranslateable. As this is now nearly exhausted, it is to be hoped that some new affix, equally needed and equally sensible, will come into fashion, to adorn and strengthen the language. I shall conclude this somewhat rambling letter, by an extract from Camp bell's Lochiel's Warning, as an exemplification of untranslateable beauty and vigour. It is not only, as a whole, incapable of being transferred to any other tongue, but several of the words are peculiar to our own idiom, and the compounds are not to be found in any of the southern languages. "Say, rushed the bold eagle exultingly forth, 123 1828. That newspaper transcribed it from the Morning Post, in which it originally appeared. It was written merely as loose hints, without much care, and to disburthen my mind of what floated there upon a popular subject. Permit me, in your pages, to continue the subject for a few paragraphs; in which I shall ramble, as I did before, without the attraction of any particular hypothesis, either to stimulate or delude me. Perhaps, at last, some fact, thrown out in the private letters to Woodfall, may conduct a very sagacious Critic to the real Junius. I have myself frequently read them with great attention, and fancy the following few points may have escaped general notice. At all events, I have never observed them in the disquisitions of other writers. First, as to the penmanship of the private notes. In that dated July 15th, 1769, the writer seems to be at much difficulty in the formation of his characters: very long and awkward up-strokes to letters of small body; some capitals much disfigured and unnaturally thin, and the whole almost upright. Subsequent notes from him obtain a freer course of the pen, yet resorting, here and there, to the predetermined singularity and stiffness. But so late in his intercourse with Woodfall as Jan. 2, 1771, upon some alarm or other conceived at a note from him, he writes to that printer the following letter, which for the first time displays a very miserable affectation, of which the reason does not appear. He was writing to a man who well knew his usual manner, and would naturally wonder at the childish modesty which, after four years of conformity with mankind in general, exhibits the first personal pronoun with a small letter. In the MS. it is highly ridiculous, in typography it is hardly to be borne; but of the latter assertion, the reader shall have the means of judging for himself. .. Sir, "i have recd. y. mysterious epistle. i dare say a letter may safely be left at the same place; but you may change the direc tion to Mr. John Fretly. You need not advertise it. "Yours,-C." Now I, for a long while, hesitated about the proper inference from such a whim in the writer, or the penman |