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Hiftorical and critical Remarks on the British Tongue, and its Connection with other Languages, founded on its State in the Welch Bible. By Thomas Llewelyn, L L. D. 8vo, 2s. Buckland, &c. .1769.

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R. Llewelyn, zealous for his native tongue, proposes by this treatise in fome measure to shew its advantages, and to recommend it to the greater cultivation and more thorough knowledge of his own countrymen. While it is yet alive (he fays, in the introduction) and in daily ufe, let it be studied and cultivated: and fhould it ever be its fate to be reckoned among the dead, may it then meet with the usual treatment and honors of dead languages.'

In the first part of this pamphlet he takes up the British tongue. in its present state, and furveys its general complection and features, as it appears in the Welch bible: he examines the terms or words of it in the grofs, and enquires whether they are original or native, foreign or borrowed: he traces its connection and intercourfe with other languages; and confiders what it has gained or fuffered by their means. He finds, we are told, hardly any words in the British tongue of clear Hebrew complection and affinity: but with regard to the Greek, upon a comparison of both tongues, he meets with feveral words in each, greatly alike in found and fignification, which are evident proofs of a very antient affinity between the two tongues: however, he thinks it most reasonable to conclude, not that one of these is derived from the other, but that they are both kindred languages, and proceed from one common origin. The Latin tongue, which has intermixed itself with the English, and conftitutes, he fays, a main part, perhaps the most expreffive and fubftantial part of that language, has undoubtedly, he adds, affected the Welch tongue; and introduced into their bible, words which would never have appeared in it, had it not been for the connection between this country and the Roman empire or the church of Rome. Mr. E. Llwyd having reckoned up the words in Davies's Welch dictionary, makes them amount to about ten thousand, of which, he owns, about fifteen hundred, fomewhat lefs than a feventh part, might be like the Latin: but Dr. Llewelyn is hardly willing to admit even of fuch a proportion.

The effect of the English language comes next under obfervation, and this our Author makes appear lefs than would be expected from the long and clofe connection between the Welch, and English.

After fome reflections on the British alphabet compared with. the Latin and Saxon, we are brought to the fecond part of this,

work,

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work, which is defigned to enter more thoroughly into the ge nius and conftitution of the Welch tongue, to examine its peculiar nature and properties, how far it is regular after the manner of the English and other languages, and to point out its advantages and disadvantages for compofition, and for ease and ftrength of expreffion. In purfuing this plan, many obfervations are made on the Welch grammar and fyntax; but we do not find a great deal to prove how far it excels or falls fhort of other languages in refpect of advantages for compofition; except that in comparing this language with the English, he feems abundantly to prefer the former. When he is treating of derivative words, in preparing and using which, he fays, confifts the principal difference of languages, and the vaft advantage of fome above others; he thus proceeds, The underived and primitive words of several tongues may greatly refemble one another, and be nearly the fame, as proceeding from the fame ftock, perhaps from the original language of man. But a moft wide and amazing difference will be found in their derivatives. Some languages, if I may fo fpeak, treat their original stock like a spendthrift, or like the flothful fervant take no pains to improve it: they ever ufe thefe materials in their firft condition, or in their ftinted and dwarfish ftate: while others have laboured and manufactured them, compounded and decompounded them, so as furprizingly to vary, to increase and multiply their first and original quantity. The Latin and Greek tongues feem to have diftinguished themselves the most in this refpect. If we examine any compofition in either of these languages, grammars and dictionaries excepted, we fhall find but few words in their fimple and primitive ftate; hardly any monofyllables among the fubftantives, adjectives or verbs; and if they are thus conftituted in their original form, as foon as they pafs from this ftate, they become polyfyllables, words of bulk and fubftance, which look well and feem to add weight and dignity to a sentence or period. The English on the other hand feems to have done very little this way. With all its tendency and difpofition to manufactures and improvement, it has neglected the manufacture and improvement of its own words. It has gone upon the idle lazy principle of borrowing and importing; and rather than take the pains to work and labour its own materials, it has chofe to become debtor to the French, to the Latin, to the Greek, or to any other language, which would trust it with terms ready made and at fecond hand. To this day it ufes its own native words much in their ori ginal ftate, or rather in a lefs or more diminutive form. Near two thirds, perhaps, of the words of this language in its prefent condition are monofyllables. Exclude from it all foreign derivatives, and then thefe little ftinted, dwarfish things will

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"Whole

appear in a much more disproportionate number.
lines in a large book will be found like a string of beads made
up of words all of one and the fame fize." The Welch Jan-
guage, it is added, has in this refpect confiderably the advan-
tage of the English; it has more varieties and more substantial
grammatical derivatives; and it has taken greater liberties to
manufacture its own materials. While the English has gone
about borrowing of the French, of the Latin or Greek; the
Welch has been creating and forming words of its own; and
there feems to have been a fpecial tendency in this language
thus to increase and multiply. By this means it has acquired
a confiderable fuperiority in this refpect, and is in poffeffion of
feveral verbs and other words to which I know of none cor-
refponding in the English tongue, as dyddhau, hwyrhau, &c. &c.
There are derivatives of this fort manufactured in Britain by
its original inhabitants, which, in my opinion, are not only
fuperior to any thing in English in the fame way, but are at
leaft equal to any productions of the fame kind in ancient Rome
or Greece.'

In this manner does the Doctor extol his own language, and decry the English: but without farther obfervations, we can only add an extract from his conclufion of the pamphlet: A more intimate acquaintance, and a farther study of this subject, fays he, I would fain recommend to my countrymen, particularly to thofe among them who are perfons of leifure and learning; and I would venture to insure them in that cafe both profit and pleasure. Their mother tongue was very probably once the most general and extenfive of any in Europe. In a long course of many ages, it may have been affected by fome intermixtures from other languages; but it yet retains more of its ancient character, more of its original independence and purity, than perhaps any other tongue in prefent ufe.-The subject may deferve regard, not only as curious, but as capable of throwing light on fome particulars of the hiftory and antiquities of this country. From the genius and character of the language, adds our Author, I would infer the ftate and character of the more ancient inhabitants of Britain.In times paft they have been represented as barbarians and favages, as ignorant and deftitute of almost every improvement and convenience of life; but fuch a representation feems to have been as untrue as it was unfriendly. The peculiar, the improved character of their tongue is, to fay the leaft of it, a ftrong presumption,-that the ancient Celta, and in particular the ancient inhabitants of Britain, were not in the loweft, but in a more improved state of civilization and knowledge. Let Britons of the prefent day therefore study and be well acquainted with this moft ancient, and moft undoubted monument of the art and skill of their ances. REV. Sept. 1769.

tors.

tors. Should fuch a conduct be in any measure the effect of thefe remarks-I fhall think myself happy in having prepared them, and look upon every attending trouble as abundantly compenfated.'

The Doctor's ftyle and manner are, upon the whole, eafy and pleasing, though his fubject is dry, and must prove uninteresting to the generality of readers.

A new and general Syftem of Phyfic, in Theory and Practice, &c. &c. By William Smith, M. D. 4to. 14s. fewed. Owen. 1769.

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EFORE we enter on our review of this work, it is juft that we should give the pretenfions of the Author, as stated by himself in the preface. We are there told that it is defigned as a general fyftem of phyfic;' that it begins with the nature of the folids and fluids, which are the feat of all difeafes;' and that a practice founded on a perfect knowledge of their state cannot poffibly fail of meeting with fuccefs; that the nature, fymptoms, and method of cure, of every particular disease, with the proper medicines, are mentioned, as they naturally fall in under the regular divifion of this book, which contains the pharmacopoeias of the royal colleges of London and Edinburgh, according to the latest editions,—the fimples and compofitions being claffed according to their nature and virtues; that to each divifion is added a great variety of ufeful and elegant fermula, adapted to every intention of cure, in every difeafe incident to the human body; that the natural and chemical hiftory of the materia medica, and the medical and pharmaceutic properties of each fimple, with its dofe, and manner of operation, are explained,'-some of the infignificant fimples being rejected, and others, that have come into reputation, inferted; that to each of the compound medicines is fubjoined an explanation of its nature, virtues, and dofe, befides the general explanation which is prefixed to each clafs;' and that the topical compofitions are not given in this publication, but are reserved for a treatife upon furgery, which will make a proper and useful fupplement to this work, and will render it a body both of phyfic and furgery.' He farther adds, that this work is calculated-entirely upon a new plan, which is more comprehenfive than any hitherto published, and presents to the reader, in one view, the whole art of phyfic, and affords the physician a set of valuable and elegant formula, ready proportioned to his hand." The Author then expreffes his hopes that it will be found a ufeful book to every apothecary, and not unworthy the notice of a physician, upon the table of whofe ftudy it may be found ufeful;' but that, above all, it will be found highly necessary for

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every private family, efpecially those who live in the country, remote from any physician or apothecary, as it makes their garden and fields a fhop of phyfic, and teaches the nature and virtues of the roots and herbs of their own growth, and also how to use them, and what quantity to take at a time.' The preface concludes with a request of the Author to the Reader that ⚫ he would not be too hafty in paffing his judgment of this work; that he would not be directed by pride, prejudice, or envy; and that he would give it a complete reading, and compare impartially its perfections with its imperfections, before he pronounces his opinion.'-As we Reviewers are Readers, by profeffion, we confider this request as more particularly addressed to ourselves, and fhall attend to the purport of it as we certainly should have done, without this earnest petition. We are apprehenfive, however, that our attention in the perufal of this work, and impartiality in our account of it, will not be productive of that favourable verdict which the Author feems to expect.

We shall begin with the introduction, which, as the Author tells us in his preface, contains what is necessary of chemistry and pharmacy, and the manner of compounding and exhibiting medicines.' All this neceffary information the Author communicates in the compafs of 28 pages, which may accordingly be supposed to be a perfect quinteffence of chemical and pharmaceutical knowledge. In the firft pages of it, we are favoured with a few of the Author's thoughts on the ftate of phyfic, and en the office of a phyfician, which, fays he, is the highest that one man can confer upon another.' • What availeth a large eftate,' he pathetically adds, nay a crown or sceptre, to one languishing under a fever, or diftracted with torturing pain? As the phyfician is like to God in doing good and relieving the fick, fo ought he conftantly to imitate that Being in mercy and juftice. Confidering therefore the dignity and truft of a phyfician, none ought to be admitted to the ftudy of phyfic with a view of practifing, that have not been a certain number of years at fome univerfity; if this was obferved, and at the fame time if the apothecary was confined to his shop, and not allowed, under a certain penalty, to fuffer any compofition to be taken out of it but by a phyfician's prescription, or in wholefale; if the chymift was confined to his furnace, and the furgeon to his lancet, which I apprehend the college of phyficians has a power to do; then phyfic would recover its loft reputation, and the lives of many fubjects would thereby be preserved. I might,' adds the Doctor, give many reasons for this my opinion; but it is time to haften to my fubject.'-By the bye, the Doctor is very apt to be in a hurry, when there are any reafons to be given. When he left the poor vicar last year, [M. Review, Sept. p. 220, 221.] wallowing in dirt, for no earthly

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