the Anglo-American tongue in reference to its roots, we shall find still clearer evidence of great historical changes. Political shocks have impressed themselves on the language. The vestiges of all the English revolutions are there; volumes of words have been introduced by conquest; while the classic student, like Milton, has been compelled to supply the defects of his own vernacular, by borrowing largely from the storehouses of ancient literature.

An examination of our language by the most learned men shows that nearly one-third the words are derived directly or indirectly from the Latin; that another large share (and those the words in most common use) are what is called Anglo-Saxon, or Germanic; that another portion are Norman-French; that others are Danish; and that there are many of the ancient British or Celtic.

From these facts one might infer, almost by a strict demonstration, the historical changes which the people had undergone. Thus the first and greatest conquest of Britain was by the Romans, the remains of whose works and fortifications are scattered over the island to this day. The Roman conquest directly, and the Norman conquest indirectly, and finally, the prevalence of Latin literature during the middle ages, introduced our large stock of Latin words. The next conquest was by the various invasions of the Teutonic tribes, the Angles, Saxons, and Danes, making an entire revolution in the country, and establishing the prevalence of the Saxon

tongue and people. Hence we have the AngloSaxon language for a long time predominant in the country. Next came the Norman conquest, and for a time the Norman-French was the language of educated people. It was not till the thirteenth century that the English tongue began to assume any regular form; and it was not till three centuries after, in the days of Elizabeth, that it took the form in idiom and structure which it now possesses. The Lord's Prayer, as written and used in each successive period, has been preserved, and makes a very good standard of the changes which have taken place in the common language.*

LANGUAGE IS THE RECORD OF SOCIAL PROGRESS.

The science of language, properly studied, affords the very best record of human progress. This will appear evident from the consideration of two very plain principles.

1. It is manifest that if a people have no knowledge of a given science, or no ideas on a given subject, that then that people can have no words to express the terms or ideas of that subject or science: it is a blank in fact, and a blank in language.

2. If a people, at any period in their history, begin to acquire knowledge of a subject, and think upon it, then they also begin to acquire a corresponding

*Sharon Turner's History of England has a very good history of the progress of the English language.

language. They will have words to express their meaning. Thus the accession of new words and phrases proves conclusively the accession of new knowledge and new ideas. The American language affords a fine illustration of this progress in the growth of the public mind. By reference to Webster's American Dictionary, and an analysis of terms, ample proof will be found to sustain, as illustrations of the principle, the introduction of entire classes of words, in consequence of the introduction of a new branch of knowledge. Thus, take the following examples:

1st. The Greek words in our language are almost all terms of art or science, introduced because that art or science was introduced from Greece. The science of medicine has taken almost all its terms from the Greek, because the knowledge of medicine as a science was derived from Greece; physic, physiology, osteology, &c., are Greek words, and so of a very large number of medical terms.

2dly. The terms of the art of war are derived chiefly from the French, because the French have been the great cultivators of what may be called the science of war; the terms were introduced into England with the study of this science. For example, the words fort-fortify—bastion-glacis-parapet, &c., are introduced from the French.

3dly. Terms connected with the art of printing have been multiplied since the invention of printing. The word to print is derived from the French im

primer; but most of the words connected with printing are derived from the Latin, and used in a figurative sense.

4thly. Terms of steam navigation are now rapidly increasing, many of which are entirely new, and introduced within the present generation. Thus the words steamer—steaming—wooding—fire-up, &c., in the manner in which they are used, are all new. Such words must rapidly accumulate, till they form a numerous class.

5thly. Terms derived from the construction of railroads are also numerous; for example, locomotive— freight cars the train-the conductor, &c. Many of these words were already in existence, but the application of them is entirely new, and we thus give them a new meaning.

6thly. Terms of politics and law are also rapidly increasing, and have meanings which they could not possibly have had before the present century. Of political terms we have such as these: caucus-clique —ballot—congress—convention—quorum-legal tender-test-act-stump-speaking, &c., &c. The vocabulary of politics has been immensely extended by a class of words which could have no existence before the formation of democratic governments; there are many of these peculiar to America; others are peculiar to England, such as the word hustings, &c. The law terms were mostly introduced by the Norman conquest, when, for a time, the language of the law courts was the Norman-French. But there are

numerous terms introduced since, and which mark great and important changes in the elements of society. For example, we have jury—grand-jury—parlament—indictment—impeachment, &c., indicating that the government of England has been completely changed since the days of William the Norman.

7thly. Another and very numerous class of words are continually introduced by the new ideas and moral changes created by the action of religion and society. Christianity makes a new mark with each new generation, and continually develops its irrepressible energy and its dominant influence. Thus we have missions-missionaries-tracts-colporteurs, and hundreds of words, brought out by the Christian action of the last half century. Society, too, gives names to its changes, its doctrines, its new sects, and novel ideas; thus we have MormonsMormonism—Socialists—Socialism—strikes—radicals, and a host of terms, which originate in some new movement of society.

Thus we see that language records in its vocabulary and embodies in its own substance the revolutions of society, the increase of knowledge, the inventions of genius, and the progress of art, society, and religion. It does this, though no historian should make up the record; though no poet should sing the praises of glory achieved; though man should leave no monuments to perpetuate his growth and greatness. If the language lives, it carries in itself the record of his acts and his improvements.