the formation of compound ideas, and of the exclusions by which we arrive at the abstractions so perpetually resorted to in the process of reasoning, and in the communication of our thoughts.
Lastly, such analyses alone can determine the principles on which a strictly Philosophical Language might be constructed. The probable result of the construction of such a language would be its eventual adoption by every civilized nation ; thus realizing that splendid aspiration of philanthropists, — the establishment of a Universal Language. However Utopian such a project may appear to the present generation, and however abortive may have been the former endeavours of Bishop Wilkins and others to realize it,[1] its accomplishment is surely not beset with greater difficulties than have impeded the progress to many other beneficial objects, which in former times appeared to be no less visionary, and which yet were successfully achieved, in later ages, by the continued and per- severing exertions of the human intellect. Is there at the present day, then, any ground for despair, that at some future stage of that higher civilization to which we trust the world is gradually tending, some new and bolder effort of genius towards the solution of this great problem may be crowned with success, and compass an object of such vast and paramount utility ? Nothing, indeed, would con- duce more directly to bring about a golden age of union and harmony among the several nations and races of mankind than the removal of that barrier to the interchange of thought and mutual good understanding between man and man, which is now interposed by the diversity of their respective languages.
- ↑ ' The Languages,' observes Home Tooke, ' which are commonly used throughout the world, are much more simple and easy, convenient and philosophical, than Wilkins's scheme for a real character ; or than any other scheme that has been at any other time imagined or proposed for the purpose '-"ETrea liTepdej/Ta, p, 125.
language. It professed to be founded on a ' scheme of analysis of the things
or notions to which names were to be assigned ; ' but notwithstanding the
immense labour and ingenuity expended in the construction of this system,
it was soon found to be far too abstruse and recondite for practical application.
In the year 1797, there appeared in Paris an anonymous work, entitled
'Pasigraphie, ou Premiers El{{subst:e'}}ments du nouvel Art-Science d'{{subst:e'}}crire et d'imprimer une langue de mani{{subst:e`}}re {{subst:a`}} {{subst:e^}}tre lu et entendu dans toute autre langue sans traduction,' of which an edition in German was also published. It contains a
great number of tabular schemes of categories ; all of which appear to be
excessively arbitrary and artificial, and extremely difficult of application, as
well as of apprehension. [Systems of grouping with relation to ideas are also
adopted in an ' Analytical Bictionar^j of the Engish Language ' by David
Booth (London, 1835), a ' Dictionnaire Analogique de la Langue Franqaise'
by P. Boissiere (Paris), and & ' Dictionnaire Logiqxie de la Langue Francaise'
by L'Abbg Elie Blanc (Paris, 1882).]
