Our English bids fair to obtain the second Place. The great
Body of excellent printed Sermons in our Language, and the Freedom of
our Writings on political Subjects, have induced a Number of Divines
of different Sects and Nations, as well as Gentlemen concerned in
public Affairs, to study it; so far at least as to read it. And if
we were to endeavour the Facilitating its Progress, the Study of our
Tongue might become much more general. Those, who have employed some
Part of their Time in learning a new Language, must have frequently
observed, that, while their Acquaintance with it was imperfect,
Difficulties small in themselves operated as great ones in
obstructing their Progress. A Book, for Example, ill printed, or a
Pronunciation in speaking, not well articulated, would render a
Sentence unintelligible; which, from a clear Print or a distinct
Speaker, would have been immediately comprehended. If therefore we
would have the Benefit of seeing our Language more generally known
among Mankind, we should endeavour to remove all the Difficulties,
however small, that discourage the learning it.
But I am sorry to observe, that, of late Years, those
Difficulties, instead of being diminished, have been augmented.
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