PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS BY JOHN FEN NO, No. 69, AIARKE T.STREET, BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD STREETS, PHILADELPHIA
[No. 59, of Vol. ll.]
Discourses on Davila.
No. XXIJI. — CONTINUED
Utiumque regcm, fua mulcitudo conlalutaverat,
THE Queen informed of this union, thought
hejfelf deprived of herfirmeft fuuport, and
dreaded, that the Princes of Lorrain, fupporred
by the credit of the Constable, and difcoutented
with her, might attempt to take from her the re
gency. She thought it necefl'ary therefore, to
connecft herfelf more ftricftly with the King of
Navarre, to counter balance this new party. She
directed all her cares to maintain that equilibri
um, which affined her power and that of her foil.
She entered into all the views of the King of Na
varre, in favor of the Hugonots. Under the pre
text of maintaining peace (luring the minority
of the King, and of conciliating the hearts of the
people, by a reputation of clemency, (he publish
ed new declarations, which enjoined upon all
the parliaments and all the other magistrates of
each province, to molest 110 man on account of
religion ; toreftore the goods, lioufes and poflef
fionsto all thole, who, in times pafled, had been
deprived of them, on suspicion of Heresy. The
parliament of Paris, and some other magistrates
refufed to comply : but the Hugonots, thinking
themselves authorized by the will and orders of
the King, ofthe regent, and the difpolitions of
the council,aflumed to themselves, as they had a
better right to do from God and nature, a liberty
of conscience, and their numbers and forces aug
mented from day to day. This was to fulfil the
views of the Queen, if these religionists had
known how to restrain themselves, within the
bounds of moderation and reason. But as it
commonly happens to people, who fuffer them
selves to be transported by their paflions, and
will not conform to the restraints of authority :
asfoon as they fdt themselves tolerated, protect
ed, and delivered from the fear of puniftimenr,
their resentments of former ill usage arose, they
loft the relpeft due to the magiltrates, and some
times by public aflemblies, and sometimes by in
jurious discourses, or other violent proceedings,
they drew upon themselves the hatred and indig
nation of the Catholicks. Hence arose obstinate
disputes, which throwing the two parties into
quarrels, spread tumult and infurrecftions thro
all the provinces of the kingdom. Thus, con
trary to the intentions of government, and the
expectations of rhe public, the remedy employed
to save the state and maintain peace, became, at
least as our Historian rcprefenK, contagious and
prejudicial: and occasioned precisely those trou
bles and dangers, Which they fought so carcfully
to prevent.
The Guises, we may be sure were not at all
mortified at this turn of affairs. It was precisely
what they wiflied. Encouraged; and fortified by
their union with the Constable, they seized this
occasion to oppose the Queen and the King of
Navarre. The Cardinal of Lorrain, finding the
moment favorable to explain himfelf in council,
without regard to the Queen or the King of Na
varre, who were present : began to speak on the
state of religion, and to represent, with all the
vehemence of his character, that it was to betray
religion, and to dilhonor themselves in the eyes
of the whole earth, to grant, in a most christian
kingdom, liberty of conscience, to innovators al
ready condemned by councils and the voice of
the church. That not fatisfied with difleminat
ing monstrous opinions, with corrupting the ris
ing generation, and imposing on the simplicity
ofthe weak, they blew up the fire of rebellion in
all the provinces of the kingdom. That already
the insolence and outrages of these Heretics, hin
dered the niinifters of the church from celebrat
ing mass, and from appearing in their pulpits,
and left to the magistrates scarce afhadow of au
thority ; thatevery thing was aprey to the sword
and flames, by the imprudence and obstinacy of
those who arrogated to themselves the licence of
believing and teaching at their pleafute ; that
the firft kingdom of Christendom was upon the
point of making a fchifin, of fhakingofFthe yoke
of obedience due to the holy fee, and of aban
doning the Catholic faith, to fatisfy the caprice
of an handful of seditious men. The Cardinal,
enforced these arguments with so much energy,
with that confidence and natural eloquence which
wave liim such an ascendancy, even in the most
problematical opinions, that the protectors of
the Hugonots opposed nothing to him but silence.
The Kingof Navarre and the Queen replied not
Saturday, November 20, 1790.
1 a word, and even the Chancellor appeared amaz
ed and confounded. The counsellors of Itate,
irritated againlt the Hugonots, were of opinion
to aflemble immediately all the Princes and of
ficers of the crown, to the parliament of Paris,
there to treat on this fubjetii, in the presence of
the King, and determine the means of curing
these dilbrders. This aflembly was accordingly
held on the 13th of July, 1561, in parliament.
The King of Navarre dared not alone to make
opposition openly ; this would have been to de
clare himfelf a Calvinift. The Queen indeed, de
sired that the Catholic party Ihould not prevail ;
but she was not the less apprehensive that they
would impute to her the establishment and pro
gress of Heresy. The Cornells in parliament
were however, animated: the partizans of the
Hugonots, forgot motliing to procure them liber
ty of conscience, as the only means proper to ap
pease all troubles, and heal all divisions. Their
efforts were useless. There was some reason for
faying, that liberty of conscience was evidently
opposed to the spirit and authority of the Catho
lic church ; but none at all for pretending that
it was contrary to the fundamental laws of the
kingdom.
It was decided that the Calviniftical preachers
and ministers should fee chafed out ot the king
dom : and that they fliould conform in the pub
lic worship, only to the customs and ceremonies
Authorized by the Roman church. All aflemblies,
of every kind and in everyplace, with arms or
without, except in the Catholic churches, there
to hear divine service, according to their usages,
were forbidden. To grant, however, some miti
gation to the Hugonots, they added in the fame
Edict, that the cognizance of the crime of Here
sy, should be reserved to Bilhops and their grand
Vicars: and if they had recourse to the secular
arm, they could not condemn the guilty, but to
banifament : finally, they gave a general amnes
ty for all disorders committed in times pafled, on
account of religion. A declaration was drawn,
signed by the King, the Queen, and all the Princ
es and lords of parties. (To be continued.)
From WEBSTER'S DISSERTATIONS en the ENGLISH LAN-
Of MODERN CORRUPTIONS in the ENGLISH
PRONUNCIATION.
(CONTINUED.)
BUT it will be replied, Custom is the legijlator 0/ language, and
custom authorizes the practice I am reprobating. A man
can hardly offer a reason, drawn from the principles of analogy
and harmony in a language, but he is instantly lilenced with the
dccifive, jus et norma loquendi *
What then is Custom ? Some writer has already answered this
question ; Custom is the plague of wife men and tne idol of
lools." This was probably said of those quftoms and falhions
which are capricious and varying ; for there are many cuiloms,
founded on propriety, which are perman' nt and conftitu'e laws.
But what kind of custom did Horace delien to lay down as the
standard of speaking ? Was it a local cuft'iin ? Then the neoio of
New-England ; the oncet and twicet of Penniylvania and Mary
land ; and the keind and Jkey of the London theatres, form rules
of speaking. Is it the practice of a court, or a few eminent schol
ars and orators, that he designed to conftitulc a standard ? But
who ffiall determine what body of men forms this uncontrolahle
legiflaturc ? Or who fball reconcile the differences at court ? For
these eminent orators often disagree. There arc numbers of words
in which the moll eminent men differ: Can all be right ? Or
what, in this cafe, is thccuflom which is to be our guide ?
Befidestjiefe difficulties, what right have a few men, however
elevated their station, to change a national pra&ice ? They may
fay, that they consult their own ears, and endeavor to pleale" them
selves. This is their only apology, unless they can prove that
the changes they make are real improvements. But what im
provement is there in changing the founds of three or four letters
into others, and thus multiplying anomalies, and encreaGng the
difficulty of learning a language ? Will not the great body of the
people claim the privilege of adhering to their ancient usages, and
believing their prafticeto be most correct ? They most undoubt
edly will.
If Horace's maxim is ever just, it is only when custom is na
tional ; when the practice of a nation is uniform or general. In
this cafe it becomes the common law of the land, and no one will
dispute its propriety. But has any man a right to deviate from
this pra&ice, and attempt to eftablifb a fingutar mode of his own 2
Have two or three eminent stage players authority to make chang
es at pleafurc, and palm their novelties upon a nation under the
idea of custom? The reader will pardon me for tranferibing here
the opinion of the celebrated Michaelis, one of the most learned
philologers of the present century. "It is not," favs he, " lor a
scholar (o give laws nor prolcribe established expressions : If he
takes so much on himfelf he is ridiculed, and deftrvedlv; it is no
more than a just martificatior. to his ambition, and the penally of
his usurping on the rights of the people. Language is a demo
cratical state, where all the learning in the world docs not war
rant a citizen to supersede a received custom, till he convinced
the whole nation that this custom is a miftike. Scholars are not
so infallible that every thing is to be referred to them. Were
they allowed a dectfory power, the errors of language, I am sure,
instead of diminishing, would be continually increasing. Learned
heads teem with them no ltfs than the vulgar; and thj former
are much more imperious, that we (hould be compelled to defer
to their innovations and implicitly to receive every falfe opinian
1 of theirs."f
645
GUAGE
[Whole No. 165.]
Yrc this right is often assumed by individuals, who dittate to a
nation the rules of Ipeaking, with the fame impcrioulnefs as a ty
rant gives laws to his vaiTals : And, flrange as it may appear, cveu
well bred people and scholars, often surrender their right of pri
vate judgment to these literary governors. The ipfc dixit of u
JohnJon, a Garrick, or a Sheridan, has the force of law ; and to
contraditt it, is rebellion. A(k the moll of our learned men, how
they would pronouncc a word or compose a sentence, and thev
will immediately appeal to some favorite author whose decifiort
is final. Thus distinguished eminence in a writer often becomes
a pafTportfor innumerable errors.
The whole evil originates in a fallacy. It is often supposed
that certain great men are infallible, or that their pradtice confli-
I tutes custom and the rule of propriety. But on the contrary, any
man, however learned, is liable to mistake ; the most learned,
as Michaelis obferves,often teem with errors, and not unfrecpiently
become attached to particular fyflems, and imperious in forcing
them upon the world.| It is not the particular whim of such
men, that constitutes cujlom ; but the common pra&ice of a nation,
which is conformed to their general ideas of propriety. The pro
nunciation of keoiVj keind, drap, juty, natjhur, &c. are neither
right nor wrong, because they are approved or cenfurcd by par
ticular men ; nor because one is local in New-England, another
in the middle States, and the others are supported by »he couit
and stage in London. They are wrong, because they are opposed
to national prattice ; they are wrong, because they are arbitrary
or careless changes of the true founds of our letters ; they are
wrong, because they break in upon the regular conftru£lion of
the language ; they are wrong, because they render the pronunci
ation difficult both for natives and foreigners ; they are wrong,
because they make an invidious diftin£lion between the polite and
common pronunciation, or else oblige a nation to change their ge
neral cultoins, without presenting to their view one national ad
vantage. These arc important, they are permanentconfiderations;
they are superior to the caprices of courts and theatres ; they are
ieafons that are interwoven in the very ftru&ure of the language,
or founded on the common law of the nation ; and they are a liv
ing satire upon the licent : oufnefs of modern fpcakers, who dare to
flight their authority.
But let us examine whether the pra&ice I am censuring is ge
neral or not; for if not, it cannot come within Horace's rule. If
we may believe well informed gentlemen, it is not general even
in Great-Britain. I have been personally informed, and by gen
tlemen of education and abilities, one of whom was particular
in his observation, that it is not general, even among the most
eminent literary charatters in London. It is less frequent in the
interior counties, where the inhabitants still speak as the common
people do in this country. And Kenikk fpcaks of it as an atTc6f
ation in the metropolis which ought to be difcounienanced,
(To be continued.)
* " Quern penes arbitrium ejl, et jus et norma loquendiHorace.
" Nothing" fays Kenrick, " has contributed more to the adul
'ration of Living languages, Man the two extenjive acceptation oj tier
ce's rule in favor oj cujlom. Cujlom is undoubtedly the rule of present
iraflice ; but the r e would be no end in following the variations daily
ntroduced by caprice. Alterations may sometimes be vfejul—maybe ne
ejfary ; but they Jhould be made in a manner conform me to the genius
ind conjirutlion of the language. Modus ejl in rebus. Extremes in
'his, as in all other cases, are hurtful. We ought byno means to shut
Ihe dm ogainfl the improvements of our language ; bat it were well
that fame criterion were efiablifhed to diflinguifh between improvement
and innovation." Rket. Gram, page 6, Ditl.
t See a learned " Dijjertation on the influence of opinions on lan
guage and of language on opinions, which gained the prize of the Pruj
[urn Royal Academy in 1758. By Mr. Michaelis, court counfeJlor i
his Britanic MajeJly, and direßor of the Royal Society ofGouingen
J The vulvar thus by imitation err,
As oft the learn 1 d by beingfngular.
So much they scorn the cioud, that if the throng y
By chance go right, they purpofcly go wrong.
LITERATURE
FLOURISHES in the United States. As one
instance we mention the patronage given to the
American press. Thenew publications multiply
fact. Besides original productions, many tranl
atliintic works have been reprinted. The Bible
in 121110. has lately been published in Philadel
phia by Mr. Young—in which city, and in New-
York, two or three other editions of this valuable
book, are now in|the press—and Mr. Thomas—
(whom an ingenious southern writer has called
the American Bafkcrville, and from whose press
have iflued many large and valuable books) —is
now engaged in printing two editions of the Bible ;
one the large Royal Quarto BIBLE ; the other a
large Folio, with 50 copperplates—A patriotic,
laudable and heavy undertaking, deserving the
patronage and encouragement of every friend to
his country, the sciences, and religion. Mr.
Dobson, of Philadelphia, is also publishing an
" American Edition of the ENCYCLOPEDIA or
Ditfionary of Arts, Sciences, and Miscella
neous Literature."—Two volumes of this
work are already finifhed— it will comprise 16
volumes. (Columbian Centintl.)
HUMANE SOCIETY.
At a wetting of the Truflees of the Humane society,
held at Boston, November ifl, 179 0 '
VOTED,
THAT the thanks of the Truflees of the Hu
mane Society, be returned to Mr. Goffe, for hts
humane and generous cojiduift in receiving the
body of Mr. Z>afM,lately'drowned, v/hen thisadt
of kindness was denied him at his own lodgings ;
and that Mr. Gokfb be presented with the
highest premium which the Conitituuon of the
laid Society will permit them to give.
Jtteft, JOHN AVERY, J«»r t Record Setr'y.
tit&o
Po? E