The arguments respecting the primitive language are deduced entirely from the sacred writings, and the greater part of the notes illustrative of the text are sanctioned by the authorities of D'Oyly and Mant.

As the writer of a recent work has affirmed, that the verb is the primitive part of speech, and that every sentence is a factitious word, it may be here noticed, that a few hints on the same subjects, but espousing contrary doctrines, will be found in the following pages. The Author conceives it hardly requisite to mention, that the remarks on sceptical philosophy have no reference whatever to the above writer.

1

CHAP. I.

PAGE

Notices in the Scriptures respecting certain facts, as per-

taining to the arts and sciences--their differences-the

ends which they are calculated to promote-object of

the following Treatise--to discourse on the Nature and

Philosophy of Language, as connected with the Sacred

Scriptures-author of the “ Diversions of Purley”-the

noun--verb, and its “ peculiar differential circumstance,"

&c.—the philosophy of Horne Tooke not favourable to

the inquiry respecting the verb-destruction of the MSS.

of Horne Tooke, and the probable conclusion to be

drawn from the circumstance—the opinions of other

writers respecting the primitive part of speech--the ob-

ject of the present Treatise more fully stated, and the

plan for pursuing the inquiry laid down

1

CHAP. II.

Faculties and powers of the inferior animals--those of

mankind-the progressive state of man—the perceptive

faculty of an infant, and that of other animals—their

ends essentially different-instinct and intellect-in-

stinctive signs not analogous to language

7

CHAP. III.

Comparison between the perceptive faculty, as observable

in an infant or child, with the same faculty in the adult

--example drawn from a view of objects at sea-eluci-

dation of three elementary parts of speech-five parts

of speech elucidated by four balls-conceptions of

novelty as giving birth to the expression of ideas—their

differences--substantive the primitive part of speech

correspondence of the argument with that of Locke and

the Bishop of Worcester respecting substance-trans-

positive idiom of language affording an additional argu-

OR,

AN INQUIRY

INTO

THE NATURE AND PHILOSOPHY

OF

LANGUAGE,

AS CONNECTED WITH

The Sacred Scriptures.

BY

JAMES WRIGHT,

LATE OF MAGDALEN HALL, OXFORD;
AUTHOR OF “ THE SCHOOL ORATOR,' THE PHILOSOPHY OF ELOCUTION,"

READINGS OF THE LITURGY,” &c.

It is to be remembered that connexion is not identity.

Remarks on Scepticism.

OXFORD:
PRINTED FOR MUNDAY AND SLATTER;
AND GEO. B. WAITTAKER, 13, AVE-MARIA-LANE, LONDON.

1827,

265.1.670 .