easy to produce instances; but they might appear invidious; and we have endeavoured to indicate, in the Dictionary, the rank and character, as well as other attributes of words.

We have noticed (and the verb notice is too convenient to be lightly parted with), that many words become vulgar in process of time, merely from being old-fashioned; but old fashions are frequently brought up again; and there is a sort of sentimental archaism raging at present among the lovers of the olden literature, who, ever and ano, cite an obsolete phraseology for the very nonce of showing its whilom beauty, too long suffered to wrinkle unadmired in neglected desuetude. If utility could be put in competition with sentimentality, we would address a word of inquiry, or of exhortation, to these admirers of the antique in literature; but the fit will not last long; for the sentimental passion is extremely inconstant: and though some words that had become both vulgar and obsolete, have been thrown up to the very top of fashionable literature, there is some danger of a reaction, and that many of the happiest phrases of Shakspeare will be hackneyed into contemptible vulgarity.

3. Many words become vulgar, in course of time, in consequence of being associated with gross objects, actions, and ideas; and the notion of grossness is every day becoming more fastidious in a state of progressive refinement. This is one of the most operative causes of mutation in living languages: and it is

amusing to observe the variety of attempts that are made to clothe gross entities and vulgar ideas in decent and polite phraseology, and the rapid succession of terms that are first degraded and then discarded in the performance of this ungracious duty. Not to present the most obvious, and, therefore, the most disgusting instances, i. e. to our refined notions and sensibilities, take the following: Guts was, at one time, a very decent term, and fit to appear at the very top of Saxon literature; but it became so very rude, upon long and familiar acquaintance, as to be wholly unbearable in any genteel family, and was turned off for no fault in the world but vulgarity: its place was supplied by Belly, which (as Guts, indeed, before it) was brought all the way from Italy for the sake of gentility. Belly was long considered a very well-bred term, and fit to appear in the very best company; and ladies and gentlemen, masters and misses, might, without fear, and without shame, freely converse with it either in public or in private. But servants will become rude when they remain long in place, and Belly (though possessing every advantage of foreign extraction and musical sweetness) having become offensively familiar, and disgustingly vulgar, has been turned off without a character, and must be content with such low and poor places as can be found in town and country, but can never hope to enter a genteel family. For the present, Stomach and Abdomen, two learned foreigners, supply, between them, as well as they can, the place of

F

2

Belly; but they are only upon trial, and there is no chance whatever that they will long give satisfaction. It is supposed, indeed, that genteel people, finding so much plague and trouble with such attendants, will contrive, in future, to do without them altogether. They have already greatly reduced their establishment; but retrenchment may, and doubtless will, proceed yet further; for if such conveniencies, or (as would seem) such indispensable requi sites as necessary, privy, dunghill, can be well spared, why may not such vile luxuries as sweat, spittle, not to add any word that comes in a more questionable shape to agitate our sensibilities? The fact is, that Pantomime can be successfully substituted for much of the old vulgar Drama of real life. It may be urged, that all this results from false refinement and delicacy, and that things ought to be called by their proper names. But this is a Utopian doctrine wherever there is such an entity as refinement; and when the question is about the degree or the extent, who is to be judge or sovereign arbiter? Who has the right and the power to say, authori tatively, Hitherto shalt thou come and no farther ? The calling of gross things by their proper names is one of the privileges of the dead languages.

Many instances similar to the above might be presented; but one more will be sufficient. Whore, Harlot, Strumpet, were once considered as decent names as the person designated by them deserved; and no English mouth refused to utter them: but

in process of refinement it was discovered that vice loses half its turpitude by losing all its grossness; and the old ugly names, whore, harlot, strumpet, were superseded by Bonaroba, Chère-amie, common woman of the town, girl of the town, street-walker, &c. &c.; for no sooner is a word or expression applied for the purpose of a designation to that which is essentially base, than it is contaminated with vulgarity, and then discarded as wholly unbefitting a genteel mouth. Putting the bona roba of polite phraseology on Madam Meretrix, cannot save or redeem her character; but her contaminating influence degrades every gallant protector identified with her reputation. From one, learn all; what happens in this case, happens in a thousand instances; hence an ever-operating cause of mutation in living languages, which can never be fixed so as to be rendered immutable, any more than time can be arrested in its course.

4. There is a set of low words and phrases which originate in wretched metaphor, or in allusions to things of a mean and sordid nature, such as the following: to curry favour, i. e. literally taken, (which is always the test of propriety as to metaphor,) to procure the favour of any one by scratching his back; hence that truly graphic substantive, clawback; to cram a subject or person down any one's throat, or to saddle him with a heavy expense, or to blink his argument, or to haul him over the coals,

or to put him in a cleft-stick. All such expressions can never be elevated into lasting dignity, however closely they may be associated with the genius of a Swift or a Butler (just as low-life may be associated with the genius of Hogarth); nay, though they may have the high sanction of parliamentary authority; and certainly, though not omnipotent, it can produce very extraordinary effects upon the verbal currency of the kingdom; so that instead of the Parliament being that colluviarium of corruption, which some represent, it is evidently a fountain of influence as well as of political power.

It is not necessary to indicate the respectable classes of words, which are of course too numerous to be easily arranged under distinct denominations. In general those terms and expressions, and modes of speech, which have the highest political, intellectual, literary, and scientific origin, possess the great est dignity; for the general tendency is for words to sink from a higher to a lower-not to rise from a lower to a higher rank. Instances of the latter process are, for the most part, those of extraordinary individual merit. Thus, terms which were at first objected to as Scotticisms (such as the verb notice, &c.,) and provincialisms, or as too technical and plebeian for classic composition, have, in course of time, risen to respectability in the language. All such words as are evidently useful, peculiarly convenient, distinctive, and descriptive, are sure of adop