To those who ask where a writer was born and educated, before they can ascertain the value of his writings, I can only observe, it is expected this publication will fare like all others. Men every where suppose that their own state or country has some excellence that does not belong to their neighbors; and it is well, if they do not arrogate a superiority in _every_ respect. They think their own colleges the best; their professional men the most learned, and their citizens the most liberal and polite. I have been witness to numberless remarks and insinuations of this kind in almost every state in the union; and after personal observation, can affirm that they generally proceed from gross ignorance, or unpardonable prejudice. But it is very natural for men to think and say all these things of _home_, when they have little or no knowlege of any thing _abroad_. Convinced that a writer is apt to overlook his own mistakes, when they are very obvious to a reader, I have submitted these Dissertations to the criticism of good judges of the subject, with full liberty of altering, amending and expunging any part of the work; by which means several passages have been omitted and others corrected. Still there may be faults in the book; and as truth is the object of my enquiries, whenever the friendly critic shall point out any errors, either in fact or opinion, it will be my pride and pleasure to acknowlege and correct them. Many years experience has taught me that the public, when well informed, usually form a very just opinion of a man and his writings, and I am perfectly disposed to acquiesce in their decision. P. S. Several Essays, on more important subjects, intended for an Appendix to this work, are necessarily reserved for a future volume. FOOTNOTES: [1]----"a fungous growth of Novels and pamphlets, the meaner productions of the French and English presses, in which it is to be feared (the reader) rarely finds any rational pleasure, and more rarely still, any solid improvement."--Harris. Hermes, 434. CONTENTS. DISSERTATION I. Page. INTRODUCTION, 17 Advantages of national uniformity in language, 19 The English language the parent of the American, 21 Absurdity of copying the changes of language in Great Britain, 24 The only good principles on which any permanent uniformity can be established, 27 English writers who are the best models of stile, 31 Writers who have corrupted stile, 32 History of the English Language, 40 Of the ancient Celtic, 41 Of the Armoric, 48