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PROVIDENCE:
B. CRANSTON & CO.
1838.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1838,
By B. Cranston & Co.
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Rhode-Island.
Providence, Feb. 24, 1838.
To Wm. S. Balch,
Sir—The undersigned, in behalf of the Young People's Institute,hasten to present to you the following Resolutions, together withtheir personal thanks, for the Lectures you have delivered beforethem, on the Philosophy of Language. The uncommon degree ofinterest, pleasure and profit, with which you have been listened to,is conclusive evidence, that whoever possesses taste and talents tocomprehend and appreciate the philosophy of language, which youhave so successfully cultivated, cannot fail to attain a powerful influenceover the minds of his audience. The Committee respectfullyrequest you to favor them with a copy of your Lectures forthe Press.
Very respectfully,
Your most obedient servants,
C. T. JAMES,
E. F. MILLER,
H. L. WEBSTER.
Resolved, That we have been highly entertained and greatly instructedby the Lectures of our President, on the subject of Language;that we consider the principles he has advocated, immutablytrue, exceedingly important, and capable of an easy adoption inthe study of that important branch of human knowledge.
Resolved, That we have long regretted the want of a system toexplain the grammar of our vernacular tongue, on plain, rational,and consistent principles, in accordance with philosophy and truth,and in a way to be understood and practised by children and adults.
Resolved, That in our opinion, the manifold attempts which havebeen made, though doubtless undertaken with the purest intentions,to simplify and make easy existing systems, have failed entirely oftheir object, and tended only to perplex, rather than enlightenlearners.
[iv]Resolved, That in our belief, the publication of these Lectureswould meet the wants of the community, and throw a flood of lightupon this hitherto dark, and intricate, and yet exceedingly interestingdepartment of a common education, and thus prove of immenseservice to the present and future generations.
Resolved, That Messrs. Charles T. James, Edward F. Miller,and Henry L. Webster, be a Committee to wait on Rev. WilliamS. Balch, and request the publication of his ve