n in two successive
sentences. (2) It is relative to facts, to time, place, and occasion:
when they are already known to the hearer or reader, they may be
presupposed; there is no need to allude to them further. (3) It is
relative to the knowledge of the writer and reader or of the speaker and
hearer. Except for the sake of order and consecutiveness nothing ought
to be expressed which is already commonly or universally known. A word
or two may be sufficient to give an intimation to a friend; a long or
elaborate speech or composition is required to explain some new idea
to a popular audience or to the ordinary reader or to a young pupil.
Grammars and dictionaries are not to be despised; for in teaching we
need clearness rather than subtlety. But we must not therefore
forget that there is also a higher ideal of language in which all is
relative--sounds to sounds, words to words, the parts to the whole--in
which besides the lesser context of the book or speech, there is also
the larger context of history and circumstances.

The study of Comparative Philology has introduced into the world a new
science which more than any other binds up man with nature, and distant
ages and countries with one another. It may be said to have thrown a
light upon all other sciences and upon the nature of the human mind
itself. The true conception of it dispels many errors, not only of
metaphysics and theology, but also of natural knowledge. Yet it is far
from certain that this newly-found science will continue to progress in
the same surprising manner as heretofore; or that even if our materials
are largely increased, we shall arrive at much more definite conclusions
than at present. Like some other branches of knowledge, it may be
approaching a point at which it can no longer be profitably studied. But
at any rate it has brought back the philosophy of language from theory
to fact; it has passed out of the region of guesses and hypotheses, and
has attained the dignity of an Inductive Science. And it is not without
practical and political importance. It gives a new interest to distant
and subject countries; it brings back the dawning light from one end of
the earth to the other. Nations, like individuals, are better understood
by us when we know something of their early life; and when they are
better understood by us, we feel more kindly towards them. Lastly, we
may remember that all knowledge is valuable for its own sake; and we
may also hope