closely with France, is one of the most extraordinary
events that ever happened among mankind."[26]

Perhaps this may be considered a statement rather than a prophecy; but
it illustrates the prophetic character of the writer.

4. In an official letter to the President of Congress, _dated at
Amsterdam, 5th September, 1780_, the same writer, while proposing an
American Academy for refining, improving, and ascertaining the English
language, thus predicts the extension of this language:--

"_English is destined to be in the next and succeeding centuries more
generally the language of the world than Latin was in the last or French
is in the present age._ The reason of this is obvious,--because the
increasing population in America, and their universal connection and
correspondence with all nations, will, aided by the influence of England
in the world, whether great or small, force their language into general
use, in spite of all the obstacles that may be thrown in their way, if
any such there should be."[27]

In another letter of an unofficial character, _dated at Amsterdam, 23d
September, 1780_, he thus repeats his prophecy:--

"You must know _I have undertaken to prophesy that English will be the
most respectable language in the world, and the most universally read
and spoken in the next century, if not before the close of this_.
American population will in the next age produce a greater number of
persons who will speak English than any other language, and these
persons will have more general acquaintance and conversation with all
other nations than any other people."[28]

This prophecy is already accomplished. Of all the European languages,
English is most extensively spoken. Through England and the United
States it has become the language of commerce, which, sooner or later,
must embrace the globe. The German philologist, Grimm, has followed our
American prophet in saying that it "seems chosen, like its people, to
rule in future times in a still greater degree in all the corners of the
earth."[29]

5. There is another prophecy, at once definite and broad, which
proceeded from the same eminent quarter. In a letter _dated London, 17th
October, 1785_, and addressed to John Jay, who was at the time Secretary
for Foreign Affairs under the Confederation, John Adams reveals his
conviction of the importance of France to us, "while England held a
province in America";[30] and then, in another letter, _dated 21st
October, 1