t that _certain Standard for our Tongue, to which, if it were
refin'd_, he assures us, _it might be fixt for Ever_. This wou'd be
doing what was never done before, what neither _Roman_ nor _Greek_,
which lasted the longest of any in its Purity, could pretend to. And
this would not be the only strange thing that has lately happen'd to us,
which never happen'd to a Nation before. It will be in vain to pretend
to _ascertain_ Language, unless they had the Secret of setting Rules for
Thinking, and could bring Thought to a Standard too. For every Age, as
well as every Nation, has its different manner of Thinking, of which the
Expression and Words will always have a Relish, and be Barbarous or
Polite, according as the Times take their Turn. If from the abundance of
good Sense which appears lately in every thing we do, The Doctor can
demonstrate, that we never were in a better way towards the Perfection
of Thought and Language, let him set about his Academy as soon as he
pleases. But if the contrary is apparent, it may not be improper to wait
for some more propitious Opportunity. Besides, there will in all times
be irregular Genius's, who out of Humour will prefer Affectation to
Nature, and mistake Novelty for Beauty. _Boileau_ in his Reflections
upon _Longinus_, has several Observations of this kind, which will shew
the difference between true and false Judgment, by comparing what he
writes with several Passages in the Doctor's Letter; he is speaking of
the Famous _Ronsard_ and his Imitators, _Du-Bellai_, _Du Bartas_,
_Desportes_, and other _French_ Poets in the Reigns of _Henry_ III. and
IV. who were in great Fame for a long while, and when he wrote, sunk
into the last Contempt. _The same among the_ +Romans+, says he, _was the
Fate of_ +Naevius+, +Livius+, _and_ +Ennius+_,

who in _Horace_'s time had a great many Admirers as that Poet
informs us, but at last they were entirely decry'd. And it must not
be imagin'd that the Fall of these Authors, as well _French_ as
_Latin_, was owing to the Change of their Languages. The true Reason
was, they did not know how to hit the Point of Solidity and
Perfection in those Languages, which is necessary to make a Work
last, and set a Value upon it for ever. In effect, the _Latin_
Tongue, as it was written by _Cicero_ and _Virgil_, was very much
chang'd in _Quintilian_'s Time, and still more in the Time of _Aulus
Gellus_. However _Cicero_ and _Virgil_ were then more estee