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A
PROPOSAL
FOR CORRECTING, IMPROVING, AND ASCERTAINING THE
ENGLISH TONGUE[1],
IN
A LETTER TO THE MOST HONOURABLE ROBERT EARL OF OXFORD AND MORTIMER, LORD HIGH TREASURER OF GREAT-BRITAIN.
My Lord,
London, Feb. 22, 1711-12.
WHAT I had the honour of mentioning to your lordship some time ago in conversation, was not a new thought, just then started by accident or occasion, but the result of long reflection; and I have been confirmed in my sentiments, by the opinion of some very judicious persons, with whom I consulted. They all agreed, that nothing would be of greater use toward the improvement of knowledge and politeness, than some effectual method for correcting, enlarging, and ascertaining our language; and they think it a work[2] very possible to be com-
- ↑ This proposal was cavalierly censured by an anonymous writer, supposed to be Mr. Oldmixon, in "Reflections on Dr. Swift's "Letter to the Earl of Oxford, about the English Tongue, 1712."
- ↑ This sentence is uncouth, and ungrammatical, and may easily be amended thus 'And they think it very possible to compass the work,' &c.
passed
