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The science of grammar as hitherto

known. The present discovery superior to it. Why men

were in the beginning of the world more intelligent than

they are at present. Shown how all words had once a good

meaning

311-321

How all numbers make but one. No such thing as a plural
number. Examination of the ten figures, 1, 2, 3, &c.
Each of them means one. Inquiry respecting the name
of the number nine. The numerical English ending ty,
and the French corresponding one ze, accounted for.

321-336

Concluding observations resumed. The difficulty of believing

in this discovery. The great wisdom it contains. The

language supposed to be spoken in heaven

The advantages to be derived from this discovery. How Ma-
thematicians, Theologians, Grammarians, Lexicographers,

THE

DISCOVERY

OF THE

SCIENCE OF LANGUAGES.

THE reader who has not read thus far slowly and attentively, and who has consequently passed by many things in this work which he has not clearly and fully understood, should, before proceeding any farther in it, go over the whole of the first volume again. This advice I take here the liberty of giving, from knowing that the following discoveries, which lie more hidden than any we have yet seen, cannot be at all conceived without an intimate acquaintance with all those by which they are already preceded.

The feminine of mon, ton, son, that is, ma, ta, sa, as well as the supposed plural number of both genders, that is, mes, tes, and ses, are now to be explained. The a in ma, ta, and sa, is also for one thing or the thing, and it corresponds with ea in Latin. Then ma is the same as me ea, or ea me,

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and means, "the thing to me." And in like manner are ta and sa to be accounted for. But mes, tes, and ses, are no more in the plural number than mon, ton, and son, or than ma, ta, and sa are; since it is only the single pronoun es which is added to m, t, and s, just as on and ea are added to these letters for the masculine and feminine singular.

This at first sight will appear incredible; but let Frenchmen reflect upon it seriously for only five minutes, and they will admit that, though it appears very strange indeed, it is, however, very true. Then this es is on such occasions preferred, that it may correspond in form with the other es by which it is followed. Thus in mes livres the meaning is, "to me this book book," literally, in French, à me ce livre livre; but in order not to name the word livre twice, the pronoun es is employed in its stead. This we may more clearly perceive when we recollect that livre ought to be written liver, for it is no other than the Latin liber, the v being used for the b, as this frequently happens. Then mes livres is for me es liver es, "to me it book it." Hence the pronoun or article going before liver in the above instance, might as well be on or er as es; but as the pronoun which follows liver in "mes liveres" stands, both as to meaning and number, in exact apposition to that pronoun by which liver is preceded, it should, to have the agreement perfect, correspond with it in form also, and this in the French language very fortunately happens. But when we say in English "my books," we have not

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