Adjective is an abſtract Word, and Abſtraction is an unnatural and very painful Operation.
At firſt they gave every Object a peculiar Name, without any regard to its Genus or Species, things which theſe firſt Inſtitutors of Language were in no Condition to diſtinguiſh; and every Individual preſented itſelf ſolitary to their Minds, as it ſtands in the Table of Nature. If they called one Oak A, they called another Oak B: ſo that their Dictionary muſt have been more extenſive in Proportion as their Knowledge of Things was more confined. It could not but be a very difficult Taſk to get rid of ſo diffuſe and embarraſſing a Nomenclature; as in order to marſhal the ſeveral Beings under common and generic Denominations, it was neceſſary to be firſt acquainted with their Properties, and their Differences; to be ſtocked with Obſer-
