Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/394

 creased by other Accidents amongst the Masters of other learned Professions, that that Pedantry which formerly was almost universal, is now in a great Measure dis-used; especially, amongst the young Men, who are taught in the Universities to laugh at that frequent Citation of Scraps of Latin, in common Discourse, or upon Arguments that do not require it; and that nauseous Ostentation of Reading, and Scholarship in publick Companies, which formerly was so much in Fashion. Affecting to write politely in Modern Languages, especially the French and ours, has also helped very much to lessen it, because it has enabled Abundance of Men who want Academical Education to talk plausibly, and some exactly, upon very many learned Subjects. This also, has made Writers habitually careful to avoid those Impertinences which they know would be taken notice of and ridiculed; and it is probable, that a careful perusal of the fine new French Books, which of late Years have been greedily sought after by the politer sort of Gentlemen and Scholars, may in this particular, have done Abundance of good. By this means, and