Ebook A Handbook of Modern Arabic

I distributed this handbill in many quarters, and re ceived several letters. One learned gentleman brie?y replied that he could not see any use in my proposed change, — entirely ignoring the eleven uses which I had enumerated. Similar rebuffs came from other quarters. I suppose, therefore, I must count on nothing but Opposition from the learned, who seem to me dis posed much to underrate the di?iculties which they have surmounted, or indisposed to smooth the way of learners. When the field of learning is infinite, it is with me a crime to increase difficulty. I do not write for the learned, but to aid the unlearned: hence I appeal to the latter alone — to those who have good sense, but no acquaintance with this particular language.