Obf. VI. brated characters of the present age, his prodeceffors on the subject of Grammar.

The utility of thefe difcuffions has been fufficiently fhewn and enlarged upon by the authors before quoted. (Obfervation V. P. 61, &c. But as all verbal and Philological inquiries are often and perhaps haftily condemned, from not paying fufficient attention to their real nature and end, as laborious trifles, and fit only to employ the idle uninterefting leifure of a dull grammarian, I will take the liberty to finish this Obfervation

*One of the advantages refulting from the grammatical analyfis of language is the diftinction and connexion of dif ferent Ideas expreffed by fimilar words, and the difcrimination of words written with the fame letters but expreffive of different Ideas. Dr. PRIESTLEY (in his Obfervations on Education, p. 45.) fays, "that the knowledge of one language, "and the comparing it with another is a very useful exer"cife, and is an excellent introduction to that most impor"tant knowledge which relates to the accurate diftin&tion of "ideas, which are expreffed in words." Dr. Priestley will forgive me if I do not accede to the cenfure, contained in the next fentence, of the Greek Philofophy: the very reverse of which cenfure, I apprehend, is true in the judgement of thofe, who are most converfant with the works of the Greek Philofophers, and with the language, in which they are writ ten; or with the writings of the two celebrated interpreters of ancient Philofophy, Mr. HARRIS, and Lord MONBODDO.

with

with a paffage from the conclufion of the Obf. VI. abovementioned letter. "I have often thought

"it was a lucky mistake, (for it was a mif

66

take,) which Mr. LOCKE made when he "called his book, an Effay on Human Underftanding. For some part of the inefti"mable benefit of that book has, merely "on account of its title, reached to many "thousands more than, I fear, it would have done, had he called it, (what it is merely,) "a grammatical Effay, or a Treatise on Words, "or on Language. The human Mind, or "the human Understanding appears to be a

grand and noble theme; and all men, " even the most infufficient, conceive That "to be a proper object of their contempla

plation whilft Inquiries into the nature "of Language (through which alone they "can obtain any knowledge beyond the

6.

beafts,) are fallen into fuch extreme difre"pute, that even thofe, "who have neither "the accent of chriftian, pagan nor man," "do yet imagine Words to be infinitely be"neath the concern of their exalted Un"derstanding."

PART III.

THE defign of the first part of this Effay was to fhew the utility of the Study of Antiquities in its connection with the most elegant as well as the most useful parts of learning: And of the Second, to expatiate more largely and minutely on fome topics of Antiquities, in order to apply to a few particular fubjects the general Obfervations of the First Part. To the topics there introduced many others might be added. But as the name of ANTIQUARY has been long fubject to the ridicule of vulgar prejudice, while the nature and object of his labours have been generally ill underftood, the last part of this Effay shall be alotted to the same subject as the first, and

fhall

:

fhall contain fome further remarks on the extent and use of the Study of Antiquities.

The first and proper object in this Study is the examination of Monumental Antiquities, the venerable relicts of remote Ages, which preferve fome of the firft fpecimens of Art, and exhibit productions, which bear teftimony to the gradual progrefs of good tafte, and refinement of the human Mind. And while the Antiquary investigates the origin of the Arts, he is led back to the first dawnings of Society, the earliest openings of civil life, and the progreffive rise of political institutions. It is obvious therefore how wide a compass of human learning is fubject to the researches of the Antiquary. From this variety of his Inquiries, the advantages are great, which he derives, and are abundantly fufficient to recommend a ftudy which is productive of fuch utility. By comparing the various parts of science in their origin he is better able to judge of their connexion

and mutual dependence; and from fuch a knowledge of their feveral relations he acquires