1.

if it be regarded fimply by itself, and exclufive of its utility to all other machines to which it is applied; yet it could have been owing to nothing but chance, which naturally prefents itself to Men the most favage and unenlightened. We will suppose them to have seen a tree thrown down, and fallen upon another already on the ground. The latter becoming more eafy to be removed by the motion of that beneath it, suggefted by this first experience the idea of a roler. However a long fucceffion of Years, and a frequent repetition of the experiment must have been neceffary before they coud have paffed from a long roler to that of a moderate thickness, and pierced in its centre in

habits are so variously fixed, and our feelings fo differently affociated, that we cannot otherwise conceive what reason the firft ufer of language followed in the impofition of names, that is, what relation words have to the things, which they denote; nor can this abftraction be fafely pursued, but by a grammatical Analysis of words, and a deduction of Ideas derived from such Analysis.—But for so regular Analysis all modern languages, on account of certain defects before mentioned, are above fuppofed to be unfit. B.

order

order to be placed with another on an axle, and to render by this expedient the roler eafy to be moved, and capable of transporting the heaviest burdens. Lefs time might perhaps have been neceffary to proceed from the ufe of the little full wheel, taken from the long roler, to that which the Greeks made ufe of in their Cars, in which was united lightness with folidity.

"It will be found without doubt that I have chofen an example the beft fuited to my purpose. I believe it to be fo, and regard. it in effect as the most convincing. The Instance however which I am going to bring does not depend at all on Art, but on the knowledge of an Element, with the greatest, or rather the firft advantages of which it will be always astonishing that Men continued for long unacquainted.

The ufe of Fire, of which Men have. in fome measure made themselves mafters, required without doubt the experience of many Years, as well as the proof of many. misfor

misfortunes, before they were able to mo derate its fury, to extinguish it, to revive at their pleasure, and to employ it to their common purposes and neceffities. Ancient history affords fufficient teftimony: but the favages of North America within the course of the last century furnished a remarkable confirmation of this opinion. It would be difficult to give in that refpect a juster idea of the first ages then by the example of that rudeness and fimplicity which they fhewed in their use of this element for one of the fimpleft, and commoneft purposes, which occur among civilized nations. When they wanted to drefs or warm their Victuals they put fome water into a hollow fcoop of a rock, and threw in a great quantity of lighted coals.

"This example thews a flowness in the inventive genius which it would be difficult to conceive if it was not attefted by Voyagers, and those who have written the hiftory of thofe countries. From these modern inftan

ces

ces we may conclude, that those who formed the greatest empires of Antiquity were far a certain space of time equally uninstructed. But it will be afked no doubt, why they were more early civilized than the nations of North America and may it not be answered, that the sweetness of their climate, and the fertility of their foil, by supplying them with an eafy fubfiftence left them more at liberty to follow their reflexions and researches. The favages of Canada, inhabiting a cold country, might therefore have had a less active genius, and not reflecting on the means, which chance at different times prefented to them, continued attached to the first discovery, which was fufficient to anfwer their neceffities,

"Without recurring to these ancient examples, more recent facts, and reflexions eftablished on them, fhew that the first means were perfected very flowly, and by very fmall additions, infpired by practise, and confirmed by the continual occurrence of those neceffities which firft fuggefted them.

"I have endeavoured to fhew, that the Study of Antiquities, that is, the reflexions, which result from it, enlighten the mind of the Antiquary, and enable him to acquire a knowledge of human nature, and just estimate of its real powers. I believe that any one will be convinced of the flowness of the human genius, by comparing it with what is ftrictly called Invention. Indeed men are born imitators and copyists: and from that love of imitation, through which one mean was applied to new purposes by modifications of that mean, arose that augmentation of means, which conftitutes the progrefs of knowledge and of Art.

The Antiquary in acquiring more rational and certain Ideas of the firft Ages, whose ignorance was univerfal, discovers the origin of their Deities; that is, he perceives how Men, who were benefactors to their country, and valiant kings, were honoured with altars after their death. He diftinguishes the various acceffions of superstition, the particular errors and deviations of which became them

felves