This attachment to the past, often indeed undifcerning and invidious in its comparisons of the prefent, induces us to behold with a kind of religious awe the obfcureft veftiges of ANTIQUITY.

But these fenfations of the Mind are then more powerful and poignant, when arifing from the contemplation of places, once the fcene of actions, that, perhaps, decided the fate of Empire, established the laws of Government, or refcued an oppreffed people from flavery and fuperfttion: Or were once frequented by fome of the few, who have diftinguished themselves from the great body of mankind, and commended their names to the reverence and admiration of posterity, by the invention of Arts, which contribute to the ufe and ornament of Life; or ftand foremost in the Annals of Science.

And further, thefe impreffions become doubly powerful, when confirmed by the immediate infpection of any furviving monument of Antiquity, the profpect of which excites our reverence in a manner perhaps

lefs

(5)

lefs rational, yet feemingly not diffimilar to that natural and irresistible impulfe, which we feel, to refpect the hoary honours of Age.

OF the various monuments of Antiquity fome are public, and fome domeftic. They record the tranfactions and conventions of States; and preferve memorials of private Life, and specimens of domestic convenience. Some are immediately connected with the fcene of Action, and exifted, as present and perpetual monuments of the events, which they record. Some preferve in sculpture and other specimens of ancient Art, the memory of actions, the confideration of which carries us back to the remotest Ages of Antiquity.

A diligent examination therefore of the remaining monuments of Antiquity must be productive of great utility, if taken in that view only, by which the progrefs of ART may be ascertained, and a comparison of the feveral periods and their different productions, be formed, conducive even to the ordinary purposes as well as elegance of modern Life; as new modifications of Art may be struck

out

out, and new methods of convenience fuggested.

But the study of Antiquities will appear perhaps more useful and interesting, when it is confidered, that there is no one branch of it, if followed with a liberal spirit of research, which does not tend immediately, or ultimately, to the illuftration of antient MANNERS in the difcuffion of which we for awhile forget the refinement of modern Times, and infenfibly accommodate our thoughts and feelings to the romantic and poetical fimplicity of former Ages.

I. THE Study of Antiquities is divided into various branches, POLITICAL and MoNUMENTAL, accordingly as they regard the antient manners and customs of a people, and the monuments of antient Art.

In every nation the state of the Arts and Sciences has at all times been intimately connected with manners and cuftoms. The Arts especially, which receive their form and perfection, as well as derive their origin in great

great measure, from the finer feelings of the mind, bear fo lively an image of the character of the people by whofe united efforts they have been cultivated, that an accurate investigation of their origin and progress, their revolutions, and comparative analogy, together with the monuments of them which have defcended to pofterity; while it explains the causes which operated on their progrefs; affords the most effectual means of learning the genius, and manners of the various nations of the world.

1. The first object which strikes us, as the first in order and natural preeminence, is the LANGUAGE of a people: in tracing which through the many changes, which it has affumed, up to its original and naked *form; and thence again following it through the several periods of culture and growth to its last maturity and perfection; frequent opportunities occur of difcovering the origin of important customs and inftitutions, and the causes of their denomination, in the

* See Taylor's Elements of Civil Law, p. 553.

fimple

fimple occupations and amusements of rude

uncultivated Nature.

b

The extenfive influence of opinions and Manners on Language, and even of Language on Opinions, has reached the most civilized and polished Ages: but in the earlier periods of society they are closely and intimately connected. While Man is yet unacquainted with thofe Arts which adminifter the conveniencies and luxuries of Life, and procure fo many bleffings to enlarged and humanized fociety; his roughness and impetuofity of temper unrestrained by law,

b Harrifes Hermes, p. 407. Richardfon's "Differtation "on the Languages, &c. of Eaftern Nations." Chap. I. §.1. Traité fur la Formation Mechanique des Langues, by the Prefident De Broffes, Vol. I. Chap. II. §. 20. Vigneul Marville has a curious paffage on the character of the English language in Melanges d'hiftoire et literature, p. 31. edit. Paris. 1699. The long, laboured periods, which he so much complains of, were adopted by the moft learned writers of the age, MILTON, CLARENDON, &c. They were formed on the imitation of the best ancient claffic authors; and were, then, thought more fuitable to the gravity, and fimplicity of hiftorical narration, than the fhorter pointed periods of the French. The reader will meet many just and useful obfervations on thofe favorite models of French compofition, Salluft and Tacitus, in Lord MON BODDO's learned and elaborate work on the Origin and Progrefs of Language.

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