felves the object of general worship, but always with the fame flowness of progresfion, as the means and arts, which sprung from their neceffities. We may be affured that all the views, which we can take of the ancient world, will terminate in a proof of the mediocrity of the inventive faculty.

But that which more than any thing difplays the mediocrity which all nations have fhewn in this refpect, is the pains, which they take to conceal the fources, from whence they derived their knowledge. The Antiquary however knows how to distinguish the original. He perceives that what is given as a novelty in one part of the world, was known anciently, and in ufe. He judges impartially, by more modern examples, of facts in remote Antiquity. By application of them to nations and Ages nearer his own time he perceives that human nature always has been, and always will be the fame. But if to difengage himself from the great objects, which are presented in this examination of the Religions, and Empires, which S 2

have

have at different periods arifen in the world, and difappeared, the Antiquary confiders the individuals which have had a place in Antiquity, what a few, fcattered atoms will he discover in that immenfity of space! His researches will present him with but a very fmall number of Men, whofe names aré known to pofterity, who have received the humble meed of two or three lines of an Infcription, from which, if it can be read, we often learn nothing more than that fuch à person once lived. This particular examination is, in my opinion, the most effential and the principal object of thefe reflexions, fince it in effect affords the greatest advantage tesulting from the Study in question, and thews the Antiquary the innumerable numbers buried in the abyss of time, in whose vortex he must himself be one day fwallowed up. He perceives a great number of Kings, concerning many of whom little has been even feigned, while others are totally unknown to whom if any one had said in the meridian of their pride and power, that

their

their name would be effaced from the regifter of the world, he would have run fome rifk of his life; and if he had faid it to their fubjects, no one would have liftened to his prediction. If then so many perfons are forgotten in spite of their rank, their magnificence, and perhaps their illuftrious actions, what useless pains were taken by millions of Egyptians, Ethiopians, Affyrians, Perfians, Indians, &c. in hopes of tranfmitting their names to pofterity, to which they are totally unknown. In the mean time it cannot be doubted that in this immenfe number many poffeffed virtues, talents, and genius, in the most eminent degree. If it fhould be objected to examples fo convincing, that many of the ancients are known and celebrated, and that there are found every day monuments erected to their honour; the Antiquary eafily difcerns, that those who have arrived to this distinction belong to Ages and countries very near our own. This vicinity fhews him the phyfical reafon, why their memory has fallen within the reach of this light in

cenfe

cense of fame; and the effect, which fuch reflexions must have on his own mind is perhaps the most efficacious means of destroying that felfishness, which is fo great an enemy to mankind, and a defect so pernicious to the common interests of society.

I had reason then to say, that the reflexions occafioned by the study of Antiquities, would eafily enable him, who is engaged in it, to discover the weakest errors of human nature, to profit by that inconvenience which he has feen accrue from them to other characters, and confequently through his love of humanity, his excufe of their foibles, and above all by a perfect indifference for all the petty interefts, which divide mankind to secure to himself happiness during the few days which he is to pass upon the Earth.

THE EN D.

Lately Published,

PENTALOGIA, five Tragoediarum Græcarum Delectus: cum Adnotatione JoHANNIS BURTON. Editio altera. Cui Obfervationes Indicemque Græcum longe auctiorem, et emendatiorem adjecit TH 0MAS BURGESS, A. B. e C. C. C. Oxonii, 1779.

ALSO,

RICARDI DAWES Mifcellanea Critica in Terentianum Maurum, Pindarum, Callimachum, Homerum, Euripidem, Sophoclem, Æfchylum in primis Aristophanem. Iterum edita. Curavit, et Appendicem Adnotationis addidit THOMAS BURGESS, A. B. e C. C. C. Oxon. 1781.