On Utiiverfal Language. — HiJIory of Gvlana, 347 



valuable to the navigator, than this philofophical language would be to him who embarks 

 on the fea of reafouaiul experiment, which is now fo full of clanger." 



We muft not forget the ingenious method of the abbi de I'Jipee, who, by means of the 

 fame identical geftures, dictated to his deaf and dumb pupils certain difcourfes, which they 

 wrote with equal readinefs in four languages. Nothing can more afluredly refcmble a true 

 pafigraphy than thefe gedures. 



The abbe de Condillac, a fubtle metaphyficlan, particularly with regard to human lan- 

 guage, has not negle£ted figns and characters. In his Art of Thinking (^Art de penfer), 

 in his Art of Writing [Art d'ccrire), and more particularly in his Logic, he has fliewa 

 the advantages of a philofophical language, which fhould proceed perfectly in the order' 

 of the ideas, and of which the figris fliould be the mod fimple and analytical. He ex- 

 prefsly reduces the ftudy of all the fciences to that of a well conftrudled language, and 

 quotes, as an example, algebra in the mathematical fciences. 



Strengthened by fuch alFillance, fupported by the refearches of fo many predeceflbrs. If: 

 rauft no doubt have been eafy for Citizen Memieux to have conceived and executed the 

 idea of a pafigraphy. To judge how far he is an inventor, to diftinguifh what exclufively 

 belongs to him, it is neccflary to examine and perpetually compare his work with all 

 thofe we have pointed out, and no doubt with many others which have efcaped our notice. 



Will this new author be more fortunate than Becher, Kircher, Wilkins, and Leibnitz ? 

 Will he eafily perfuade the nations to learn the new language he propofes ? Of this we 

 may ftill reafonaiily entertain fome doubt. However this maybe, it is to be hoped that 

 a pafigraphy will hereafter be ettabliflied. In thofe ages of peace, leifurc, and union, 

 of which the profpeft is held out to us by M. Kant, men will have no obje£l of more . 

 importance than to give perfeftion to their language, and to liften to the voice of philo« 

 fophers, who fhall propofe to them a better fyftem of fpeech. If it fhould not be admitted 

 in the lower clades of fociety, it will at leaft become the learned language of all the 

 earth. On this fubje£l I will venture to ground a comfortable hope, which tends to en- 

 courage the mind under its aftonifhment at the dreadful deluge of books which at prefent 

 inundates the world. — Thofe books only will be tranflated into the learned language which 

 deferve the trouble : the moft falutary fcrutiny will take place ; and the reft will go to heat 

 the baths. Philofophers, literary men, authors of every defcription, be affiduoui, compofe 

 ■works of value, and be aflured that your writings and your names will efcape oblivion 

 by means of the pafigraphic invention. In the mean time, till the arrival of this great 

 epocha, one of the languages at prefent in ufe, one of the moft imperfedl in many re- 

 fpefls, becomes every day more extended in its ufe ***** 



V. 



Ohfervations on the Natural H'ljlory of Guiana. In a Letter from WiLLIAM LoCHEADy 

 E'q. F.R.S. Edin. to the Rev. Dr. Walker, F.R.8. Edin, Regius Profeffor of Natural . 

 Hijiory in the Univerfity of Edinburgh. 



[Concluded from Page 304, Vol. II.J 



B. 



►ESIDES thefe two kinds, there are alfo what we may denominate half favannahs, 

 formed upon the tops of fand-hills, higher and more irregular than in the cafe of thofe jufl 



defcribed. 



