Preserving the Languages spoken by Uncivilized Nations. 103 



Bible may then be undertaken with a better prospect of fide- 

 lity, as the children of the missionaries, who will have learned 

 the native language, or the Catf'er children who have been in- 

 structed in the English, will be exempt from the inconveni- 

 ence now experienced by the missionaries." 



We cannot hope to draw sound and correct philological 

 inductions from data thus obtained. 



Many instances might be adduced to show that the zeal of 

 the missionaries is often greater than their knowledge and 

 wisdom, and has led them to destroy the existence and recol- 

 lection of those relics and traditions which, in conjunction with 

 the affinities of language, afford the best, it may almost be said 

 the only, materials amongst which we can hope to find any sa- 

 tisfactory solution of the obscure question of the origin and hi- 

 story of the nations alluded to. They seem to flatter themselves 

 that they are doing God service when they destroy anything 

 which has been connected with the idolatrous worship and 

 superstitions of the uncivilized nations, and they prompt their 

 half-instructed converts to continue the work. They seem to 

 forget that the worship of images is not the besetting sin of 

 the present day as it was when the children of Israel were 

 continually giving way to it. On the contrary, it is out of 

 fashion, and must inevitably yield to the rapid and general 

 diffusion of knowledge. The enemies and rivals which ob- 

 struct the progress of true religion in the present day, are to 

 be found in the idols of our own imaginations, and in our own 

 hearts* lusts ; but some are also to be found in the skilfully 

 directed attacks of sceptics whose fine talents and cultivated 

 abilities are prostituted to the evil work of undermining the 

 sacred authority of religion. The most powerful of such at- 

 tacks are those which are set forth in the guise of appeals to 

 matters of fact. The enlightened advocate of the cause of 

 Christianity must therefore look with jealousy at the destruc- 

 tion of whatever may tend to throw light on those points on 

 which he is at issue with the sceptic. Amongst these he must 

 regard everything which tends to elucidate those parts of the 

 history of the human race which are most obscure. He must 

 therefore value and desire to preserve rather than seek to de- 

 stroy the works of art, traditions, and mythology of uncivilized 

 nations. He will rejoice in the industrious collection and pre- 

 servation of them, and be more zealous in accumulating facts 

 of this description than in employing his imagination in devi- 

 sing explanations from imperfect data, the fallacy of which time 

 will reveal, to the injury of the cause which he had inexpertly 

 espoused. If we can succeed in placing this subject in its 

 proper light before the Missionary Societies, we shall have 



