76 STUDI]&S OF NATURE. 



Race, and which are oppofite to the general Laws 

 of Phyfics. For example, the principles of reafon,, 

 of paffion, and of fentiment, as well as the organs 

 of fpeech and of hearing, are the fame in men of 

 all countries j neverthelefs, the language of Nations, 

 differs all the world over. How comes it that the 

 art of fpeech is fo various among beings who all 

 have the fame wants, and that it Ihould be con- 

 ftantly changing in the tranfmiffion from father to 

 fon, to fuch a degree, that we modern French no 

 longer underftand the language of the Gauls, and 

 that the day is coming, when our pofterity will be 

 linable to comprehend ours ? The ox of Benga 

 bellows like that of the Ukraine, and the nightin- 

 gale pours out the fame melodious ftrains to this 

 day, in our climates, as thofe which charmed the 

 ear of the Bard of Mantua, by the banks of the Po, 



It is impoflible to maintain, though it has been 

 alleged by certain Writers of high reputation, that 

 languages are characterized by climates ; for, if 

 they were fubjefled to influence of this kind, they 

 would never vary in any country, in which the cli- 

 mate is invariable. The language of the Romans 

 was at firft barbarous, afterwards majeftic, and is 

 become, at laft, foft and effeminate. They are not 

 rough to the North, and foft to the South, as 

 y. J. Roujfeau pretends, who, in treating this point, 

 has given far too great extenfion to phyfical Laws. 



The 



