[ 1*5 ] 



No. XXVIII. 



Hints on the Etymology of certain English words, and on their 

 affinity to words in the languages of different European, Asiatic, 

 and American (Indian) nations, in a letter from Dr. Barton to 

 Dr. Thomas Beddoes. 



Read 0^. 81st, 1803. 

 DEAR SIR, 



YOU were pleased to observe, that you take much interest 

 in my inquiries concerning Indian dialects. It is partly on 

 this account, but much more from the attention which it is 

 well known you have devoted to the subject of etymology and 

 language, that I trouble you with this letter. 



In the course of my inquiries into the languages of the 

 Americans, I have discovered many instances of affinity be- 

 tween the words of Asiatic and American nations, and those 

 of the English. These affinities are sometimes very striking. 

 Of themselves, they have, I think, some value : but when 

 they are taken in connection with innumerable other facts, 

 they seem to establish this important point, which I have not 

 a doubt will, ultimately, be the opinion of all philosophers, 

 either that all the existing nations of the earth are specifically the 

 same, or (for I do not positively contend, with Blumenbach and 

 Camper, that all mankind constitute but one species), that the 

 ancestors of all the present races of men, were once much more 

 intimately associated together than they are at present. 



In adducing the words (or rather a small portion of them) 

 to which I have alluded, I do not deem it necessary to be very 

 methodical. I shall distribute them into three heads, viz. 

 nouns, adjectives, and verbs. 



Section I. 



1 . Tinder. " Any thing eminently inflammable placed to 

 catch fire." Dr. Johnson derives this word from the Saxon. 



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