OF CERTAIN ENGLISH WORDS. 155 



explanation of this fact, superficial inquirers (of whom there 

 is always a large number, particularly in the crowd of those 

 who have written upon the origin of mankind) immediately 

 conclude, either that the affinities are entirely accidental, or 

 that they are owing to the commercial intercourse which, at 

 present, subsists between the inhabitants of different parts of 

 the earth. That such affinities are accidental, I am sure that 

 no man in his sober senses, will dare to assert. That they are 

 not to be accounted for from the commercial intercourse which 

 at present subsists between different nations is equally certain. 

 The difficulties which encumber this important subject will 

 vanish, when we extend our inquiries beyond the limited ho- 

 rizon of a tew hundred years ; and when we suffer ourselves 

 to be relieved from the numerous prejudices, which form as it 

 were our pillow in the cradle. The books of Moses inform 

 us, that mankind were created in Asia. Ever since I have bu- 

 sied myself, and I may add, rendered myself happ} r , with in- 

 quiries into the languages of the Americans, I have ceased to 

 entertain any doubts of the accuracy of the scripture story, 

 so far as regards the Asiatic origin of men, and their dispersion 

 from a common centre. These two great facts, which consti- 

 tute corner-stones in the history of the species, are supported 

 by the more modern history of nations; and I am persuaded 

 will bear the strictest scrutiny of every research of humanity. 



The original of nations may, in many instances, be deter- 

 mined solely by an attention to the languages of mankind. Had 

 the books of Moses perished; had no memorials concerning 

 them escaped the numerous revolutions of our globe; had no 

 traditions concerning the origin of the species been transmitted 

 to us, the researches of philosophers, through the medium of 

 language (such is the pure certainty of science I) would have 

 conducted them to the great historical truth, that Asia has been 

 the cradle of the world. But history much more recent than 

 that of the Jewish lawgiver, kindly comes to our assistance. 

 Thus, not to mention other instances, the Saxon chronicle deduces 

 the first inhabitants of Britain from Armenia. Now, it is a fact, 

 that we find some English words in the language of the Arme- 

 nians, and in the language ot the Kartaiuu and other Cau- 



