192 OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING 



The falfehoods or the errors of De Pauw, on this fub- 

 jedl, are numerous.* 



Conneiled with this fubjedl, it may not be improper 

 to oblerve, that the American nations appear to be re- 

 markably retentive of their languages ; I think more fo 

 than moft other nations in their ftate of improvement. f 

 Perhaps, this fa.t\ rather favours and ftrengthens the 

 opinion which I am endeavouring to eftablifli. In pro- 

 portion to the original poverty of a language, will not 

 that language be unftable ? In proportion to its original 

 fertility or extent, or in other words to the ancient im- 

 provement of thofe who fpeak it, will it not be lels liable 

 to change, more likely to preferve its genius and fea- 

 tures ? 



Sixthly. It has been obferved that among the Mexi- 

 cans, a people much more poliflied than any of our pre- 

 fent Indian tribes, the refpedl paid by inferiors to their fupe- 

 riors " was prelcribed with fuch ceremonious accuracy, that 

 it incorporated with the language, and influenced its genius 

 and idiom. The Mexican tongue abounded in expret- 

 fions of reverence and courtefy. The ftile and appel- 

 lations, ufed in the intercourfe between equals, would 

 have been fo unbecoming in the mouth of one in a lower 

 fphere, when he accofled a perfon in higher rank, as to be 

 deemed an infult."j; The Mexicans were not alone in 



* See Reclierches Philofophiques fur Ics Amerlcains, &c. Tome II. 

 A Berlin : 1777. 



f Mr. William Stith talks of '< ihe Unftablcners and vaft Mutability of 

 the Indian Tongues," &c. The Hijlvry of the Jirfl Dlfcovery and Sttkment of 

 V'lrginta. p. 13. Williamlburg: 1747. If Mr. Stith had been at the trouble 

 of comparing the Indian languages of his day with thofe of the middle of the 

 preceding century, he would not have made fo precipitate an aflertion. 



\ See Dr. Robertfon's Hiltory of America, Vol. III. p. 165. " It is, 

 fays Robertfon, to P. Torribio de Benavcute, that I am indebted for this 

 curious oHfervation. Palafox, bilhop 01 Ciudad de la Puebla los Angeles, 

 confirms and ilhiftrates it more fuily. Tlie Mexican (fiys he) is the only 

 language in which a termination indicating xti^t&, filavas reverenliahs y de 

 eortejia, may be afSxed to every word, By adding the final fyllable zin or 



azin 



