478 PHILOLOGICAL INQUIRIES. 



words behind, that convey at leaft a part of their fignifica- 

 tion. 



The mixture of mankind has from very early times been 

 fo extenfive and diverfified by migrations, conquefts, and 

 friendly incorporations, that languages have very general 

 affinities in various degrees. The kindred words of many 

 ancient families are difperfed over diftant countries, and not 

 feldom difguifed by the tones and infled:ions of an idiom 

 very different from their own. Therefore we cannot in- 

 veftigate the antiquities of any nation within the limits of 

 its own language ; nor can the antiquities of mankind be 

 fludied without a confiderable knowledge of many lan- 

 guages. A true philologift is not mifled by general com- 

 plexions of languages, as oriental, and occidental, mater- 

 nal and filial, ancient and modern, lavage and civilized, &c. 

 to draw falfe lines of feparation ; nor does he extend their 

 cognations beyond evident marks, fatisfied with what is 

 known, and leaving the reft to future difcoveries. 



Languages of all kinds are mines of human antiquities, 

 with different but not yet afcertained values : — Thofe of 

 illiterate modern nations merit great attention, not only 

 for their own qualities and mutual affinities, but alfo for 

 the cognation they may have with ancient and modern ci- 

 vilized nations : Some fcalping heroes of America may be 

 kinfmen of Alexander, Caefar, and the proudeft conquer- 

 ors of Europe ; as they probably are of Tamerlan and Ogus 

 Chan ; leveral languages of North America are more alli- 

 ed with the Afiatic and European than is generally known : 

 — The claffical languages are edifices, whofe ground- 

 works were laid in a wildernefs, on materials brought from 

 diverfe quarries of barbarous tongues j the roots of many 

 claffic words may therefore grow in Tartary and iEthio- 

 pia ; many etymons and coseval words may be found in 

 the ancient European languages, and even in their modern 

 defcendants. The claffics therefore do not merit the excef- 



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