PHILOLOGICAL INQUIRIES. 483 



ly wanted articulate fpeech, and that languages are totally- 

 artificial works like all other improvements. Among 

 thefe flands confpicuous Lord Monboddo, in his work on 

 the rife and progrcfs of language.* 



A wafte of ingenious labour is a matter of ferious re- 

 gret, as it retards the progrefs of truth, caufes great trou-' 

 ble both to thofe who plant errors, and to thofe who tear 

 them up, and confirms the illiterate in their contempt ot 

 fcience by the faults and diiTentions of its votaries ; it is 

 therefore neceflary to clear all important inquiries from 

 Vv^hatever opinions that bias the judgment, whether phllo- 

 fophical or religious: In rcfpeftful fyjiipathy for thefe, 

 which many individuals have interwoven v/ith feme very 

 falutary truths and noble feelings of the heart, I beg leave 

 to remark that the confufion of tongues, which is an article 

 of their creed, gives full permiffion to fcek new origins ; and 

 that mankind would now have been much better, and con- 

 fequcntly more happy, if theologians in general had enforc- 

 ed plainer texts : luch as Our Father : God Is not to be ?fwck- 

 cd ; for iishatfoever a man fo'weth that fall he alfo reap : God 

 created ?nan to be immortal. Admiring true philofophy, of 

 which theology is in reality the principal branch, I obferve 

 that a patient collection of many and widely fcattered fadts 

 muft precede general theories ; that we fliould not prefume 

 to appreciate the defigns of God by our favourite opinions, 

 but humbly feek, and for what we can find to adore. 



To place the firft theory on the moft favourable ground, 



let us admit every degree of plaullble etymology, and 



alfo allow feveral words for fome of thofe objects, as two 



3 R 2 for 



* His genius and claffical erudition claim eftecm from thofe who cannot 

 approve either of his wide premifcs nor his too confined view of languages. 

 His fpecimens of favage life are very interefting, though not v.'arranting the 

 inference that men have palled feveral ages with a few fimple cries ; but 

 tliofe \\\\o with acrimony have exploded this ought to weigh the incredible 

 tilings among fo called highly civilized nations : the giddy round ot ridi- 

 culous and pernicious faliiious : wars for gain, religion, liberly, &c. &e. 



