496 Rev. Mr Wiuxrams on one Source of the 
My present object is to shew that a portion of even the Latin 
vocabulary is to be referred to the same primitive language still 
spoken within this island, and which was once the medium of in- 
tellectual intercourse between no small section of the inhabitants 
of south-western Europe. 
I need not mention that the question, whether the original 
population of Italy was to be regarded as Celtic, Hellenic, or 
Teutonic, has been argued ponderously and learnedly. But the 
result has not been either conclusive or satisfactory. I omit the 
claims advanced in favour of the Aramzan or of the Slavonian 
origin of this population, as being barely entitled to a serious 
consideration. Even in examining the mode in which the pre- 
tensions of the first named races have been either affirmed or de- 
nied, we must be compelled to express our wonder that prudent 
men could have ever hoped to bring their labours to a successful 
termination. Not one of those who piled volume on volume on 
the subject, seems to have possessed the necessary knowledge. 
The very elements of the science, by which the problem was to 
be solved, were unknown to them. Some were Greek, Latin, and 
French or Italian scholars. Others, to the knowledge of these, 
added an intimate acquaintance with the Teutonic dialects. But 
this was not enough. A thorough knowledge of the Latin itself, of 
the Greek, and of one type at least of the Celtic and Teutonic 
dialects, must precede a successful examination of the claims of 
the three cognate families. But hitherto no one thus qualified has 
entered the field. 
Early in life, I became satisfied that nothing could be done 
in clearing away the cloud that smks deep and dense on the early 
history of Europe, without an extensive and accurate knowledge, 
not only of the language, but also of the literature, laws, habits, 
and religion of the three races. I had seen enough of the errors 
committed by one-eyed scholars, to satisfy me that the greatest 
caution is necessary in assigning their several sources to disputed 
words, and that the comparative etymology which is grounded 
