Account of 
Dr Smith. 
86 HISTORY of the SOCIETY. 
‘which approaches to a regular and connected detail of human 
improvement, 
Iw this want of direét evidence, we are under a neceflity of 
fupplying the place of fact by conjecture ; and when we are 
unable to afcertain how men have actually conducted them- 
felves upon particular occafions, of confidering in what manner 
they are likely to have proceeded, from the principles of their 
nature, and the circumftances of their external fituation. In 
fuch enquiries, the detached facts which travels and voyages 
afford us, may frequently ferve as land marks to our fpecula- 
tions; and fometimes our conclufions 4 priori, may tend to con- 
firm thé-credibilityof faéts, which, on a fuperficial view, ap- 
peared to be doubtful or incredible. 
Nor are fuch theoretical views of human affairs fubfervient 
merely to the gratification of curiofity. In examining the hi- 
{tory of mankind, as well as in examining the phenomena of 
the material world, when we cannot trace the procefs by which an 
event has been produced, it is often of importance to be able to 
fhew how it may have been produced by natural caufes. Thus, 
in the inftance which has fuggefted thefe remarks, although it 
is impoflible to determine with certainty what the fteps were by 
which any particular language was formed, yet if we can fhew, 
from the known principles of human nature, how all its various 
parts might gradually have arifen, the mind is not only toa 
certain degree fatisfied, but a check is given to that indolent phi- 
lofophy, which refers to a miracle, whatever appearances, both 
in the natural and moral worlds, it is unable to explain. 
To this fpecies of philofophical inveftigation, which has no 
appropriated name in our language, I fhall take the liberty of 
giving the title of Theoretical or Conjectural Hiftory; an expref- 
fion which coincides pretty nearly in its meaning with that of 
Natural Hiftory, as employed by Mr Hume*, and with what 
fome French writers have called Hi/toire Rai/fonée. 
THE 
* See his Natural Hiftory of Religion. 
