79 



was learning at the feet of Cadmus, or the other assisting the 

 craftsmen of Tyre to construct the Temple of Solomon. 



The attention paid to Family History is much greater 

 in some countries than in others ; and, accordingly, their 

 records are not of equal importance in point of evidence. It 

 may be regarded, however, as an Ethnological fact, having 

 almost the force of an axiom, that all nations, above the 

 rank of barbarians, are interested in tbe memorials of their 

 forefathers, and anxious to preserve them. This is strikingly 

 illustrated in the case of the Hebrews, the most ancient na- 

 tion, with one exception, of winch any record remains to us. 

 Their history is, in some parts, meagre ; their genealogy 

 never. — The occupations of their ancestors appear to have 

 been forgotten, and often every circumstance that could be 

 dignified with the name of Biography ; their names, however, 

 are carefully preserved, as well as the dates from which the 

 descents of their sons are to be reckoned. The posterity, 

 too, of any distinguished man, are called by his name, 

 and classed with himself, one being known as " the son of 

 David," and others as " the children of Israel." This was 

 tbe case also with the ancient Britons; and it is still, to 

 some extent, the practice among the Gael, the native Irish, 

 and the various nations of the East. Accordingly, we have 

 in the several countries " the Mac Callum More," " the 

 O'Neill," and Shone ap Gruffudd, ap Iorwerth, ap Howel, 

 Dda King of all Wales.* Of the extent to which these 

 records and investigations were carried, in the olden time, 

 we have two examples in the New Testament — the one de- 

 scending from Abraham to Christ, the other ascending from 

 Christ to Adam. It is remarkable that these are not given 

 as extraordinary details, procured with unusual care or pains, 



* The son (descendant) of Gnat ( allum, — a title of the Duke of Argyle; 

 (he ion of Niall ; an>! John, the son of Griffith, the son of Kclward, whose 

 great ancestor was I towel the Good, King of all Wales. 



