302 Mr. Wakefield on the Origin 



courfe to the fubftitution of new fymbols. But 

 let no more credit be given to this conjedlure 

 than it deferves. 



3. The charaders of the alphabet might, fome- 

 times, be accommodated, as much as pofFible, 

 to the fymbolical marks already in ufe amongft 

 a particular people. Thefe having acquired a 

 high degree of fanftity, by the ufe of many 

 generations, would not be eafily fuperfeded, 

 without the aid of fome fuch contrivance, by an 

 adventitious praftice. 



4. But I have more than conjefture to offer in 

 fupport of this argument; even the teftimony of 

 an ancient hiftorian : whofe account will ferve 

 as a general evidence in this cafe, and may lead 

 us to conclude, that fimilar deviations may have 

 taken place, amongft other clalTes of men, as well 

 as in that inftance, which he particularly fpecifies 

 from his own knowledge. 



Herodotusy in one part of his hiftory, has the 

 following relation : 



" Thofe PhcenicianSy who came with Cadmus, 

 *' introduced many improvements among the 

 *' Greeks, and alphabetical writing too, not known 



in my opinion, to the Greeks before that period. 



At firft they ufed the Phccnician charafter : but 



in procefs of time, as the pronunciation altered, 

 *' the Itandard of the letters wa3 alfo changed. 

 ** The Irnian Greeks inhabited at that time the 

 " parts adjaccrnt to Phoenicia: who, having 



" received 



<c 

 ft 



