304 ^f' ^^^^f^l^ on the Origin 



of their ideas by arbitrary figns ; but have never- 

 thelels been unable to accompliOi this exquifice 

 device : and after (o long a trial, to no purpofe, 

 we may reafonably infer, that their mode of 

 writing, which is growing more intricate and 

 voluminous every day, would never terminate 

 in fo clear, fo comparatively fimple, an expe- 

 dient, as that of alphabetical charaSien. 



The Mexicans^ alfo, on the new Continent, had 

 made fome rude attempts of the fame kind, but 

 with iefs fuccefs than the Chinefe. 



We know alfo, that Hieroglyphics were in ufe, 

 among the jSgypti^ns, pofterior to the pradlice of 

 alphabetical writing by the Jews: but whether the 

 Epijlolography^ as it is called, of the former people 

 which was in vogue, during the continuance of 

 Hieroglyphics^ might not pofTibly be another name 

 for alphabetical writings I will not take upon mc 

 to decide. 



Now what will our adverfaries reply to this ? 

 They will pertinacioufly maintain, that alphabetical 

 writing is a human invention : and yet all thofe 

 nations, who have been converfant with this 

 expedient, are difcovered to have derived it from 

 the fame original, from fome one people in the 

 Eajl, whofe means of attaining it we cannot now 

 find out ; but are compelled to conclude from 

 analogy, and the experience of other nations, that 

 their imagination, as it was not more fertile, was 

 not more fuccefsful, than that of their neighbours. 



Again: 



