30 8 Mr. TVakefield on the Origin y t^c. 



correlative chara6ters, like the fecond ftage of 

 fymbol writing, than the notification of ideas 

 by arbitrary figns. But, perhaps, we are not 

 fo intimately acquainted with the Chineje method, 

 as will juftify any conclufions from it refpeding 

 this fubject. We know, however, that it is 

 widely different from the art of alphabetical zvri- 

 ting, and infinitely inferior to it. 



Till thefe objeflions, to the human invention 

 of alphabetical chambers, are refuted, there will 

 be no reafon, I apprehend, to treat a different 

 fuppofition from that generally admitted, as 

 chimerical, and deftitute of philofophical pro- 

 priety. 



1 will finifli this imperfect dilTertation by two 

 or three remarks relating to the fubjefl:. 



1. Pliny afTerts the ufe of letters to have been 

 eternal. This (hews the antiquity of the pradice 

 to extend beyond the sra of authentic hiflory. 



2. The caballiflical dodlors of the Jews main- 

 tain, that alphabetical tvriting was one of the ten 

 things, which God created on the cvenino; of 

 the fabbath. 



3. Mofl of the profane authors of antiquity 

 afcribe the firfl ufe of alphabetical characters to 

 the ^Egyptians ', who, according to fome, received 

 the expedient from Mircury, and according to 

 others, from the God Tenth. 



4. Is there any reafon to fuppofe, from the 

 Mftory of the human mind, that oral language^ 



which 



