on the Englifh Alphabet. 207 
gether by alternate gufts of wind, fo have emigra- 
tions and fhipwrecks, and the ftorms of invafions 
and conquefts, fcattered over the globe an aftonifhing 
multitude of the half mutilated germs of language ; 
which, taking new root, have continually favoured 
the fortuitous change and affemblage of words, 
thereby defying all conjecture, as to what the 
precife form of language was, before the confufion 
at Babel: nothing occurs, however, to prohibit the 
admiffion of an hvpothefis, that it was, at firft, 
as He who gave it is, perrecrt. 
And, indeed, the Holy Scripture fo far informs 
us, that, previous to the change at Babel, “ the 
whole earth was of one language and of one fpecch.” * 
How, then, is to be reconciled with this account, 
fome paffages of the preceding chapter? As at 
verfe 3rft. f ‘* Thefe are the fons of Shem, after 
their families, after their tongues, in their lands, 
after their nations.” Why after their tongues, when 
it is related, that there was at that time (and the 
whole fucceeding context fupports this paflage) 
only one language over all the earth? Novice as I 
am in the original language of the Sacred Writings, 
I fearcely dare to hazard any opinion upon thefe 
feemingly contrary readings, without very great 
difidence. I appeal, however, to the learned in 
the language, whether tranfcribers might not have 
miftaken, even the three times, one of the fol- 
lowing 
* Gen, xi, v.41, + Andalfo aty, 5. and v, 20, 
