Alphabetical Characters. 81 
assumed which are not conceded, and the 
proof of which, by any fair or plausible mode 
of reasoning, would be found, I suspect, ra- 
ther difficult. In the first place, it is assumed, 
without proof, that the specimen of alphabeti- 
cal writing which we have in the books of 
Moses is not only the most ancient now extant, 
but the very first that ever appeared ; whereas 
it is both very conceivable and very probable 
that the art existed in an imperfect state long 
before this time, and that the more ancient 
monuments in which it was exhibited, have 
either perished through the lapse of time, or, 
having been transcribed according to a new 
and improved method afterwards invented, 
the originals, displaying the art in its less per- 
fect state, were neglected and finally lost. 
If the opinion of Eichorn, and some other 
eminent critics, be correct, acccording to 
which the book of Genesis was not entirely 
the original composition of Moses, but was 
compiled by him from more ancient docu- 
ments and records; evident traces of which 
compilation they imagine to be discernible in 
the sudden transitions of style, and in certain 
peculiarities of phraseology observable in par- 
ticular parts of this book, it is obvious that 
the suggestion here hinted at, will be ren- 
dered still more probable. 
VOL. III. L 
