“Alphabetical Characters. 103 
excite the astonishment of every beholder, 
prove also that in very remote antiquity, man- 
kind had acquired that degree of civilization 
which fits them for uniting together in large 
bodies, and for exerting their joint efforts ‘in 
the prosecution of one vast undertaking. In 
the time of Abraham it appears that: com: | 
merce was already become a separate profes- 
sion, and \had.arrived at such a degree of ma- 
turity, that the precious metals ‘were employ: 
ed asa regular medium of exchange; a ptae- 
tice which evidently implies a considerable 
degree of refinement; since it could not have 
been introduced or even thought ‘of, if man- 
kind had not been led, by long experience of 
the-inconveniences of the previous system of 
barter, to pay some attention to the’ general 
principles of commerce. These, anda variety — 
of other historical facts, resting upon ‘thé 
most unquestionable evidence, clearly shew, 
that mankind in those days can by’ no means 
he represented as in a state of ‘ignorance and 
barbarism, merely ‘because’ they were unlet- 
tered.’ On the contrary, it appears manifest 
_ that such-a degree of improvement had pre- 
viously taken place, as to render the mutual 
intercourse between the different’ members 
of society very extensive. ‘The progress of 
knowledge had already advanced to such a 
