Alphabetical Characters. 107 
This is all which can reasonably be required, 
and if this be done, it ought certainly to be 
considered as sufficient to overturn the sup- 
position that the Deity miraculously inter- 
posed to disclose it.* Let us see then, if we 
can traee out any plausible conjectural his- 
tory of the manner in which, by following 
such an opening as has just been described, 
the inquisitive mind might be insensibly car- 
ried forward to an instantia crucis, as. Lord 
Bacon would have termed it, which would 
* Such theoretical views of human affairs, as has been 
excellently observed by Mr, Stewart, speaking of a sub- 
ject very analogous in its nature to that which we are at. 
present considering, namely, the original progress of lan- 
guage, are not subservient merely to the gratification of cu- 
Tiosity. “Inexamining,” says he, “the history of man- 
“kind, as well as in examining the phenomena of the mo- 
“ral world, when we cannot trace the process by which 
“an event has been produced, it is often of importance to 
“shew how it may have been produced by natural causes. 
“Thus in the instance which has suggested these re- 
“marks, although it is impossible to determine with cer- 
‘tainty what the steps were by which any particular lan- 
‘guage was formed, yet if we can shew from the known 
* principles of human nature, how all its various parts 
“might gradually have arisen, the mind is not only toa 
“certain degree satisfied, but a check is given to that in- 
“dolent philosophy which refers toa miracle whatever 
“ appearances either in the natural or moral world, it is 
“ unable to explain,” 
