On Figurative Language. 101 
sistent, are in some measure accounted for by 
the scheme of the formation and progress 
above developed, and especially by the theory 
of metaphorizing proposed. These, together 
with the great facility of composition which 
this language enjoys in an indefinite degree, 
will sufficiently account for its wonderful 
copiousness. | 
The languages of barbarous nations, and 
their modes of speech, as represented to us 
in the fragments which are occasionally given | 
by travellers and navigators, tend greatly to 
corroborate the foregoing observations. These 
fragments, however, it is not in my power 
at present to collect, and I only refer to them 
in general as sources of proof with which few 
scholars can be unacquainted. 
The imyvention of hieroglyphic writing, 
which took place at a very remote period, 
affords a further proof and illustration of the 
foregoimg remarks. The symbol which stood 
for any object, it is highly probable was only 
a picture of the name which in spoken lan- 
guage, by a metaphor, represented that object. 
Thus, if imprudence was expressed in hiero- 
glyphic writing by the picture of a fly, for 
what other reason could it be, than because 
imprudence was expressed metaphorically in 
