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On the Cosmogony of Moses. 113 
served in purity the primitive religion. We may thus account 
for the different. representations which we often find of the same 
historical facts or moral truths. 
We have, moreover, direct historical testimony of the existence 
of antedilnvian -records.. Many ancient authors, particularly 
St. Jude and Josephus, allude to writings which were attributed 
to the patriarch Enoch: and though I am not disposed to ad- 
vocate the authenticity of any such productions, yet the frequent 
mention of them proves that the Hebrews were persuaded that 
some writings had survived the flood. But Berosus, whose 
Chaldean history of the ten antediluvian generations differs but 
little from that of Moses, expressly affirms that Xisuthrus or 
Noah, after the intimation given him of the catastrophe that 
was approaching, diligently compiled records of the former his- 
tory of the world, from which all existing acedunts are said to 
have been derived. 
We are thus enabled to account for the fact that scarcely any 
thing is contained in the antediluvian history of Moses, which 
may not also be found, though more or less embellished, in the 
records of other nations, particularly in those of the Hindoos, 
Thus in the Institutes of Menu, as translated by Sir W. Jones, 
there are some passages relating to the epochs of the creation; 
and it is chiefly for the sake of quoting these that I have made 
so long a digression. 
That Menu or Satyavreta was Noah, is certain from the ac- 
count of his escape from an universal deluge, which agrees in 
general with that of Moses, containing also some of the fabulous 
circumstances mentioned by Berosus. For the Hindoo story I 
refer your readers to the extracts given in several parts of Sir 
W, Jones’s works ; and need only quote the following words, in 
which Vishnu is said to have foretold the approaching cata- 
strophe. ‘In seven days all creatures which have offended me 
shall be destroyed by a deluge; but thou shalt be secured in a 
capacious vessel miraculously formed: take, therefore, all kinds 
of medicinal herbs and esculent grain for food; and together 
with the seven holy men, your wives, and pairs of all animals, 
enter the ark without fear*,” &c. 
The Institutes of Menu begin with an account of the creation, 
which bears a strong resemblance to that of Moses, though em- 
bellished or deformed by many wild conceits. The spirit of God 
moving on the face of the waters is expressed in the same terms. 
Menu afterwards proceeds to define the periods which are termed 
days and nights. He says, * Learn now the duration of a day 
and night of Brahma and of the several ages,” &c.—‘‘ Sages 
* Translated from the first Purana, 
Vol, 47. No. 214. Feb. 1816. H have 
