HISTORY OF VERMONT. 241 



Learning and science they had none : But na- 

 ture, situation, and necessity, would operate as 

 certainly, and; as regularl}^ upon them, as upoa 

 any other people. And would it not require as 

 long- a period of time to produce, and to form a 

 language among the savages, as among any oth- 

 er people ? This circumstai'ice seems to denota 

 an antiquity, fully equal to that, which is claim- 

 ed by any of the nations of the other hemis- 

 phere. 



Their antiquity may also be traced back to 

 the time, ivhen the most useful arts were iin- 

 known ; and when the red men of Asia had not 

 the use of the metals, or of domestic animals. 

 Some of the arts must have been nearly coeval 

 with the human race ; for neither food, raiment, 

 or habitations, could be procured without some- 

 thing of them. Other of the arts have been 

 gradually advancing, without owing much to 

 any original inventor. And many of ^'lem ar© 

 of such antiquity, that their origin and inventor 

 are beyond the reach of history. This is the 

 case with the most necessary and useful arts of 

 life. The origin of spinning, and knitting, of 

 the plough, the loom, and the forge, were more- 

 ancient than any of our historical monuments, 

 records, or traditions. But when those arts 

 were invented, they never could be lost. A- 

 midst the wars, changes, and revolutions, to 

 which nations are exposed, what are called the 

 fine arts may perish and be lost^ But no vicis- 

 situdes of human affairs tend to' destroy those 

 aits, iiy which ail men derive their subsistence ; 

 and which are equally necessary to the conquer- 

 or and to the captive^ to the oppressior and to 



