244 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book II. 



caft : And this, among others, I think, Is one great advantage of 

 the divifion of the people into clafles according to their feveral em- 

 ployments. For my own part, I have heard fo much of the Hin- 

 doos, and of the bravery and fidelity of thofe who are in our fervice, 

 that there is no people I fhould defire more to be acquainted with ; 

 and if I could acquire knowledge enough of their learned language, 

 fo as to read their books of fcience, of which, I am informed by 

 Sir William Jones, they have a great many upon every fubjedt, 

 I believe I fhould learn more of the antient Egyptian philofo- 

 phy, which was brought to Greece by Pythagoras, and which I 

 hold to be the only genuine philofophy, than is to be found in the 

 Greek books. In fliort, I confider India as Egypt ftill preferved to 

 us; and, if I were there, I fhould confider myfelf as in the parent 

 country of all arts and fciences, where they were beft cultivated, and 

 brought to the greateft degree of perfedion. 



CHAP. 



