Chap.XV. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 277 



In this way the grammatical art in Egypt was compleated ; and the 

 language by the labours of the colleges of Priefts, men fet apart for 

 the invention and cultivation of arts, was brought to that perfection, 

 in which we fee it is in the Shanfcrit, preferved ftill among the 

 Priefts of India, and which, as I ihall Ihow in the fequel, was the 

 antient language of Egypt. 



The only people I ever heard mentioned, that might have invented 

 a language, as well as the Egyptians, are the Phoenicians; a very an- 

 tient people undoubtedly, and who were very early pofleffed of arts 

 and civility, and particularly of the art of navigation, by which 

 they carried their commerce to very remote parts of the world. But, 

 in the frji place, the Phoenicians had no fupernatural afliftance by 

 Dsemons, fuch as were among the Egyptians, without which I 

 think I have fhown, it was impoffible that men could have invented, 

 articulation. 



idly^ I fay that the genius of this people did not incline them to 

 invent or cultivate arts and fciences ; but that they were, as Diodo- 

 rus informs us*, from the moft antient times, ftudious of gain ; for 

 Avhich purpofe they applied themfelves to trade, and were the great- 

 eft navigators of antient times. Among fuch a people, I think it is 

 impoffible, that an art of more difficult invention than any other 

 fhould have been difcovered. And though they had a genius fitted 

 for fuch an invention, they had no polity or conftitution of govern- 

 ment, like the Egyptian, fuited for the invention and cultivation of 

 arts. 



3/;o, They lived in antient times, as Herodotus informs us f, 

 upon the Red Sea, in the neighbourhood of the Egyptians • fo that 



what 

 • Lib. 5. cap. 38. 



f Lib. 7. cap. 89. 



