Chap.V. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 333 



C H A P. V. 



Tbe Language imported by Ojiris into India is Jiill preferved under 

 the name of the Shanfcrit. — // is the Sacred Latiguage of India ; 

 tiow under/load only by the Bratnins. — It is to be pref timed, that the 

 Language of Egypt, as it ivcnt as far as India, went alfo to the 

 neighbouring coiintiies. — But, befidcs prefumption, there is proof 

 from facts. — 'This furnified by M. Gebelin in his Monde Primitif. 

 — He, and Bullet in his Celtic Di£iionary, maintain, that there ivas 

 a primitive Language, from -which all the other Languages on earth 

 are derived. — That fuch a Language did exif, M. Gebelin has 

 proved, by comparing the fcveral Languages in the world -with one 

 another, — the European, Afiatic, and American, Languages com- 

 pared together by him. — America peopled from the north eaji parts 

 of Aft a. — A curious fiB related of afingular cufom of the Egyptians 

 -which the Americans have adopted. — The method which M. Gebelin 

 has followed in makitig this comparifon, very proper, by fn ding out 

 the radical words in the fcveral Languages. — Of the difference of 

 found of derivative words from their radicals in the fame Language: 

 but this difference much greater in different dialeEls of that Language. 

 — An exa& account, digefed into tables, given by Gebelin, of the 

 changes of derivative words from the original. — The change of 

 voivels in the derivative Languages, not fo great as of confonants: 

 — The reafon for this. — But confonants alfo changed. — This ma.kes 

 the difference fo great betwixt the original and derivative Languages. 

 — Of the monofyllables of the Chinefe language; — many of thetn to 

 be found in other Languages, and particularly in the Coptic. — Thus 

 proved, that there was a time zvhen there was only one Language on the 



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