UNIVERSAL ERUDITION. 



quered almoft the whole world. For if that 

 Were the* cate, it certainly was not fince that 

 people who inhabit Great and Little Tartary 

 have borne the name of Tartars. Perhaps he 

 thereby means the Scythians or Celts, or lomc 

 other ancient and warlike people. The fecond 

 obfervation is, that if modern hiftorians know 

 fo little of the revolutions and actions of a na- 

 tion that is now exifting, and before our eyes, 

 but who are ferocious, uncivilized, and have no 

 writers among them, what are we to think of 

 the ancient hiilories of all nations, and efpecially 

 thole of the north, who, for thoulands of years, 

 were in the fame circumftanc.es, and were igno- 

 rant of the uie of characters, and the art of writ- 

 ing ? And laftly, that thofe philofophers deceive 

 themfelves, who imagine that a nation becomes 

 more formidable by being ignorant of arts and 

 fciences. The example of the Tartars lufficiently 

 proves the contrary, and fhows that a people may 

 be numerous, brave and warlike, and yet not 

 able to form themfelves into a body as a nation, 

 and ftill lefs able long to fupport themfelves, if 

 they do not become civilized, and cultivate the 

 arts and fcienccs. The Gorhs and Vandals 

 proved this truth formerly. What remains of 

 thofe people are there now upon the earth ? If 

 any of them can be laid ftill to exift, they are 

 become civilized , for the children of the Goths 

 and Vandals that were born among polifhed na- 

 tions acquired the manners of thole people from 

 their infancy. 



XXVIII. 



