328 UNIVERSAL ERUDITION. 



XI. That which is of the grcateft ufe in un- 

 derftanding and interpreting an obfcure or imper- 

 fect pafiage, or an unintelligible word or phrafe, 

 is confrontation. The beft confrontation is that 

 which is made by comparing an author, book or 

 manulcript with itfelf , by examining if the fame 

 word, matter or phrafe, is not repeated elfewhere, 

 or in equivalent exprelTions. This is the mod 

 certain method, and produces an authentic inter- 

 pretation. The lecond method is to confront a 

 writer with his cotemporaries of the fame nation : 

 and the third confifts in comparing him with other 

 authors who have written at different times, but 

 in the fame language. 



CHAP. XIX. 



ORIENTAL LANGUAGES 



TH O* moft of the languages we have enu- 

 merated in the preceding chapter, and 

 many of thofe we fhall mention in the twenty- 

 firft, have been, or are ftill in ufe in the eaflern 



countries, 



