3 3 8 UNIVERSAL ERUDITION. 



that open to us the fanctuaries of erudition. In 

 order to attain the knowledge of antiquity in its 

 full extent, the knowledge of thofe languages 

 that were then in ufe is of great utility : and 

 properly to judge of modern nations, it is al- 

 moft indiipenfably necefiary to be acquainted 

 with the principal languages which are now 

 ufed in the world. There are two languages 

 however, which are called learned by way of 

 eminence, and thofe are the Greek and the 

 Latin. The former of thefe not only enables 

 us to read the mafterly productions of genius of 

 ancient Greece, but alio to form a true judg- 

 ment of all its antiquities, and of its different 

 ages, which form the moft entertaining and 

 interefting periods for the fciences and polite 

 arts of all ancient times. The latter affords us 

 the means of underilanding the original texts of 

 all the admirable works of the moil celebrated 

 Latin authors, and of becoming acquainted with 

 the city, republic, and monarchy of Rome, as 

 if we had been prefent with them : and of form- 

 ing a folid judgment of thofe precious Roman 

 antiquities of every kind, that are ilill remaining 



among us. 



II. But that which has given the Latin an 

 advantage even ovep the Greek itielf, that has 

 rendered it mdifpenfable to every man of letters, 

 and has made it the bafis of erudition, is, that 

 during the middle age, and in general in all 

 modern times, the learned of all Europe have 



