326 3Iodern Languages. [Chap. XV 



wards*, and many other gentlemen of observation 

 and diligence. Mr. Jefferson, the president of the 

 United States, has also made much inquiry into the 

 languages of the American Indians, and devoted 

 consideiable attention to the collection of speci- 

 mens. But there is certainly no individual to 

 whom we are under so many obligations for in» 

 vestigating these languages, and presenting rich 

 vocabularies to the public, as professor Barton, of 

 Philadelphia, whose name we have had occasion 

 to mention so frequently, and with so much re- 

 spect, in several of the preceding chapters of this 

 work. This gentleman has made large collec-^ 

 tions of Indian languages f, which he has with 

 great learning and ingenuity compared with each 

 other, and v/ith some of the languages of the east- 

 ern continent. By these investigations he has, 



Spelling Book, printed at Philadelphia in 177^' Beside this gen- 

 tleman, several otjier persons belonging to the same religious com- 

 munion have contributed much to the elucidation of Indian lan-r 

 guages. Among these Mr. Pyrlaeus, many years ago a missionary 

 to some of the American tribes, and Mr. Heckewalder, who at 

 this time holds an important station in a western mission, deserve 

 to be mentioned with particular distinction, and with many ac- 

 knowledgments, for tlieir unwearied and intelligent inquiries on 

 this subject. 



* Jonathan Edu'ards, D.D., late president of Union college, at 

 Schenectady 3 the excellent son of a still more illustrious father, 

 whose name was mentioned in a former chapter. Beside the 

 great learning and talents displayed by this gentleman on various 

 theological subjects, which will be noticed in their proper place, 

 he published Ob^jerratidns on the Language of the Muhhckaneai) In- 

 dians, &c.. New Haven, 1788, in which, with a number of inge- 

 nious remarks on the structure and genius of the language, he gave 

 some curious specimens of its vocabulary. 



f See 'Sew Vieua of the Qrigin offhe Tribes andNaiions ofAmC" 

 rica, 8vo, 1 798, second edition. 



