424 THE THIRD DISCOURSE 



other, both in the mode of writing from the left hand, 

 and in the fingular manner of connecting the vowels 

 with the cofonants. Thefe remarks may favour an 

 opinion entertained by many, that all the fymbols of 

 found, which at firft, probably, were only rude outlines 

 of the different organs of fpeech, had a common origin. 

 The fymbols of ideas, now ufed in China and Japan, 

 and formerly, perhaps, in Egypt and Mexico, are quite 

 of a diftincl nature; but it is very remarkable, that the 

 order of founds in the Chinefe grammars correfponds 

 nearly with that obferved in Tibet, and hardly differs 

 from that which the Hindus confider as the invention 

 of their Gods. 



II. Of the Indian Religion and Philofophy I fliall 

 here fay but little ; becaufe a full account of each would 

 require a feparate volume. It will be fufficient in this 

 differtation to affume, what might be proved beyond 

 controverfy, that we now live among the adorers of 

 thofe very Deities who were worfhipped under different 

 names in old Greece and Italy ; and among the pro- 

 feflbrs of thofe philofophical tenets, which the Ionick 

 and Attick writers illuftrated with all the beauties of 

 their melodious language. On one hand we fee the 

 trident of Neptune, the eagle of Jupiter, the fatyrs of 

 Bacchus, the bow of Cupid, and the chariot of the 

 Sun ; on another we hear the cymbals of Rhea, the 

 fongs of the Mufes, and the paitoral tales of Apollo 

 Nomius. In more retired fcenes, in groves, and in 

 feminaries of learning, we may perceive the Brdhmans, 

 and the Sarmanes, mentioned by Clemens, difputing in 

 the forms of logick, or difcourfing on the vanity of 

 human enjoyments, on the immortality of the foul, 

 her emanation from the eternal mind, her debafe- 

 ment, wanderings, and final union with her fource. 

 The fix philofophical fchools, whofe principles are 

 explained in the Derfana So/lra, comprife all the 



metaphyftcks, 



