124 
Lhe following is the Author's abstract of this Paper, 
which rs printed in the Society's Transactions. 
FULL statement “That among the Greeks Prose Literature 
was first committed to writing not earlier than the Persian 
wars, that is, in Ionia not before 510 8.c., in the rest of Greece 
not before 490 B.c., and that Metrical literature was first indited 
several years later, say 450 B.¢.” 
Importance of the subject. 
Mr Paley’s opinion quoted. 
Appeal against allowing prejudices on the subject to in- 
fluence argument. 
The theory based on Ist, strong negative evidence of clas- 
sical authors; 2nd, inferences from general history; 3rd, in- 
Spection of inscriptions; 4th, indications given by the voca- 
bulary. 
Examination of evidences given by Herodotus and Thucy- 
dides. 
Heraclitus the earliest writer mentioned expressly by an 
extant classical author. 
For the Homeric papers, see Mr Paley’s paper. 
Passages from Dr Thirlwall’s History. 
Evidences of metrical authors. 
History of the progress of the art consistent with the Author’s 
theory. The limits of its application. 
Reasons for its tardy development. 
The character of the alphabet. 
Testimony of inscriptions. 
Effect of Persian wars. 
Reasons for the priority of Ionian prose literature. 
Suggestions as to how the change from the use of memory 
to that of writing was effected. 
Discussion of the reported existence of inbned Attic lite- 
rature in Solon’s time. 
